I was mulling that one over for a bit. I suppose it depends on context but in traditional music I don't think that's much of an issue at all. OK, there Ceili bands who seem to have that thing for uniforms that seems to have a grounding in competition more than anything else (I have seen the Tulla and others turn up in their civvies without giving it a second thought) and some youngfellas that have done the performance course in UCL seem to have a thing for black shirts but the vast majority of musicians turn up as they are and they bring the instruments they always play.pancelticpiper wrote: Onstage shows are a different matter. What an instrument looks like, and what you look like, are part of the show.
I was commissioned recently to do a video, when I tried to deflect it by saying I was more than my usual scruffy in lockdown (I hate filming myself and having videos put up) I was told that was no issue at all. They did go on a bit in their blurb about the 'lovely set of pipes' was playing but that's all I have and I wouldn't mention that (make of instruments) ever.
Same for instruments. I was at a concert recently where an accordion was played that I could smell at a distance, an evocation of damp and mouldy old houses. Nobody got up and left, they enjoyed the music instead and immensely so. And I have yet to see anyone being told off at concert for playing a Generation whistle that cost less than the price of entry. Now, years ago I saw someone told to make more of an effort and be seen with an expensive whistle by a Comhaltas judge. In fact that young woman was playing a plain looking but lovely sounding Humphrey whistle I had lent her for the occasion, which only emphasised how superficial that need for appearances and looks is.