 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2014-04-17 21:31
And now for something totally irrelevant.
What do you wear for your music performances? Photos please, if you're proud of it (or not), or you think it's unusual. I'm sure we have some tuxedo folks here, even white tie and tails. And ratty blue jean, too. It's all about the venue and the expectations of your audience.
Anybody want to argue that it should not matter- only the sound is important? When YOU'RE in the audience, does performer's outfit matter?
And as usual I beg for the horror stories, sorry- but they're so much fun. Had to play in wrong clothes? Why? How did it go? Were you comfortable anyway? Wardrobe mishaps?
What does a WASPish old man "gospel clarinetist" wear to a gig during a church service where he doesn't know a soul? The usual suit and tie, or even tux, seems so BORING. Surely I can do better than that, or at least customize or accessorize somehow to fit my (mostly 1950's vintage gospel) music. On the other hand, performance wardrobe should not detract from my message (testimony) either. Thoughts?
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-04-17 22:23
As for "Church," I'd say dress like the those amongst the more dressed up at your church on a typical Sunday. Most folks don't wear tails to church so I don't think that's even relevent.
................Paul Aviles
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2014-04-17 22:38
The most popular attire for informal concerts and especially for jazz in the Washington, D.C. area seems to be a black shirt with black trousers, black socks and black shoes, all in "business casual" style, for both men and women. (I'm an amateur and I don't perform in public.) The all-black look is easy to dress up or dress down; black clothing is easy to find in stores at every budget level; and inconspicuous clothing lets the audience focus on the music.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2014-04-17 22:48
Lelia--- that's a great start! Thanks!
and Paul- To dress like the dressiest of the congregation (pastor? oldest deacons? LOL) is safe and classy. I'm usually several notches more casual than that in my home church, but I'd automatically step it up anyway as a visitor.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
Post Edited (2014-04-17 22:51)
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Author: PaulIsaac
Date: 2014-04-18 03:21
I play guitar and sing at my local church. Also play clarinet there when the occasion demands. Casual dress is the norm. A couple of times over the years at morning services the pianist has leaned over to me and said "Your shirt is inside out". I recently arrived home from a Saturday night vigil service and my youngest daughter advised me that my shirt was inside out. Oh well ... Clearly not a priority for me!
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2014-04-18 04:23
People hear with their eyes.
Dress for the audience, whatever that audience would be.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: MSK
Date: 2014-04-18 04:48
I've had to wear two really ugly uniforms in my youth. My high school had horrible concert uniforms with bright red tux jackets, ruffled shirts, cumberbund & bow tie all in men's sizes. Not a good look on females.
In my twenties I played in a big band style dance band. I was the only female except for the singer who wore cocktail dresses. I had to wear a powder blue colored man's suit and tie. It looked bad on the men, but on a woman it was awful. Furthermore, the jacket was no longer commercially available so I wore a hand-me-down jacket from a much taller person.
Nowadays I wear formal concert black for orchestra and all black business casual for pit.
In church, I wear whatever I would have worn anyways, making sure that my top doesn't gap awkwardly or revealingly while holding the clarinet. I also avoid heels since I play standing in church and am clumsy in heels.
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2014-04-18 07:32
PaulIsaac- love the inside out shirts, even better if you'd tried to fix it while sitting in church. We'll see if my ministry takes me as far as Australia, for now I'd be happy with Texas (from Florida)- since I've got friends and family there.
Margaret- I've never bought the theory that it doesn't matter how bad a uniform looks up close, from far enough away it's fine. The military sure doesn't buy that. My high school band uniforms (in 1968-70) were made in about 1950, with super large pants that fit poorly on EVERYBODY, and were in the habit of falling down. Funny but not much fun. Then there were the (what must have been) chicken feather thingys in our hats. Anyway I bet your red tux outfits were supposed to be pretty cool at some point, ditto the powder blue suits. Must be tough to throw them away and start over, that's why so many groups hold on too long. And what if a brand new setup looks bad on day 1? And yes, it's good to pay attention to clothing that was obviously not designed for clarinet playing. I remember choir robes with sleeves that snap for pianist and organist. Haven't been around choir robes in some years now.
Russ- your group looks rather ordinary. Couldn't you do something more original, like Elvis impersonations?
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
Post Edited (2014-04-18 07:41)
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Author: Funfly
Date: 2014-04-18 12:23
I'm still thinking of MSK 'revealing' in church.
We need to be told more;
1. Has anyone objected ?
2. Where is the church ?
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Author: pk
Date: 2014-04-19 00:57
The concert band I play in wears all black for most concerts, and I think the look is good. Unfortunately, one July afternoon we were playing outside at a summer arts festival in the park. At other times like this where the audience is very informal and casually dressed, we too have worn shorts and t shirts. This time the director insisted on all black, and no shorts, no hats. So there we were, over 100 degrees in the blazing sun, with no shade. It was absolutely brutal, several were sunburnt to a crisp, and its a wonder some didn't collapse from sunstroke. Totally inappropriate dress for the situation, and I swore that I would never do it again!
