What do you wear when you play gigs?

[Fuzzbass]

I mostly live in the bar band world. For those gigs I usually wear a black collared shirt, jeans, comfy shoes. Sometimes it's a music-related t-shirt: could be a band shirt (but never one of my own), or a sports jersey. I should probably invest in some snazzier collared shirts, but "bassic black" always works!

I occasionally play corporate/wedding gigs with my 11-member "big band" (5 piece horn section). For those I'll dress as the client requests. I own a tux because as they say if you're going to wear one multiple times you should buy instead of rent. It's kind of fun to dress up (especially when getting the nice pay) but sadly my tux hasn't gotten any use post-pandemic.

 

[Lenny JG]

Literally the most random stuff that i would actually wear given the opportunity, I also go shirtless often.

People constantly show up at my shows excited to see me rip my shirt off on stage, or to tell me how cool my pants are etc.

I try to be remembered, not standard.

 

[BlueTalon]

Man, I wish I could pull off a shirtless look. But I can't, so I have invested in some interesting looking shirts -- some by Robert Graham, and some less expensive ones.

 

[Groove Doctor]

I try to be remembered, not standard.

Love it.

My motto "Look like you're trying to get laid."

 

[Lenny JG]

Love it.

My motto "Look like you're trying to get laid."

Your motto just got added to my arsenal of life values.

 

[Hundred proof]

 

[NickFromNY]

Depends on the gig but most of my solo acoustic stuff is happy hour, outdoor by the water type stuff. If I showed up in a jacket and tie I'd look like a serial killer. Always presentable fun, beachy vibe. No ripped tees or ripped jeans or ripped shorts. Either dress like the audience you are playing for, or if you are a show band, have a "uniform" look (not a band uniform, but all similiar in design.. ie.. black shirts, etc..)

 

[Scott Grady]

I have custom bells that were made for me, more of the vibe for the 70's rock, use different shirts depending on the enviroment

 

[JimmyO]

Black tshirt with a cool design that references bands or music I like, but not directly with like a band name or tour shirt. Like I have one shirt that's a replica of one the bass player from Gorillaz wore once, or another that just says "2+2=5" which is the title of a lesser known Radiohead song I like.

 

[Pocket Dave]

I did a festival gig Sunday on guitar ('thought I was supposed to play bass up until a few days before hand).

Me center-right with the red hollow-body; Reverted back to my standard attire these days - black Cuban, bolo tie, jeans.

Interestingly, all the guitar guys were in button down shirts, everyone else in T-shirts. I guess it balanced out.

 

[pepj]

Loose fitting beach shirt and chino's or jeans with shoes
So smart casual.
Not interested in dressing up any more than that...but always a step up from the drummer anyway.

 

[TomB]

Ear protection!

 

[Tim Schnautz]

I've probably answered this before but it depended on the occasion.
Anything from grubs to a tux

 

[WI Short Scaler]

It totally depends on the gig. Over this past winter we wore Sgt Pepper jackets at Halloween, and work black pants/red or white shirts for private party and rotary sponsored gigs. Jeans and jerseys at dive bars.

Now it's gonna be summer. At a gazebo on the lakeshore, a pavilion or a bar deck next to boat landings, shorts and jerseys.

And TB'ers will gripe about shorts, it's a seasonal thing that's hilarious.

 

[darev]

My uniform typically consists of a cheap suit jacket or blazer. Preferably black or dark colored.

It is remarkable how a suit jacket can elevate a previously ratty look. Holes in jeans? Suit jacket. Tatty t-shirt? Suit jacket. Bad hair day, no shirt? You get the idea. $80 new at a Target in the US. Do it right and go to a Salvation Army store or the ilk and save even more.

No shorts or flip flops ever for me, though. Not much can ever class that up.

 

[JRA]

bars and dives = casuals/jazz = formals/events =

 

[johnh89]

Last gig I wore a sequinned cocktail dress and Doc Marten boots . I am 6ft3 and 250lbs with a skinhead haircut and full beard . Seriously. And nobody said a thing ..

 

[darev]

Last gig I wore a sequinned cocktail dress and Doc Marten boots . I am 6ft3 and 250lbs with a skinhead haircut and full beard . Seriously. And nobody said a thing ..

Not many people going up to a 6'3" skinhead in a dress and boots and tell him to dial it down.

 

[Neil Folkard]

Simple. Warm weather is around the corner, so slim cut black shorts and the weirdest, coolest t-shirts that I can muster.

 

[dougjwray]

Now that I'm nearing 70, I feel that I look best with some kind of "dignified" appearance. So, usually black jeans and black boots (or all-black Converse hitops) with a black military-style button down shirt, or black t-shirt. For outdoor summer gigs, I'll sometimes go for blue jeans and a tie-dye or batik t-shirt.
I have a large collection of t-shirts with the images of artists (Lennon, Hendrix, Prince, etc.) or places (CBGB, Woodstock), but lately I feel like those just highlight my age. A 25-year-old wearing a Woodstock shirt? Cool. A geezer wearing one? Not so much.
I sometimes bring into the equation the color of the bass I'm going to use. There's an annual Christmas show that I do, and now that I have a Sea Foam Green Precision, I'm thinking about going slightly campy with a red shirt or red jeans.