Should you always accommodate a client’s or contractor’s wardrobe requests?
At Sweet Harmony, we believe the appearance of the musicians supports the style of the event for all attending. Weddings are typically formal events. By wearing formal dress, we show respect for our client and for the occasion. Musicians almost always wear black to play for formal events, and this lets the “stars of the show” (e.g., the bride or the quinceañera) stand out in their colors. It also makes us part of a long, distinguished tradition of black performance wear. But at a backyard barbecue, everyone wants to feel relaxed. A guitarist dressed in a fun T-shirt and jeans will put people in the mood to chill and joke around with neighbors. One of our violinists owns some brightly colored, sparkly Indian saris that she loves to wear, and these are perfect for South Asian weddings.
Our customers usually request that we dress according to their vision for their event. The musicians are part of the aesthetic. I can’t remember a time when we were asked to wear something that didn’t seem appropriate. I chalk that up to our established reputation and image—from our vast repository of online photos and videos, people can see what kind of general image our musicians present, and it helps them to imagine us at their event and to make the decision whether we would be a good fit.
—Tara Bhrushundi
I have long been somewhat envious of female harpists when it comes to formal concert attire. Male harpists, and classical musicians in general, have been relegated to a uniform of the basic, common tux, requiring that we resemble penguins whenever we perform in public. Women, however, even when having to wear all black, still have a plethora of options at their disposal—jewelry, shoes, fabric patterns, etc.
But, times have changed, and unless the client or contractor requires it, guy harpists no longer have to wear the de rigueur classic tuxedo, cummerbund, bow tie, etc. We also have a greater variety of performance situations, so dress for us can be tailored to the event at hand. For church services, I usually wear a dark navy suit, white shirt, and tie. I am still old-school enough to default to black for weddings, but I rarely wear a tux. I’ll add a conservative paisley vest, with a matching colored straight tie. Sometimes, I’ll just wear a black shirt, black pants, and a patterned black or subtly colored tie, no coat. For solo concerts, I step outside the box a bit. I don’t like playing the harp in a coat, so my default is to pair a snazzy vest with an equally snazzy tie, dark pants, and a white or colored shirt. Cufflinks supply an endless variety of subtle fashion accents. Essentially, I try to tailor, literally, what I wear to the mood of the situation.
—Rhett Barnwell
Performance attire has changed a lot in the many years that I’ve been performing.
Evening gowns and tuxedos, except for super high-end black tie events, have become pretty obsolete. Men do still wear tuxes to play in formal symphony settings, but women usually wear very nice black pants and tops. Playing in a pit for shows, all you need to wear is black. If you’re playing in an ensemble, try to look uniform and agree on what you will wear. If you’re the soloist of an ensemble, you will want to wear something that empowers you and makes you feel happy. Evening events are usually more formal than afternoon jobs. In Boston, clients of The Gilded Harps expect women to wear nice dresses and men attired in suits and ties. Non-binary individuals often wear flowing outfits or dress pants. The idea is to fit in with the guests’ attire or better.
If a client or contractor asks you to wear a costume, they usually take your measurements and have it waiting for you. You should not have to pay for a rental yourself. In New England, for example, contractors have occasionally asked us to wear Colonial Era outfits. We try to accommodate them and charge more for it. Never agree to wear something in which you feel compromised.
