Gig wear

Subject: Gig wear
From: Vixen
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 08:23 AM

D' Cats--

What do you wear on gigs?

Here's the sub-text--is appearance important to your performance?

V (fully aware that excessive curiosity has killed many a 'Cat)

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: GUEST,Sooz (at work)
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 08:26 AM

At the moment it has to be the T shirt advertising the Gainsborough Folk Festival
Mostly though, its something black and with pockets so I have somewhere to put my hands while I sing!

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Hamish
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 08:33 AM

Tee shirt, jeans, trainers: or, sometimes, big clumpy shoes.

Cos it's not too formal and that reflects what I do.

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 08:59 AM

Like Hamish, I don't want to appear too formal. Also, I don't want my appearance to be striking in any way (other than my girth), so out go flashy shirts or T-shirts with a message on the front. And I don't want to exaggerate my size either.

So it's black T-shirt (occasionally with a slogan on the back, like "I lost me marbles" to allude to my Greek background), and black or dark trousers. Sometimes with a dark sleeveless vest on top.

I want people to concentrate on my face when I sing - that's where the emotion comes out.

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Leadfingers
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 09:04 AM

I have been using waistcoats for TOO long - Very convenient for keeping picks and capos in a handy place as usually they have two pockets , Also , I have a couple of 'Shoulder Holster' wallets , which the waistcoat neatly conceals from public view , ideal in warm weather at festivals .

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 09:30 AM

Last night I saw a blues band called Storm Warning. Singer/harp player and guitarist wore brightly tie-die T-shirts with black leather waistcoats (useful as Terry said, for picks, slides and harps). The drummer had a pink shirt, the bass player a black T-shirt and suit jacket and the keyboard player wore a white grandad shirt under a black tailcoat (!) and a baseball cap. I'm not sure what image they were trying to project!
RtS
(in the audience we were mostly wearing black!)

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 09:35 AM

Diamante tiara, gold Lurex Boob-Tube, pink tutu and green wellies. And when I'm not playing a Gay Club.................
:0)

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 09:36 AM

I wear an off the shoulder sequined frock..... oh ... I'll get my coat!

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Wesley S
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 09:51 AM

I like a vest when the weather is cool enough. Along with jeans, a shirt and ropers { a short heeled boot }. I wear a suit and tie for church gigs.

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 09:52 AM

Are you a vicar?

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 09:53 AM

Shoes - I forgot shoes!
I do wear them...

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 09:53 AM

No, a Bishop.

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 09:54 AM

But there's no truth in the rumour that I go commando...

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Maryrrf
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 10:00 AM

Depending on the venue, I usually dress casually (jeans and a shirt or t-shirt, or possibly a long skirt) but I do always try to look neat. I don't like it when the entertainer looks like they just came inside from a day of yard work. I think it should look like at least a little bit of effort was made.

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: fiddler
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 10:07 AM

Depends on the Gig,

Weddings have been known to demand a DJ, Student gigs T shirt and Jeans - But - as a Caller something that sets me apart form the band and the crowd so they (band and public) know where I am at all times!

I always pay homage to the god of beer vouchers (money) the public provide my access to the God so I have to show respect to them and their supply of it to me!

Andy

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 10:21 AM

When I'm singing my own songs, I usually wear jeans and a tastefully outlandish Hawaiian shirt. Plus sandals if there isn't too much snow on the ground. On occasion, I have been known to wear shorts, however I've been told my pale, ghostly Alaskan legs would be better off unseen.

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 10:26 AM

I find a t-shirt usually suffices for indoors, unless it's draughty. I always wear trousers with a button-down back pocket, to keep my wallet from straying, so jeans are out -- the pockets aren't usualy deep enough either. Trainers or other comfy footwear; maybe sandals (no sock please!) if it's hot. If it's too cold for the t-shirt, some kind of warm top without scratchy fittings like buttons, zips, press-studs: they make a mess ofthe back of your instrument, as well as a lot of noise. Maybe if I got paid occasionally I'd do a Phil Ochs and go for the gold lamé suit. (And they'd all go "gold lamé, look at that suit!" -- beat you to it, Roger!)

Steve

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: muppett
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 10:32 AM

I wear as little as is legally allowed as I'm usually prancing about the place, so it's usually shorts, vest and sandals or bare foot

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Vixen
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 11:18 AM

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!

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 11:43 AM

I think there was a thread on this a couple years back with some very informative ideas. Not time this morning for me to search for it. Lately I've been wearing a vest - (same as a waistcoat ??) because of the pocket thing - picks, capo, tuner - and a fairly dressy shirt and pants depending on the situation.

I've noticed that bluegrass bands in my area (NW USA)either wear "suits and hats" ala Bill Monroe, or are really casual - sloppy jeans, hung out T-shirts, sneakers, etc. I prefer the "suited" look. Folk groups (the very few there are) fall somewhere in between.

