MagicPauley57
148 posts
Dec 14, 2013
11:26 AM
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There are many musicians who fall into different camps in how to dress when they go out to play live, in a band, at a jam, or strangely when visiting a music shop!
Are you relaxed, casual, smart?
Dress up or down, have a period image?
Im not going to make any opinions yet, as I want to hear what everyone thinks.
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boris_plotnikov
915 posts
Dec 14, 2013
11:35 AM
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I hate to worry about dress. It's pitty but I have to agree that audience reacts to clothes and the way you look.
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Excuse my bad English.
My videos.
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bluemoose
929 posts
Dec 14, 2013
11:53 AM
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I usually wear dark blue or black short sleeve dress shirts and black jeans but it's the shoes that count!
The pointier the better.
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gene
1144 posts
Dec 14, 2013
12:25 PM
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I'm not a performer, but as a viewer, I like to see the band dressed differently than the rest of us. HOW they dress depends upon their style of music. They might wear horribly tattered clothes, they might wear nice suits, they might wear ultra-flambouant attire, they might all wear the same uniform. It's all fine, but when they dress like "any of us", they look like they're nobody.
Last Edited by gene on Dec 14, 2013 12:26 PM
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BigSteveNJ
28 posts
Dec 14, 2013
2:39 PM
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Jimmy Witherspoon, the great blues and ballad singer, was once told by another musician, "Jimmy, leave the discount racks alone. Get yourself one good suit."
Gene (above) has an excellent point. The musicians in a band are there to perform and ENTERTAIN people. They are, therefore, NOT supposed to be dressed in such a way that you can't tell who's in the band and who's a customer.
If someone is playing "period" music, like a nostalgic folk-music act, or perhaps a swing band (like that zoot-suit, neo-swing "revival" that happened in the Nineties), then a "period" look might be in order.
I personally take my cues from Witherspoon, Big Joe Turner, Fats Waller and Wynonie Harris... there's no question who's the frontman when I have fronted a band.
Of course, in MUCH more casual settings, things might be different, but if you're gigging or planning to present your band in such a way as to GET gigs, then you have no excuse for dressing like you just came from mowing the lawn. Your image is your "calling card"; it tells people (many of whom will NEVER speak to you directly) all about what music you play, what level of professionalism they can expect and whether you're to be taken seriously or are just "a band" that some bar has playing tonight.
If you're playing dirty, crusty, nasty rock clubs, and piercings and tattoos and ratty clothes are your "thing", then by all means go ahead. If, however, you are trying to play places that vet their clientele as well as their musicians (i.e. dress code, tie required, etc), you would do well to aim a bit higher.
My take on it (and my advice) is to dress like you've already got the TOP gig you can imagine having.
I picture myself and my band about to go on TV in front of a big theater crowd, no matter what the venue actually is. The rule in my band is to OWN your spot on the bandstand, both musically and personally. Your image contributes to MY image, which contributes to my paycheck, which contributes to my budget for steak, which thing I will not allow messed with. ;-)
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BigSteveNJ
29 posts
Dec 14, 2013
2:44 PM
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I also have to agree with Bluemoose; for crying out loud, you spend $1000 on a Mission amp, $100 on customized harps, $250 on a custom mic, hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on PA gear, etc.
WHY would you wear $29.99 worth of Payless pleather shoes?
In all seriousness, coming from a person with physical limitations which include a bad back and a bum hip, a good shoe, fitted correctly by a competent salesperson, might cost you $150 or more, but you can be assured of lasting quality AND a proper fit, which will help you endure long hours on the bandstand...
...and save you from looking like a jive turkey. ;-)
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Frank
3495 posts
Dec 14, 2013
2:47 PM
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Guess who this is ?
Last Edited by Frank on Dec 16, 2013 1:31 PM
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tmf714
2245 posts
Dec 14, 2013
3:32 PM
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Steve Marriner or John Nemeth-
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Mirco
52 posts
Dec 14, 2013
3:46 PM
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Steve Martin said that you should always dress better than your audience.
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Aussiesucker
1355 posts
Dec 14, 2013
4:01 PM
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If you look good, you feel good = play better. Or at least the audience might think so. If you couldn't care less about your appearance it is treating your audience with disrespect. How one dresses is a very personal thing but I would consider a good rule of thumb would be dress to impress as if you were going on a 1st date. Of course the venue, the audience etc will pre determine as to if it is casual or formal. If you look too formal at a casual gathering or vice versa then you will be out of place...not a good look.
