Posted the same question at 3d, but I think would like to know what the consensus is for those of us who don't work in bazillion dollar facilities

I used to be a slob even when clients were here...now, irrespective of client presence or not, I get cleaned up, black jeans or slacks of some sort...you know, like a job.

I remember reading Mr Massenburg always wore somthing business casual like....and as I spoke of elsewhere, the young man who showed up to an audition for All Texas Orchestra dressed in his concert tux (got the gig, too!) got me to thinking about it...changed my ways....

Just as I would not buy insurance from a guy with 11,000 tatoos and a Hooters T Shirt, I think the attire of engineers/studio owners makes a difference...

What do you think?


(Slightly OT: Nathan East said in an interview once "Sometimes a clean shirt means more than a clean lick or tone"...) Seems to make a difference....

i try not to look like a slob but i mostly go with jeans and a blue T-shirt.
when i was gigging a lot i always felt ( the band as well ), looks made a difference, if you want to be treated like professionals then you should look like professionals.
but i would never tolerate a drunk on stage either.

P.S.

i love tattoos

Usually neat and casual since my clientele range from advertisers, to film producers & directors as well as musicians of all styles and ages. Never did the slob thing.

With clients in the studio, it's probably chinos and a knit shirt. Or a sweater at this time of year -- hate to spend money overheating the place. If I'm by myself...sweats and a bathrobe, more'n likely!

Btw, when I do my occasional mobile job, I generally show up in sports coat and tie.

As far as being professional goes, I'll wear whatever I think shows the most respect to the client. Conforming to a perceived standard of dress is a humbling process.

How do you mean?

hi midnightsun glad to see you here!

i bet if donald trump had to dress like me he would be humbled
but his hair would look better

A guess on the humbling thing--you are conforming to the client's world-view and style, rather than imposing yours on them.

And it isn't necessarily mirroring them--they might expect something more "professional" than they are wearing. If that's the case, you're conforming to their notion of what you should be to the project. There's a lot of subtle psychology to pleasing people in a personal-service job, and people aren't often good at articulating or really knowing what they know or expect. I think part of where people deserve the title of "producer" is when they get the human aspect of things.

Bear

okay rethink maybe having to put on something other then blue-jeans and a tee-shirt is humbling.
i know Donald Trump fits inhere somewhere.

i had to dress in a suit once and i felt humiliated.
okay Bear's totally confused me now

I do that sometimes. Sorry.

Maybe this does something: generally, the band/artist isn't there to please you, but you are there to please them and serve their aims. A little humility in conforming to their wants can be helpful towards that end, rather than letting your own ego project out onto the proceedings in the form of dressing as you please whatever their expectations.

Less confusing?

Bear

Less confusing? Not really....as it opens the door to a lot of other things....

Personal choice in clothing is one thing, but it is one thing that is a direct representation of what one can expect from an individual. Expectations can run from quality of production to proper gear maintenance to whatever....I would not necessarily expect a guy who looks like he just stepped off the Pro Rodeo circuit to be able to engineer, produce, hell even communicate with a "rapper"....

We all have a set of preconcieved notions about the correlation between appearance and personality/expertice....

I think it depends on what you want.

In certain studios, they used to wear lab coats.

I like khakis and blue T-shirts myself.

lab coats, lab coats, lab coats, now that sounds cool
know i going have o have a lab coats.

Electrical Audio, Steve Albini's place, had jumpsuits made up for their crew.

Bear

I agree. Lab coats look cool.

Especially on labs....perfect for retrieving things....