Band uniforms... anyone still using them?

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 15 Jul 2011 3:02 pm

I've never been in a band that required uniforms. But,,, I usually tried to dress nicely. But I was most successful with the ladies when I did a "Dwight." Worn designer jeans with the right knee torn out. Why is it always the right knee that rips first? Ever get a knee lever caught in the tear? A decent shirt, and a very nice teal-colored suede, Western-cut jacket. Square-toed boots. Beat to Hades straw cowboy hat. It worked very well for me!

I'm with Jimmy Sliff! If a band demanded a uniform, out the door! And don't get me started on the bizarre string ties I made, or the pics I put under the clear pickguard on my Tele. People would come in, and immediately walk up to the bandstand to see what I was wearing/displaying. It was part of my personal show, and I spent time at it. Never had any complaints.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 15 Jul 2011 3:11 pm

A tuxedo is my monkey suit.

David Ellison · Post by **David Ellison** » 15 Jul 2011 3:20 pm

Why not just wear matching western shirts with jeans or black pants?

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 15 Jul 2011 3:22 pm

"Why not just wear matching western shirts with jeans or black pants?"

Because then you've lost your individuality, which I value!

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 15 Jul 2011 4:16 pm

My my, what rugged individualists we are.

Okay, the following is MHO, not gospel. You do your thing and let me do mine.

For the first 10 years I was in Johnny Bush's band, we wore uniforms. The audiences liked it and none of the pickers minded that I recall. We were proud to be Bandoleros.

In my experience and opinion, if the music of the band is good enough, you'll suck it up and wear matching outfits. If the band leader additionally is a great guy, and provides uniform shirts and pants that are classy, you should have no problems wearing uniforms.

But if you're willing to leave a fun band with great musicians and music because you don't want to be thought of as "unhip," well... okay.

Not that there's anything wrong with that, as Jerry Seinfeld would say.

Uniformity breeds cohesion and commonality and a sense of unity. Feeling that you're part of a unit makes you pay attention and become tighter. Audiences that see a professional-looking unit hear a professional looking unit.

It's all about the image you want to project, the choices are yours and neither is "incorrect," per se.

Matt Elsen · Post by **Matt Elsen** » 15 Jul 2011 6:32 pm

Nobody "requires' anyone in our band to do anything. We all decided it would be fun to wear (our admittedly low-rent versions of) Nudie suits on special occasions and we do so with tongue firmly in cheek.

We had a great time going to the salvation army store, copping some used black tuxs and having the frills sewn on. For some of our dates it works just right and people really get a kick out of it. So do we.

The rest of the time we dress like slobs - I'm sure a number of you would feel right at home sitting in with us

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 15 Jul 2011 9:07 pm

Dress up -or down- to the standards of the folks you want to entertain.I learned early on that the folks who dress well have a tendency to pay -and play- better than the ones who don't.

S.M. Johnson · Post by **S.M. Johnson** » 16 Jul 2011 9:10 am

I was always under the impression that if you were playing in a band....

that the impression you were sending out to the audience....via your manner of dress and musical abilities was for the benefit of the BAND!

As a member of that BAND.....your individual talents stand out much more because you're a part of that BAND on stage, records or television, than if you're on the street corner pushing your 'individuality' with little more than a cardboard sign and a tin can for donations.

Billy Robinson, Grady Martin, Hank Garland, Chet Atkins, Buddy Charleton, and Leon Rhodes are only a few of those that made it big time because of the BAND.

It's an old cliche' however still rings true: You don't get a second chance to make a good first impression.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 16 Jul 2011 9:47 am

I'll wear whatever works for the gig and don't give it a second thought. The other day I was looking for a piano player for a hotel gig that was very likely going to be a weekly easy fun scene. I said that we need to wear dark suits and Stetsons for the gig and a table full of jazz dudes all scoffed and said they don't dress up like cowboys for gigs. They were all wearing the exact same tourist jazz hipster outfits complete with sandals and that currently popular small fedora on top. I didn't bring up that the gig was a weekday happy hour thing in a very swank place right downtown and had a base pay of $200 for 2 hours. I found players that didn't have goofy attitudes instead.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 16 Jul 2011 10:26 am

Bob Hoffnar wrote:I'll wear whatever works for the gig and don't give it a second thought. The other day I was looking for a piano player for a hotel gig that was very likely going to be a weekly easy fun scene. I said that we need to wear dark suits and Stetsons for the gig and a table full of jazz dudes all scoffed and said they don't dress up like cowboys for gigs. They were all wearing the exact same tourist jazz hipster outfits complete with sandals and that currently popular small fedora on top. I didn't bring up that the gig was a weekday happy hour thing in a very swank place right downtown and had a base pay of $200 for 2 hours. I found players that didn't have goofy attitudes instead.