Pete
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Author: MSK
Date: 2014-04-19 02:58
Funfly: My church is in the Eastern US, probably too far to travel in hopes of witnessing a wardrobe malfunction. However if you are that interested, my next gig is the a week after Easter. I'll be playing that important clarinet repertoire piece "Hymn of Promise" with the adult and children's choirs. That musical event might be worth the trip....LOL. I'm playing Mozart this summer though
Fskelley: I agree that as a group really bad uniforms can still look sharp. My son's middle school band wear blue polo shirts with white nurse's pants and nurses shoes. Individually they look like Smurfs, but as a group they look sharp. In fact they often win parade competitions on the strength of their appearance.
'
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2014-04-19 06:13
Funfly- no matter why you go to church, it's still a good thing.
johnhcl- I'm trying to imagine a setting where 1) you need to play the clarinet- something difficult and you'll be judged for it and there are consequences, and 2) you're naked, and 3) nobody notices, 4) or nobody cares, 5) or it's a requirement. Sounds like the stuff of nightmares, but I wouldn't suggest sharing that one with your therapist.
I think I'll stick with the fancy suit, or all black business casual.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: wanabe
Date: 2014-04-19 11:41
I was doing a play, a musical, a number of years ago, as a performer, not as a musician, and the uniform of the day in the pit was tux jacket, ruffled shirt, black bowtie, Bermuda shorts and sneakers. It was hot in that west Texas orchestra pit and the audience could only see the top halves of the musicians.
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Author: Funfly
Date: 2014-04-19 12:49
As I am getting a sax, I suppose I've got to get a trilby hat and 'Blues Brothers' sunglasses.
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Author: marcia
Date: 2014-04-19 20:57
>This time the director insisted on all black, and no shorts, no hats. So there >we were, over 100 degrees in the blazing sun, with no shade.
Being very fair skinned and prone to sunburn I would have been saying "no hat, no play". No one should be subjected to that situation for appearances sake. ![[yeah]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley17.gif)
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Author: Funfly
Date: 2014-04-20 14:08
I'm going to church tomorrow for the first time in 20 years.
There is a jazz concert on there!
Hope the seats are not too hard for my old bum!
Watched The Blues Brothers for the umpteenth time last night, tunes still going around in my head today, cool stuff.
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Author: Dori
Date: 2014-04-21 21:58
So far I have had only one wardrobe problem in 47 years of concerts. I usually wear a long black dress to fulfill our "all black" attire requirement. Since I don't like to drive in high heeled shoes, especially because I drive a stick shift car, I change shoes when I arrive - except for our concert last year when I left the dress shoes at home and found myself in a formal black dress with purple sneakers. Of course I not only sat in the front row, but on the end as well. I went onstage barefoot and kept my feet tucked under the dress. Hopefully I will remember the shoes for our concert on Thursday.
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Author: Claire Annette
Date: 2014-04-21 23:00
Johnhcl, I am going to avoid all clarinet performances in the Cincinnati area, thank you very much! x-p
Our community band's concert attire for indoor concerts during the fall, winter, and spring: women, all black--down to the hosiery and shoes--3/4-length sleeves. Men: a black tuxedo "look" with bow ties.
Summer concerts: khaki slacks, shorts, or skirts and uniform polo-type band shirts with our logo.
As a female, I far prefer playing in slacks over a skirt. I can't stand for the condensation that inevitably drips out of the bell to get on a skirt. I also play with my knees apart.
I'm in favor of modest attire when performing, so that the focus is on the playing and not on a fashion statement...unless the performer is REALLY terrible, in which case, yeah...make that outfit shout, sparkle, and shine.
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2014-04-21 23:47
Claire- you reminded me of a recent comment on one of my YouTube videos, "Love the green-screen. Makes me almost ignore the music." Yeah, when you put your stuff out there, you'd better be ready for abuse. So maybe I need to think shout, sparkle, and shine.
Cincinnati must have gotten more laid back than I remember from 1980-81 when we lived there.
Dori- so many things that could have gone wrong with the bare feet... glad it worked out. I would be so tempted to reveal at least one toe at some point.
And wanabe- I've heard of half tux outfits like that where the audience can only see somebody's top half. And now when I see somebody on TV (say, a seated newscaster or judge) I often imagine they have nothing on behind the desk. And it might be true. But it's probably not a good idea to think that way in an actual courtroom, and end up trying to stifle a giggle. "I'm glad you think my courtroom is so funny, Mr. Kelley. Perhaps you'd like to let the rest of us in on the joke."
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
Post Edited (2014-04-22 01:27)
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