I think the way I dress can either work in my favour or against me. I dress hip hop, and look kinda over the top. Baseball cap, loads of bling chains, trainers etc. Now the teenage girls seem to love it, and I nearly always get them rushing up asking me how much I charge for doing their 18th birthday parties etc. But, I think the older folk take an immediate dislike to me. Now the thing is, you have to be true to yourself, and of course for a wedding I'd ditch the cap and smarten up, but for the "normal" disco I feel what I wear is right for me.

I'm just interested to know what you dress in when you do a disco? Do people ever tell you what to wear, like at a Wedding? Have you ever been told by a customer you look scruffy etc?

Never been told I look scruffy, but have had the odd - "you scrub up well" or "are your the same person" comments (usually it's jeans and T-shirt to set up in then off to change).

Personally, I think whatever and wherever you do, your dress is a statement and says a lot about you. personally, I think there is absolutely no excuse for poor dress at a gig. People generally form an opinion about you when they first see you and it's that which sticks. While the girlies might like a bassball cap and bling, is that really the image and the client base you want? If it is, good for you, but think about who is paying the bill for an 18th birthday party!

I advertise myself as a black tie DJ and to be honest, a lot of the time that's what swings it for me. Where black tie is either not apropriate or specifically not wanted, it's shirt and tie and at the very very least, smart trousers, shirt and no tie.

It really really is about first impressions!

Depending on the occasion I wear a polo shirt with our name name embridered on them, jeans and shoes if it's casual, shirt with the name embroidered, suit and no tie for anything else.

I always wear Shoes, Trousers & Shirt, normally the standard black, until I can find somewhere that wil embroider mens & womens tops/blouses, I would only chnage this if I was asked, ie Tux etc, but then that may be added to the cost of evening (not hadthe request yet!!)

But also never had someone ask me to wear anything else

Agree absolutely - when guests make comments like 'You're the smartest dressed DJ I've ever seen' it proves that not only do they notice these things on the night but are able to refer back in their mind to previous events for comparison.

It is about being suitably dressed for the event as well though and some occasions do not warrant full black tie however it is easier to dress down than up.

Dependant on the client requests i used to wear either

Polo Shirt - With Small logo on left with black trousers and shoes

Or

White or black shirt with trousers and shoes.

Ive never worn jeans (only for setting up) but all depends again on what the client requested.

This will probably sound pretentious or something but, for me, any success I have had (or may have) has been down to selling an image. As I've commented elsewhere I mainly work in a small-ish town where I'm fairly well-known and I'm a pretty recognisable figure anyway, so I play up to the "MiTCH" image. I have a tendancy to wear loud shirts or humorous "slogan" t-shirts in my social life and tend to dress the same way for work. In fact I have had bookings where the customer has specifically asked me to wear a certain t-shirt/shirt that they have seen me in.

This isn't a knock on anyone else. As someone has already stated, it's all about the image you want to portray. All I would say to Joe is, find what works best for you. Is it the bad boy gangster look which will certainly get you attention? If so, play that character to the fullest, exaggerate your real personality. And if anyone doubts you due to your appearance, you can prove them wrong with your set.

Company embroidered Polo shirt for me at most of my gigs which tend to be Birthdays. But still worn with a pair of smart trousers and shoes.

If Im doing a wedding then its Shirt and tie.

When I send out a contract, I enclose a requirements sheet (2 for a wedding). It gives them the chance to tell me the dress code they want for the function.

Thus I can dress accordingly, themed costume, smart casual, black tie.

We also ask, for weddings, if they have a colour scheme planned so that Carol can blend with it and not clash.

Seen a few DJ's this year wearing jeans abd trainers in a smart hotel. Totally the wrong image imo.

Suit and tie is the norm, and as an absolute minimum in say a village hall black trousers and black shirt.

I'll wear

Black tie DJ

Load shirt casual and santa hat, last Fridays disco

Bowling shirt for 50's nights

Agency shirt if required

Fancy dress - last seen as Capt Sensible

Full USAAF uniform ( when I do wartime stuff (www.gijive.co.uk)

US Sailor Suit (again wartime stuff)

Home Guard outfit (again wartime stuff)

Quote:
"Suit and tie is the norm, and as an absolute minimum in say a village hall black trousers and black shirt."

I'm not sure about suit & tie being the norm - it rather depends on what type of gig is the norm for you.

I generally wear a balck short without tie on the top, with possibly jeans or trousers depending on type of gig/venue, but then I tend to do the rather less formal functions anyhow.

LLcooljoe - interesting to hear how you present yourself;
Many of us would frown rather deeply at this, and I can understand why anyone outside their teens may have reservations booking you, but it obviously suits your favoured type of gig and if you continue to get bookings, then carry on!

