I think it depends on the venue and style of music as to whether shorts are OK at a gig. At a paying gig I don't choose to perform in shorts. Sometimes my band members in the Urbana Backyard Barbecue Band have worn shorts.
The same issue could be raised about wearing blue jeans. It is a band decision, and should be related to venue, event, and band. If you are in a Jimmy Buffett/Parrot Head cover band you probably should wear them with an aloha shirt unless it is too cold. If you are playing at a formal wedding reception, probably shorts or jeans are inappropriate. ----------
Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Jun 01, 2018 8:46 AM
Yes, it depends where you are, and who is the audience. It also depends on how nice your legs look ;-)
Last Edited by AppalachiaBlues on Jun 01, 2018 9:29 AM
I think the ONLY exception may be if you have a medical reason, like your leg is encased in a cast and you can't wear the normal clothes that a performing professional adult would wear on stage. However, in that case, maybe you should be at home, resting up, and not playing harmonica on stage. ---------- Marc Graci YouTube Channel
I don't know about other musicians but I have not worn shorts, t shirts, or sneakers while performing in at least 20 years. Even when I went to jams I wanted to present myself as a serious player who had at least SOME nice clothes. If you want to look casual feel free. Music is not casual to me. ----------
All depends on the venue and the audience you are chasing, and how good your legs are.
It's all about cultural signifiers. For instance, if I shave my head I can maybe pass for someone in my early 30s (at least that's what I've been told). If I'm trying to connect with a crowd in their 20s-30s shorts my seem appropriate, especially for an outdoor venue. If I'm trying to do a country concert these days I'd probably where blue jeans and a button up shirt. For rock, jeans with a band shirt carefully picked to be part of the crowds choice.
It all comes down to what sort of crowd you are trying to connect with. (Note, since I'm not a early 30s guy I may in fact be way off on what they are wearing these days, but the general point stands.)
I was in a blues band where the leader was all about dressing up. We spent more time on wardrobe than practice and (in my opinion) wasted a lot of money looking fancy.
If I have to dress in a different uniform for my blues, bluegrass and rock bands then am I really a musician or just a costumed imitator of various subcultures? Should I put on a different hat when we switch from blues to R&B in the middle of a set?
@chopsy Regarding "am I really a musician or just a costumed imitator of various subcultures?" I would say that while you may be a musician, you are also a performer in a band, and appropriate dress for the gig is part of the profession. If you play in places that do not care, for audiences that do not care how you present yourself, then it is not an issue. Many situations involve people who DO care and who pay you.
There are 3 factors to consider: the music, the entertainment, and the business.
I prefer to play in bands that accept a variety of casual dress styles and not a bunch of costumes. However, I have been in 2 bands that were country-ish and I willingly wore western shirts, though often untucked. For some gigs I tucked in my shirt and even put on a bolo tie. But I would not want to get into elaborate and expensive costuming to perform in any band.
For formal occasions (read as,"Big Money gigs")like weddings and private parties, I will put on a sport coat and sometimes a tie and slacks instead of jeans and a loose shirt. It all depends on the gig and venue. I have not needed a tux, thank goodness! I would pass on that unless a LOT of money was involved.
I will adjust what I wear in order to fit the needs of a specific gig that I agree to play. It is nice to be rehired. Recognizing that the clothes worn to a gig may need to acknowledge the needs of that specific gig is part of what gets you rehired, in addition to your performance and making good music. ----------
Is it possible that getting locked into limits does just that?
Your perception of what is "appropriate" for stage attire. What does that even mean?
I'll certainly conceded that considering the venue, audience, and circumstance is reasonably prudent when selecting how you will present yourself.
But, I'll also just as readily suggest that assigning absolutes as a position or argument might just be in some level of opposition to the spirit of a forum with "modern" in the title that advocates for stretching and box expansion of so-called "norms".
By the way, what color is Mooncat's hair today?
---------- ~Buzadero Underwater Janitor, Patriot MBH poseur since 11Nov2008
Early on someone told me "Never let them see you knees." That said, I have performed in shorts at Thhe Kerrville Folk Festival many times. It's a different vibe.
I've done it while wearing Birkenstocks, too. I went to see a buddy of mine. He was sick and couldn't finish out the night. After the first set, he asked me to sub. I did.
I dress the same way I try to play music. Like I care about it. Which I do. So I have gig clothes that are comfortable, informal, yet somewhat professional. It helps me feel the part. I know from being an audience member that I’m more disposed to giving my attention if the musician ( entertainer) looks the part. I mean folks are looking as well as listening, so I like to give them something credible to look at, as well as listen to. Most musicians in any genre have some getup, from grunge, punk, metal, rock to country, jazz, classical, what have you...I guess the main thing is to care about what you’re doing, and be as present as possible.
