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What to wear on stage

RubyToogood

RubyTwobikes
I really never know what to wear. A friend of mine whose band I sometimes play with has a nice line in vintage dresses, which works quite well, but apparently they didn't have people my size in the past, so this is out. I seem to be having a whole phase of guesting in other people's bands at the moment, which presents its own sartorial challenges - you don't want to outdress the lead singer, or look as though you wandered in from an entirely different band in the venue next door.

Also I seem to find that the more dressed up I am, the more nervous it makes me about playing. It's bad enough having to perform, without worrying about how you look as well and wafting round the venue beforehand with your "look at me, I'm in a band" outfit on. There is a "fuck it, jeans and a t-shirt" kind of thing that creeps over me at times.

A friend said to me recently that he really likes it when a band don't dress how people dress everyday, because it adds to the escapism, to the feeling of being invited into their world.

So perhaps I should make more of an effort again <sigh>
 
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I think you should look ultra super, duper fabulous. And not worry about outdoing the lead singer or whatever. I mean, as long as you're not prancing around in, say, this

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you're probably okay.

Also, perhaps you can communicate with the other members of the band before the show and find out what they're planning to wear?
 
I like Dub's suggestion.

Sorry that awful picture is so stinkin' enormous!
 
RubyToogood said:
I really never know what to wear. A friend of mine whose band I sometimes play with has a nice line in vintage dresses, which works quite well, but apparently they didn't have people my size in the past, so this is out. I seem to be having a whole phase of guesting in other people's bands at the moment, which presents its own sartorial challenges - you don't want to outdress the lead singer, or look as though you wandered in from an entirely different band in the venue next door.

Also I seem to find that the more dressed up I am, the more nervous it makes me about playing. It's bad enough having to perform, without worrying about how you look as well and wafting round the venue beforehand with your "look at me, I'm in a band" outfit on. There is a "fuck it, jeans and a t-shirt" kind of thing that creeps over me at times.

A friend said to me recently that he really likes it when a band don't dress how people dress everyday, because it adds to the escapism, to the feeling of being invited into their world.

So perhaps I should make more of an effort again <sigh>

You have the artistic license to be a little more creative with your outfits...the more out there, the better...Ive seen the most ludicrous outfits on stage, Exhibit A,and B above. But they never look shit, cos it's all for show, init.

Wear what you want to wear, and have fun with it! :)
 
Wear a boiler suit or lab coat or something else that will protect your clothing from any noxious substances.
 
got to strike the right balance between feeling comfortable and feeling like you look the part i think. sometimes bands over dress and sometimes they just look like they have walked off the street.
 
futha said:
got to strike the right balance between feeling comfortable and feeling like you look the part i think. sometimes bands over dress and sometimes they just look like they have walked off the street.

That just makes it sound like some kind of fucking balancing act.

Wear a boiler suit or lab coat! :mad:

Or pyjamas.
 
What size are you Ruby?
PM me if you like.
I seem to have drifted into selling / hiring vintage dresses to singers and performers and I might have something / things in your size.

:)

Also is there any particular style / look / feel that you're after?
 
8ball said:
Wear a boiler suit or lab coat or something else that will protect your clothing from any noxious substances.

I used to wear a black boiler suit when i was in a band, mind you we all did. It was a bit Devo, but it did get over the problem of not knowing what to wear.

We tried to ditch the boiler suits, but could never come up with something better, apart from our Japanese musical genius who always looked effortlessly cool in whatever he wore.

I tried the oversized mans suit look for a bit- waistcoat with nothing underneath trousers with braces, jacket (for removing after first song ;) ) and a big dangly necklace that kept hitting me in the face when i jumped around :D
 
What kind of music do you play, Rubes? Obviously as you said it will be an advantage to try and match the styles of the other band members, or dress as neutrally as possible (black top/sweater + jeans for me, tho' those "suit" style trousers are often more comfy and more flexible for movement unlike jeans which can gnaw a bit if they're tight and you have to move around a lot...)

Shoes which have a good grip on the floor is an advantage, again if you have to move around a lot it'll hardly help to wear stylish boots or similar if they're slippery!

What are your colours, perhaps you could try and find a top that matches your hair colour... Not to sound clichéy, but if you end up looking super nice (but not too "dressed up", i.e. relaxed and informally dressed, but still stylish) that would perhaps boost your self-esteem even more to make you play twice as well!

good luck, anyhum... !
let us know how it went!
 
When I was in a glam metal band I used to wear a vicar's dog collar, latex T-shirt, leather jeans, para boots, a fake cyborg eyepatch and a false robotic arm.
Probably not much help, but it might make you feel there are people wearing dafter stuff around.
 
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