Reaction to you Wearing a Kilt

[kiltedsawyer]

I've been reading this thread for a few days now and looking back at my own experience I have to agree with Riverkilt. My unsolicited advice is to be yourself, be honest, and be sincere. Dating is a process of elimination. The more honest you are about yourself, the faster you will get to the person you're looking for; the person who accepts you for who you are, warts and all. Many of us can share stories of how women have swooned for a man clad in kilt. But I think it's safe to say there may be an equal number not accepting of kilted attire. (There's only two kinds of women in the world.) So wear the kilt, and you're half way to finding the woman of your dreams.

David

[OC Richard]

the person you're looking for; the person who accepts you for who you are, warts and all.

Or kilts and all

[PatrickHughes123]

Wear a suit and start wearing the kilt when she gets to know you a lot more.

Your post has reminded me of what I wish I had done with my ex, every time I went on a date with her, wear the kilt. Couldn't for three reasons;

(1) - Didn't have the kilt yet or wasn't a full outfit yet.
(2) - A long time to put on.
(3) - Glasgow is a rough city and people mock you for wearing a kilt.

Wish I would have done it though, for every date despite what I said above. And even when I had a full outfit, our relationship was nearing the end.

[Bluethunder90]

Let me offer what encouragement I can. I've been playing the pipes over 40 years now and it's been a wonderful journey.

Your musical background is, as you mention, an advantage. When I'm out playing and somebody comes up and says something like "aren't bagpipes really difficult to play?" or "I heard that bagpipes are the most difficult instrument" I tell them all musical instruments are more or less the same. I once had two students, one was an excellent pianist and the other was a mediocre guitarist. The pianist became an excellent piper and the guitarist became a mediocre one.

An old guy told me, many years ago "an instrument is merely a mechanical device. The music is in the person."

The learning curve gets steeper the older the beginner is, like in any other field. Few adult beginners get really good, the ones I know about have the following in common:

1) prior in-depth musical experience
2) fanatical dedication
3) ample practice time (these people practiced 2 to 6 hours a day)
4) excellent instruction

If that last is not to be had locally, a piper who has played in, say, a Grade One or Two pipe band and/or competed in Solos at a high level, I would turn to Skype, for example Neil Clark in the Highlands, ex-Scots Guards piper and excellent teacher.
http://www.falkirkpiping.com/

BTW bothersome for legit musicians, little bagpipe music is written how it sounds!

Sorry for the offtopic post! Well except for the fact that us pipers often meet people when kilted for gigs, which gets over the "first date kilted" problem.

Thanks for the insight. My musical background definitely helped me the first time I started learning, and I was glad I had it. You're also right about the music not being written the way it sounds; the hardest thing for me to grasp were the flurishes and decoration.

[kingandrew]

I am happily married. I did not have a kilt in my single days, which is unfortunate.

I have never had anything but positive responses to my kilt. And Riverkilt is correct that wearing the kilt elicits all sorts of provocative comments and overtures from attractive single women I have never met. Since I am married, I just enjoy the compliments. But had I known before I was married, I would have led a much more exciting life.

You might just ask the young lady in question about how she would feel about you wearing it. And as Lady Grey points out, much depends on context. I love wearing the kilt, but there are some places and activities where other attire might make more sense (scuba diving, horseback riding, snow skiing, skydiving, etc.)

However, you may want to take my advice with a grain of salt. I never leave the house without a hat, I wear bow ties frequently, and in college I often appeared in public wearing Renaissance-style clothing (think Shakespeare: doublets, ruffs, and tights). So I am already probably well into the "flamboyant" end of things, even without a kilt.

Andrew

[OC Richard]

Glasgow is a rough city and people mock you for wearing a kilt.

Ha, I experienced that in Glasgow, just once, in band kit with pipes in hand, when our band's performance in George Square was done and I was walking alone back to the Underground station.


But when the band was playing the locals all seemed to think it was grand.

[OC Richard]

the hardest thing for me to grasp were the flourishes and decoration.

Those things are muscle memory, you just have to practice them many hours and they become automatic. But be sure to practice them slowly and precisely! As they say "practice doesn't make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect."

[PatrickHughes123]

Ha, I experienced that in Glasgow, just once, in band kit with pipes in hand, when our band's performance in George Square was done and I was walking alone back to the Underground station.


But when the band was playing the locals all seemed to think it was grand.

You were on George Square? Wow, that's amazing! You were in my home city! Why didn't you mention this before? Got any pictures?

[tokareva]

Seems very strange,but also interesting to me that someone would be harassed in any way for wearing the kilt in Scotand, regardless of the city.

[PatrickHughes123]

Seems very strange,but also interesting to me that someone would be harassed in any way for wearing the kilt in Scotand, regardless of the city.

In Glasgow, no-one really cares about their culture or heritage, they just care about partying, smoking and getting into gang fights. These people are called NEDs! Not all Glaswegians are NEDs but a lot are.

Kilts and bagpipes are sort of seen as a funny old stereotype and therefore is mocked when actually seen in person, unless someone is going to a special occasion.

The last time I wore a kilt was this Wednesday into Glasgow City Centre, and quite a few girls kept looking at me. 2 girls, I assume friends, were looking behind themselves and laughing at the sight of me, not necessarily in a cruel way, and kept saying stuff to each other while smiling.

Either they are mocking me or they want to... Uhhh... Well... Never mind! Anyway, you get the point!