Typical gig wear for me and Jolene: Good Jeans, nice shirt- for me a Hawaiian print. Jo wears a knit shirt and a weskit type top, nice jeans as well. Some bling. I wear a pocket watch and sometimes a diamond stud earring. She wears a gold and diamond snake, a nice ring. We both wear nice boots usually. I have the requisite cool hat. Usually it lasts until the first bead of sweat.
I don't even wear shorts these days. My legs would blind everyone.
Like Robbert, I like to show I care about my craft, art, new career, whatever you want to call it.
It's not any of your business what someone else wears on stage. Sure you have every right to have an opinion and express it, but why should they care? How about we worry about the musicianship and not fashion.
I like to wear long pants, nice shirt etc. Last time we saw a guy performing in shorts, well he was seated, baggy shorts. The nice way to say it was...We were seeing far more than we wanted to...
Why would you wear shorts unless it's part of some band theme? I consider anywhere I'm playing the stage, including out on the street busking. Good to dress nicely even there so people don't think you are just begging.
Respect the stage and respect the music, whatever your level of musical skill. With this in mind, the are very few situations where it would be appropriate to gig in shorts, IMHO.
I spent a whole Aussie $23 to up the anti on my stage gear at the local op shop. It got me a black double breasted jacket (with fake gold buttons)that fits perfectly and a single breasted Jacket that also fits perfectly, both pure wool. A pair of Jack Nicklaus black stretch pants. A pair of "Davinci" Black all leather shoes that have leather soles too! Barely used and like new. Finally a black cummerbund! The shoes were a bit big so I put some sneaker inner soles in them and managed a standing 3 hour gig with no breaks in them. This has of course now led to me buying a US $170 black Dobbs Velour Homburg hat!
I'd say shorts are a definite no. hvyj got it 100%
Where’s 1847? I think I’ve never seen him where anything other than shorts. I’ve been wearing shorts almost everyday for the last month. I reckon I was on a stage in shorts twice in that time, 3rd time in jeans I think. But they were casual affairs and unplanned apart from the jeans occasion. as a rule I wear a suit
In Southeast Texas its is very hot and muggy this time of year, and it is extremely common to see musicians in outside venues wearing shorts during the day.
Regional guitar celebrity Bobby Hughes once told me,"Everybody says,'lets go see a band, they don't say let's go hear a band'" ---------- theharmonicaclub.com (of Huntington, WV)
That picture of BB King is from the 50's and men wore suits FAR more often than they do now whenever they were going out at night and back then, for the summer, it wasn't uncommon to find suits that actually had matching shorts using the exact same material as the suit and the long pants were. Don't forget, many clubs didn't have any sort of air conditioning back in the day and so that's such a totally different ballgame than it is today.
With the cutoff jean shorts and cargo shorts, if it's an outside private party gig, that's fine but on a real stage, maybe I'm just too old school, but to me, personally, you just like like nothing but a slob on the bandstand. Now, go ahead and diss me for saying that, I can take the heat, but that's how I feel personally about that. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
Don't judge her playing (or anyone's playing) from one live video. Her rock playing on this song is not at the top of my list of great harp performances, but it is good rock playing. I like the use of dynamics in volume and in time, and enjoyed the short lines at the end. Check out some of her other stuff on YouTube. She plays a variety of styles. She has got some chops. And she can sing.
Whether you like her harp approach when rocking out on this song with her guitar player, or don't care for it, she has music on line that establishes that she is a pro level player. You don't have to be a fan of her music to acknowledge her ability.
I had heard of her before, but hadn't heard much of her playing until just now when I listened to some songs on YouTube. I enjoyed the variety of what she does, and she does it well in her own way.
Rachelle Plas is a female harp player who is fronting her own band, singing and playing harp. We should support her efforts to make it today as a harp player/singer.
See the poster on stage in the background of the video? Rachelle Plas wearing shorts and dancing around are part of the stage image of the band. Check out some female blues performers and their stage images. When you perform on stage, image counts, and you use what you have. Mick Jagger used what he had...
As I said above regarding shorts on stage, "I think it depends on the venue and style of music as to whether shorts are OK at a gig," and, "It is a band decision, and should be related to venue, event, and band." If I were playing rock harp on stage wearing shorts like those it would not have a positive impact on audience interest, even if I played the same harp lines. I probably should add that to wear shorts you have to look good in them and make them work for the performance.
The Rachelle Plas Band has gone with this image as indicated by the poster in the background. Shorts work great for her, with this type music, in this type venue.
