At a few sessions I've been to some of the players turn up really scruffy...blokes, mostly. Sometimes even myself included, albeit very occasionally, I have to shamefully admit.
Not only that, but it's obvious that some people just don't look after themselves. They can look very unfit, pasty and sickly. Oh, and unshaven. And don't get me started on smoking...or the smell they bring in to the session after they have nipped out for a fag between tunes. And halitosis...yeuchh.
Is it the case that these unfortunate wretches are spending too much time and inclining too much mental energy towards getting the tunes just right, so paying no attention to their outward appearance?
This is just not good enough. I for one would like to see people turned out more smartly. No need to don dinner suits a la Kilfenora Ceili Band, but a bit of personal decorum and sartorial elegance would not go amiss Am I alone in this opinion?
I'm just naturally scruffy. There's really nothing I can do about it. I can spend an hour preening myself and ironing clothes etc, but half an hour later I just look like I've been dragged through a hedge backwards. I wouldn't say I was unsanitary though.
You're doing great things for our linguistic knowledge again, Danny. I had to look up 'sartorial' and was relieved us females were not concerned.
Mind you, I put on my oldest gear or at least something that should be washed the next day because the session pub is not smokefree as yet. Disgusting, but if you have no choice...
Actually, that's a good point kuec. I used to turn up in rags, like a wandering saddhu, a lot more, when the pubs used to be full of cancer smoke, than I do now.
Well heck, if it's the weekend, I ain't shaving. I have to shave to go to the office all week. This is MY time. I ain't pimpin' myself out to go relax and have a good time, unless there's going to be a lassie there I may wish to impress, in which case, I could indeed be puttin' on the Ritz.
At the same time, normally I dress fairly decently for Florida, collar shirts, khaki shorts, sunglasses, etc. I got the whole middle-aged tropical Dad thing going on there, just on the weekends, I carry some serious scruff on the chops.
As far as the smokers go, you got two options: Let them smoke inside or let them smoke outside.
The barbaric practice of shaving has little to do with "sartorial elegance",unless one's beard is,um,less than complete.Then perhaps smooth and barbaric it should be.Then again,I'm not the beard police.
I occasionally change my clothes when they are getting a bit ripe and hacky. But climbing the slopes to the nearest session gets my arm pits in full flow, and playing the box and downing pints is not the best way to return them to drought. Indeed, tunes > thirst, thirst > pints, pints + tunes > constant flow.
I merely endeavour, like a mediaeval chef spicing rancid meat, to divert the company's attention from the more stomach-turning characteristics of my person with the appalling beauty of my music, very occasionally hiring their continued tolerance by buying a round.
When I first came to Boston in the early 1980s, a few of my fellow 20-somethings and I sometimes went to the monthly Comhaltas "social" at the Canadian-American Club in Watertown -- we weren't members, but we knew people there and it was no problem for us to come and sit in on the session.
The socials taking place on Sundays, many of the Comhaltas people were dressed in their church-going gear, and others I'm sure simply felt it de rigeur to wear nice clothes for the occasion. So it was pretty amusing to me how my peers and I invariably at best were able to manage only slightly worn jeans and T-shirts (or maybe a polo shirt), to go with our scruffy hair.
Fortunately, nobody seemed to mind. Or if they did, they made a very good effort at keeping it to themselves.
I usually wear jeans and a button up shirt. But lately I've taken to a tee-shirt that says "Will Play for Pints" that I got from Reverend's online shop (http://www.cafepress.com/ITMgoodies/). Works a treat--the last time I wore that tee, the whole circle got three rounds for free.
I don't know if a biker's leather outfit comes under sartorial elegance but when this nice young man turned up wearing it last year it certainly made my day. Great player as well.
I think Danny has a point. At the Blythe, the week's latest modes are always on view. In fact, we are so excruciatingly. achingly cool that we are often asked to record adverts for McCain's chips.
I have two points, actually. One at the end of each Gucci shoe. And the only rolls you'll get at our session is the sleeves of our Armani Fatto A Mano Su Misura shirts being rolled up.