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: GUEST,ClaireBear
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 11:46 AM

Back when I performed in a general folk band (in Berkeley in the late seventies), I used always to wear an item or so of "folk" clothing, from no matter what culture -- I had a couple of embroidered smocks from Central America that went with jeans; a black Nepali dress with handmade silver buttons; a simple wraparound dress made of Japanese batik fabric; a handwoven sweater. I didn't want to project a "hey I'm hip" image exactly, but I did think handmade clothing helped frame the handmade music we were making.

More recently I've played sea music with a buncha guys, one of whom liked to emphasize the working-class nature of sea music by wearing plain trousers and a plaid shirt; another always emphasized the sea-going aspect by wearing a rather grotty, moth-eaten fisherman's sweater and stained canvas pants; a third emphasized his role as a performer by wearing a vivid Hawaiian shirt and tight black jeans; and a fourth liked to evoke the past in a collarless white shirt, dark trousers, a gray plaid vest, and a(n American) civil war cap. What's a girl to do? I tried each of those approaches, and they all worked well for me. Most of the time, the fourth option worked best for the kind of music we did and where we did it, so I often opted for a "timeless" look that would allow folks to imagine me in whatever setting the music evoked in them. This meant I wore a plain, long, full black skirt with a (vaguely lacy or flannel, depending on the season) blouse, sometimes accompanied by a weskit or shawl.

Hope that helps!

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Cluin
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 11:53 AM

Loose light clothing. It gets warm up there often.

"Cotton breathes."

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: treewind
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 01:01 PM

There was a rather pointed posting on uk.music.folk recently that implied that folk perforrmers weren't going to get aywhere if they didn't present themselves properly. I dress up a little bit for gigs, but I've noticed that some get up (even on a festival stage) looking studiously scruffy (or is it that a gaping hole in the knee of your jeans is still the height of fashion???).

At the Civic Centre in Otley we got some stick from MC Stanley Accrington becuse we were in all black stage gear - this was a mistake purely because there was a big black backdrop on the stage so were were almost invisible. I'll bear that in mind, for the future.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 01:16 PM

Mmm - I'll think on that, as I prefer black myself. But that was an opportunity to smile, Anahata! Also, jewellery shows better against black. Now, where did I put those medallions on chains from my toboy days...

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Mark Ross
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 01:24 PM

I have been known to appear in antique 2&3 piece suits. Sometimes a plaid shirt and a polka dot bow tie. I also remember one gig in Shelby, Montana 20 some years ago, where the word came down that I was not to show up looking like an unemployed logger(hickory shirt, black Frisco jeans with suspenders and logging boots).

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Chris Green
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 01:32 PM

I generally wear whatever's clean (or least dirty!)

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: TS
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 01:39 PM

I wear my kilt...a black tshirt usually advertising a sponsor..(ie..Guinness most times)..and a pair of combat boots with wool socks rolled down. Hair streaked blond and spikey..I like looking like a rocker and play the trad. stuff..its fun!...also helps us target a younger crowd that wants to have fun......Slàinte!

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: RichM
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 01:42 PM

I play in a bluegrass band; the lead singer is usually in black, and always wears a black cowboy hat.
As upright bass player, I go first for comfort; not too warm because I sweat a lot when I play, and it's not very attractive in a spotlight.
So, first go for comfort, then choose something appropriate to the venue. It should look classy and be comfortable.

Rich

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Fortunato
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 02:00 PM

Hi Vixen, we going to see you at the getaway?

I believe that the performers should be imminently recognizable, clearly distinguishable. I would recommend that women wear dresses do their hair in an attractive fashion. Hats set me apart, not baseball caps, and vests work, but colorful shirts are better. If you wear t-shirts and other rather ordinary cloths you had better be one helluva player. Remember John Hartford, as good as he was, always wore a costume, understated perhaps, but unmistakeable.

chance

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Leadfingers
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 02:16 PM

The waistcoat bit is only for solo Folk gigs - The rest of the time I play in a 'Theme' costume group - Medieval , Pirate , Victorian Nautical , Western or whatever !

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: John Robinson (aka Cittern)
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 02:21 PM

A smile.

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Chris Green
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 02:36 PM

Nothing else!?

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: frogprince
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 02:47 PM

If you get booked for the Avalon Folk Festival, in West Virginia, the smile will do nicely.

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 02:48 PM

I'm not a performer but do work front of house and a variety of events. The quality and smartness of my clothing is normally directly proportional to the ticket price.

