Dressing Up

Mark Metdker · Post by **Mark Metdker** » 1 Feb 2006 11:12 am

well said Dave.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 1 Feb 2006 11:33 am

Circa 1968. I don't know if this was dressing "up", "down", or "across"!

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Chris L. Christensen · Post by **Chris L. Christensen** » 1 Feb 2006 11:35 am

What most people wear, especially today, is in large part up the the indivigual. However, in show business one of the oldest adages is the "image is everything". Indeed, each country or pop artist today has a stylist that designs and plans every bit of clothing they wear to emphasize that artist's image for maximum effect. The holes on Dwight Yokum's jeans were undoubtably strategicly placed! Dierks Bentley may look like he just got out of bed but he obviously has image consultants of some sort. To me, while the music is foremost, the image of the steel guitar is undoubtably enhanced by the player, especially to the general public. I really wonder how much good the stereotype of the overweight, sloppily dressed "bubba" steel player does the instrument itself or the interest of younger potential players. The slick outfits of the 1930s, 40s, 50s, & 60s undoubtable did their share to stimulate interest in country music. Fashion and music have gone hand in hand since the days of Mozart and Chopin, and musicians have long been fashion trendsetters. I've noticed a lot of critisism for the formality of dress of years gone by, well, certainly we have more options but the saying that "clothes make the man" is still true and looking good and presenting a put-together image never goes out of style. [This message was edited by Chris L. Christensen on 01 February 2006 at 01:46 PM.]

John Ummel · Post by **John Ummel** » 1 Feb 2006 11:39 am

we have split along completely superficial lines.

Here here. I second that notion.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 1 Feb 2006 11:43 am

I would like to cite George Strait as an example.
I have never seen him appear in anything but a western shirt and STARCHED WRANGLER JEANS. Not the scrap with the knees busted out.

Now, this is a performer with CLASS and you can HEAR it and SEE it.
Erv

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 1 Feb 2006 11:47 am

for some bands image is everything, they build their careers on it

thats fine with me, just be sincere about it.
on stage and off

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 1 Feb 2006 11:49 am

On the other hand...why does anyone wear a cowboy hat on stage, when if they're being honest-have rarely sat on the back of a horse in their lifetime, or have never spent anytime in the hot sun doing fence repairs, etc.

I have worked in the nursery industry for over 30 years, a lot of it doing outdoor nursery work-canning up and moving around trees, unloading trucks, etc.

I have worn wide brim hats to help to keep the sun off my face, and have been kidded by folks along the lines of "you fixin' to enter a rodeo?" and other lame attempts at humor.

So I guarantee you that I have spent more time out in the sun and weather than the vast majority of pro musicians and singers that are sporting the latest design from Stetson.

The fact that many country musicians wear cowboy hats is based on tradition, because it is associated with blue collar folks that have done a lot of outdoor work, and goes back to a time when a higher percentage of the population worked in ranching and farming.

So now, it has become a form of fashion, just like Alan Jackson wearing designer jeans that came with holes in them.

Kenny Chesney: I literally cannot remember ever seeing him without the hat-what's he hiding underneath it?

Buddy Emmons wearing a tank top behind his steel is probably more of a legit "fashion statement" then someone who started into music as a kid, turned pro as a young man, and hasn't worked ever in an outdoor environment to use a wide brim hat to protect them from the sun-and wears a western hat to every gig.

But I'm fine with them wearing the hat-if only for effect-it looks good.

I think we all can connect with a performer when the feeling comes from the stage that they respect us as the audience-regardless of their attire.

Oh yeah-I can remember seeing Buddy Cage playing his steel wearing shorts-and he sounded great!

I love the title of one of Joe Goldmark's steel cd's that comes from a saying you might hear in Texas: "All Hat, No Cattle."

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Mark
[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 01 February 2006 at 01:58 PM.]

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 1 Feb 2006 7:20 pm

Q - Why do real cowboys wear tennis shoes
A - So you can tell them from the truck drivers

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 1 Feb 2006 8:46 pm

OK Dave, Which came first, the chicken(entertainer) or the egg(audience)?

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 1 Feb 2006 8:50 pm

"I would like to cite George Strait as an example.
I have never seen him appear in anything but a western shirt and STARCHED WRANGLER JEANS. Not the scrap with the knees busted out.
Now, this is a performer with CLASS and you can HEAR it and SEE it."

No, you can't hear "class". That's a crock. That's taking a visual perception and biasing your listening based on it.

If you ONLY heard a CD, or a cut on the radio, and liked it - would it have any less validity if it was played by a guy in shorts, UGG boots and an AC/DC T-shirt?

No, it wouldn't.

This is an argument that can never be "won" - but I find the biases against certain kinds of dress and absolute laugh. I remember being only allowed to play 4 songs (instead of 10) at a bluegrass festival in the '70's because we didn't wear matching shirts.

Things unfortunately haven't changed. No matter how incredibly....well, I 'm sorry,but the only thing that fit is "bigoted"...it may be.