BTW, the one time I wore a T-shirt similar to Will's, the barman came along and removed my full pint from in front of me as soon as I started playing.........
fauxcelt, clearly your winters aren't cold enough. Here in Montana, my beard acts as cold storage for spit, drool, snot, and beer foam.
In summer, it's a seine net for water bugs, algae, pond scum, and anything else I happen to swim through at the local watering hole. Oh, and beer foam.
Look, you're there to play a few tunes with friends (or
acquaintances, anyhow). It's not a concert and not a pick up
situation (at least not for my scruffy, married self). I show up
in my gardening/ grocery shopping/ house cleaning gear
Darn it, Will, now not only am I going to have to pay you a commission for the advertising, I'm going to have to change the shirt so people don't get their pints taken away
Oh, and make the limited edition "Will PlayS for Pints" version, of course...
Me? I don't think I've ever really noticed what people were wearing at sessions (other than the occasional attractive woman, of course)
Sigh, it's been a long time since I wore an attractive woman at a session. We had one at tonight's session at the old brothel, but she just shook my hand--not much sartorial elegance in that....
I am renowned for turning up in silly t-shirts, will have to get one of the Reverends' now.
But I always try to ensure that I smell nice, or of nothing, and am wearing clean clothes, and clean hair, which didn't used to be the state by the end of the evening before the smoking ban !
No, Will CPT, I guess our winters here in Arkansas aren't cold enough or long enough for you.
Actually, I have a beard because shaving is painful and uncomfortable for me. I have to keep my beard trimmed neat and short for my day job at a local hospital because part of my job is dealing with the patient's families and trying to answer their questions. I am allowed to have a beard but I must not look scruffy and must maintain a neat and orderly appearance. On the other hand, at least, I don't have to wear a suit and tie--unlike the hospital director.
I don't wear shorts either even though my wife is telling me to say that she thinks I have beautiful legs--but what does she know? This unfortunate woman is so deluded that she actually thinks she has found and married one of these good men who supposedly are so hard to find.
Sartorial Elegance
Sartorial Elegance
At a few sessions I've been to some of the players turn up really scruffy...blokes, mostly. Sometimes even myself included, albeit very occasionally, I have to shamefully admit.
Not only that, but it's obvious that some people just don't look after themselves. They can look very unfit, pasty and sickly. Oh, and unshaven. And don't get me started on smoking...or the smell they bring in to the session after they have nipped out for a fag between tunes. And halitosis...yeuchh.
Is it the case that these unfortunate wretches are spending too much time and inclining too much mental energy towards getting the tunes just right, so paying no attention to their outward appearance?
This is just not good enough. I for one would like to see people turned out more smartly. No need to don dinner suits a la Kilfenora Ceili Band, but a bit of personal decorum and sartorial elegance would not go amiss Am I alone in this opinion?
# Posted on May 13th 2008 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Sartorial Elegance
I just don't like to shave. shaving + fiddle = irritated neck.
# Posted on May 13th 2008 by jasonb
Re: Sartorial Elegance
I'm just naturally scruffy. There's really nothing I can do about it. I can spend an hour preening myself and ironing clothes etc, but half an hour later I just look like I've been dragged through a hedge backwards. I wouldn't say I was unsanitary though.
# Posted on May 13th 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Sartorial Elegance
I'm not suggesting we turn out like these smartly dressed chaps, though:
http://philspector.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/orange-march.jpg
# Posted on May 13th 2008 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Sartorial Elegance
You're difficult to please, Danny.
# Posted on May 13th 2008 by EastPole
Re: Sartorial Elegance
OK, then, Janek, I dare you to dress like those fellows and turn up at a session in W. Belfast
# Posted on May 13th 2008 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Sartorial Elegance
You're doing great things for our linguistic knowledge again, Danny. I had to look up 'sartorial' and was relieved us females were not concerned.
Mind you, I put on my oldest gear or at least something that should be washed the next day because the session pub is not smokefree as yet. Disgusting, but if you have no choice...
