Posted: March 17th, 2009, 11:35 am
I think often, one might say almost too often, about how a performer should/could dress when they are onstage. Your clothing affects how you look and how you move.
About 4 years ago I thought it was really cool when improv performers dressed all hip with their own personal style really showing through. Now I waffle on how I feel about it, keeping to a few basic personal rules.
One thing to keep in mind - an audience will be staring at you, and since you move around a lot in improv, every bit of you, for 25-85 minutes.
Basic Rule #1 Wear clothes that are generally not distracting
If your jeans are too low, it's likely you'll bend over at some point and they'll see your butt. Eeep. Hitching up your pants = distracting. Seeing your crack = distracting.
Same thing with a low cut top. I've seen so much cleavage when watching improv shows. It's a nice top, but then you go to play certain characters and next thing you know you're showing the audience your goods.
In my book, clothing shouldn't distract too much from the focus - the performance. I think there are some shows where a performer can stand out and be glam all they like - like special ensemble shows that really showcase an individual performer and their style. Or if you wear your style so well it doesn't get in the way. If everyone in the show is wearing dark colors and one performer is wearing a glitter top, it's going to stand out big time. It's not very balanced or of a nice aesthetic.
Basic Rule #2 Appropriate footwear
Don't wear sandals onstage. Flip-flops especially.
My personal rule is for performers to wear closed-toed shoes. People I've worked with or forced the rule on has made fun of me for it but I think it's important. You want flexibility of movement and control. And because improv is spontaneous and can get chaotic, you don't want to get your toes stepped on.
Basic Rule #3 Modesty
Being a lady who has clothing options like skirts and dresses, I try to avoid options that restrict my movement (unless I'm restricting my movement because it's a choice or character). No one wants to see your undies. Seriously, if the audience even thinks they can see up your skirt it makes them distracted and usually uncomfortable. An easy solution is to pair the outfit with dark leggings or, like we do in Start Trekkin' (when we have tiny dresses and yet learn stage combat...), wear small black shorts underneath. Lately I've been wearing skirts/dresses over nice pants. I don't want to compromise my ability to be feminine but I also don't want to feel uncomfortable or trapped because of what I'm wearing.
You just never know what is going to happen, and you don't want to stop yourself from the ability to go there because of what you have on. That's silly.
I agree with Kareem on all points of dressing nice. I think it helps to put the performer into a "time to do this show and do it well" mindset and gives the audience a good impression that the performers care.
In scripted performances we often look at the lighting, costume, and set design as well as the performers. Same with film.
You are the show in most improv. So how you look is important.
About 4 years ago I thought it was really cool when improv performers dressed all hip with their own personal style really showing through. Now I waffle on how I feel about it, keeping to a few basic personal rules.
One thing to keep in mind - an audience will be staring at you, and since you move around a lot in improv, every bit of you, for 25-85 minutes.
Basic Rule #1 Wear clothes that are generally not distracting
If your jeans are too low, it's likely you'll bend over at some point and they'll see your butt. Eeep. Hitching up your pants = distracting. Seeing your crack = distracting.
Same thing with a low cut top. I've seen so much cleavage when watching improv shows. It's a nice top, but then you go to play certain characters and next thing you know you're showing the audience your goods.
In my book, clothing shouldn't distract too much from the focus - the performance. I think there are some shows where a performer can stand out and be glam all they like - like special ensemble shows that really showcase an individual performer and their style. Or if you wear your style so well it doesn't get in the way. If everyone in the show is wearing dark colors and one performer is wearing a glitter top, it's going to stand out big time. It's not very balanced or of a nice aesthetic.
Basic Rule #2 Appropriate footwear
Don't wear sandals onstage. Flip-flops especially.
My personal rule is for performers to wear closed-toed shoes. People I've worked with or forced the rule on has made fun of me for it but I think it's important. You want flexibility of movement and control. And because improv is spontaneous and can get chaotic, you don't want to get your toes stepped on.
Basic Rule #3 Modesty
Being a lady who has clothing options like skirts and dresses, I try to avoid options that restrict my movement (unless I'm restricting my movement because it's a choice or character). No one wants to see your undies. Seriously, if the audience even thinks they can see up your skirt it makes them distracted and usually uncomfortable. An easy solution is to pair the outfit with dark leggings or, like we do in Start Trekkin' (when we have tiny dresses and yet learn stage combat...), wear small black shorts underneath. Lately I've been wearing skirts/dresses over nice pants. I don't want to compromise my ability to be feminine but I also don't want to feel uncomfortable or trapped because of what I'm wearing.
You just never know what is going to happen, and you don't want to stop yourself from the ability to go there because of what you have on. That's silly.
I agree with Kareem on all points of dressing nice. I think it helps to put the performer into a "time to do this show and do it well" mindset and gives the audience a good impression that the performers care.
In scripted performances we often look at the lighting, costume, and set design as well as the performers. Same with film.
You are the show in most improv. So how you look is important.