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Don Firth
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 03:00 PM

Personal thoughts on what to wear for a gig (at least what I wore):

It depends a lot on the gig. The first few actual paid gigs I had were for organizations such as the Overlake Friends of the Library. This particular one was at their annual fund-raising banquet. Since I sat at the head table with the VIPs and partook of the dinner, I dressed appropriately for the occasion:   dark suit, white dress shirt, and tie (uh—and shoes and socks).

On the first television series I did ("Ballads and Books," 1959, educational channel, now PBS affiliate) I wore a yellow cotton turtleneck and a pair of slacks (I also wore shoes, but the camera usually didn't get down that far). It was black-and-white TV, so the turtleneck looked like it was white. Patti McLaughlin, my lovely singing partner on the show (and probably the real reason a lot of people were watching the show), wore a light colored turtleneck and skirt (we were going for a "Bobbsey Twins" effect).

For concerts with Bob Nelson (Deckman), we tended to coordinate what we wore (usually shirt and slacks), but rarely exact matches like the Kingston Trio (button-down shirts with vertical stripes, etc.). In my solo concerts I sometimes wore a black silk shirt and black slacks. The idea here was for singing in theaters or auditoriums (auditoria?) with someone at work up in the lighting booth. For dramatic effect on some songs, the stage would be darkened and the spotlight narrowed so that all you could see from the audience were my face, my hands, and my guitar, sort of floating in space. Other times, I wore a navy blue blazer, white shirt with plaid tie, and grey flannel slacks (my Canadian brother-in-law suggested this—cuts across social lines and is generally acceptable both where formal wear is expected and where casual wear is the norm—but watch the tie-tack; it can gouge up the back of your guitar).

In my coffeehouse and club gigs, I usually wore a cotton turtleneck and a pair of slacks. I had a whole drawer full of cotton turtlenecks in various colors, mostly darkish. Sometimes I wore a sport shirt instead.

The point is to dress appropriately for the occasion and always look neat, even when informally dressed. I feel that this shows respect for the audience. Of course, if you are trying to project an image, that's another matter. Renaissance Faires probably call for a period costume. But I personally take a dim view of the folk singer who, wanting to project an image of being a member of "the folk" (even though urban-born and raise, and terrified of cows and barnyard fowl), appears on stage wearing bib overalls while the audience is in formal evening wear—although the New Lost City Ramblers could bring this off. But they were not just singing folk songs, they were performing a particular style of music and in a sense, they were putting on a show. That's a bit different.

Leadbelly, once he got away from the Lomaxes who wanted him to perform in prison stripes, was always nattily dressed in a nice looking suit, white dress shirt, and bow tie. Quite elegant. There's a photo of Leadbelly and Richard Dyer-Bennet (who usually performed in a tux or white tie and tails) singing a duet. Man, would I like to have heard that!!

If you want to walk out in front of an audience wearing your pajamas, make sure that the audience quickly catches on to why you're dressed this way (a program of lullabies, perhaps?).

Just a few ruminations, all subject to modification depending on circumstances.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 03:11 PM

Subject: Fashion Guidelines

Many of us "Old Folks" (those over 40, WAY over 40 or...... hovering near 40) are quite confused about how we should present ourselves. We're unsure about the kind of image we are projecting and whether or not we are correct as we try to be nice and conform to the fashions that the designers in NYC, California, and/or Paris inflict upon the world. So I made a sincere study of the situation and here are the results.

I don't want to burst your bubble, but despite what you may have seen on the streets, the following combinations do not go together and thus should be avoided:

1. A nose ring and bifocals
2. Spiked hair and bald spots
3. A pierced tongue and dentures
4. Miniskirts and support hose
5. Ankle bracelets and corn pads
6. Speedo's and cellulite
7. A belly button ring and a gall bladder surgery scar
8. Unbuttoned disco shirts and a heart monitor
9. Midriff shirts and a midriff bulge
10. Bikinis and liver spots
11. Short shorts and varicose veins
12. In-line skates and a walker
13. Thongs and Depends

Please keep these basic guidelines foremost in your mind when you shop.

~S~

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: GUEST,John from, Tarneybackle
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 03:34 PM

Depends -

Hogmanay at a fourstar hotel - kilt and Jacobite shirt.

Usual gigs - jeans, cool shoes (for me hot feet) and often a light cotton collarless shirt over my waist band from Skye Batiks - wacky colours and designs. I wear the shirt out so that belt buckles and studs on the jeans don't damage the guitar. I loke collarless shirts because they don't get messed up when you change instruments during a performance.

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: PoppaGator
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 03:38 PM

Wizzy:

Thongs and Depends -- why not? LOL

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Marje
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 03:49 PM

Looking at it from a punter's point of view, I appreciate it when the performer(s) look as if they've made a bit of an effort and haven't just thrown on the first thing that came to hand. This doesn't mean it has to be formal, but it should look deliberate. So when there's more than one performer, it looks good if there's some evidence of collusion, so that you get the impression they did at least discuss what they'd wear (and even better if they end up with a pleasing combination of colours and styles, not just 7 shades of black).

