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Your Look On Stage

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#42
Im in two bands.

First Band is a rockish band with grunge and some punk thrown in. Normally its jeans/3/4 length shorts with black or red T shirts, but for our last gig we went with smartish jeans, black shirts and skate shoes....felt quite professionally attired and we rocked. The photos look pretty damned awesome!

Second band however is a different story. We have been labelled or classified as "Brass fueled rock" were basically a party band and have trumpets, kazoo's keyboards, xylophones, tomnpbones, sax, bass, drums and guitars. Its pretty good fun, but the theme is dress up. So for varying gigs i have been a gimp (hoodie that zips up to the head with eyeholes and a boiler suit) hawaian, worn a pncho with a sombreo etc... Its very much for fun! But hey the audiece seems to love it!
 
#43
no sleves. shorts. lots o' hair :bassist:

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#49
Quite a cool thread and some hell of an interesting points made!

Iv just joined a band who gig regulary. i asked what i should wear.

I was told fat trainers, shirt and jeans. I dont get on with jeans and asked im alright in pinstripes. Was told go for it :) so im pretty happy with that :)

Im hopeing when summer comes, i can throw some shorts in there
 
#50
Going for a look? The idea sort of makes me wan't to vomit.. I don't mind people doing so, it can be fun and great, but that just ain't me. Yeah, if I played for James Brown I'd be happy to wear what ever he asks, but otherwise I'll wear the same low quality discount bin leftovers as I always do and if a band asked me to wear anything else because of image or whatever they would most likely have to find a new bassplayer. I'd be happy to wear a nice suit though, but someone else would have to pay for it, I've got gear to buy :)

Funerals aside, I usually look like I woke up from the dumbster and with my face, nice clothes would just be like polishing a turd.
 
#51
Kipaste said:
Going for a look? The idea sort of makes me wan't to vomit.. I don't mind people doing so, it can be fun and great, but that just ain't me. Yeah, if I played for James Brown I'd be happy to wear what ever he asks, but otherwise I'll wear the same low quality discount bin leftovers as I always do and if a band asked me to wear anything else because of image or whatever they would most likely have to find a new bassplayer. I'd be happy to wear a nice suit though, but someone else would have to pay for it, I've got gear to buy :)

Funerals aside, I usually look like I woke up from the dumbster and with my face, nice clothes would just be like polishing a turd.
Click to expand...

I mean... it's all REALLY circumstantial. There are good arguments for both sides (you SHOULD dress to impress vs your MUSIC is all that maters). The addage, "Dress to impress" comes to mind. And while to some people, it doesn't mater, to others it maters a great deal, and neither side is inherently RIGHT on the subject. It depends on the person, band, venue, style, gig, $$$, age, and probably other things.

My power-pop band got into a discussion about this. My drummer likes it when we really do the Ramones style... tight jeans, chucks, and a tight black tee. I don't really care, because that's more-or-less how i look all the time. However, he is REALLY into the image side of things (for better or worse, it just IS). On the other hand, i'm completely paranoid about gear-professionalism. I think a pro-level band should have pro-level (or at least 'looking') gear. I usually bring a head and a 2x15... our guitarist brings a low-end Peavey 2x12 modeling amp. Even though half the time we are mic'd, it bothers me, personally to NO end because of the apperance we are putting forward as a band. They say that it shouldn't mater as long as the sound coming from it is good. Am i right? I think so, but i understand where THEY are coming from. Then i counter with their strict adhearence to dress code with their counter to my amp/cab argument... it all goes in a never ending circle.

So, as far as dress goes, there's no reason to knock it or say it's 'wrong', because in certain sittuations, it's a VERY important aspect and a very dynamic PART of the band itself.
 
#54
Kipaste said:
Going for a look? The idea sort of makes me wan't to vomit.. I don't mind people doing so, it can be fun and great, but that just ain't me. Yeah, if I played for James Brown I'd be happy to wear what ever he asks, but otherwise I'll wear the same low quality discount bin leftovers as I always do and if a band asked me to wear anything else because of image or whatever they would most likely have to find a new bassplayer. I'd be happy to wear a nice suit though, but someone else would have to pay for it, I've got gear to buy :)

Funerals aside, I usually look like I woke up from the dumbster and with my face, nice clothes would just be like polishing a turd.
Click to expand...

For live shows, the word "show" becomes important. Portraying an appropriate appearance for the music/venue/crowd is part of the package. Jeans and a t-shirt is as out of place in an orchestra as a tuxedo is in a metal band.
 
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