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What do you wear on stage?


wraub

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Jeans and a t-shirt?

Silver lame' and a cowboy hat?

 

It seems like a lot of bands still dress in street clothes on stage, but I notice a lot of acts dressing up more for stage wear, even if it's just nice pants and a real shirt.

 

I know that the way you have to move on stage, and what instrument and styles you play will dictate what you wear, to an extent. And we all obviously think alot about how we sound.

 

But how much thought and effort do you put into how you look on stage?

 

Peace,

 

wraub

 

I'm a lot more like I am now than I was when I got here.

 

 

 

 

 

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It depends entirely on two things:

venue

instrument

 

In the old wedding/clubdate days, it was simple: WEAR A TUX regardless. Aside from that, when I was drumming or playing percussion I'd typically wear a tanktop plus comfortable cotton slacks - while for bass, guitar, or keys I like to wear clothing that 'flows'. Nice shoes. Slacks with a bit of a flare at the bottom, a shirt open at the neck with no pockets and preferably mid-forearm-length sleeves that flare out a bit too. Comfortable, moves well, AND stays out of the way while playing.

I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist.

 

This ain't no track meet; this is football.

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I have always felt that a truly unique and killer chapeau (i.e., a sweet lid) can go a long way, but it's definitely a risk.

 

Comfort definitely rules the decision making for me.

 

If you're dead sexxxayyyyy you have more flexibility (or you can go with black, right CMDN).

 

It helps to have something in your appearance that makes you stand out a bit so that your adoring fans can track you down following the performance with relative ease and tell you how great you were.

 

Peace.

--s-uu

spreadluv

 

Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars.

Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk.

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I don't believe I'm the only one here who collects Hawaiian shirts. I usually will wear one open with a matching or complimenting tee underneath for the cover band gigs. In the summertime it's strictly shorts, sneakers and tank tops though. Once in awhile, the guitarist and I will wear Raiders garb and spend the night hearing how much our favorite team sucks.

 

Our drummer has a thing for hats. Not caps, but hats. Tall cat in the hat type hats. He has several and you never know when he's going to show up with something new. Always outrageous and funny.

 

Original gigs are different. We tend to all wear black and I like to wear a shirt with a message on it. My fave is "Pissing off the entire planet, one person at a time."

"He is to music what Stevie Wonder is to photography." getz76

 

I have nothing nice to say so . . .

 

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Well, I never played weddings or nice classy joints but if I did I would dress for the occasion.

 

I have played lots of dive bars, block parties, and fairs. What I wore all depended on what band I was in and what page we were all trying to be on.

 

In the blues band I would wear jeans/slacks depending on venue, always a nice airy light shirt w/ short sleeves usually dark colored, and a cap I have its one of those leather ones looks like a driving cap or something...

 

In the metal bands it was jeans, sometimes shaved head w/ goatee, bandana, some offensive t-shirt(I used to wear one that said "Hitler's World Tour" on the back looked like a concert T shirt but instead of tour dates it had the cities he took over), and I always wore old sneakers.

 

The metal days were a while ago. Lately I've been playing in classic rock cover bands, and one or two original bands. What I wear now for everything is nice loose black slacks, loose casual collared shirt, and comfortable black shoes. The darker colors really bring out the sunburst finish on my bass. :freak:

"The world will still be turning when you've gone." - Black Sabbath

 

Band site: www.finespunmusic.com

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Originally posted by mattulator:

I don't believe I'm the only one here who collects Hawaiian shirts...

 

Our drummer has a thing for hats...

No, matt, you're not, I love Hawaiian and Caribbean shirts. On my last trip to San Juan I stumbled onto a clearance sale for these light-fabric shirts with various colors and patterns. Bought up a dozen in different sizes and mailed them home. Jeans or slacks, blue and black, sometimes white or off-white depending on the shirts.

 

I've collected some mean hats, but usually don't wear them under lights as I tend to work up a sweat as I go along. Those I use for "dress up" or holidays. My latest is an English bowler. My most ancient is a top hat formerly owned by a Virginia coach driver about 80 years ago.

 

I do have a few suits I use with either black tees or something continental if I'm doing a formal gig or if I'm expecting to impress some femme fatale. Haven't bought a tux yet because I haven't settled on my optimum weight yet, but that's in the future, so for now I rent if the occasion demands it.

:wave:

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Depends on the band, the occasion. Most bands - street clothes (or maybe a slightly hipper, more ostentatious version of what you'd wear in the street for some bands when I was younger). But I have been in bands that dressed up to look different/put on a show. Most outlandish costume: white paper boiler suit, black boots, black Afro wig, black (Mexican porn star style) fake moustache, star shades a la Bootsy. The band was called The Afronauts. Happy days.
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Depends on the venue

Tux for all corporate/wedding type shows

 

Suit for private parties - anniversary signifigant b day etc...

 

Neat casual for restuarants ( no jeans - nice button down shirt and dress pants / shiny shoes)

 

Bars - jeans and whatever type of shirt you want to wear...

 

Outdoors venues - at the beach we can wear neat casual lite colors and sometimes shorts are OK.

Neat casual for other outdoor events

For the outdoor winter gigs we usually wear down coats gloves boots hats scarfs depending on the occasion.

www.danielprine.com

 

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I've nearly always been in groups that had some sort of dress requirement.

 

For many years of top 40 bands, we wore matching polyester shirts and matching pants.

 

Once when the gig ended we tried to burn our shirts under the flagpole of the hotel.

 

They melted.

 

In the disco years, we actually all had matching white suits, a la John Travolta.