The appearance of the act/band is part of the enjoyment of a live gig, and it seeom odd to me when a band take endless trouble over sound-checks etc but look as if they couldn't care less about the visual aspects of the performance.

I'll endorse what Anahata says about black - quite often the background is black, and all you can see of the black-clad performer is the hands and face. Anyway, black seems to say, "I'm not really here, I'm anonymous, don't look at me" (one reason teenagers like it so much). Black is for the sound-crew and the stage-hands. To me, performers come across better with a bit of colour and brightness and individuality.

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Don Firth
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 03:57 PM

Slightly off the subject, but somewhat in line with Susan's post above:

I often attended the annual Norwescons (science fiction conventions) a few years back, and many of the people in attendance wore costumes of one sort or another. One year there were about a dozen Darth Vaders (tall ones, short ones, etc.). There were always a lot of Enterprise crew members there (TOS and TNG), not to mention the occasional Klingon and plenty of folks with soup-bowl haircuts and pointy ears.

One young woman in particular:   I think she was shooting for the Red Sonja look. Now, although on a well-muscled and athletic young Amazon, it might make quite a nice picture for the average red-blooded male to look upon, I have never quite understood the practicality of a warrior woman wearing a chain mail bikini. But, be that as it may. This young woman wore a sort of tiara, a plastic broadsword hung on a baldric, thong sandals, and a bikini made of simulated chain mail. And that was it, except for, perhaps, a wrist watch. The young woman was very well-endowed indeed. But the problem was that, rather that being well-endowed just in the usual locations, she was well-endowed all over. I mean, like, ALL over!

But what the hell? It was a weekend for fantasy, and she was thoroughly enjoying hers.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: treewind
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 04:00 PM

WYSIWYG - thanks for that list, most enlightening.... I'm just off the the boot sale now to get rid of a few things I won't be needing anymore......

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 04:24 PM

Email arrived in my inbox just in time for this thread.

~S~

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: The Unicorn Man
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 04:51 PM

I wear tye dye Mystical T shirts and tye dye cloud like jeans, with a big pair of Cat boots. If it is cold I wear an Army over coat and a weed woolie hat, I bought in Amsterdam. What a dude I am. I was walking to a folk club one day and a women stopped me and asked me my name. She said "You look just like the sort of person I would like to listen to" If only I SOUNDED like the sort of person she would like to listen to I thought. I think it's important to dress as you feel and not to worry about what you think people are thinking about you. Stay true to yourself and you can't go wrong.

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Terry Allan Hall
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 04:56 PM

Like this: Me at work

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Blowzabella
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 05:03 PM

I remember seeing a group performing, of whom I am a fan. They were generally very well-dressed, but had got ready for the gig in a rush. The concertina player (who spent a lot of time, with one leg crossed over another) displayed a lot of bare leg and the WRONG coloured socks. And I found it distracting. (okay - lets not go into the reasons I found it distracting but I'll bet I wasn't the only one). Chaps - consider wearing longer socks - and of the right colour for the rest of your outfit.

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Compton
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 05:32 PM

Thirty years ago, like every english folkie, I wore the obligitory fairisle sweater, the beard and the tankard fixed onto the belt...then I got better...now owt goes, except ties !!

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 12:39 AM

But have any of you experienced Wardrobe failures during Folk Music?

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 02:43 AM

What I wear on stage is very important. I've been honing that stage persona for a long time. Soon I'll get my picture posted in the member pictures section here. Meanwhile, suffice to say that if I didn't dress as I do on stage about two thirds of the whole thing wouldn't work.

Stephen Lee

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 03:38 AM

PS to Steve Parkes, ever since I saw a gold lame suit in the window of Zeller's in Birmingham c 195-, I always yearned to own one....sadly there has never been an excuse...
RtS

Subject: RE: Gig wear
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 04:14 AM

Who needs an excuse, Roger? In my Music hall days (that's the 1970s!) I used to wear a topper with a tail coat over a scarlet waistcoat, black cummerbund and black trousers, along with a plain blue ex-RAF shirt (that didn't show anyway) with a detachable stand-up collar (and I've still got the studs) with a big fluffy blue hand-tied bow tie. These days the coat is far too small, the top hat is literally falling apart, and I can't do my bally bottom button up on the waistcoat. The tie still fits, though.

I miss the days wen I trod the boards with Stonnall Players, when I had the perfect excuse to dress up in all manner of outrageous costumes. I only wore drag once, but I like to think I've got the legs for it (if nothing else).

Funnily enough, those doyens of the Music Hall Cosmotheka (Dave & Al Sealey) never wore costume on stage, except in Panto.

Steve