P.S. - I have noticed that many in the harp community sometimes become very picky critics and get caught up in judging the level of a player's extended technique in a given performance, valuing only the most exceptional players in their most exceptional performances. Such criticism discards solid professional journeyman performances in live venues in favor of the rare ideal performance, and diminishes the efforts of good harp players making good music. This is probably another thread... ----------
Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Jun 06, 2018 5:13 PM
I thought that was a fairly specific question! No mention of BBQ's, Pool or Beach Parties!
I've got to ask why does every post here wind up with someone banging on about how good or bad a certain player is when someone posts a video!? As far as I'm concerned it says more about the guy that made the put down than the player. The original post was about wearing shorts on stage, not how good or bad anyone is if there's a video of them in shorts. I'm getting tired of all the negatives you get here. Just to make a point of it, here's a bit of the so so harp player here.
Be a real man and just direct the comment towards myself instead of trying to sarcastically slide it by.
Her playing (even in the second clip) is ok (or so-so) Am I blown away by it? Definitely not. It’s nothing that particularly difficult or musically moving. My issue isn’t with Rachel as a player. I am entitled to an opinion just like everyone else is.
My point was that some musician have additional assests in addition to their playing that will be capitalized upon. Rachel has the body to wear whatever she wants on stage. Will Wilde also has the physique to wear certain clothing on stage that many of the “dress purists” would consider inappropriate. That’s up to the individual musician and they can choose to dress, behave, play, act, etc whichever way they may choose.
As far as yourself taking the moral high-ground that you never state or form opinions of your own, well quite frankly, you can take that BS to someone who cares ;)
CarlA, for the record, you went beyond your point in the edited part of your post. I was in a hurry yesterday or I would have called you out for at least making your point in a generally sexist way (your follow-up makes your point better).
As for Rachel's playing, I've seen some of her playing where she is amazing. Also, although she isn't active, she is technically a member here. She joined a long time back when someone was confusing her life bio with Christelle's.
The rest of your response to John M G... well, might I suggest you take a deep breath and decide if someone disagreeing with you is worth you responding in a way that frankly makes you look that thin skinned.
Yes master boss. I apologize profusely. You are amazing, every harmonica player is amazing, John MG is beyond amazing, everything is amazing. I apologize for losing sight of that fact. ......please, I hope everyone will dig deep and find it in their hearts to forgive me. Please! Please! Please!
(I don’t think sarcasms is against the forum creed, but if it is, I sincerely and humbly hope you can forgive me!! Please, because I don’t think I can live or go on with life knowing that I offended a small group of individuals that are so sensitive that they probably melted by the time they finished reading this post.)
CarlA, the problem was your comment was borderline sexist (and that's being generous).
Of course, on re-reading I think you realized that, which is why you (wisely) edited it. I could argue that the 'master boss' bit is racist too, and that editing a post and then complaining that it really wasn't that bad is disingenuous. Critique of playing is fine. Sarcasm is fine. Sexism, racism and misrepresenting what you said is not.
It's interesting how offended you get that someone was offended by what you said.
I think YOU are amazing. I think I am amazing. I think we all are amazing. I think we all should receive trophies so nobody gets their feelings hurt. :P
I appreciate the amazing feedback and positive vibes blind Mellon. Since nacoran’s scolding, I have decided to focus my energies in a more positive way. I have been (through intense meditation and fasting) honing in my chakras to try to achieve not only perfect peace and harmony on “modern blues forum” , but more importantly to try to let the collective forces of all our “amazingness” on this board to be the epicenter of world peace, harmony, good will and just overall amazingness to bolster us in a way we have never seen.
This has also allowed me to see the error of my ways. Once an (alledged) raging misogynist and racist, the corrections I have received on this board have really done wonders for me. My bowel moments are much more regular and no longer singe my nostril hairs due to the rancid smell that once dominated my colon due to all the rage, hate, anger, and other unsavory characteristics that hardened my hell-bound soul.
To all at modern blues forum, may your bowels (and world peace) transcend upon us in a way that once only seemed impossible.
..............ps. My playing has also greatly improved. Of course I am still just proverbial scum on the bottom of the absolute worst harp players shoe, but I am hoping that I may reincarnate into players like the small group of unpretentious bunch that hoard this board.
Namaste
Last Edited by CarlA on Jun 08, 2018 10:52 AM
CarlA, I'm glad your bowels are doing better. That should improve the flow of your bs on the forum greatly. (See, I can be snarky too).
Let's not waste any more time on this though guys. The topic is shorts on stage. I suspect not all of you were born with the lovely knees I was. If you want to continue the side topic, email me, but this thread is about shorts on stage.