Does appearance matter in the Irish trad world? Do 'sexier' players get more gigs?? Does how you dress for a gig matter? Or is there a certain 'look' the Irish trad musician should go for?
Please comment as I'm curious to hear your thoughts-- but don't take this post too seriously.
BTW take my Brendan Dolan hair poll at /www.livejournal.com/users/fiddle_around/ and see what the ladies have to say about a visiting musician.
Perhaps ITM is the grunge of the folk world. The bands I've paid to hear of late, like Dervish, Solas, bohola, or whoever, certainly don't seem fuss over their appearance on stage, and that's fine with me - it's somethng I really like about ITM. It's just about the music, and if they have personal charm or charisma, that's an extra bonus, as it would be in any pursuit.
Now, the CD cover photos; that's a different story.
I think everyone should dress like the Clancy Brothers or "Bros" as we know them here. Who could resist the charms of an Aran jumper, flat cap, moleskin trousers hitched up with a stout piece of string and a good pair of waterboots? You know, many Cavan women aspire to be Brosettes when they hit 75...
so conan, will you be wearing flat cap and 'waterboots' to the porterhouse? i think you should do it for Q, who is a little upset that he missed you dancing around with that mop on sunday.
Hey fiddle, appearance obviously matters to these chicks: http://www.mlive.com/forums/volunteerexchange/index.ssf?artid=351
as I'm sure it matters to any musician who gets up in front of an audience & is expecting to be paid for their work - & who is hoping that other people will pay to hear them, in the future.
I'm sure every music genre has it's dress code & as has already been said, if you are involved in Irish Folk, then it 'was' the done thing to wear ye olde jumpers.
However, with ITM it seems that the formal wear is to look - 'Smart, but Casual'.
good italian leather shoes are a must have, you could be wearing ripped jeans and a stained suit jaket but good shoes will always get you out of bother try to avoid slip ons with white socks though thats just daft also, wear a beard so people take you seriously it also gives you something to hide behind if you are shy in a matthew kelly / jeremy beadle kind of way, you could even go as far to look like jesus of nazareth for full on icon status so yes folky's looks are important
Our budding group is looking at three different "looks", depending on where we're playing. Comfy stuff for pub type gigs, dressier "blacks" with a Bruce tartan over the shoulder for me for more formal occasions like dinners, etc., and full out costume for fairs, festivals and Scottish games, etc. I should say costume -- Irish overdress and chemise -- for me and I've talked my partner into a "poet" shirt with his slacks. Most of the time, though, it'll be the comfy stuff. My son who does the vocals has a utilikilt, boots and shirt that will stretch to pretty much everything.
I enjoy the casual, but I have been to sessions where it seems the goal to dress way down into shorts and sandels. I think if we attract attention, we should be presentable. I always felt how one dresses reflects respect for others who will find themselves in one's presence. I guess the respect can be extended to the music by how we dress when playing.
The others in my group are all women, and they always outvote me on attire. We always wear black pants to gigs. For weddings, the girls wear white or black tops, while I always wear a white shirt, black sweater vest and tie. For other gigs, the girls have us wear matching kelly green polo shirts with the band name embroidered on them, which I call our "bowling team" outfit. As I said, I am outvoted.
At pub sessions, we wear whatever we have on. Sometimes, especially in the summer, someone in the tourist crowd will ask us why we don't look more authentic, which seems silly. I am pretty sure, even in Ireland, and especially given the conversation above, that "authentic" attire only appears on post cards and old record jackets.
My mates band turned up to play for a dance at a wedding one time wearing the usual selection of jeans and cords and check shirts, and were very politely shown round the access to the stage, the 13 amp socket, the bar, the toilets, and last of all - "a room where you can get changed".
We still smile about that on long winter evenings.
Al - try telling the punters that in the village you all come from, authentic music is played in the nude. Then stand up and start undoing a button or two.
The above suggestion might not work if you are young and athletic, with a "six pack".
It would work for sure in our session, where we are older, less athletic, and most of us sport a "family pack".
In our session, when the room gets too warm one of us goes to the bar and says "If you don't turn the heating down I'll take my clothes off" - if by chance that doesn't work we send big Dennis to make the same threat, and tha ALWAYS works.
In the Beer and Baccy Ceili Band, the boss showed up at a gig one night with dark green 'grandads' (long-sleeved T-shirts with button-up necks) for all the band, wiht a view to introducing a 'band uniform'. I'm the only one that consistently wears my green grandad - perhaps because it's usually the only clean T-shirt I have left by the end of the week. I only ever wear it for gigs, so it doesn't need to be washed that often.
