[Dixielandjazz] Straws and Stripes [was: tv spot...]

[David W. Littlefield]

Straws and stripes as an *issue* is a bunch of crap. You do what your local
market demands or allows. 

Two examples: 1. Negative: you're working in a genealogy reference room and
object to a dress code of tie & jacket, neat beard or clean shaven. You
wanna wear a wild beard and motorcycle denims. Your employer is paying you
to do a job in public; as far as I'm concerned, end of discussion. However,
to explain: in order to do the job you've got to have the trust of the
clients, in this case little old ladies who are gonna run screaming from
the room if they see a Hell's Angel sitting at the desk.

2. Positive: if your client is having a formal wedding reception, you've
got to wear a tuxedo; if you play a lot of weddings, you've at least got to
find out what they want you to wear, or risk losing the gig/leaving a
negative impression.

So what the heck is the difference between a tux and a striped vest/red
vest/blue blazer/other uniform? I understand that hobbyists don't dig
commercial gigs, but it seems to me that if you take yourself more
seriously than playing the music, you have an attitude problem. My
experience suggests audiences aren't going to take you any more or less
seriously if the band looks like a band by wearing some sort of uniform. 

--Sheik

At 11:47 AM 7/8/2002 -0700, you wrote:
>Russ, if it works for you I guess it proves something or other, but your reply
>triggers the whole question of "Straws & Stripes!" It seems to come up every 
>year or
>so but I think it is worth discussion on this list. Should we as musicians
>perpetuate the clichi or is there just some rational (or irrational) reason to
>forever associate OKOM with red vests and white hats?
>
>I personally can play this music wearing any sort of uniform or non-uniform 
>(or even
>nothing but a bow tie, on occasion) but if I had to only wear Straws & 
>Stripes I
>think would not enjoy playing as much as I do.
>Dave Richoux 
>
>Russ Guarino wrote:
>
>> 
>> How you look is as equally important as the music you play.  Play something
>> everybody recognizes like "Saints" or "Ja-Da" and dress interestingly.
>> 
>> We wore black shoes, socks, trousers, white long sleeve shirt, and a red
vest
>> with black trim.  I got the vests  in L.A. at a uniform mfg. company back in
>> 1989.  minimum order was one dozen and I selected sizes consisting of
>> 40-42-44-46-48 & 50.  Cost about $600 at the time.
>> 
>> If you're interested in how we looked, see my web site at
>> www.classicswingband.com and browse the site until you find the picture.
>>
>
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