# Posted on May 13th 2008 by kuec
Re: Sartorial Elegance
Actually, that's a good point kuec. I used to turn up in rags, like a wandering saddhu, a lot more, when the pubs used to be full of cancer smoke, than I do now.
# Posted on May 13th 2008 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Sartorial Elegance
Well heck, if it's the weekend, I ain't shaving. I have to shave to go to the office all week. This is MY time. I ain't pimpin' myself out to go relax and have a good time, unless there's going to be a lassie there I may wish to impress, in which case, I could indeed be puttin' on the Ritz.
At the same time, normally I dress fairly decently for Florida, collar shirts, khaki shorts, sunglasses, etc. I got the whole middle-aged tropical Dad thing going on there, just on the weekends, I carry some serious scruff on the chops.
As far as the smokers go, you got two options: Let them smoke inside or let them smoke outside.
# Posted on May 13th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Sartorial Elegance
The barbaric practice of shaving has little to do with "sartorial elegance",unless one's beard is,um,less than complete.Then perhaps smooth and barbaric it should be.Then again,I'm not the beard police.
# Posted on May 13th 2008 by MattO'K
Re: Sartorial Elegance
Please, no Patchouli at sessions ! (or Anal Sweat #5, for that matter).
# Posted on May 13th 2008 by pennhorse
Re: Sartorial Elegance
I occasionally change my clothes when they are getting a bit ripe and hacky. But climbing the slopes to the nearest session gets my arm pits in full flow, and playing the box and downing pints is not the best way to return them to drought. Indeed, tunes > thirst, thirst > pints, pints + tunes > constant flow.
I merely endeavour, like a mediaeval chef spicing rancid meat, to divert the company's attention from the more stomach-turning characteristics of my person with the appalling beauty of my music, very occasionally hiring their continued tolerance by buying a round.
# Posted on May 13th 2008 by nicholas
Re: Sartorial Elegance
When I first came to Boston in the early 1980s, a few of my fellow 20-somethings and I sometimes went to the monthly Comhaltas "social" at the Canadian-American Club in Watertown -- we weren't members, but we knew people there and it was no problem for us to come and sit in on the session.
The socials taking place on Sundays, many of the Comhaltas people were dressed in their church-going gear, and others I'm sure simply felt it de rigeur to wear nice clothes for the occasion. So it was pretty amusing to me how my peers and I invariably at best were able to manage only slightly worn jeans and T-shirts (or maybe a polo shirt), to go with our scruffy hair.
Fortunately, nobody seemed to mind. Or if they did, they made a very good effort at keeping it to themselves.
# Posted on May 13th 2008 by sts
Re: Sartorial Elegance
I like to turn out in my best Dread Sack and plenty of patchouli, pennhorse. See how far these people can go toward the Dark Side:
http://www.dailytidings.com/2008/0425/stories/0425_patchouli.php
Oh, and let's not forget the swirly skirt!
# Posted on May 13th 2008 by Batlady
Re: Sartorial Elegance
I usually wear jeans and a button up shirt. But lately I've taken to a tee-shirt that says "Will Play for Pints" that I got from Reverend's online shop (http://www.cafepress.com/ITMgoodies/). Works a treat--the last time I wore that tee, the whole circle got three rounds for free.
# Posted on May 13th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: Sartorial Elegance
I don't know if a biker's leather outfit comes under sartorial elegance but when this nice young man turned up wearing it last year it certainly made my day. Great player as well.
# Posted on May 13th 2008 by kuec
Re: Sartorial Elegance
Just about every trad band I've seen has looked like a bunch of crusties.
# Posted on May 13th 2008 by nicholas
Re: Sartorial Elegance
I think Danny has a point. At the Blythe, the week's latest modes are always on view. In fact, we are so excruciatingly. achingly cool that we are often asked to record adverts for McCain's chips.
# Posted on May 13th 2008 by maxF
Re: Sartorial Elegance
I have two points, actually. One at the end of each Gucci shoe. And the only rolls you'll get at our session is the sleeves of our Armani Fatto A Mano Su Misura shirts being rolled up.
