Musicians often have to wear black to concerts and performances. It’s not so we’ll be hidden like ninjas in plain view, it’s just so we won’t attract attention from the audience, who really wants to see the actors or singers – or just want to pay attention to the music and not the outfit of the clarinet player in the back.
It seems like a simple thing, but I used to get this question all the time: “Is this black?” Someone would show up in a black shirt with a white stripe down the front and what they really want to know is if it was ok to go in that outfit. And at that point, what do you say? Go home and start over?
If you really want to know if you or someone you know is wearing an article of clothing that is black, I have a simple test. Ask yourself these questions:
- Does the black thing I’m wearing have a stripe or pattern in it?
- Is that stripe or pattern black?
- Do I seriously need to be asking this?
If the answer to #1 is yes and the answer to #2 is no, then what you are wearing is not black. The answer to #3 is always the same: not unless you are blind.
This goes for shoes, too. If they are red shoes, that does not count as black. If they are black shoes with a white pattern, then these are not black shoes. Black shoes are made entirely of material that is colored black.
You would not believe how often I run into this problem on my job. People will argue with you too! They will say, no, this is mostly black?! I imagine I may get comments on this post arguing the point! It’s craziness! Ever since my first elementary school band concert colleagues of my have had trouble with this concept.
And it bothers me. Obviously.
David J. Hahn
David J. Hahn is a Broadway conductor and keyboard player. He co-founded MusicianWages.com with Cameron Mizell in 2008. Visit his new project, Songwriter.fm and sign up for his songwriting newsletter.
