Ship of Fools: "Uniforms" for worship bands

Thread: "Uniforms" for worship bands Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by The Phantom Flan Flinger (# 8891) on :

One of the members of our worship band is proposing that we have a uniform in the form of a t-shirt for us all to wear.

I'm not happy about it - I really can't see the point, and there seems to be an element of "look at us" about it.

If I'm honest, it's not helped by the fact that the proposed t-shirt is somewhat naff.

What's our thoughts on specific clothing for worship bands?

Posted by lily pad (# 11456) on :

Um........no. Walk, don't run away from this idea. Wrong on every level. Worship bands do not wear uniforms or anything that looks alike.

Posted by Carys (# 78) on :

I'd say it was more about not drawing attention to the band. If the band are all wearing what they felt like that morning you could have two clashing shades next to each other at least with a standard t-shirt design that wouldn't happen. Cassock and surplice is the traditional approach to this of course...

Carys

Posted by Sipech (# 16870) on :

There obviously is a long tradition of those leading worship to wear some kind of uniform. You need only watch Carols from Kings to see this. While the style of musical worship may differ between a choir and a band, the question is: by marking someone out as different via a uniform, is that beneficial?

Personally, I am opposed to having any kind of dress rules that mark someone out as different from the rest, whether that be band t-shirts, choir robes, dog collars or mitres.

Posted by Ecclesiastical Flip-flop (# 10745) on :

The worship band uniform may be being introduced for the same reason that choirs, clergy and others robe in some churches, even if the proposed uniform as devised, does not seem right for the shipmate who wrote the OP.

Let's face it - what are some of the reasons for uniforms in the form of robes or otherwise? It shows that each wearer is not on his or her own but part of a group and not performing their particular function in their own personality. Also, in case one's choice of dress-code leaves a lot to be desired, it will make the person look smarter and more seemly.

Posted by The Phantom Flan Flinger (# 8891) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Ecclesiastical Flip-flop:
Also, in case one's choice of dress-code leaves a lot to be desired, it will make the person look smarter and more seemly.

In my case, I'd be swapping a polo shirt for a t-shirt (I mostly wear t-shirts in the week, but tend to wear polo shirts at the weekend).

Posted by Cathscats (# 17827) on :

I should think that if you find a way of telling the band some of the stuff in this thread about cassocks, vestments, robes etc, they will decide that they don't want to do it. You could even say what a good idea it is as it is in the ancient tradition of robed choirs or something. [Big Grin]

Posted by stonespring (# 15530) on :

This is why before Vatican II Roman Catholic choirs were often put in a loft in the back of the church singing above and behind the congregation - or, if the choir was in front, they were behind some kind of screen (or even cage-like bars!) that blocked their view. Considering that lots of people here seem to agree that the worship band should not draw attention to itself, why not do something similar? [Smile]

Posted by Enoch (# 14322) on :

What, if anything, conceptually is the difference between a choir wearing robes, the Salvation Army Band wearing a uniform and a band wearing matching tee-shirts?

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :

I'd ask for the reasons.

If they made sense/were supportable within the context of that church, I'd then demand input into the design [Smile]

But instinctively I would be against it as the words "worship band" and "uniform" seem an odd cultural juxtaposition, so I'd be suspicious. Only thing that would make sense is if it was a polite way to work around one or two members who keep turning up with their tits out or pecs/crotch bulging.

Posted by Arethosemyfeet (# 17047) on :

I would advocate black trousers and plain t-shirts in seasonally appropriate liturgical colours. And shiny black DMs, of course.

Posted by Basilica (# 16965) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Enoch:
What, if anything, conceptually is the difference between a choir wearing robes, the Salvation Army Band wearing a uniform and a band wearing matching tee-shirts?

Meaning. Cassocks and surplices say something about the choir; the Salvation Army uniforms say something about the members. What does a band uniform of a naff t-shirt say? Unless you can give an answer to that, I'd suggest uniforms per se are not a great idea.

Posted by Belle Ringer (# 13379) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Arethosemyfeet:
I would advocate black trousers and plain t-shirts in seasonally appropriate liturgical colours. And shiny black DMs, of course.

I like the seasonal color idea.

As a practical matter, there's a huge difference between choir robes and t-shirts. Choir robes cover the clothing and stay in the church. (Maybe they get cleaned once a year, maybe they don't?) But t-shirts are the clothes, which means, being not awake yet when leaving for church I would forget mind half the time, and the guitarist would probably pull his wrinkled and still smelly out of the dirty laundry he didn't get around to washing.

Oh, I just thought of another difference. Choir members remove their robes to join people for coffee. T-shirts would still be worn at coffee even though not then functioning as a band. That puts the band on a clergy-like position of the role is me at all times church, unlike choir members who are the role only when the role is active.

Is it important that band members be known a band members even when the band is not playing?

But the basic question is - what is the problem that needs fixing?

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