# Posted on May 13th 2008 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Sartorial Elegance
BTW, the one time I wore a T-shirt similar to Will's, the barman came along and removed my full pint from in front of me as soon as I started playing.........
# Posted on May 13th 2008 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Sartorial Elegance
Reverend, please see above. You may need a disclaimer in the fine print on those bad boys, look what happened to poor KML here.
# Posted on May 13th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Sartorial Elegance
During the winter, I prefer to think of my beard as an all-natural, organically grown chin warmer.
# Posted on May 14th 2008 by fauxcelt
Re: Sartorial Elegance
fauxcelt, clearly your winters aren't cold enough. Here in Montana, my beard acts as cold storage for spit, drool, snot, and beer foam.
In summer, it's a seine net for water bugs, algae, pond scum, and anything else I happen to swim through at the local watering hole. Oh, and beer foam.
# Posted on May 14th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: Sartorial Elegance
Sorry, were we talking about elegance?
# Posted on May 14th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: Sartorial Elegance
Look, you're there to play a few tunes with friends (or
acquaintances, anyhow). It's not a concert and not a pick up
situation (at least not for my scruffy, married self). I show up
in my gardening/ grocery shopping/ house cleaning gear
# Posted on May 14th 2008 by Hup
Re: Sartorial Elegance
I once went to a session after a work function.
I was accused of looking too much like a professional musician. Whoops!
# Posted on May 14th 2008 by davydd
Re: Sartorial Elegance
Darn it, Will, now not only am I going to have to pay you a commission for the advertising, I'm going to have to change the shirt so people don't get their pints taken away
Oh, and make the limited edition "Will PlayS for Pints" version, of course...
Me? I don't think I've ever really noticed what people were wearing at sessions (other than the occasional attractive woman, of course)
# Posted on May 14th 2008 by Reverend
Re: Sartorial Elegance
(erm... meaning that I was looking at what the attractive women were wearing... not that I was looking at someone wearing an attractive woman)
# Posted on May 14th 2008 by Reverend
Re: Sartorial Elegance
Sigh, it's been a long time since I wore an attractive woman at a session. We had one at tonight's session at the old brothel, but she just shook my hand--not much sartorial elegance in that....
# Posted on May 14th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: Sartorial Elegance
Seems like you're not out to impress the female punters. How good of you.
# Posted on May 14th 2008 by kuec
Re: Sartorial Elegance
I am renowned for turning up in silly t-shirts, will have to get one of the Reverends' now.
But I always try to ensure that I smell nice, or of nothing, and am wearing clean clothes, and clean hair, which didn't used to be the state by the end of the evening before the smoking ban !
# Posted on May 14th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Sartorial Elegance
No, Will CPT, I guess our winters here in Arkansas aren't cold enough or long enough for you.
Actually, I have a beard because shaving is painful and uncomfortable for me. I have to keep my beard trimmed neat and short for my day job at a local hospital because part of my job is dealing with the patient's families and trying to answer their questions. I am allowed to have a beard but I must not look scruffy and must maintain a neat and orderly appearance. On the other hand, at least, I don't have to wear a suit and tie--unlike the hospital director.
# Posted on May 17th 2008 by fauxcelt
Re: Sartorial Elegance
Last time I visited the Blyth, MaxF and Danny were very smartly turned out. At first I thought they were the management.
In Australia in summer, they wear shorts to the sessions. I would too if my legs weren't bluish-white
# Posted on May 17th 2008 by Bren
Re: Sartorial Elegance
I don't wear shorts either even though my wife is telling me to say that she thinks I have beautiful legs--but what does she know? This unfortunate woman is so deluded that she actually thinks she has found and married one of these good men who supposedly are so hard to find.
# Posted on May 19th 2008 by fauxcelt
Re: Sartorial Elegance
my wife used to say that until she realised it was much more fulfilling if I was a bad man needing reforming
# Posted on May 19th 2008 by Bren
Re: Sartorial Elegance
Do you ever listen to your wife? Or do you practice "selective hearing" like a lot of married men?
# Posted on May 20th 2008 by fauxcelt