Most nights after a hard slogging session, the profusion of sweat that has accumulated in my underarm region has begun to embarrass me to no ends.
Is this the case for other trad musicians?
I was thinking of getting some glands removed to further my enjoyment and help me to get on better in the trad scene. I think I might be on the verge of losing gigs over this problem. My dietician has recommended that I cool it with the German Ale but I'm starting to believe that the reel The Mason's Armpit is the root of my problem.
I live in sub-tropical Queensland... when it gets hot here, we all end up looking the same anyway. I suggest turning up the heat so everybody else sweats too!
Maybe you should take off your trousers when playing - rock out with your cock out. I definitely think there is a place for male genitals on display in Irish music, just look at Lunasa.
Assuming you're of the male gender, get yourself into a Men’s Unbifurcated Garment (MUG)! You'll get much better air circulation in the nether region, and probably sweat less up top too. And trust me, no one will be looking at your armpits
The trick might be to take up the bodhrán. Then you'll get used to the fact that everyone else in the session is treating you like a deadly contagion and not talking to you.
As long as it's not a case of fierce armpits after a sweaty session, then you needn't worry. Go ahead and sweat. It is a sign of effort. Try to see it as an indication of vitality in your music. There is the whole other school of musicianship that insists on dry underarms, along with looking so very cool and poised in general. Often their music sounds, to me, to be a bit anti-septic, or down right animic.
you forgot to add you are probably overweight grossly wear heavy duty underwear , probably sit next to the radiator al night in the pub, and play my ring of fire once too many, so go on a diet sit by the window and wear a g string
Find some loathsome invertebrate that drinks brine. Stuff a consignment under your armpits, holding them there in some sort of porous nappy or sling. Their excreta will no doubt be less offensive to the company's noses than your sudatory effluent.
Maybe sea-lice from a salmon farm would do the job.
Only if it's for a really heavy date. If not, a drop of Worcestershire sauce for an aftershave. Malt vinegar has a manly fragrence, if you have no Worcester sauce.
At the first sign of sweaty, potentially female-repelling armpits, I simply look in the direction of the publican and loudly exclaim: "Wow, is the AC on? Someone forget to pay the electric?"
Hey, it's Florida. In WInter, we open the windows, it's 70 F.
If I'm sucked into sean-nos dancing all bets are off, and the secret reserve deoderent comes out regardless.
If the object of my affections is reading this, and I think she is, she has only to put a drop of malted vinegar on her cleavage when she leaves for the next Sunday Session, and I would be hers for ever after, body and soul. To add emphasis to my ardor, I will roll, beforehand, in the carcass of a dead seal. Dogs have so much to teach us about pitching woo. Sea lice...now that would be a real clincher.
My trademark is collarless shirts - not to be faux-victorian, purely because they are really thick material and soak up the sweat.
Electric fans help, but it is cruel to keep them in cages.
You could always wear a kilt
;->
Going back to the Ireland of the 1950s, some of the rural dance halls left a lot to be desired. No toilets for a start and no electricity in many of them, so you can imagine that the smell of sweat especially after a night of ceili dancing filled the air. Both from the band and the dancers. The more mature women at the ceili usually wore 'stays' - corsets to you, and following a night of being swung around the hall their smell had a flagrance all its own. Consequently they would be the last to complain of a roll in the arms of a sweaty fiddler. One of the favourite chat up lines at the time was "For a big girl you don't sweat much"
No... Me armpits are fine it's me chest I'm worried about. Within 20 minutes of starting our first set the front of me shirt is wringin and the back of me mandolin and/or banjo is drippin. One of the lads suggested I might be lactating...!!!
RichardB - I must have been blinded by the sweat - I meant of course 'Fragrance'
As for 'in Flagrante delicto' , that was more in the form a few 'impure thoughts' which were kept at bay by the suppressed uttering of 'small ejaculations' and the thoughts of eternal damnation in the fires of hell. By God sir, the Siege of Ennis was a hot bed of sex in those days.
If you find yourself sweating like a blind lesbian in a fish shop, you might be trying to hard! Sometimes people with little musical talent do try to make up for it by throwing shapes. These type of people are only fooling the fools by playing this contemporary, "Irish trad", music that they got off the latest cd and this overly contrived stage presence they saw at the latest big outdoor festival. You can't try to be Irish you either are or aren't, you can't pick it up by watching the film Far and Away 6 times and you can't write on this discussion board and expect people to respect your opinion, when nobody does in the real world! By any chance are you a fiddler from Milwaukee because i have seen a clip of someone that i would expect this type of stuff to come out of.