Showaddy - A distinct disadvantage to playing the 'authentic' way is that you have nowhere (I suggest *not* using your imagination) to keep your spare plectra or other accessories, unless you have a pocket sewn directly onto your hip - or you are a female kangaroo, of course.
Och I was just getting interested when you said you and the female members of your group always wore black pants, until I remembered that you guys across the pond call trousers 'pants', while we call underwear, pants!
Oh J*m Curr*n what a w**ker he really is did he ever ditch that B.O. fragranced green shirt of his own yet d'ya remember the song about him
curran is a wa**er, curran is a wan**r, and he stinks of pi** and s**t and puke
sung to the tune of green gates reel in a dingle regatta fashion
HIS APPEARANCE SUCKS and to top it off he sports a balding comb over ponytail which I have vowed to snip of when he has his next fill of free guinness (spiked with vodka) heeeeeres johnny I'm not going to trim yer ponytail mr curran Im gonna shave yer whole head 'til it's SHINING
If the band's not great, it helps to have at least one good-looking person of the other gender from you on stage. Then, even if your ears are dissatisfied, your eyes aren't disappointed.
I'm sorry. I'll get my mind out of the gutter now.
Does appearance matter?
Does appearance matter?
Does appearance matter in the Irish trad world? Do 'sexier' players get more gigs?? Does how you dress for a gig matter? Or is there a certain 'look' the Irish trad musician should go for?
Please comment as I'm curious to hear your thoughts-- but don't take this post too seriously.
BTW take my Brendan Dolan hair poll at /www.livejournal.com/users/fiddle_around/ and see what the ladies have to say about a visiting musician.
# Posted on November 15th 2005 by fiddle_around
Re: Does appearance matter?
Of course appearence matters when you do gigs. But doing gigs doesn't mastter in the Irish trad world. So there you have it
# Posted on November 15th 2005 by llig leahcim
Re: Does appearance matter?
Perhaps ITM is the grunge of the folk world. The bands I've paid to hear of late, like Dervish, Solas, bohola, or whoever, certainly don't seem fuss over their appearance on stage, and that's fine with me - it's somethng I really like about ITM. It's just about the music, and if they have personal charm or charisma, that's an extra bonus, as it would be in any pursuit.
Now, the CD cover photos; that's a different story.
# Posted on November 15th 2005 by Keith Dubinsky
Re: Does appearance matter?
I think everyone should dress like the Clancy Brothers or "Bros" as we know them here. Who could resist the charms of an Aran jumper, flat cap, moleskin trousers hitched up with a stout piece of string and a good pair of waterboots? You know, many Cavan women aspire to be Brosettes when they hit 75...
# Posted on November 15th 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Does appearance matter?
Not entirely fair of course; apparently they were made to wear that ridiculous get-up for a gig or album cover or something.
# Posted on November 15th 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Does appearance matter?
You mean that all Irishmen don't look like The Clancy Brothers.
I'm crushed
# Posted on November 16th 2005 by McMandolin
Re: Does appearance matter?
Only the catalogue models :¬\ Sorry to burst your bubble.
# Posted on November 16th 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Does appearance matter?
so conan, will you be wearing flat cap and 'waterboots' to the porterhouse? i think you should do it for Q, who is a little upset that he missed you dancing around with that mop on sunday.
# Posted on November 16th 2005 by flisstle
Re: Does appearance matter?
I will only do it if I get paid! :¬) Ermmmm who else have you told about that (apart from everyone who reads this)? ;)
# Posted on November 16th 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Does appearance matter?
You should always appear to be playing.
# Posted on November 16th 2005 by ragaman
Re: Does appearance matter?
Hey fiddle, appearance obviously matters to these chicks:
http://www.mlive.com/forums/volunteerexchange/index.ssf?artid=351
as I'm sure it matters to any musician who gets up in front of an audience & is expecting to be paid for their work - & who is hoping that other people will pay to hear them, in the future.
I'm sure every music genre has it's dress code & as has already been said, if you are involved in Irish Folk, then it 'was' the done thing to wear ye olde jumpers.
However, with ITM it seems that the formal wear is to look - 'Smart, but Casual'.
# Posted on November 16th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Does appearance matter?
good italian leather shoes are a must have, you could be wearing ripped jeans and a stained suit jaket but good shoes will always get you out of bother try to avoid slip ons with white socks though thats just daft also, wear a beard so people take you seriously it also gives you something to hide behind if you are shy in a matthew kelly / jeremy beadle kind of way, you could even go as far to look like jesus of nazareth for full on icon status so yes folky's looks are important
# Posted on November 16th 2005 by Ripthecalico
Re: Does appearance matter?