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HARPOLDIE’S YOUTUBE
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Frank
3497 posts
Dec 14, 2013
4:01 PM
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Steve Marriner
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walterharp
1256 posts
Dec 15, 2013
2:32 PM
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if you are in a blues band and a middle-aged man, the middle-aged women really appreciate well dressed. As they are the gate keepers and decide where the couples go, it can't hurt keep the crowd bigger....
there are also studies on speakers that show that if they are more dressed than the audience, they are respected more...
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MP
3006 posts
Dec 15, 2013
3:27 PM
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Don't wear a suit to a biker run. Avoid the Blues Brothers hat and sunglasses look cuz it is silly.
Dress sharp. Italian Shoes or knock offs, good watch, pants and shirts that look tailored. Sport coat is OK if cold. leather jacket for roadhouses.
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i still have a little Hohner stock for reed replacement in three common keys.
when these are gone i'm out of the biz.
click MP for my e-mail address and more info.
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Frank
3506 posts
Dec 15, 2013
7:07 PM
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The Iceman
1333 posts
Dec 16, 2013
7:03 AM
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Always dress a little better than the crowd to whom you play.
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The Iceman
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Rick Davis
2777 posts
Dec 16, 2013
8:53 AM
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This is what I wore last night. It was cold outside, so I had on a big old black leather coat, black hat and boots, black t-shirt, and jeans.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Memphis Mini harp amp
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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mr_so&so
773 posts
Dec 16, 2013
9:45 AM
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With on disrespect to Rick, I'd say avoid logo-wear of any kind.
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SuperBee
1583 posts
Dec 16, 2013
12:03 PM
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Hi Frank. Could you resize that photo please? Preferably to a smaller size.
Thanks,
Dave
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LSC
559 posts
Dec 16, 2013
12:26 PM
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When in doubt go with your basic black ensemble. And remember it is a proven scientific fact that sharp dressed men get laid more.
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LSC
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BigSteveNJ
33 posts
Dec 16, 2013
12:44 PM
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LSC, I heard somewhere once that "every girl's crazy" about them! ;-)
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Frank
3510 posts
Dec 16, 2013
1:34 PM
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SuperBee
1584 posts
Dec 16, 2013
1:50 PM
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Thank you :0)
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Frank
3521 posts
Dec 17, 2013
7:57 AM
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colman
282 posts
Dec 17, 2013
3:18 PM
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wear what ever but please stop wearing 50`s bowling shirts!!!
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Rick Davis
2787 posts
Dec 17, 2013
5:46 PM
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-Little Rick Davis
The Memphis Mini harp amp
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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kudzurunner
4453 posts
Dec 17, 2013
6:08 PM
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You can't go wrong with black.
Dress depends on the venue and the weather. I've seen some old school bluesmen wear some surprisingly....relaxed stuff in the summer. Shorts, definitely. That always surprised me. Sugar Blue wore shorts at HCH.
I sweat a lot, so black is a good idea. You need to feel good in what you're wearing: that's the main thing. You need to feel like an animal when you walk onstage. Whatever facilitates that, rather than constricton, self-consciousness, and inhibition, is a good idea.
Don't dress retro unless your music is retro.
I used to wear black jeans and a Hawaian shirt or the equivalent in the summer. I think Hawaian shirts are overdone--but that uniform is exactly what Billy Branch wore at HCH.
It's about the sweat.
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CarlA
409 posts
Dec 17, 2013
6:36 PM
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This is the kind of number I would typically wear on really cold, winter night to a blues jam/gig
Last Edited by CarlA on Dec 17, 2013 6:38 PM
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Frank
3525 posts
Dec 17, 2013
6:45 PM
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That's comfortable to wear bowling too :)
Last Edited by Frank on Dec 17, 2013 6:48 PM
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BronzeWailer
1176 posts
Dec 18, 2013
5:17 AM
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I always wear a blue or grey suit and 100-watt shirt to gigs and when busking. Makes people take notice and distracts them from my ("developing") musicianship. (Now that I am working again I work in shorts and T-shirt, could work in the nude if I wanted.) I have over 800 ties and want to get use out of 'em. I don't want to look like I'm picking up the kids from daycare.
BronzeWailer's YouTube
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Frank
3527 posts
Dec 18, 2013
5:32 AM
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blueswannabe
388 posts
Dec 18, 2013
6:37 PM
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Dress unfortunately makes a difference. The band should look like a cohesive unit so when you look at them you can say there's the band. Venue and weather make a difference.
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