The Steel Guitar Forum

Good hygene matters

Rick Campbell wrote:

Herb Steiner wrote:Saw the Time Jumpers at 3rd and Lindsley back in 2014. Vince came onstage in Bermuda shorts, flip-flops, and a polo shirt. I wasn't offended because I wasn't dressed that much better, but it did give me pause, shall I say? The Jumpers must be Vince's relaxation gig.

I think Vince, or anyone, should dress consistent with the rest of the band, if they are going to be on stage with them the whole time. What you describe gives me the impression that he wasn't taking the gig seriously. While it might be just a fun/jam to him, I think he should respect the band that allowed him to be there and dress accordingly. Don't read this wrong, I love Vince's music, but that's not what this thread is about.

RC

I like Vince a lot but 2 different times recently he's been on television and both times it was brought up for discussion by my wife, mom, and sisters how slobby he dresses now. People notice those things. Also he's a sooners fan so I feel like I can't take his side on this issue.

appearance is important. especially in an avatar.
right, burt?

Being able to appear,just may be more important.

I figure if I had earned the accolades that Vince has over the years, I could dress any freakin way I want, cause I can sing my rear off and burn a guitar up dressed in most anything.If I need a fashion show I'll watch the Kardashians. JMHO

Ever since I've been playing country music, I've tried in dress in the mode. In fact, I like doing it. A nice western shirt, a cowboy hat, boots and clean jeans. I'm being paid to perform and entertain people, so, it only seems right to me to dress accordingly. But, if I'm playing a picnic or a barbecue or an outside hot venue, I'll test the waters with a clean T shirt, baseball cap, jeans and boots or moccasins.
I don't care seeing bands in ragged out clothing, no matter how good they are. I guess I'm old school that way.
BTW- I saw Vince two years ago with the Time Jumpers and he was wearing shorts and a T shirt, whereas, Paul was dressed sharply in a nice Polo shirt and dress pants. Plus, Vince needed a shave, badly. They all played and sang wonderfully, but, Vince did stand out a lot. Maybe that was his motive!

Guess I identify more with Storm when it comes to how to dress for performances.

Perhaps it's more due to the fact the rock bands I saw live, when I was growing up, did not dress up like C&W bands. Rock got me into playing music so I never felt costumes much mattered. stevet

I've argued about this question with some bands I've been in... I pretty much dress the same way all the time whether I'm on stage, at work, at home, anywhere. I just stick with my thing. I don't where jeans or t-shirts, and I'll put on some western wear for a wedding or other special occasion type gig, but I have come to hate the matching outfits phenomenon. When a band in matching outfits (or even just a band dressed up as cowboys) comes on my immediate thought is "oh, great, a dress up band.".... They had better be really good. They're rarely as good as I think they should be to pull off the outfits - at least around here... so I leave thinking they're a bunch of guys who like to dress up and pretend to be musicians.. Maybe it's not fair, as I, too, am pretending to be a musician, but that is what goes through my mind.... That isn't the impression you want to leave on an audience. If they were great, I wouldn't even be thinking about their outfits by the end of the show, they could all match or look like a bunch of hobos, I don't care. I just want to hear a good band.... I understand the "hearing with your eyes" argument, but I don't like pandering to that attitude and I don't like the idea of underestimating your audience in that way either. I would generally agree that it is better to err on the side of a little to nice over a little too sloppy, though...

I worked with a really bad singer who tried way too hard with the costume. It made it more embarrassing. I wanted to put a bag over my head. Looking back, I should have declined the gig, but you never know, you might meet a cool sideman, and it was rarely the same players every gig. I try to find a way to overlook it and have some fun.

Unless you sound legit, it's not enough to just look cool. I'd rather sound great and look bad, if I had to choose. Otherwise , you're really just burlesquing .

If I had Vince's talent and accomplishments, I'd likely still dress up a bit, maybe it's modesty, his way of trying to not call any extra attention to himself. Hard to find fault with a man like Vince. I'm thinking he's only about the music when he does a Timejumpers gig.

For the rest of us, I say sound legit, and look like someone who expects to be paid for performing.

Here's a pic or 2 from a show I did last night down in W Va. The all black thing looks good to me.







JB

I ask the guy who hires me