Civilian Mess Jackets

[saxandpipes]

...

Bands? Yes, I agree whole-heartedly that red bow ties are proper to wear if one is in a dance band... It may just be a local thing, but virtually all of the caterers these days also put red bow ties on their staff...

Can't speak for the other branches of service, but that's what the Army does.

"Staff"... now, now. Steady on there. Not all musicians are a casually brought-in bunch of untrained misfits. Your wee dig was subtle, but not well considered. I for one, am never "staff". I think many of my friends and colleagues would also haul you up on this Mr Rathdown, including some of my best friends, a saxophone professor at University and Head of Woodwind studies, as well as her husband, a (now retired) Squadron Leader, ex-director of the Central Band of the Royal New Zealand Airforce.

Regards!

Michael (full-time professional musician)
MMus, BMus(Hons, first class), BMus, ATCL

[MacLowlife]

"Staff"... now, now. Steady on there. Not all musicians are a casually brought-in bunch of untrained misfits. Your wee dig was subtle, but not well considered. I for one, am never "staff". I think many of my friends and colleagues would also haul you up on this Mr Rathdown, including some of my best friends, a saxophone professor at University and Head of Woodwind studies, as well as her husband, a (now retired) Squadron Leader, ex-director of the Central Band of the Royal New Zealand Airforce.

Regards!

Michael (full-time professional musician)
MMus, BMus(Hons, first class), BMus, ATCL

I am pretty sure the staff MoR was referring to are the CATERING STAFF, or maybe I read it wrong. I have never been in a dance band, but I have been catering staff more than once. Now that you mention it, I was probably a part of a casually brought in bunch of untrained misfits some of those times. I have also waited tables.

I am pretty sure that most if us will never attend a formal event in hot weather where the waitstaff/caterers are kilted, so much of this talk may be less literal than it appears. But I stand by my advice and general desire not to look like I am working at an event where I am a guest.

[saxandpipes]

I am pretty sure the staff MoR was referring to are the CATERING STAFF, or maybe I read it wrong. I have never been in a dance band, but I have been catering staff more than once. Now that you mention it, I was probably a part of a casually brought in bunch of untrained misfits some of those times. I have also waited tables.

I am pretty sure that most if us will never attend a formal event in hot weather where the waitstaff/caterers are kilted, so much of this talk may be less literal than it appears. But I stand by my advice and general desire not to look like I am working at an event where I am a guest.

Yes, true. It's diffucult to read things here, without the benefit of vocal accentuation.

I've also done the waiting thing, and was invited to do the military thing too... neither lasted long. Funny, I guess I don't take orders very well.

Anyway, as I said, I (and my friends) have never been considered "staff" (as far as being a musician goes), but that is definitely not to say that we haven't been a casual bunch of (seemingly-untrained) misfits! ;)

Cheers,

Michael

[macwilkin]

I am pretty sure the staff MoR was referring to are the CATERING STAFF, or maybe I read it wrong. I have never been in a dance band, but I have been catering staff more than once. Now that you mention it, I was probably a part of a casually brought in bunch of untrained misfits some of those times. I have also waited tables.

I am pretty sure that most if us will never attend a formal event in hot weather where the waitstaff/caterers are kilted, so much of this talk may be less literal than it appears. But I stand by my advice and general desire not to look like I am working at an event where I am a guest.

Of course, in a wardroom East of Suez, I would bet the mess stewards would be wearing jackets, while the officers wore Red Sea Rig.

Note this photo of an officer's mess steward aboard a Cunard liner:

http://wearecunard.com/wp-content/up.../04/photo1.jpg

It seems to me, if you're concerned about being mistaken for staff, Red Sea Rig isn't necessarily the way to do it. And this is no slam against staff such as the young lady pictured above; she very "ship shape and bristol fashion", and no doubt takes great pride in her deportment as well as her work.

T.

[Cygnus]

"Staff"... now, now. Steady on there. Not all musicians are a casually brought-in bunch of untrained misfits. Your wee dig was subtle, but not well considered. I for one, am never "staff". I think many of my friends and colleagues would also haul you up on this Mr Rathdown, including some of my best friends, a saxophone professor at University and Head of Woodwind studies, as well as her husband, a (now retired) Squadron Leader, ex-director of the Central Band of the Royal New Zealand Airforce.

Regards!

Michael (full-time professional musician)
MMus, BMus(Hons, first class), BMus, ATCL

I also took Scott's comment to mean the catering staff. Still, I have to say that my bandmates and I most certainly were a "casually brought-in bunch of untrained misfits" - but we sure had fun, red bow ties and all!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

"Staff"... now, now. Steady on there. Not all musicians are a casually brought-in bunch of untrained misfits. Your wee dig was subtle, but not well considered. I for one, am never "staff". I think many of my friends and colleagues would also haul you up on this Mr Rathdown, including some of my best friends, a saxophone professor at University and Head of Woodwind studies, as well as her husband, a (now retired) Squadron Leader, ex-director of the Central Band of the Royal New Zealand Airforce.

Regards!

Michael (full-time professional musician)
MMus, BMus(Hons, first class), BMus, ATCL

er... I was referring to the catering staff. Sorry if you got it wrong.

[saxandpipes]

er... I was referring to the catering staff. Sorry if you got it wrong.

No worries,

Apology accepted


Cheers!

Michael