Wearing Black helps me save time everyday. My workday morning routine goes fast. I don’t need to spend a lot of time looking for clothes to wear to work. Once section of my closet is all black. Polo’s with and without company logos. Long sleeve dress shirts with company logos and without. Dressing the part makes you look more professional.
So What are Show Blacks?
Show Blacks Are
- Polo or Collared Shirt
- Pants
- Belt
- Socks
- Boots/Shoes
Logo Free – All in black
Dress Blacks Are
- Suit Coat or Blazer
- Dress Pants
- Dress Shirt
- Tie (optional)
- Belt
- Socks
- Dress Shoes
Logo Free – All in black
Why Dress in Black –
We wear black so we can blend in and not stick out. But we also (when the whole crew is in black) look like a professional bunch of people.
Why I Wear Black
A lot of people talk about how Mark Zuckerberg and Steve 
Jobs would wear the same thing everyday. I like to follow the example of Dean Kamen. Just in my show blacks. People like to dress like Dean #DressLikeDeanKamen I was working an event. Dean showed up. He walked in – Grabbed the mic and spoke to the audience. He was wearing a dark Jean Shirt and Jeans – plus a winter Jean Jacket. This is what he wears everyday.
My Workday Morning Routine
Wearing the same thing everyday makes my morning easier. I get up – shower – put on a polo, pants, socks, belt and shoes (ALL Black) Simple. I just need to remember who I am working for that day and check logo on the polo before I leave the house.
My workday morning routine is the same no matter what time I get up. I get my clothes ready the night before. Any item(s) I need to bring with me – I put in front of the door. So I have to move it when I leave. Maybe it is a Morning Autopilot but it helps me not to forget things when I am tired in the morning. Wearing the same thing everyday works for Barack Obama, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Dean Kamen plus others.
You can do your own research on Decision Fatigue. Some people believe you only get so many decisions a day before your brain turns to mush. I like to save those decisions for more important things.
What I Wear to Work
- Under Armour Tactical Polo
- Under Armour Mens Golf Pants
- Columbia Men’s Reversible Leather Belt
- Mens Hanes X-Temp Active Cool Crew Socks
- Nike Men’s Shoes Air Max 95 Black on Black
- Black Sweater Full Zip
When you’re working, be at work. When you’re not working, stop working.
What to Wear Tips
Comfortable Shoes/Boots – Keep your feet dry and happy. Sore feet make for a very long day. I work with people that change out their shoes twice a work day. That also includes changing socks twice a day. You might need different shoes for outdoor events. I wear shoes inside and boots outside. The boots I wear have a goodyear welt on them – which makes them almost water proof. That help a lot when I am working in the mud or out in the rain.
Lightweight Clothes – When I started I would wear a black cotton polo, heavy white socks and heavy black khakis. The whole outfit felt heavy. I would sweat every day. And the next day I always felt worn-out and tired. Finally I switched over to lighter clothes that breath. Lighter Socks really helped. The Hanes X-Temp Active Cool Crew Socks really help keep my feet dry and they still have a little cushion on the bottom. I still sweat but I don’t feel as hot as I did before. The lightweight polo and pants also dry quick. Which is a plus.
Sweater or Hoodie – Indoor ballrooms can either be very hot or freezing. I always have a black sweater with me. Some days I wear my gloves just because ballrooms can get so cold. I wear a hoodie on outdoor shows. No matter which city you travel to the ballrooms are always freezing. The coldest ballroom I worked in was in Hawaii. They had the AC on and the outside doors open. The CEO wanted the fresh air. That AC never turned off.
Rain and Cold Weather Gear – Buy some rain gear and keep it in your car. You never know when you are going to need it. The same goes for Warm clothes – get a jacket with a hood and a good pair of gloves. Keep you hands dry. I have a backpack in my car with rain gear, 2 black hoodies, extra socks, a winter hat, work gloves and warm gloves.
Other Industries – Look at other industries to find clothes that work for long days. Nurses, first responders, restaurant workers or other hobbies like hiking. The right shoes or boots are worth the money. I like the Nike Air Max 95
We wear black so we can blend in and not stick out.
What Not to Wear to Work
No logos on your clothes. Unless it is the logo of the
Company or Union you work for.
Do not wear ripped or worn-out clothes.
Don’t wear faded black clothes. Donate those and buy new black clothes.
No Jewellery – Necklaces and rings can get caught or tangled up and you can get hurt.
Shorts and Hats are acceptable on outdoor setups but not indoors.
Load-in and Load-out
Black Tee shirts can be worn on setup and strike. Some companies allow shorts to be worn. If you don’t know a companies dress code. Ask. It would be better to know than for them to say something to you.
Story – Years ago I was on a show. A different crew came in to do the load-out. The next week the person that booked me – made a comment about looking good around the client. Basically I told him I wear the same thing to every show. I found out later that the hotel complained about how the strike crew looked. Something about shorts and bright red shirts. You never know who is watching and what standard they might have. Show blacks are a common practice.
Who Should Wear Show Blacks
- Stagehands
- Audio – A1 A2
- Lighting – L1 L2
- Video
- Stage Managers
- Camera Crew
- Photographers
The list of clothes is the same for Everyone. In the past it has been hard for women to find work clothes that are the right shape, right size and comfortable. The wrong size clothing can be a safety concern. Companies like Dickies and Carhartt’s main focus was men’s work clothes. Companies are now creating more options and styles for everyone. Giving people more options. Check out some of the Women’s work clothing stores here – stagehandsclothing.com and 511tactical.com
Conclusion
I hope you can see that wearing black can help you simplify your life. Your clothes are going to get dirty, stained and ripped. Dark clothes hide some of that easier than other colors. If you rip your clothes you can use gaff to cover the hole.
Show Blacks Help you look more professional. Professional looking people get hired more.
I where black 200 days a year and I wear color on the other 165 days
Read More
- What Is In My Stage Lighting Tech Kit – Your Show Bag
- Stagehand Tool List – Become a Better Stagehand
- Corporate Lighting Gel Kit – Rosco Color Filters
- Church Stage Lighting Basics – What Lighting Do You Need – 2021
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Ryan Conlon is a highly experienced Corporate Freelance Lighting Designer with two decades of dedicated work in the entertainment industry. With a passion for creating captivating lighting experiences, Ryan has contributed his expertise to numerous corporate meetings, stage productions, concerts, and events throughout his career.