"sounds like Austin, Texas... my-eye ho-ome town!"

(sung to the tune of "Chicago")

Fred Shannon · Post by **Fred Shannon** » 16 Jul 2011 10:48 am

I see the "Sammy Lewis Influence" is still the thing if you're in one of his bands. It was always black pants, white shirts in the bands i was with him both in Newfoundland and Mississippi. Loved it. Big band both places.

phred

Olaf van Roggen · Post by **Olaf van Roggen** » 17 Jul 2011 7:40 am

Those were the days back in the 90's[/img]

Steven Finley · Post by **Steven Finley** » 18 Jul 2011 3:53 pm

You just might not recognize the uniforms of the day.
Across the land, in almost every bar, bands wear the same uniforms: old tennis shoes, faded jeans with holes, t-shirts in various colors (with or without sleeves) and very ugly baseball caps worn forwards or backwards. When this uniform became common a few years ago I thought it was just a reflection of the economy; after all, after your gas expense, a cheap burger, and some extra strings to carry there certainly is not enough money to go to Manuel for a fitting.

In all my years of playing, never once has a club owner paid me an extra $10. for wearing a fancy shirt; or for having a $5000. steel guitar, and a $2000. amp as opposed to a cheaper rig.

So now I dress according to my own taste and comfort; a Fedora, Italian loafers, a shirt with excellent fabric. I figure, I'm the guy wearing it.

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 18 Jul 2011 5:20 pm

Like Herb said, if the music's good and the pay is good (and honestly, I lean more towards the music than the pay) what's it hurt?

If I had a choice: 1) wear a fluorescent green leisure suit and play with Duck Dunn, Leon Russell, Steve Duncan and Lee Sklar (backing whoever) for scale or 2) wearing my shorts, Top Siders with no socks, an Old Guys Rule t-shirt and playing at a fair, later figuring out how to split $187.25 5 ways...

Well...you figure it out.

PS - Nudie Suits...actually made by his tailor Manuel...are, IMO, either horrendously tacky or the epitome of cool, and one day I WILL find a cool one in XXL, dangit! They...or parts or them...show up in Hollywood thrift shops from time to time - and cheap! Just never my size.....

Nobody "requires' anyone in our band to do anything. We all decided it would be fun to wear (our admittedly low-rent versions of) Nudie suits on special occasions and we do so with tongue firmly in cheek.

I admit to a similar situation. Back in the late 70's our bluegrass band finished 2nd in a major contest...because ONE judge marked us down to "1" on a 5 point scale because "they did not wear all the same shirts". We lost by 4 points. One judge was Jethro Burns and he was so pissed he walked off and refused to judge any longer.

So after that, we all wore the same shirts. Loudest, ugliest Hawaiian shirts we could find.

Within 4 years it seemed like everyone except the touring bands coming into SoCal were wearing matching Hawaiian shirts (albeit without our over-the-top lack of good taste).

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 20 Jul 2011 4:31 pm

Betcha can't wear 'em like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhkIh4x4 ... re=related

Roger Edgington · Post by **Roger Edgington** » 20 Jul 2011 5:45 pm

Mike & Matt. You guys look great. I bet you all play well too. We wear black western suits, cowboy hats and boots. For outside gigs we were kakai pants, brown ties , white shirts and our straw cowboy hats,
Jake Hooker, Bobbie Flores, Jody Nix all wear some kind of Uniforms. Even some of the not as konow bands have jumped on the bandwagon.

Roger Edgington · Post by **Roger Edgington** » 20 Jul 2011 6:18 pm

Hey Russ, aren't the guys without shirts in the same uniform? Of course the singer must be the leader he's dressed different. LOL. I don't think the people around Texas would like to see us undressed like that. We have ages from 38- 65 and all shapes and sizes and mostly on the plus side.

Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 20 Jul 2011 8:33 pm

David Mason, you're killing me! What an amazing video. Sometimes it pays to read to the fifth page of a post.

Joe

The Steel Guitar Forum

Band uniforms... anyone still using them?

Perhaps I'm confused...........

Of course bands wear uniforms