 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2002-12-31 04:32
I have just joined a community band in my area. However, even before I've been able to attend one practice or even MEET the director, I have been invited to participate in a performance. I wasn't able to meet because they practice on Wednesday nights, and we have had Christmas and then New years. Before that I've had night classes.
We are playing in a high school auditorium for the inaugeration of the newly elected mayor of that town. In the email I was sent, the attire requested was black and white, bowties. Tuxes prefferred, dark suits accepted.
I have no dark suits. I have no tuxes. I am a poor college student and can't afford this stuff, especially on such short notice. I didn't think I'd be needed to help out with this event, but they are short on clarinets.
Would it be acceptable to wear a white shirt and black bowtie with dark pants but NO jacket? Also, with the shoes, would it be better to wear nice black shoes or my black shoes that have been polished by myself to a mirrorlike shine? Thank you.
Alexi
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-12-31 04:41
sfalexi wrote:
>Would it be acceptable to wear a white shirt and black bowtie
> with dark pants but NO jacket?
Nope. They were specific. Borrow a dark suit or tux (how have you gotten away without having a tux for performances all these years? ;^)
> Also, with the shoes, would it
> be better to wear nice black shoes or my black shoes that have
> been polished by myself to a mirrorlike shine? Thank you.
How about nice shiny black shoes?
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Author: Terry Horlick
Date: 2002-12-31 08:00
Alexi,
(Note: I goofed on gender here on this forum once before... so here goes:)
In groups with which I have performed the directors say request costume much the same as what you have listed. It often is assumed that the instructions do not apply to the females, but only the males. The females usually will come in all black or in black and white as above, at their option. I have seen black pants and turtle neck or blouse done... that is less costy than a suit. The thing to do is to call them for clarification. If they insist on suits and you have none ask if someone your size might have one for loan due to the short notice. Remember, white sox, shoes any color other than black, running shoes, flashy jewlery, hats (especially baseball caps), bright hair ribbons mark you as lacking sophistication (I.M.H.O.).
Option two... go to the thrift/Goodwill store. Dark suits and tux often show up there at a low cost. I have a garage sale Tux which I am now retiring as it finally gave up after 8 years of heavy use... that was $3 well spent... well $10 if you count the cleaning and alteration. What I am saying is it can cost you less than a box of reeds and will last much longer. Folks who are short stature or petite have a better chance of finding a fit as these garments are often purchased for children who outgrow them after the first use.
Terry (Man do all my posts make me seem cheap? Well I prefer the adjective "frugal"!)
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Author: Kim
Date: 2002-12-31 14:18
Something nice, black and white, or all black.
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Author: Brenda
Date: 2002-12-31 14:32
Terry,
Frugal, not cheap! Good thinking, since as long as the colour and the quality is there, the audience doesn't give a care how much you spent. But spend money on the shoe polish and use it. That's the big complaint from the front-row patrons at our orchestra. Your music is like a diamond ring - it can be top quality, but if it's not polished...So keep the shoes polished and the clothes clean and pressed.
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Author: William
Date: 2002-12-31 14:54
As a performing musician, you will need three things, besides your instruments: 1) a dark blue suite (or coat), 2) a black suite, and 3) a tux. (with appropriate matching footware). Now might be a good time to start assembling your wardrobe. And remember, these articals of apparell do not have to be expensive--they just have to look nice from a distance.
In showbiz, appearance is important--often, perhaps, more so than talent. Have a good concert and a great New Year.
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Author: Marge
Date: 2002-12-31 17:58
Our community band has the same "black & white" standard, and for the younger members esp. we've had to rely on loans and the local "Nearly New" shop, where clothing is very cheap and often in wonderful condition. The trick is finding what you need when you need it. If you can, go in every day for a look, and alert the staff person/persons (probably volunteers) as to what you need so that if something comes in you will get a call and get first crack at it. The only person in our band who wears a tux is the director, so tuxes are hardly expected.
You do not want to wear just the white shirt on top, which would stick out like a sore thumb. Though some of the women may wear just a white blouse with black trousers or skirt, many of them in our group also wear a black sweater or blazer, so there aren't many white tops alone out there, and certainly not on the males.
Some of our younger males have acquired (one way or another) an item easier to find than a suit, at least a dark navy blazer, which they wear with black or navy trousers. They're not black, of course, but close enough in our opinion and what will have to do in view of the fact that we know that some of the families are not flush with $$$--and most of those guys are still growing.
You may need to improvise for now, since your date is probably close, but now that you know what you'll be needing in the long run, you can at least get going on that, with a thrift shop still a good option, though it may take some time to find a tux there or an appropriate suit with coat AND trousers that fit--or nearly fit (keep in mind that some alterations can be done by someone who knows how to do them, usually at quite low cost).
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Author: Pam
Date: 2002-12-31 21:03
In the meantime, how about a tux rental place? Rent one for the show and keep the eye out for sales here as well for "gently used" stuff.