 

These days, on most of my gigs I am required to wear a tuxedo. On the rest, I am supposed to wear a coat and tie. I do have a collection of snappy suits and sportcoats and sufficiently loud ties. And I never wear a white shirt.

 

On those few gigs wear I am allowed to wear what I like, I usually wear all black, of course. Black dressy pants and a black silk shirt.

 

It is a stage after all, you should look better than the audience. Unless you want to look worse than the audience.

 

But you should never look the same.

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t helps to have something in your appearance that makes you stand out a bit so that your adoring fans can track you down following the performance with relative ease and tell you how great you were.
My sequin thong usually sparkles really pretty from the disco ball...

Tenstrum

 

"Paranoid? Probably. But just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face."

Harry Dresden, Storm Front

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Originally posted by jeremy c:

It is a stage after all, you should look better than the audience. Unless you want to look worse than the audience.

 

But you should never look the same.

Ladies and gentlemen, I believe this is the right answer, or at least the one that sounds like the truth, and is therefore beautiful, hence right. Or something.

 

Thanks JC! (and thanks all for replying)

 

Reason I brought this up is because the guitarist in the band I play with is all gung-ho for "stage wear", i.e. looking better than the audience, or at least looking like you dressed up for the stage. It is a show, after all.

I am not opposed to this at all, but now he's talking about going for broke, being silly, kilts, hats, whatever, the works.

Just curious where y'all are at...

 

Thanks again.

 

Peace,

 

wraub

 

I'm a lot more like I am now than I was when I got here.

 

 

 

 

 

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Depends on the band and the venue.

 

The rock band is all black. Because it's louder. And more rock.

 

The 80's cover band is an assortment of stage clothes that vary slightly based on the location of the gig. I have an assortment of highly fashion un-conscious items that I wear; including the dreaded skin-tight red velvet pants.

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We've played shows in bunny costumes and bear costumes.

 

I also played a show once with a ginormous digusting wig because the drummer had a mohawk and the guitar player had polka ots.

 

I also once played a show in the drummers boxers and bulls jersey with a jester hat.

 

I remember once showing up to a show and the guitar player was wearing the same shirt as me.

 

At one show during acoustic show where i had broken my wrist i wasn't playing i decided to model our girl's tanktops for the crowd during a couple song.

 

In my first cover band we use to wear matching bright blue shirts with the band name written on it.....man, now THAT looked stupid

Hiram Bullock thinks I like the band volume too soft (but he plays guitar). Joe Sample thinks I like it way too loud (but he plays piano). -Marcus Miller
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Originally posted by Sean Eldon:

I tend to not wear shirts on stage, because if I don't sweat all over it I can keep wearing it, and that means I can wear the same shirt for weeks at a time on tour.

For reeks, I mean weeks at a time, eh?

:eek:

ATM

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Well im playing this very afternoon at our drummers 18th party and i recon im wearing my new Rush 30th baseball shirt my dad got me for Chrimbo, its very comfy and just the right size so its good to move in.

 

Im quite a built guy (not with muscle but with...ya know...pies) so its baggy jeans and a good size shirt mostly.

 

Much Love :thu:

Dave

"I am just an instrument cos the lord is playing this funk"-T.M Stevens
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Mainly casual stuff - what I would wear about the street normally - although in the Rosetta recently (a top quality venue in Belfast) the stage lighting rig was hot so I took the shirt off. The first time I've ever done that and have to say it was nice. Although the advancing and ever spreading gut means I probably won't be able to do it for much longer. The pic in my profile was taken while I was on-stage.

He who decends to the level of a beast takes away the pain of being a man.

 

www.popmachine.co.uk

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Mainly street cloths. Depending on the gig, maybe nice slacks & shirt. Somtimes funny stuff. One year, for opening day of Baseball, We wore our favorite team uniforms, complete with stirrup socks & eye-blackout. I was the former centerfielder for the Red Sox. Of course, an audience member, who was crocked beyond belief, screams out after the guitar player introduces me & says he "remembers" me! That was a good chuckle.
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Tux or suit for weddings.

Blazer,untucked shirt,jeans and nice shoes if I can get away with it.

For bar gigs I wear the same stuff I always wear. Army hat (think Klinger),Unusual t shirts or hoody,jeans,and one of my many fine pairs of kicks.

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well, even though i have never performed live for anyone yet, i do have an Idea.

 

Proably Dickie's or Jean pants, or Dickie's shorts depending on the weather, and probably a good looking shirt, something that i can be comfortable in and i can sweat in.

 

Besides, i am a teenager in a rock band right. :D

-BGO

 

5 words you should live by...

 

Music is its own reward

 

---------------

My Band: www.Myspace.com/audreyisanarcissist

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When we play our annual backyard thing at the guitarist's house, I wear a Hawaiian shirt or music-related tshirt. Not too different from the crowd, but it's OK. I've sprayed my hair (orange one year, blue another) to be sure I look different.

 

I wear black work boots (Smith - $19), black work pants (Sears $29), and a blue flame black bowling shirt (Kohls $18). You've seen pics of this outfit. Sometimes I just wear a black button down or black t.

 

I mention the prices because you can get the gang to dress alike without losing your paycheck. At least as a rock band.

 

Connie hasn't stepped in, but she's arranging a whole different thing. That's a show!

 

Tom

www.stoneflyrocks.com

Acoustic Color

 

Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars and keep your feet on the ground. - Theodore Roosevelt

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Usually it is just street clothes. Probably the same thing I would wear if I was going to check out a band.

 

You know it works good for big rock star types like me so, I can blend in without having to be bothered during a break. :D

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