Calvin Walley · Post by **Calvin Walley** » 1 Feb 2006 9:11 pm

you know i don't ever recall hearing anyone say i'm going to LISTEN to a concert tonight
they all say i'm going to SEE a concert tonight. when you have people paying to SEE a show ..it's not radio ..thats why its called a show not a listen.
if you think thats its ONLY about the music your only fooling yourself

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 1 Feb 2006 9:37 pm

I guess we'll be hearing about how we should all wear our hair and beards vs. clean-shaven next?

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 1 Feb 2006 9:41 pm

Forty thousand,fifty thousand,or a hundred thousand dollars a show,dressing like a derelict,no matter who condones it,trys to rationalize it,or makes excuses for it,it is still disgusting and shows no self respect at all.

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 1 Feb 2006 9:46 pm

Nevermind. This is just too stupid.[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 01 February 2006 at 10:43 PM.]

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 1 Feb 2006 10:00 pm

Okay Dave Grafe..........them are fighting words!

So now we're gonna make fun of a steel man's day job? Shame, shame, shame!

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 1 Feb 2006 11:01 pm

Good grief, this meaningless stuff is reminiscent of complaints that Robert Randolph doesn't play "A Way To Survive."

Let me quote Waylon Jennings, who many have probably forgotten was a great COUNTRY singer... "why don't you leave them boys alone and let them sing their song?"

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
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[This message was edited by Herb Steiner on 01 February 2006 at 11:28 PM.]

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 2 Feb 2006 6:59 am

What was the question???

James Cann · Post by **James Cann** » 2 Feb 2006 7:54 am

I guess that is because it is about the "cultural war" going on in the country, especially for the hearts and minds of younger people.

Very good point indeed, Dave!

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 2 Feb 2006 9:09 am

Good grief, this meaningless stuff is reminiscent of complaints that Robert Randolph doesn't play "A Way To Survive."

Herb, that's something that Robert and I have in common.....I don't play "A Way To Survive" either. Come to think of it, maybe that's why "I" didn't survive.

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Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 2 Feb 2006 9:26 am

My apologies if my attempt to lighten up the discussion offended you, Ray, I didn't mean to impune anybody personally - the comment was in reference to the earlier post about "all hat, no cattle" - heck, I even drive a truck now and then myself - I suppose I could have said "...tell them from the pedal steel players" I suppose, and it would have been a lot more on topic, in any case you should know by now that I'm not the fighting kind.

Seriously, I think that a person should wear whatever they feel the most comfortable in, whatever it takes to open the heart wide open is probably the best for the planet as a whole, anyway. I have not cut my hair for years on account of that's the way I feel the most like my own self (it is, after all, the way the good Lord made me). If that represents a problem for someone else (although it seems to rarely be the case these days) then that's pretty much their issue, it's pretty likely that if we miss an opportunity to make a meaningful connection on account of my hair being long then we would probably miss that opportunity on some other grounds anyway if my hair was short.

As Ben said, "Just be sincere about it, on and off stage"

That being said, I prefer to dress well for the occasion, whatever the occasion may be - that includes tie-dyes for a Grateful Dead festival, Tuxedos for the symphony, nothing at all for swimming - it's just a whole lot more fun that way.
[This message was edited by Dave Grafe on 02 February 2006 at 09:50 AM.]

Mark Metdker · Post by **Mark Metdker** » 2 Feb 2006 9:30 am

OK, if we are gonna talk about appearance on stage, let's talk about being overweight. You are wearing a starched shirt and pressed slacks..(or whatever ya'll deem appropriate)...but you are 50 to 100 pounds overweight. Is that a "professional", or "acceptable" appearance.

Why, or why not?

Terry Edwards · Post by **Terry Edwards** » 2 Feb 2006 9:45 am

Somebody said "starched Wrangler Jeans".

Why would anybody apply starch to jeans??

Is it to get that nice crisp crease in the front???

LOL !!

Terry

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 2 Feb 2006 10:22 am

Dave, I think anybody who plays a cool shobud can wear what ever they please, so Dave, you automaticly look just fine!! HA!! LOL

I've driven truck, also, and am proud to say it. AND in cowboy boots. Who gives a rats right cheek!?

Ya'll takin' this stuff a little tto serious--LIGHTEN UP geeeeze!!

LOL

Mark Lind-Hanson · Post by **Mark Lind-Hanson** » 2 Feb 2006 12:04 pm

>"I never could "hear" a nice suit."<

I agree completely. Let the MUSIC define you & "class". People in a class of their own need not worry, nor take offense, at the way anyone else dresses... nor worry as to how they are "projecting." People with "class" realize people are MORE THAN appearances...
If you're good, they'll know it, and if you're posing, they'll know it too, and all the 'slick' in the world won't make a bit of difference, if it isn;t already in your fingers & your heart.
Really we CAN discuss things "mo' impo'tant" here, now, can't we?

Calvin Walley · Post by **Calvin Walley** » 2 Feb 2006 1:17 pm

it seem as if some here on the forum have the opionion that ; as long a i can get by playing its ok if i look like a bum...WRONG.

some of you sound like you don't have the sense our creator gave a billy goat