When I think about the reasons for spending rehearsal time on concert attire, I always think to Steve Zegree’s regular aphorism that “70% of the audience listen with their eyes.” (The number might fluctuate, but there is truth in this.) I think that well-chosen attire can, if nothing else, convince the audience that you are worth listening to.
But there’s another piece, and it harks back to a hockey team Christmas party rule from my youth – all the kids (say, age 6-12) needed to wear a sport coat and tie to the team Christmas party, with the philosophy that kids are apt to behave better when they are dressed up. (My mom heartily disagreed with this – she thought it just met that the kids got their nice clothes dirty roughhousing.)
I do think that wearing concert attire lets us tell our brains several important concepts.
- I am worthy to make this music.
- I am part of something bigger than myself. I am part of this group.
- I need to approach this performance with seriousness of intent. It is important.
Wearing the concert attire puts us in the right mindset to make great music. Can we still make great music without the attire? Yes, but we lose those advantages.