Our budding group is looking at three different "looks", depending on where we're playing. Comfy stuff for pub type gigs, dressier "blacks" with a Bruce tartan over the shoulder for me for more formal occasions like dinners, etc., and full out costume for fairs, festivals and Scottish games, etc. I should say costume -- Irish overdress and chemise -- for me and I've talked my partner into a "poet" shirt with his slacks. Most of the time, though, it'll be the comfy stuff. My son who does the vocals has a utilikilt, boots and shirt that will stretch to pretty much everything.
# Posted on November 16th 2005 by thier1754
Re: Does appearance matter?
J of Nazareth look -
http://www.feardearg.com/sessionite/index.php?in=bio&Id=37
I enjoy the casual, but I have been to sessions where it seems the goal to dress way down into shorts and sandels. I think if we attract attention, we should be presentable. I always felt how one dresses reflects respect for others who will find themselves in one's presence. I guess the respect can be extended to the music by how we dress when playing.
# Posted on November 16th 2005 by feardearg
Re: Does appearance matter?
The others in my group are all women, and they always outvote me on attire. We always wear black pants to gigs. For weddings, the girls wear white or black tops, while I always wear a white shirt, black sweater vest and tie. For other gigs, the girls have us wear matching kelly green polo shirts with the band name embroidered on them, which I call our "bowling team" outfit. As I said, I am outvoted.
At pub sessions, we wear whatever we have on. Sometimes, especially in the summer, someone in the tourist crowd will ask us why we don't look more authentic, which seems silly. I am pretty sure, even in Ireland, and especially given the conversation above, that "authentic" attire only appears on post cards and old record jackets.
# Posted on November 16th 2005 by AlBrown
Re: Does appearance matter?
My mates band turned up to play for a dance at a wedding one time wearing the usual selection of jeans and cords and check shirts, and were very politely shown round the access to the stage, the 13 amp socket, the bar, the toilets, and last of all - "a room where you can get changed".
We still smile about that on long winter evenings.
Al - try telling the punters that in the village you all come from, authentic music is played in the nude. Then stand up and start undoing a button or two.
# Posted on November 16th 2005 by showaddydadito
Re: Does appearance matter?
The above suggestion might not work if you are young and athletic, with a "six pack".
It would work for sure in our session, where we are older, less athletic, and most of us sport a "family pack".
In our session, when the room gets too warm one of us goes to the bar and says "If you don't turn the heating down I'll take my clothes off" - if by chance that doesn't work we send big Dennis to make the same threat, and tha ALWAYS works.
# Posted on November 16th 2005 by showaddydadito
Re: Does appearance matter?
In the Beer and Baccy Ceili Band, the boss showed up at a gig one night with dark green 'grandads' (long-sleeved T-shirts with button-up necks) for all the band, wiht a view to introducing a 'band uniform'. I'm the only one that consistently wears my green grandad - perhaps because it's usually the only clean T-shirt I have left by the end of the week. I only ever wear it for gigs, so it doesn't need to be washed that often.
Showaddy - A distinct disadvantage to playing the 'authentic' way is that you have nowhere (I suggest *not* using your imagination) to keep your spare plectra or other accessories, unless you have a pocket sewn directly onto your hip - or you are a female kangaroo, of course.
# Posted on November 16th 2005 by ragaman
Re: Does appearance matter?
But I AM a female kangaroo.
# Posted on November 16th 2005 by showaddydadito
Re: Does appearance matter?
After all - you're a small wooden cooking utensil.
# Posted on November 16th 2005 by showaddydadito
Re: Does appearance matter?
Och I was just getting interested when you said you and the female members of your group always wore black pants, until I remembered that you guys across the pond call trousers 'pants', while we call underwear, pants!
# Posted on November 16th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Does appearance matter?
Oh J*m Curr*n what a w**ker he really is did he ever ditch that B.O. fragranced green shirt of his own yet d'ya remember the song about him
curran is a wa**er, curran is a wan**r, and he stinks of pi** and s**t and puke
sung to the tune of green gates reel in a dingle regatta fashion
HIS APPEARANCE SUCKS and to top it off he sports a balding comb over ponytail which I have vowed to snip of when he has his next fill of free guinness (spiked with vodka) heeeeeres johnny I'm not going to trim yer ponytail mr curran Im gonna shave yer whole head 'til it's SHINING
# Posted on November 16th 2005 by Ripthecalico
Re: Does appearance matter?
If the band's not great, it helps to have at least one good-looking person of the other gender from you on stage. Then, even if your ears are dissatisfied, your eyes aren't disappointed.
I'm sorry. I'll get my mind out of the gutter now.
# Posted on November 17th 2005 by Zazzaliss
Re: Does appearance matter?
six pack? I bring the whole keg!
# Posted on November 17th 2005 by Owell Mabee