Dressing to impress (onstage). Any tips? What do you wear?

[VengefulTikiGod]

A very wise musician once told me that people will take you more seriously if you're well-dressed onstage. If you want people to book you for a gig, dress to impress. Throw away your stereotypes of unkept rockers in ratty jeans and t-shirts, kids, nobody is going to want to see that in their coffee shop.

 

That said...

 

As a college student, I have a long way to go in terms of reforming my attire

 

So. What do you wear on stage to avoid scaring people away?

[alahen]

How about this?

 

[lauren]

My vote:love:

How about this?

[windmill]

Capes always look good

[Terry Allan Hall]

I prefer to dress "professionally", generally in a button shirt, nice jeans, my "politically incorrect" Cuban crocodile boots, vest and either my Stetson or my Fedora hat, thusly:

 

 

 

 

 

I've found that there are definite advantages to dressing just a bit nicer than the patrons of the particular venue, both in terms of how you're paid and with the degree of respect that you're accorded as a professional musician.

 

At the same time, it behooves you to dress appropriate to the crowd you're playing to...in this case, a Bandito Motorcycle Club Birthday Bash, where (in this case) looking too spiffy would put the audience off...

 

 

And, it needed cost a lot, either...simply buy a good pair of jeans or slacks, a few nice shirts, a nice set of footwear and NEVER wear them to anything but gigs, so they stay looking nice (I even carry a "coverall" in my truck, in case I have an automotive issue on the way to or from the gig, so I won't ruin my stage clothes!)...look at used cloth stores like Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc...it'll amaze you what you can find for a tiny fraction of what you'd've paid at a "ritzy" place like Neiman-Marcus (I have an very nice tuxedo that I bought from a DAV store some years ago for $20...ideal for weddings and/or Corporate functions!)

[guitarist21]

I have a long way to go in terms of reforming my attire

 

It depends on the gig. I've played gigs in full-out black tie (dresses or very dressy skirts for girls, tuxes for guys); that's like for a benefit dinner or something. I've also played gigs at the exact opposite end of the spectrum; my solo shows are often just me in a t-shirt and jeans.

 

Otherwise, I almost always go with a simple black shirt and blue jeans. I can vary the type of black shirt depending on how formal I want to be (from low to high: t-shirt, knit sweater, nicer blouse). It is comfortable enough to play a show in and keeps the attention off the clothes and on the music.

 

Here's what I generally DON'T wear: button down anything (at least not without rolling up the sleeves which I tend to get caught on strings), hoodie-style sweatshirts (which tend to look more unprofessional than just a t-shirt), and any kind of jacket or coat.

 

Here's a pic of me (black knit sweater, jeans) and the piano player in my band:

 

 

Ellen

[OldGuitarPlayer]

I tend to dress fairly casually since most of my gigs used to generally take place in blues/folk clubs.

 

[babablowfish]

I prefer a simple understated look.

 

 

 

 

 

[OldGuitarPlayer]

I prefer a simple understated look.

 

Wow! is it me or did Lynda Carter pack on the pounds?!!!

 

All of us fellas who where teenagers in the 1970's remember Lynda Carter

[d28andm1911a1]

Depends on the gig.

 

Dress better than the audience.

 

I"ve done a bunch of beach type gigs (Hawaiian shirt and shorts).

Biker Bar newish jeans and guitar type t-shirt.

Family restaurants black jeans tux shirt and black fedora.

[Samilyn]

What Ellen said. Corporate banquets, weddings, and that sort of gig require a dress or skirt for us ladies. I favored "big" pants, the kind that look like a floaty skirt, but gave me more freedom of movement.

 

For more casual gigs, the norm for me was nice jeans, high-heeled boots, and a simple pullover or sweater.

 

My venues and personal style were usually on the conservative side, so never any holes in the jeans, sneakers, etc.

[C70man]

Wow! is it me or did Lynda Carter pack on the pounds?!!! All of us fellas who where teenagers in the 1970's remember Lynda Carter

 

He/She is properly attired for the Lynda Carter Wonder Woman look alike contest.

 

The proper guitar would be a 4th of July Esteban limited edition, with matching red strap.

 

I would like to think I would be remembered for my playing, not my looks, but then again first impressions are forever.

[missedmyexit]

It depends widely on the gig but unless you land some really swanky gigs the basics should work fine. I try to avoid the unkept, unshowered, look that seems to have grown in popularity with the bands in the boston area. As long is you are in the ball park of the audience in terms of attire I don't see it mattering. Keep it simple and let your music do the talking.

[Queequeg]

Try to emulate as closely as possible the superhero secret identity of Don Diego de la Vega, a fictional nobleman and master swordsman living in Spanish and Mexican-era California. But sunglasses will do in a pinch if your mask is @ the dry cleaners until Thursday.

[melandy]

Thanks Queeg. Hot coffee through the nose hurts.

 

Try to emulate as closely as possible the superhero secret identity of Don Diego de la Vega, a fictional nobleman and master swordsman living in Spanish and Mexican-era California. But sunglasses will do in a pinch if your mask is @ the dry cleaners until Thursday.

[Stackabones]

Depends on the gig. Dress better than the audience.

 

This is probably the shortest, most effective answer imo. You always want to be just a bit sharper dressed than the audience!

[dhoenisch]

Being a bluegrass musician, I am a blue jeans and flannel kind of guy, but then, I also don't play any paying gigs.

 

Dan

[Samilyn]

Thanks Queeg. Hot coffee through the nose hurts.

 

Ditto. Just got the monitor dried off.

[silmaneero]

This is probably the shortest, most effective answer imo. You always want to be just a bit sharper dressed than the audience!

 

Ah yes, the old 'dress one step higher than the customer' guideline... thank goodness I don't have to sell the stuff we make at work

 

Luckily for me, my favoured sharp suit and tie works fine for modern indie-style music events as well as work. I generally look like a slightly scruffy reject Interpol wannabe, albeit without the musical skill.

 

Have to take into account what kind of gig it is. Think of the audience. Is the music secondary to the event they are attending, or have they come here to listen to you/band?

 

If it's the former then you'll probably want something relatively sedate and smart; nothing extreme. If it's the latter then I think you can be a bit more extroverted and match the visual style to the music style. For example, spandex, leather and metal studs are fine for a metal gig but not so great for a generic wedding. Well maybe not fine but you know what I mean...

[Hamhand]

It might just be my old Fuddy Duddyness comin' out, but if I was payin', I'd still want all of you to look better than what I just saw. .02