- Sep 26, 2005
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Shorts at a gig - how screwed are we?
- Thread starter CloserTonyDanza
- Start date
- I have thick, well-built, hairy legs- OK
- I usually wear a stupid hat on stage- OK too, its fun, but depends on venue. Outdoor Tiki bar? yes
- Bassist is playing rock on an instrument that has a Jazz Bass pickup in the bridge position - No, not a big enough sound unless you use a pedal. Too thin sounding. Switch to the P or the humbucker at the neck position
- I have my phone mounted to a mic stand for charts, lyrics, etc.- Most people I play for does it. BUT it needs to be low on the stand. One guy had a Ipad at face level. Just use it as a reference, not glued to it. Memorize what you can.
- Bassist has a history of wearing shorts at our shows and has on at least one occasion removed his shirt (admittedly on an extremely hot stage) We play at a beach tiki bar, hot, humid, I usually wear pants. Shorts are OK I guess. Plus mosquitoes and flies like snacking on me. Removed his shirt? no go on that. Too unprofessional.
- I usually wear a stupid hat on stage- OK too, its fun, but depends on venue. Outdoor Tiki bar? yes
- Bassist is playing rock on an instrument that has a Jazz Bass pickup in the bridge position - No, not a big enough sound unless you use a pedal. Too thin sounding. Switch to the P or the humbucker at the neck position
- I have my phone mounted to a mic stand for charts, lyrics, etc.- Most people I play for does it. BUT it needs to be low on the stand. One guy had a Ipad at face level. Just use it as a reference, not glued to it. Memorize what you can.
- Bassist has a history of wearing shorts at our shows and has on at least one occasion removed his shirt (admittedly on an extremely hot stage) We play at a beach tiki bar, hot, humid, I usually wear pants. Shorts are OK I guess. Plus mosquitoes and flies like snacking on me. Removed his shirt? no go on that. Too unprofessional.
Sure. But how many can claim to be in the same echelon as Jerry? Once you’ve made it to the big time you can often get away with doing whatever you want. But before that? Hmm. I don’t know ‘bout dat.
My opinion is only my opinion,
My opinion is shorts are never appropriate for a gig.
My opinion is shorts are never appropriate for a gig.
I always wonder, reading these threads, how many people are actually answering seriously.
I always wonder, reading these threads, how many people are actually answering seriously.
I'm not sure, but I'd love to see a Venn diagram of the people who complain about shorts, the people who complain nobody comes to live music anymore, and the people who complain the bass player gets no love.
I'm guessing it's almost 1 single complete circle.
The band I'm in has a "no shorts onstage" policy and I'm ok with that, I wouldn't ever wear shorts anyway, onstage or not.
It's been a historically brutal summer. As long as you're not wearing sandals, you're OK.
Out of curiosity I did a search for “Budgie Smugglers”. I now wish that I hadn’t. I offer this as a warning to anyone whose curiosity is as strong as mine was. Don’t look, it can’t be unseen.
Wearing shorts at a gig doesn't mean your band is screwed in and of itself.
Wearing them is merely the punctuation mark at the end of the We're-pretty-screwed sentence.
Carry on.
Wearing them is merely the punctuation mark at the end of the We're-pretty-screwed sentence.
Carry on.
Observations:
1) OP really just came here to talk about his well sculpted, hairy legs - we all see through the facade
2) Crabby old guys are generally anti-shorts, and often vocally so
3) Every time one of these threads is posted, people inevitably come back with pictures of flea, angus young, and other super famous, incredibly unique/iconic figures. Let's be clear - nobody on TB is remotely of that same status, so their fashion choices shouldn't be held up as any kind of standard
My take:
Wear what you like and need to be comfortable, don't worry about a bunch of rando people on the internet.
1) OP really just came here to talk about his well sculpted, hairy legs - we all see through the facade
2) Crabby old guys are generally anti-shorts, and often vocally so
3) Every time one of these threads is posted, people inevitably come back with pictures of flea, angus young, and other super famous, incredibly unique/iconic figures. Let's be clear - nobody on TB is remotely of that same status, so their fashion choices shouldn't be held up as any kind of standard
My take:
Wear what you like and need to be comfortable, don't worry about a bunch of rando people on the internet.
I have pants that were made specifically for hot weather. It’s not a choice of either wear shorts or suffer. ;-)
It’s not the shorts that bother me so much, although I think they look unprofessional, it’s the fact that they are often baggy, saggy, old cargo shorts paired with a baggy, saggy old t-shirt and the wearer looks like they just mowed their lawn and stepped up on stage.
It’s not the shorts that bother me so much, although I think they look unprofessional, it’s the fact that they are often baggy, saggy, old cargo shorts paired with a baggy, saggy old t-shirt and the wearer looks like they just mowed their lawn and stepped up on stage.
I wore shorts to a gig last Friday. Afterwards, scores of svelte young nubiles came up to me and said, "Wow! You look so dashing and elegant! And the sound of those Bartolini PJs in your Canadian-made Lado bass was awesome!"
I wore them and the sound guy was unable to flatten the floor monitor mix EQ to make me not sound like I was playing and singing through a tin can. Maybe I should stick to three-piece suits and supper club gigs...
as others have said it depends on the gig and the venue
if you're playing outside, then yes I'd say shorts would be ok, but inside in a bar or something then no - jeans or lightweight trousers would be preferable
if you're playing outside, then yes I'd say shorts would be ok, but inside in a bar or something then no - jeans or lightweight trousers would be preferable