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2002-12-31 22:33
Burlington Coat Factory is great for inexpensive jackets and tuxedo shirts. I have suits for my job, but I needed a tuxedo shirt in early December for my first wind symphony concert. Got one for about $16 that came with a bow tie, cummerbund, and cufflinks and studs that'll get the job done. They have dark jackets often for less than $70.
When the time comes for a real tux, the Men's Wearhouse has basic black for about $200.
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Author: Fred
Date: 2002-12-31 23:04
I bought my tux "complete" - shirt, studs, cumberbund (sp?), and tie included - for $95 from one of the nationwide rental places. Hardly makes any sense to pay $50-60 to rent one when you can buy one for that kind of money.
Added benefit for us "more mature" players: the pants waist is VERY adjustable!!!
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2003-01-01 05:37
All of the above! Its not enough to sound good, you must look the part. Some groups do have variations on basic black and white, this fall after 30 years of singing my wife had to get a black top because ther dress for that concert was black and black! (She's quite attractive in black as it turns out.) Her hardest dress issue was adapting her long black skirt when she sang while 9 months pregnant! (Our son was born 48 hours later.)
Other things to be aware of, no sparkly jewlery as it reflects stage lighting, shoes shined (unless they are NEVER visible,) hair cut and styled/ combed neatly, facial hair shaved or trimed neatly, no perfume/ cologne/ aftershave as some people have alergies. Also be aware of how the group holds the instruments when walking on or while not playing. Watch posture and follow the group's conventions for recognizing the conductor and accepting recognition at the end of pieces. Most of all, smile and have fun!
The worst issue of concert dress I've witnessed in 40 years of performing... 20 years ago I was in a chorus backing up a soprano singing the "Laughing Aria" from Die Fledermous. She was moving around quite a bit and pretending to flirt with the director when her strapless gown slipped, and her breasts were exposed to the audience. Good performer that she is, she scooped it all back in and never missed a note.
(And yes, the audience can and will see everything, the good and the less good!)
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Author: Terry Horlick
Date: 2003-01-01 08:05
Jim,
I like the story... was that a good or less good?
We have a local vocal group which is quite good, almost as good as they fancy themselves. One thing they do as well as they sing is to present a nice professional appearance. Everyone <b>must</b> dress as instructed. Their lead soprano is quite flashy and whenever she doesn't have a solo part in a performance she always does something to attract attention, but it is always within the present bounds of attire instructions given by "maestro" (yes the conductor insists on that title!). I fancy that each year the instructions get more specific to bar whatever this particular singer did the previous year.
A few years ago she came up with one which kept me chuckling throughout the performance... I doubt I heard much of the music and the best part is that the director and The Soprano never caught on. The attention getter was the ribbon she chose to wear. Experience with this singer had lead maestro to ban bright colors, gilt, glitter, sparkles etc. from hair ribbons. The choices left were black or hair color ribbons for hair control. This blonde (please do not take this as a dispersion against blondes, but that was her hair color which meant she could pick the contrasting black color) selected a black ribbon to tie up a pony tail. She is "39" years old and trying to look 20 years younger (38ish), so she chose a <font size="+1"><b>huge</b></font> ribbon and tied it in a two loop bow. The ribbon was then set to protrude upwards to be exceptionally noticable.
The effect achieved was indeed attention grabbing. From everywhere in the hall the audience was treated to a uniform appearance from all the choir except the one tall blond with the Mousketeer ears on. The giggles hardly stopped throughout the evening. I don't think anyone ever told her what the ornament looked like as she kept it on throughout the after concert mixer.
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2003-01-02 04:37
Terry,
My late Dad was in the audience and thought it was pretty good. It definitely made him more interested in operatic pieces. Thereafter, he asked before each concert whether or not she would be singing.
I heard her sing solos in a Christmas cantata 3 weeks ago, but she was wearing a choir robe. (Yes she was quite young when this happened, no more than 20.)
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Author: Eileen
Date: 2003-01-02 16:49
In light of the lack of cash and probable lack of time to scour the local thrift shops, I would wear a black sweater, either a cardigan or a V-neck, in a non-bulky knit with the white shirt underneath, or I would wear a black dress shirt. The male clarinet player in my community orchestra usually wears one of the above and it blends in fine with the others. Especially when the women are wearing a variety of black dress outfits (with a corresponding variety of good and bad taste).
Since it's right after Christmas, you might be able to pick up a black dress shirt on sale at a department store. If your town has a store like T.J. MAxx, Marshalls or Filene's Basement, those are good places to look for something like a dress shirt or an appropriate sweater at a reasonable price.
You might want to mention your lack of the specified clothing and your student status to the conductor before the performance so he or she knows why you are wearing an alternative outfit. The student budget dilemma probably just did not occur to him or her. Under the circumstances, you are doing them a favor by filling in at the last minute and they should not be overly strict about the wardrobe so long as you make sure that you're not sticking out.
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