On the other hand, I would never consider going out to perform a 16th birthday function dressed in a suit! (Well - that's not strictly true, as if I was asked to wear a suit, then I would.)

There are a lot of different types of function going on out there, and they are not all weddings despite the fact that a read through these forums might suggest otherwise.

True, but if you are aiming at the corporate end of the market you must dress to impress. Personally I think you should always leave the jeans,trainers and t-shirts for losding up and unloading. Gives the wrong image.

your the only one i know who wears shorts to a gig andy

i always wear black trousers and shirt to parties tie and jacket for weddings.
jamie will go from smart casual for younger birthdays to black trouser and shirt for older birthdays and anniversaries to suit for weddings.basically what he feels appropiate for the occasion without overdressing .

I'm totally with Mitch on this one I have to say. Image is everything to me. You see I see myself as a performer, not someone who just blends into the background. As many of you have said, we all have to find our own style not just in the music we play but the way we present ourselves too. If I go to a concert I want to see the acts looking good as well as sounding good. On saturday night I was up on a stage doing my thing, there is no way I'm gonna stand there looking like I could work in a bank. I have to look the part. I look as cool as the music I'm playing. I get loads of comments about just how good I look, but saying that I do think I have to work harder on some of the older people, that I'm really ok, and that I may look like a white version of P Diddy, but I'll still play New York, New York and even make that look cool too. On this particular night I got 3 new bookings. 1 for an 18th birthday party, 1 for a group of nurses, and 1 for a woman's 50th birthday party. So my trainers, baggy jeans, caps and bling didn't put them off too much.

But..... I do take the point that some of you are making, and I do understand that the way I look would put some people off, but hopefully there will be enough people that like the way I present myself to get work.

That - at the end of the day (a very long day!) is what it's all about. If you can find a market you are comfortable in and you can make a living from it then why change?

Ummmm......

I think looking like P diddy would put most poeple off....me included.

No offence chap, but you look like your about to go and rob the alloys off the nicest looking motor in the car park....

Your right it is all about image, and thats the image somebody dressed like that gives me, I dont mean this in a nasty way just saying what impression it gives me.

I always wear a long sleeved shirt (as I have loads of tattoos), trousers and shoes because I firmly believe that first impressions DO count. If half the people that booked me saw me outside of my working hours in jeans and a t-shirt, they would definitely get the wrong impression.

I also dress smartly when I have my consultations with them too

I always dress the same for most gigs. Its black trousers, white dress shirt and waistcoat. Start the evening off wearing a black jacket as well but invariably after half an hour its off becasue I start to melt!!!

The only time I have worn different is I did a gig for a friends wedding and it was at a working mens club and I would have looked a bit strange so I wore a plain black shirt instead.

First impressions count for the clients and also the venue management. If you look smart it gives the impression you are professional, trustworthy and you look after your image and equipment as well.

I will ALWAYS err on the side of being over dressed rather than under dressed. For 95% of my private events I wear either a sharp-looking dark suit and tie, or my tuxedo/dinner suit, depending on the event.

I don't recall the last time I considered anyone dressed in pop culture street attire to be reputable and professional. That doesn't mean that they are not, it's just my personal bias. It comes down to the sort of work you want to attract and where you want your business to be in the next 5 or 10 years.

Have worn a Tux for Weddings and Corporate functions on and off (not literally) for a while now.
Recently wore the Tux to a Bowling presentation for 9 social clubs. Nice compliments etc, about the attire and along with a great night of requested music, encouraged many business cards to be asked for. Great!

I think by wearing the Tux it complimented the whole service and made a lasting impression, especially among some of the 'elderly ladies'!


By opting to wear as I do for Weddings, the feedback was virtually the same, so on this occasion it worked and I'll happily wear it again for future events of this type. I believe that 20 years ago I wouldn't have bothered but can see the benefits now in this experimental learning curve!

I've seen many DJs over the years wear all sorts of attire and I believe that whilst first impressions can make an obvious impression, in certain circles it is very important and much, much less in others.

If you know your market, you know what works and what doesn't I guess, but would agree with the points to err on the side of being over than under dressed as well as taking into consideration the type of work you aim for, most certainly attract and where you see your self business wise in the future.

If one has to adapt the dress sense, it needn't be painful!

Side tracking now, how many have provided mobile disco entertainment for naturists?

I honestly think that if I was attending any function, no matter how formal, and I saw the DJ wearing a suit I would be tempted to leave. I certainly wouldn't be inclined to ask him/her for a song. Although I can appreciate that many of you would have the same reaction on seeing a DJ dressed casually. I just think though that, taking the point many of you have made about first impressions counting, a suit really doesn't say "party/fun/entertainer" or anything like that.

I've never played at a naturist function, but I would certainly consider a booking. It's the type of event where the likes of myself and llcooljoe have an advantage though. As already stated, we don't change our style for any event and would wear the same clothes as we would to any other booking. Whereas those of you who like to (un)dress for the occasion...

