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Posted by bloke on December 14, 2003 at 13:54:22:

Thank-you very much for the financial sacrifices made by your parishioners in order to engage my friends and me to perform at your special programs during the advent season. These programs help put us in the Christmas spirit, and frankly also help put presents under the tree.

I'm personally certainly not the "James Bond of etiquette", but here are some hillbilly guidelines regarding formal wear. This might help you decide what to ask your hired musicians to wear when they perform at your Christmas pageants.

Concert dress for performances prior to the dinner hour (matinees, Sunday morning services, etc.) is simply a very dark (preferably black) suit with a long tie and a white dress shirt.

Formal wear is really not intended to be worn until after 6:00 P.M. (sundown, etc.) A few exceptions can be made, such as performances which are broadcast or recorded in which the musicians are paid additional fees for these considerations.

"Black tie" tuxedos are considered formal. They consist of a black coat (with usually a satin collar) and a pair of black pants with black stripe down each pant leg. The shirt is white pleated, there is a black bow tie (tied, not clipped on) and a horizontally pleated black cummerbund is worn to cover the waist of the pants. This outfit is generally cut similar to a normal men's suit. A white dinner jacket is, on rare occasions, substituted for the black tuxedo coat, but generally only during the late afternoon and/or for outdoor and "festive" events.

"White [bow] tie" worn with tails coat is considered very formal, and are also worn only after 6:00 P.M. This is the standard attire for evening symphony concerts, etc. - particularly when only so-called "classical" music is performed (as opposed to "pops" concerts). This outfit consists of high-waisted trousers with a dress stripe down each pant leg, an open coat with a high front and long tails in the rear. This outfit is accompanied by a white tufted vest (over white formal shirt) and a white (tied, not clipped on) bow tie. Spats are no longer considered customary with this outfit.

Many wind musicians actually prefer the tails coat, because of the lack of the elastic cummerbund at their waist.
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The appropriate dress for most all Sunday morning services - even during Advent or during matinee repeats of evening pageants - is a "regular" dark suit (preferably black) and long (conservative) tie.

Ladies should generally wear all black at all times. Though many female musicians are now seen wearing black trousers (particularly 'cellists), the proper attire is still considered a long black dress (knees well-covered) with long black sleeves, a conservative collar and closed back...NO "spaghetti" straps, no earrings, no bracelets, no necklaces, no hair adornments. As the music director/contractor, you are perfectly within your rights to insist on all of this.

Perhaps this goes without saying, but ladies and gentlemen should always wear black shoes (patent leather preferred with tails coat) and ladies should never wear open toed shoes.
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bloke "who has been asked lately to wear his tuxedo entirely too often for morning services and noontime engagements, and - though sometimes otherwise interesting - prefers playing in ensembles where the ladies look the part"


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