That picture to the left is of The Gothsicles lead singer, Brian. Why am I posting pictures I took of a singer from a band? Well, today my bandmates, we’re going to talk about your band’s image. That’s right — what you look like. What you wear. Why it’s necessary. In one picture, image can clue your new fans into what your music’s all about and make your band more recognizable. To understand image, though, we gotta play a little memory recall.

Aerosmith. KISS. Ozzy. Alice Cooper. What do these bands have in common? Well, for one thing — you’d definitely know you were at an Aerosmith concert if the microphone stand was decorated with a bunch of ties coming off of it, right? How about KISS and their costuming? Or Alice Cooper and his look? Most popular bands either have an image that you recognize right off the bat (that hasn’t changed since they got their start) OR they have evolved with the times. Take Metallica and their short versus long hair, for example. Long hair? 80s. Short hair? Today. Kind of a contemporary feel to go with their music, to show that they’re rollin’ with the times.

Let’s take another look at Brian’s performance gear. You can see from this picture he’s wearing a Nintendo Power Glove, which was used back in the day. Why is he wearing one? Well, it turns out one of this parody band’s most popular song’s lyrics are based on the code from the retro video game Contra. (UP UP DOWN DOWN LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT B A SELECT START). People see the glove? They think of the song and subsequently, the band. The reason why this works for their band is because Brian’s glove has turned into a prop. For their song. Brilliant, really because even if you don’t know who The Gothsicles are, wouldn’t you want to know why he’s wearing a Nintendo glove?

Sure, your band’s image might never be set in stone and you may just want to roll with it — but when you’re just starting out? Your image can help you “sell” your band’s performances and music because it’s something recognizable that people might hone in on. Let’s take a look in the wayback machine at two, different types of images and see how they’ve worked for various bands and performers.

Pros and Cons of a “Timely” Image for your Band

When I use the word “timely” in the context of your band’s image, I’m talking about your band setting a trend at the right time in the right place that’s in tune with your performance or your music. Take MC Hammer for example, and his “You Can’t Touch This” Hammer pants. First? You gotta show some love for MC, seriously. MC Hammer has been written about not just for his performances or his music — but for his fashion like in this article about the History of Fashion from 1980 to 1990. Those pants, no matter what you might think about them, added a kind of “trademark” to Hammer’s popularity. Second, you have to give MC props because he’s still out there, still performing and doing contemporary projects like DanceJam with an updated image to match his current work. Here’s a performer that not only set a trend, but is able to keep working professionally in the entertainment industry, which is a very tough thing to do.

So what have we learned from MC Hammer’s “timely” image? The pros of having a timely image for your band or performing group are really easy to point out, because they are unforgettable, cued in to a particular memory. That memory could be based on an event, period of time or on the heels of a trendy, popular idea like sushi, Christmas, fashion or steampunk. The cons of structuring your band around a timely image have to do with the fact that it takes a lot of luck to hit that “right time, right place” and there are no guarantees. Hit it at the wrong time, you could end up working harder so your band won’t appear “dated” or worse — on the downward side of an unpopular trend.

Just having a timely image that includes a gimmick or some other performance quirk (like Van Halen’s “Jump”) isn’t enough to make your band recognizable, but it’s a start. Instead, you have to figure out how that image will relate to your music and what you’re trying to portray. MC Hammer’s pants were a trend-setter sure, but not just because of their style. His dance moves and performance capability complemented his image, too. If the man couldn’t dance, we would not remember his pants.

Pros and Cons of Being Timeless Band

Aerosmith. The Rolling Stones. Madonna. U2. Janet Jackson. When you think of bands and performers that appear to have a timeless image, it seems like they all have one thing in common — flexibility. Now, you might think that because they are popular they can afford to change their image constantly and not lose fans, but I don’t believe that to be the case. I believe that a timeless band image is one where your band has the ability to adapt physically to the performance, regardless of what time period it’s played in. Let me explain.

Say that you have a slow rhythm and blues band and you’ve been playing for a while, playing in a really, sharp red suit that can weather even the most mundane fashion trend. Do you play every gig that way or just certain songs? How does that suit speak to your musical style? Do fans know you buy what your group wears? If so, then that red suit is probably now part of your image, and you may not have even realized it. But what if you’re playing a holiday show? Will you adapt to the stage you’re playing on or keep on performing the same?

Part of being timeless, is being able to recognize when you need to be timely. It means avoiding trends that are too memorable, and opting for “safer” image-builders like holidays, benefits and charities. Or, on the flip side, it means that you’re constantly evolving with the trends and fashion so that you always appear contemporary no matter when people are following your music.

In my mind, being “timeless” also means that you either choose to play a show, where every song has its own set of costumes and glitter, or you play a musical performance, where you have one “costume” that represents your band’s image for that particular show.

The pros of having a timeless image is that you have the potential to have more “staying power.” More focused on the music, you’ll be able to float through trends with ease and may even get a bump when some trends fit your music (Rap, anyone? Grunge? Goth?). The cons of being “timeless” is that you can get stuck. Instead of having that flexibility that’s so important to every band’s image, you get into a groove and don’t move because it’s comfortable. Safe. Then what? Then you look dated and some music fans will avoid your performances because you look like something out of Rocky Horror or Grease. All of a sudden your mullet, afro or slicked back hair doesn’t look so cool anymore, and nobody has the basketballs to tell you.

Are you Brave? Send Us your Band’s Photo and Get a Critique!

Okay, so now that I’ve gone on and on about your band’s image I’d like to throw something back to you. If you’re brave, if you’re feeling…fearless…email me your band’s photo to tablovers AT mxtabs DOT net. I’ll throw it up here, on MXTabs.net’s blog with some honest feedback for you and some semi-intelligent commentary from yours truly. Maybe a poll, too. I just need permission to post the pic in the blog, so no worries about rights. You retain all of those. Have questions about your pic and your image? Feel free to include them in the email. Questions are good.

Till next time — work hard, play harder.