Some one shoulda told Bob Hope and George Burns that ..... Poor guys, wasted all that time trying to stay working.
C'mon ..... do you really think that hair color will make you act, sound or look any younger? Personally, I get a thrill when I "connect" with my younger crowds. makes the gap smaller without unnatural means. One of my best friends is older than my Dad....another is just a few years younger/ The numbers don't mean a thing.
Sure discrimination can rear it's ugly head in all walks of life, but if you really believe that you can pour youth and vitality out of a bottle ..... you're kidding yourself. Be who you are .... if it's worth anything, people will take notice.

[This message has been edited by Uncle Dave (edited 11-06-2003).]

The best thing you can wear on stage, is a big Bright SMILE!!!!

Audiences LOVE to see entertainers having fun and having a good time. If you can convey that without being insincere, you will be infectious.

Al

To quote the great philosopher Popeye... "I am what I am what I am ..."
I think presence and attitude ( positive and confident ), and the way one carries oneself is more important than whether I have a few grey hairs ( I do ).

I have kind of a "baby face", so much so that people are often very surprised when I introduce my little ones as "grandaughters". We sometimes get puzzled looks, and I muse sometimes that it appears as if people are mentally trying to do the math while they are looking at us. So the touch of grey does not bother me in the least. I look at it as "keepin me honest"..lol.
I recently watched a video of an aged Eric Clapton on stage ( I like Eric but am not a huge fan ), and all I felt was "respect" for someone who has gone through a lot but has progressed through all of it . His stage presence was fitting for where he is in life. I kinda cringe when I see Mick and the stones still jumping around the stage like kids, hoping that one of them doesn't twist an ankle or break a bone...

AJ

I tried the color for a while. It's too much trouble. As another great philospher, Ray Price, said "Take Me As I Am Or Let Me Go".
I think the dark hair looked fine at work, under the lights, but it looked a little phony in the daylight.
DonM

Hey, for that kind of money, I wouldn't have to think twice about acting like a kid. Come to think of it, I sometimes act like a kid and don't get a nickel for it!

Mick obviously didn't age gracefully, in fact, he always looked old. I've been fortunate in that most folks that I was 10 years younger than I really am, which has made a difference. I know lots of folks in this business that wish they could retire, some are already collecting Social Security, and some, like myself, get to retire three days after rigor-mortis sets in. My wife says it will be somewhat like "Weekend At Bernies" only I'll be the guy at the keyboard with midi files running back to back, a big smile and dead as a doornail. All the folks that don't think age descrimination exists in show biz should post this one again when they turn 65. Should be an interesting topic.

Cheers,

Gary

Gary's "Weekend at Bernie's" comment is cracking me up. I am still chuckling. Geez, what a picture.

As far as dress...here's the scoop from South Florida -- and it is kind of a class thing:
I have several regular working class clients whose members discarded all their ties when they retired here. Most of their functions are just shirt sleeve affairs. Dressing up for them is a jacket and open shirt. My philosophy in those "casual" situations is to also go casual, but usually with a shirt that has a little color and pizzazz.

The wealthier country and yacht club set always dress up. For those, I do the black jacket and colored tie thing. Colored jackets for holidays. Tuxes only for New Years and Anniversaries.

When I work with my girl singer, we usually coordinate colors...but don't try to look like Frick and Frack.
Eddie

I used to do vests..but to me that looks so dated now. A couple of my peers here still do vests and, to me, it just looks silly and more like they are service personnel rather than entertainers.

All my audiences are 50+, and a few have kidded me about my hair getting lighter, but the fact is the vast majority of men in my audiences are gray or graying or have well polished domes. I have no idea how old people think I am, but few believe I am over 60, even when I tell them. I believe my age and "maturing looks" work in my favor.

Jackets, Tuxes, Ties are so restrictive and hot on stage, I hate them...I gave up those looks years ago... Appearance is just a minut part of the show...you must be comfortable when you play & sing all night. fancy Tux vests, open collar dress shirts, Hawaian shirts in the summer is more my thing...If its a Black Tie affair then I go Black Tie Arggg! Looking good will not protect bad playing... but will compliment the total success of a good musicians show.