I've never experienced any guest at a Wedding (formal function) leave because I've been wearing a suit or in more recent years a Tux during the function, but I guess it could happen...
I've always set-up the gear in casual clothes and got washed and changed for formal occasions (and not so formal) because I wouldn't want to smell of body odour or look bedraggled having worked up a sweat! Can be difficult when working in extreme temperatures of course, but have always carried a wash bag and towel along to gigs.

I can only assume that an element of a Wedding (guests) might be put-off asking for a request for any number of reasons...of which I could now possibly add 'because the DJ is wearing a suit'...

Must admit I have truly never heard of this as a reason for anyone not asking for a request.
Anyone?

Could you expand on your latter point Mitch, what do you think a DJ wearing a suit does say at a formal function, such as a Wedding?

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen...and for the first song...The Only Way is Up..."

Tell that to Michael Buble, Jamie Cullum, Suggs etc & at the other end of the scale Nick Cave.

Or for that matter virtually any cabaret act , soul band or Blues Brothers tribute.

Always wear a Tux For Weddings.
Birthday Christmas functions etc Always a smart look Dress shirt and trousers.
I have been working for another Company the last two years starting on my own in New year.

I am promoting myself to the higher end market and need to portray that proffesional image.

I also do DJ work for Local Indie Station and dress in jeans and t shirt for these events.

If I wan't to promote myself as a hip hop Dj then I wouldn't wear a suit.
Death Metal DJ no suit.

It all depends on what direction you want to take your buisness.

Or wasnt their a song called something like "my dingaling"

With the lyrics "I want you to play with my dingaling"

Yea ok bad joke

Posh function, wedding, ball or prom I dress smart with black tie (actually white with black shirt)

Christmas party or 18th/21st smart trousers and open necked smart shirt (I dont do ties as I look like a waiter lol)

School or young teens disco - corporate wear with embroided logo so myself and roadies are easily identified

Unless special theme and then I dress to impress !

As for naturists too f g cold in Derbyshire.

Followed by Blowing In The Wind?




Totally agree on the 1st point. There are a large number of things that will put people off a DJ and most f them are unfathomable. I was just stating what my reaction would be, I'm not saying that it would be widely shared.

As for your question, I guess it would look to me like one of the waiters was behind the decks or something. If I say a guy in a suit I just wouldn't think "He looks like a DJ" or "Yeah this looks like it's going to be a good night." Again, I'm only speaking for myself and, if it works for you, fair play to you.

Sorry but I have to agree with Mitch again on this! If I hired a dj and he turned up in a suit I'd wonder what on earth he was doing. Great if he was the wine waiter but just the wrong image for a dj!!

The last couple of gigs I've done have been with live performers who really look the part, and then they turn to me and say "We'll now hand you over to our dj, Joe" and I'm standing there looking like a funeral director. No believe me it just doesn't work!

Opps posted at the same time Mitch!!

Not sure about Suggs but, again, if I walked into any function and saw Michael Buble, Jamie Cullum or Nick Cave, I definitely would turn around and leave

i think there is a market for both approaches . right now i believe dj'ing is in a funny place with older clients maybe prefairing smartly dressed suit dj where there are now also a lot of younger people booking birthdays and weddings now who will appreciate label jeans and shirt/t-shirts and to some people show more care and attention to your image as it easy to grab a tux more effort goes into creating your own style but it really is just a case of whatever

most important i think is dont try to be something your not . whatever you feel comfortable in is right for you if you get to hung up on what people think of you you'll be a paranoid wreak in no time

The sort of people who might be put out by a DJ dressing professionally are not my target clientèle. It really is that simple. Add to that the fact that I'm also the MC at about 70% of my weddings and you can see why a suit or tuxedo is my usual attire. I don't entertain at many casual and youth events.

If you turned up as a DJ at most of the weddings and corporate events that I do dressed in baggy hip hop street clothes, baseball cap and chains, you'd be sent home to get dressed properly and have your pay docked accordingly. It's always better to be dressed too well than not well enough in my opinion, but that's my sense of style.


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Well I do agree with that, thats why you wont very often find me wearing a suit, shirt and tie is as smart as I go.....most of my work dosn't need anything more than that.
So my logoed polo shirts look smart enough for most functions.

I dont think turning up looking like P Diddy with all the bling is the right image at all, would give me the impression the DJ was only gonna be playing crap...sorry rap music and hip hop.

I have never had a negative comment to my "Was the DJ suitably dressed?" question on my customer feedback form, so I guess nobody has thought I wasnt dressed ok.

Why worry anyway....the people are thier to dance and have a good time not look at the DJ all night, so I really dont see it makes that much difference.

