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Posted by: muntahunta Nov 13 2008, 05:32 PM

I need a little hand getting my "look" onstage...

im the lead singer of my band and it seems to me that i should be representing with an image... but i have no idea where to start... i am not putting makeup on

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=20932

that is the kind of music we do (including covers from iron maiden, metallica, nickelback, puddle of mudd, etc)

I may become a guitarist in the band soon as one of the current guitarists arent working out.

My current dress sense is band t-shirt/black t-shirt and jeans.

Im looking for something new, i dnt straighten my hair but can do i suppose :S

if you wanna see some pictures, their up on http://www.myspace.com/actofsilenceband

any ideas would be great and i look forward to some funny ideas too

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Nov 13 2008, 06:03 PM

Well definitely get rid of the band t shirts..That will make you look more professional I don't know find a more elegant clothes like black shirt and jeans....You can always look up to your "idols" and dress something similar

Posted by: Jesse Nov 13 2008, 06:30 PM

I feeeel like you shouldn't dress upif it doesnt go naturally.. know what I mean?

Posted by: Praetorian Nov 13 2008, 06:37 PM

I agree...don't try to be something you are not! Kurt Cobain certainly didn't look "the part" when Nirvana first started. Everyone was wearing big hair and tight leather pants...here he comes along with jeans and flannel shirts. Being himself worked for him!

Posted by: MickeM Nov 13 2008, 08:38 PM

bare upper body, lipstick, tights and curlers in your hair

no sorry I don't see why jeans and t-shirt shouldn't work. Put on a hat or something

OR... I know! If you dress up as an indian, the other members as construction worker, policaman and one sailor. That's a fresh idea for ya

Posted by: Jesse Nov 13 2008, 08:47 PM

.... You can keep it to yourself if you think hes gay MickeM:D Just Kiddin!

Posted by: Canis Nov 13 2008, 10:34 PM

On stage, I've always pictured myself dressed in stylish (yet plain) dark or blue jeans, and a black shirt with the top couple of buttons unbuttoned
Something along the lines of http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guitar/evening-blues-lesson/ ^^

I find that extremely cool for any kind of music, be it jazz, blues, rock or metal.

Posted by: JVM Nov 13 2008, 10:40 PM

Be yourself. Anything else is fake, IMO. The Kurt Cobain example is a good one. If you're good enough, people not only don't care what you look like, but will try to emulate you anyway So be comfortable.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Nov 14 2008, 11:18 AM

Definitely be yourself and dress only in the clothes you will feel comfortable with. This will make you look more natural. Also try to get some details, like jewelery, nice haircut, interesting clothes, some fashion details etc. Start small and go big, this way the change wouldn't be too big.

Posted by: Dejan Farkas Nov 14 2008, 11:22 AM

It's hard to give you advice what to wear, but it should definatelly be something that you feel comfortable in, audience will notice that for shure

Posted by: Noangels Nov 14 2008, 03:41 PM

let your music do the talking,I dont think anyone watching you could give a toss if you dressed up or dressed down for the gigs:)

Mind you,how about a nice sparkly cat suit

Posted by: SensE Nov 14 2008, 03:55 PM

This is a funny idea! Wahahahhaa

Posted by: Mark. Nov 14 2008, 04:18 PM

I'd go for the jeans, no t-shirt and a big beer belly

Posted by: Fsgdjv Nov 14 2008, 04:22 PM

Are you serious? What's wrong with band t-shirts on stage, a lot of people dress that way, and I actually see nothing wrong with it.

Posted by: jer Nov 14 2008, 10:25 PM

I dont think there is anything wrong with it exactly. But it is very mundane and extraordinarily common.


Exactly.


Me neither. But personally I would want my band to stand out. And while the music does do the talking, I am not playing to a room full of musicians. I'm playing to a room full of people looking to be entertained. And it wouldnt surprised me if more than half of them are drinking.

So in my opinion, having a look, ANY look, is a move in the right direction. Its about separating yourself from the pack.

But you may not want to do that. You may want to dress like everyone else. You know, blend.... I cant imagine why. But thats not for me to understand.

Posted by: Nemanja Filipovic Nov 14 2008, 10:54 PM

I like that look like singer from Alter Bridge.But,et the end you should dress the best way you feel a bout it.

Posted by: JVM Nov 14 2008, 11:00 PM

I've been to my fair share of shows and I can never remember what people were wearing. It's often dark anyway. I don't think anyone asks 'How was the show?' and follows it up with 'what were they wearing?'. There are some exceptions, I know a band that used to dress radically differently every show they did, but it didn't make me like them. Now, if you're doing a tv spot or you're being filmed or something, consider what you wear. But if you're just gigging, trying to make it I don't think anyone cares what you wear, I don't think it has any lasting impact on people and I don't think it makes you stand out in the least.

Posted by: bladzerok Nov 14 2008, 11:06 PM

well im pretty much dressed like you when doing shows, i wear band t shirt, but not any band t shirt. i think a white on black or grey on black or something like this look cooler and more professionnsal than full colors, iron maiden- style t-shirts.


but thats just my opinion

Posted by: berko Nov 14 2008, 11:12 PM

Agree with that. Dressing in an extraordinary way will always mean that you communicate something extra towards the audiance. If it's really not necessary, let the music talk instead.

Ofc it's a whole different matter if there would be a female singer in the middle of the stage... But otherwise it's more important for a frontman to act/move/jump around on the stage "professionally' Even with a guitar and effects pedal you should be literally everywhere on the stage (in every corner of it once a while) during the gig. Establish contact with the audiance and so on.

Now rock on

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Nov 15 2008, 01:06 AM

Well I didn't mean its wrong..But here at least everybody wears band t shirts (and not good quality ones) - I mean the audience wears them..So when I see a guy on stage with a band t shirt he just blends with the crowd and doesn't seem like a frontman rather just "a guy". ....I don't know , if he is singing in a band he could be in his bands t shirts ?? Its not that common to see big bands wearing other bands t shirts....And in the end , since bands t shirts are so common, he will definitely leave a much bigger impression if he tries something different and more original...

I saw many young bands.Vast majority of them didn't care for their look and their uniform was - band t shirts...And guess what - they didn't leave a impression of a band that cares for their look and they looked less professional - like they were fans not musicians.

Dressing different will mean a lot to a bands performance...It may look to you unnatural to DRESS UP for shows but that will in the end among other things decide if you will succeed or fail..

Some things just can't be left "in the moment"...Its same like with other band stuff - interviews , playback shows , audience addressing...Some things have to be prepared and thought off in advance...