The fiddle-player in my band has a high forehead, and works very hard, and at the end of a gig, when we come out into the cool night air, his head can be seen to be steaming.
He gets round the problems you mention by wearing very baggy shirts, and very baggy trousers.
PS what's with all this utilikilt stuff that seems to be appearing ?
Are we going all Olde Celtique ?
Allright, all of the Irish membership who reside closer to the N Pole: your music and dance have migrated to warmer places. For instance, here in San Jose, we are at the same latitude as N Sicily. The Irish nationals who settled here, played their music, and were our inspiration, seldom got up after a session without being soaking wet. They were masters of " economy of movement" too.
Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
Most nights after a hard slogging session, the profusion of sweat that has accumulated in my underarm region has begun to embarrass me to no ends.
Is this the case for other trad musicians?
I was thinking of getting some glands removed to further my enjoyment and help me to get on better in the trad scene. I think I might be on the verge of losing gigs over this problem. My dietician has recommended that I cool it with the German Ale but I'm starting to believe that the reel The Mason's Armpit is the root of my problem.
# Posted on September 14th 2008 by The Grand Spy
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
You can get botox injections into your armpits to stop you sweating:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2677503.stm
it's the same stuff you use for lip implants, not that you need them!
# Posted on September 14th 2008 by WorzelGummidge
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
I live in sub-tropical Queensland... when it gets hot here, we all end up looking the same anyway. I suggest turning up the heat so everybody else sweats too!
# Posted on September 14th 2008 by davydd
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
I also have the problem in my nether-region. Would it be okay to inject botox down there?
# Posted on September 14th 2008 by The Grand Spy
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
Give it a try.
Maybe you should take off your trousers when playing - rock out with your cock out. I definitely think there is a place for male genitals on display in Irish music, just look at Lunasa.
# Posted on September 14th 2008 by WorzelGummidge
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
No need for that. This is a friendly blog.
# Posted on September 14th 2008 by The Grand Spy
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
I meant the month. Lots of nakedness in August in my hometown (Sydney).
# Posted on September 14th 2008 by WorzelGummidge
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
Oh, excuse me. I thought you were talking about the funk band.
# Posted on September 14th 2008 by The Grand Spy
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
Sounds like you're doing it right...
# Posted on September 14th 2008 by Michael Eskin
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
I like to play naked - very liberating. I don't need to focus on anything other than my flute and the music.
I'm naked at the moment. What are you wearing?
# Posted on September 14th 2008 by skip canlon
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
Some helpful hints, tips and tricks on hyperhydrosis (excessive sweating) here:
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/15364
# Posted on September 14th 2008 by fidkid
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
"I also have the problem in my nether-region..."
Assuming you're of the male gender, get yourself into a Men’s Unbifurcated Garment (MUG)! You'll get much better air circulation in the nether region, and probably sweat less up top too. And trust me, no one will be looking at your armpits
http://www.utilikilts.com/
# Posted on September 14th 2008 by GDub
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
The trick might be to take up the bodhrán. Then you'll get used to the fact that everyone else in the session is treating you like a deadly contagion and not talking to you.
Or go the whole hog to crusty. Yum yum.
# Posted on September 14th 2008 by continuo
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
As long as it's not a case of fierce armpits after a sweaty session, then you needn't worry. Go ahead and sweat. It is a sign of effort. Try to see it as an indication of vitality in your music. There is the whole other school of musicianship that insists on dry underarms, along with looking so very cool and poised in general. Often their music sounds, to me, to be a bit anti-septic, or down right animic.
# Posted on September 14th 2008 by Atahualpa Quigley
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
PS I sweat buckets. Manifestly un-cool, and proud of it!
# Posted on September 14th 2008 by Atahualpa Quigley
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
PPS ANEMIC
# Posted on September 14th 2008 by Atahualpa Quigley
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
you forgot to add you are probably overweight grossly wear heavy duty underwear , probably sit next to the radiator al night in the pub, and play my ring of fire once too many, so go on a diet sit by the window and wear a g string
# Posted on September 14th 2008 by myparasgon
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
Find some loathsome invertebrate that drinks brine. Stuff a consignment under your armpits, holding them there in some sort of porous nappy or sling. Their excreta will no doubt be less offensive to the company's noses than your sudatory effluent.
Maybe sea-lice from a salmon farm would do the job.
# Posted on September 14th 2008 by nicholas
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
Only if it's for a really heavy date. If not, a drop of Worcestershire sauce for an aftershave. Malt vinegar has a manly fragrence, if you have no Worcester sauce.