It's not a case of dressing "properly" or being "dressed too well" because that's all a matter of taste anyway. I personally think that when I'm dressed up I look smarter and much more dressed up than most guys in a suit. So it's all a matter of opinion anyway. I did a 50th Wedding Anniversary at a very posh hotel. I wore a black t-shirt covered in gold metallic lettering, a matching black cap with shiny gold brim, gold chains, black jeans, gold and black trainers, gold sun glasses, 6 gold earrings and when I walked in everyone went "wow". Now that's what I call "getting dressed properly!"

Did I mention earlier that I'm a poser?

Errr.....are you sure the reaction was wow?

Yeah I had loads of people that came up to me and said how cool I look. I always get that though coz I wear that stuff 24/7. I get little old ladies in Tescos coming up to me saying how cool I look. No, I'm not lieing.

Why did you ask? Does what I wear sound so bad then? Everyone writes here about that you have to find your own style and personality, otherwise people may as well just use an ipod or whatever. As I said earlier I'm a bit ott that's part of me, is that wrong then?

ps. I love hip hop and rap, but I'm sensible enough to know not to play it at a disco.

I think that what has to be recognised essentially is that there is wide diversity in the style of djing as well as the diversity in dress sense.
Forms of identity.

I must admit that in the target markets where I wear a tux/suit for a wedding, I do seem to earn more money than when I wore black jeans and a nice smart shirt.
My djing style hasn't really changed over the years, only improved with experience. Like many others, would say that the re-bookings are mainly based on what and how I play and present the music - my attire can only compliment the whole service and earn me what I fel I am worth, and I'll charge accordingly because those markets appreciate. If I have to do a club stint, I'm not likely to wear the tux no more than I would expet Tong or Cox to don the tails in Ibiza or UK club appearance. Horses for courses really.

This argument could run and run but at the end of the day you dress suitably for the booking.

Would it be acceptable to wear 'street' wear for a wedding at a stately home??

Would you look out of place at the local pub dressed in a full tux??

If you do a lot of 18ths and 21sts do you still feel comfortable wearing jeans and trainers??

I was at a local hotel doing yet another xmas party the other night and they have 4 functions on at any one time. So as you do, I had a look at the other setups and wondered what they looked like or if I knew any of them.

One of them had finished setting up and had also got changed for the night. He was a nice guy to talk to but he was wearing dirty looking jeans, scuffed shoes and a white tee shirt with his dj name plastered all over it. My first impression was that he obviously hadn't been going long and couldn't be that professional.

I don't mind or have got nothing against wearing corporate wear when setting up as its a good way of advertising yourself. If you continually wear it the rest of the time it looks like desperation to me and you are struggling to get work. These are just my own opinions I have to stress.

Going back to the other night and the badly dressed DJ, the hotel management have since commented and do not intend to book him again. It's all about creating a good lasting impression.

Whatever you do don't get me started about DJ advertising boards in front of rigs!!!!!!!

I ought to mention here, that looking dirty or scruffy is a different thing all together. Although I may dress the way I do, I always make sure I look immaculate.

On my first post I mentioned that if I do a Wedding I will still wear the hip hop look but ditch the cap, and put on a suit jacket. Kanye West style of course.

There's never an excuse for looking scruffy, even if when you are setting up. In fact I never look scruffy ever, even going to the dump.

Personally speaking, a few hotels where we've played have a very strict dress code and the agent stipulates collar and tie and if you don't you wont work there again full stop.

I must admit that when we do weddings we often get mistaken for guests because of the way we dress ie suited and booted. What i tend to do is dress up as the night goes on, big afro wig, vicars outfit. silly wigs etc and that always goes down well.

Just wanted to take the opportunity to connect DJ advertising boards and dump together in a post

Im just surprised coz my reaction to a DJ dressing like that certainly wouldnt be "wow".......would be somthing along the lines of.....well lets just say I cant say in the forum due to the rules, but it wouldnt be very nice put it that way. In fact if I saw anyone dressed like that anywhere my reaction would be the same.
Not saying the way you dress is wrong, if it works for you then good for you just saying I dont think it gives the right impression.
As for the little old ladies well.....ummm......looks like you have pulled Joe

Well fortunately for both of us Nick, I don't dress the way I do for you, or anyone else for that matter, I dress and present myself the way I do for me, and yeah it sure does work for me and for many others it seems too. But no of course it's polarizing. What one person loves, another person hates. I'm glad you refrained from being rude about my appearance, because I would never dream about making rude comments about anyones appearance here either. The way you dress may not be a style that appeals to me either but if it works for you then who the hell am I to question that? That's not my style at all.

Thanks for all your feedback here, it's been a very interesting thread with some very constructive comments.

And on that note, the thread can remain closed until the new year when we can all discuss the finer points of wooly jumpers for presents at Christmas!