Thanks for all the answers so far...

The question has arisen in several ways lately, so I'm just kind of curious.

We'll be playing the Ren Faire starting this weekend, and of course we'll be "in costume" for that. As a street performer in an era when women weren't supposed to be street performers, I go "in drag" as a beardless apprentice to my master, the estimable Reynaud.

The bluegrass band wants the guys in jackets and ties. Some bluegrass acts look casual, some appear in coordinated outfits. Jackets and ties seem to be the prevalent mode between those two extremes.

When I'm playing background music, I like to be in black skirt or trousers and a white shirt. When I'm center stage, I like to be in something attractive but not distracting because it makes me feel more confident, hence I *think* my performance is better than it would be if I were wondering if there was nasty ketchup spill distracting the audience.

Everything, of course, MUST have deep roomy pockets for picks, capos, tuners, tissues, pennywhistles, bells, and shaky egg.

At first I was wondering if my musings were a "gender issue" but it looks as if men give some thought to their onstage appearance too.

Keep your ideas coming!