# Posted on September 15th 2008 by Atahualpa Quigley
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
You're a hoity-toity lot, what with your store-bought underwear and your use of soap and water. You're all probably grossly underweight too. So there.
# Posted on September 15th 2008 by Atahualpa Quigley
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
At the first sign of sweaty, potentially female-repelling armpits, I simply look in the direction of the publican and loudly exclaim: "Wow, is the AC on? Someone forget to pay the electric?"
Hey, it's Florida. In WInter, we open the windows, it's 70 F.
If I'm sucked into sean-nos dancing all bets are off, and the secret reserve deoderent comes out regardless.
# Posted on September 15th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
deodorant
antiperspirant
Auntie who?
# Posted on September 15th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
too much information
# Posted on September 15th 2008 by Hup
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
If the object of my affections is reading this, and I think she is, she has only to put a drop of malted vinegar on her cleavage when she leaves for the next Sunday Session, and I would be hers for ever after, body and soul. To add emphasis to my ardor, I will roll, beforehand, in the carcass of a dead seal. Dogs have so much to teach us about pitching woo. Sea lice...now that would be a real clincher.
# Posted on September 15th 2008 by Atahualpa Quigley
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
My trademark is collarless shirts - not to be faux-victorian, purely because they are really thick material and soak up the sweat.
Electric fans help, but it is cruel to keep them in cages.
You could always wear a kilt
;->
# Posted on September 15th 2008 by geoffwright
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
I agree with hup.
# Posted on September 15th 2008 by AlBrown
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
Going back to the Ireland of the 1950s, some of the rural dance halls left a lot to be desired. No toilets for a start and no electricity in many of them, so you can imagine that the smell of sweat especially after a night of ceili dancing filled the air. Both from the band and the dancers. The more mature women at the ceili usually wore 'stays' - corsets to you, and following a night of being swung around the hall their smell had a flagrance all its own. Consequently they would be the last to complain of a roll in the arms of a sweaty fiddler. One of the favourite chat up lines at the time was "For a big girl you don't sweat much"
# Posted on September 15th 2008 by Free Reed
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
No... Me armpits are fine it's me chest I'm worried about. Within 20 minutes of starting our first set the front of me shirt is wringin and the back of me mandolin and/or banjo is drippin. One of the lads suggested I might be lactating...!!!
# Posted on September 15th 2008 by weebag
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
"flagrance", eh, Free Reed! - was there some rural "in flagrante delicto" going on ?
# Posted on September 15th 2008 by RichardB
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
You know what they call topless lady accordion players?
Ladies in Pain
Terrible old sexist joke, seemed appropriate.
# Posted on September 15th 2008 by zippydw
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
RichardB - I must have been blinded by the sweat - I meant of course 'Fragrance'
As for 'in Flagrante delicto' , that was more in the form a few 'impure thoughts' which were kept at bay by the suppressed uttering of 'small ejaculations' and the thoughts of eternal damnation in the fires of hell. By God sir, the Siege of Ennis was a hot bed of sex in those days.
# Posted on September 16th 2008 by Free Reed
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
If you find yourself sweating like a blind lesbian in a fish shop, you might be trying to hard! Sometimes people with little musical talent do try to make up for it by throwing shapes. These type of people are only fooling the fools by playing this contemporary, "Irish trad", music that they got off the latest cd and this overly contrived stage presence they saw at the latest big outdoor festival. You can't try to be Irish you either are or aren't, you can't pick it up by watching the film Far and Away 6 times and you can't write on this discussion board and expect people to respect your opinion, when nobody does in the real world! By any chance are you a fiddler from Milwaukee because i have seen a clip of someone that i would expect this type of stuff to come out of.
# Posted on September 17th 2008 by iluvbugs
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
The fiddle-player in my band has a high forehead, and works very hard, and at the end of a gig, when we come out into the cool night air, his head can be seen to be steaming.
He gets round the problems you mention by wearing very baggy shirts, and very baggy trousers.
PS what's with all this utilikilt stuff that seems to be appearing ?
Are we going all Olde Celtique ?
# Posted on September 18th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
I've seen the steaming thing happen with bands and dancers!
# Posted on September 18th 2008 by zepherin
Re: Sweaty armpits after a fierce session!
Allright, all of the Irish membership who reside closer to the N Pole: your music and dance have migrated to warmer places. For instance, here in San Jose, we are at the same latitude as N Sicily. The Irish nationals who settled here, played their music, and were our inspiration, seldom got up after a session without being soaking wet. They were masters of " economy of movement" too.
# Posted on September 18th 2008 by Atahualpa Quigley