 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-10-24 20:10
Coolmax is a breathable polyester fabric that wicks sweat away from the body. It's also machine washable. It was developed for high-performance athletic clothing, but has now been made into dinner suits, which the London Philharmonic is wearing. They love it and can hardly wait for sets of tails.
http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/music/news/article321744.ece
I've sweltered through several shows packed cheek-by-jowl into the pit, with the stage lights roaring down, and I know how great this would be.
John Moses and other show players: how close have you come to dying in the pit?
Ken Shaw
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Author: BG ★2017
Date: 2005-10-24 20:34
Hi Ken,
As an orchestra player for 43 years and still counting, I have to agree that the onstage performances can become pretty miserable when dressed in full tails or black tuxedo. This is, of course, made worse by all of the many overhead lights, especially when our row is elevated on risers placing you even closer to those lights. I will have to keep an eye out for this material and see if they do eventually manufacture tails.
But in the pit for the Broadway shows and now for our local opera productions, we can wear the "pit black" outfit, meaning all black, long sleeve, but no tie or coat. What a difference that makes! Is this an option for you in your pit, perhaps after some discussions with management or through negotiations?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2005-10-24 20:45
I'm doing 'Guys and Dolls' soon, fortunately the 'pit black' outfit definition is vague - so it's anything as long as it's black. So just a cotton black long-sleeved top and cotton trousers for me - same as what I normally wear anyway.
I cooked one time in full concert dress as the lights were right on me - I ended up taking my jacket and tie off in the performance (I would have passed out otherwise), no-one minded.
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Author: msloss
Date: 2005-10-24 23:37
You don't actually need the whole penguin suit made out of CoolMax. There are plenty of great undergarments for hikers and bikers that give you the same benefit. What makes CM great is its wicking ability. Has to be against the skin to provide that benefit, though.
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Author: donald
Date: 2005-10-25 09:35
i remember one orchestra performance, playing outdoors in Honolulu in May or June 1988, where i nearly fainted from heat exhaustion (Tchaik 6, 2nd clarinet using the bass clarinet for one bar- the reed warped like crazy and the keys wouldn't pop up after they'd gone down!). Wearing a suit really seemed like a stupid idea that day
donald
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Author: ghuba
Date: 2005-10-25 10:09
I travel almost 100 days a year, usually on planes. Coolmax clothes -- especially underwear but also t-shirts, polos, socks, and shorts -- weigh less than half what cotton does, washes easily, air drys in minutes when necessary, doesn't stain, tend to be much softer than cotton, and in a pinch make a great clarinet or cleaning swab (same material as microfiber cleaning cloths). These work well either on their own (but some -- like me -- would say they look too synthetic as outerwear) or as I use them under layers of traditional cotton clothes. Travel stores carry medium quality versions of this stuff, but the big outdoors catalogs offer much higher end and functional versions at around the same prices. LL Bean has a bunch of this as does REI; Nike and Puma make athletic versions; Patagonia has the highest end underwear and casual wear in coolmax and coolmax-cotton blends. BTW, this stuff also works extremely well as undergarments in colder temperatures. Initial costs are higher than cotton but the stuff also wears MUCH longer than cotton; Patagonia pushes this stuff for rock climbing and other pursuits that are a little more strenous than clarinet playing. Because of the "wicking" a Coolmax turtleneck feels warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer or in overheated winter rooms. Personally, I would not wear a tux in this stuff, but I would probably wear coolmax under a conventional tux in either the summer or the winter. [Actually, I do this already.]
George
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2005-10-25 15:21
Ken asks:
"John Moses and other show players: how close have you come to dying in the pit?"
Well, I've come pretty "close to dying" in the pit, and on stage, but not from the heat or cold! We have temperature rules on Union jobs that have kept our playing temperature at decent levels for most performances.
Here in NYC we have a few different dress codes:
1) Concert attire is usually Tux + Black Tie...a few orchestras, like the NY Phil., still require the "penguin suit," Tails + White tie.
2) Less formal concerts, like the American Composer's Orch., ask only for Dark suits + long ties.
3) Occasionally, for special concerts at Carnegie Hall, as a back-up orch., we wear all Black (Black long sleeve shirt + Black pants).
4) In Broadway pits, the dress code has gotten very free:
It's OK to wear ANYTHING Black, that is: Tee-shirts, Jeans, Shorts, Skirts, Sneakers, Tank-tops, or even Heavy sweaters...whatever makes you happy.
Some shows that feature an on-stage orchestra may require show costumes, which you are paid extra to wear, or Tux + Black tie.
For the most part, it's good for the guys to have: a Tux outfit, a Tails outfit, a Black suit and long ties, Dressy black shirts, Back tee-shirts, Black pants and Jeans.
For the Women:
Have a long Black dress, a short Black dress, Dressy pants, Black Jeans, any Black top will do, for most occasions on stage, and the dressier the better.
For more contemporary setting, try bright colors, or ever some flashier outfits, but do ask about the dress code first!
The new synthetic stuff sounds interesting. We should give it a try.
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2005-10-25 15:42
Indeed - could be good for those of us that suffer with skin problems as well. One time when I did a show I forgot to take an antihistamine beforehand, and I itched and squirmed throughout the performance. But I'm much better now after having UV treatment and switched to better and more effective medication (NOT steroids!), but still have to be careful.
I like the fact the Vienna Phil seem to only wear long ties rather than these strangulating bow-tie things!
I can't even do up my top button - if I do, I can't breathe.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-10-25 21:51
My parents went to hear the Vienna Philharmonic at the Musikverein (probably in the late 1960s). It was early fall, and my father had brought only a heavy tweed jacket, but on that day the temperature was over 90, and it was at least 100 in the hall. Every man had on a jacket and tie.
Eventually my father became faint and took off his jacket to cool down. Within 30 seconds, an usher was at his side, waggling his finger and whispering "Verboten."
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