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Chickened Out on My PR Photo



Had to get a PR photo done for the symphony program. Was this a time to be unstuffy? Certainly seemed like a chance. I could use one of my business headshots, wearing my typical red Hawaiian shirt. I could wear a tux but with a Hawaiian bow tie. I don't have one yet, but I know where I can get one online. I could look artsy and wear a black turtleneck with no jacket. Sure, that's a little hipsterish or 80-ish or 70-ish or something, but it wouldn't be stuffy. Well, at least it would be retro-stuffy.
   But I chickened out. Wore my white pleated shirt, black bow tie, and tux jacket. I was wearing shorts, but they don't show in the photo. Totally stuffy. Actually, not white tie with tails stuffy, but pretty stuffy.
   At first I was disappointed with myself for chickening out like this, but I got over it. I don't have the gig yet. You can't shake up the status quo from inside until you're actually inside the status quo. Using an unstuffy photo for my audition concert would likely have backfired with the board, possibly the audience, and maybe the players. Too dangerous.
   If I get the gig, clothing will better reflect the concert. Kid's concerts? Everyone should wear Hawaiian shirts. Pop concerts? White shirt and black, or not black, bow tie. Or maybe just white shirt, black pants, and a regular tie. It's pops, so we shouldn't dress like we're playing Prokofiev.
   Does your conductor wear unstuffy clothes in concert? In rehearsal? Do the players every wear anything unusual? Comment below, please.

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