Tell newbie about kilt pins

[Jock Scot]

Reasons that come to mind include

1) the band members don't own the kilts, they're issued by the band, and many people are careless with other people's property.

2) some band members, including many teenagers, are careless and accident-prone in general.

3) most band members are new to Highland Dress and don't know how to take care of their kit.

The three things above result in things such as some band members, in between performances, throwing their entire uniform, wadded up in a ball, into a corner of their room or the back of a closet.

4) half of the band are drummers and drummers often "hook up" and "un-hook" the drums. Every time a drummer un-hooks a quite heavy cumbersome object with numerous pointy bits rapidly descends down the front of the person. Anything in the way- like a kilt pin- will get tugged earthward. What is stronger, the fabric of the kilt apron, or a rapidly descending 20-pound object?

5) the other half of the band are pipers and we often have to march, while playing, through crowded banquets etc. Our hands are busy playing the pipes and chairs and tables have to be shoved out of the way with our thighs, upon one of which is attached a kilt pin. What is stronger, the fabric of the kilt apron, or a seated adult?

I am not from the pipe band scene, but I am shocked and stunned by your comments! I quite understand how drums may catch on a kilt pin, but I am amazed at the carefree attitudes , that you describe so vividly, of band members. I cannot say if those attitudes are present with band members on this side of the Atlantic, I hope not! I rather thought more respect for the assorted equipment and attire that goes to make up a band was present.

I am going to show my admitted ignorance here, but it seems to me and from what you say above, that the band members as a whole-----with exceptions I am sure --------- fail to understand what the whole package of the meaning of belonging to a pipe band. What do they join for then? Just for the music? Just to play the instruments? To go on jaunts to other parts of the country? Is this rather irresponsible attitude universal? If their band and its attire is so unimportant and the fact that "someone" other than themselves appears to pay for most of it? And they appear to care so little about the "uniform"? Then why do they belong to a pipe band?

Do the band members pay for any of their attire?

[EagleJCS]

I am going to show my admitted ignorance here, but it seems to me and from what you say above, that the band members as a whole-----with exceptions I am sure --------- fail to understand what the whole package of the meaning of belonging to a pipe band. What do they join for then? Just for the music? Just to play the instruments? To go on jaunts to other parts of the country? Is this rather irresponsible attitude universal? If their band and its attire is so unimportant and the fact that "someone" other than themselves appears to pay for most of it? And they appear to care so little about the "uniform"? Then why do they belong to a pipe band?

Do the band members pay for any of their attire?

As a pipe band member (currently on hiatus), I'll try to answer some of your questions, from my perspective.

There are a lot of pipers and drummers that love the music, but think the 'whole kilt-thing' is a real pain in the posterior and would much rather have the focus be on the music. 'After all, outside of orchestras, no one else has to wear funny-looking outfits to play their music.' Many of those same folk also don't understand why pipe bands form a circle in competition in the outdoors (mainly so everyone can see the pipe major conducting the band with his foot) and think an orchestral arrangement (an arc on a stage) would be more appealing.

Some band members do join just to hang out and participate in excursions to other places. They play an instrument (usually drums, but sometimes people like this will take up the pipes), but don't really have any desire to progress in their mastery of the instrument.

Unfortunately, there does seem to be a pervasive attitude along the lines of 'I didn't pay for it, so I don't have to maintain it' here in the US, at least from what I've seen. Even when the band has a clause in their bylaws (if there are any) that any band-issued equipment must be returned in good condition upon leaving the band or the exiting member must pay for repair/replacement, some people just don't bother taking care of their equipment. That kind of attitude is beyond my understanding. Growing up, I was taught 'If you take care of your tools, they will take care of you' and 'Clothes aren't cheap - don't tear them or mess them up'. In many cases, bands decide it's not worth pursuing a small-claims (usually under US$1500) lawsuit because of the hassle of finding/retaining a lawyer, filing the suit, then having someone from the band available to actually go to court if necessary.

We have the same issue in the Scouting program - the young men (and now ladies) have to be taught how to care for their equipment and shown what happens if they don't. Sometimes, spending the night in a tent that wasn't cared for properly (rigging a replacement for a broken or missing pole, etc.) or having to spend extra time cleaning up a tool before they can actually use it teaches them better than a verbal discussion.

In my pipe band, members pay for their shoes, kilt hose, kilt pin (if desired), waist belt/buckle, shirts (long and short sleeve), Argyle jacket, Inverness cape (waterproof, not wool), and Glengarry. Many times, the band will order some of these items (mainly the kilt hose) in bulk and offer them to the band at cost, or slightly above, to reduce costs and make sure everyone gets the same look/color. Everything else (the kilt, cap badge, waistcoat, flashes and tie), the pipe chanter, reed & reed cap for the pipes and drums/carriers for the drummers, are provided by the band.

Hope that provides some insight.

[Jock Scot]

Ooops sorry, dual post. Post deleted.

J.S.

[Jock Scot]

Thank you John. I find your interesting and informative post, rather disappointing and disheartening. I have no sensible answer to the rather unsatisfactory situation other than perhaps suggest a stringent culling of membership of unsatisfactory band members who don't act more responsibly.

[MichiganKyle]

As Steve said near the start of this thread, I usually keep a kilt pin with each of my casual kilts and only remove them for washing. I do have a collection of them and sometimes change them out when I wash a kilt, but that's very infrequent - usually each kilt has an assigned pin that stays on it.

But probably my favorite kilt pin is my Lord of the Rings Lothlórien leaf:

IMG_20201011_0836415 small.jpg

That said, I don't wear a kilt pin with my semi-trad kilt because the way it's built is much heavier and doesn't need it as a functional item. I've tried it, and I just don't like it.

[OC Richard]

There are a lot of pipers and drummers that love the music, but think the 'whole kilt-thing' is a real pain in the posterior and would much rather have the focus be on the music.

For sure I've always heard Pipe Band people complain about having to wear Highland Dress and expressing the desire to be allowed to compete in ordinary casual clothes.

What's interesting is that despite this many experienced Pipe Band people take pride in their uniforms and are what might be termed "kilt snobs" due to only full-yardage handsewn traditional kilts being considered "real kilts".

This struck me quite a few years ago when, at a Highland Games, all of us saw Utilikilts for the first time. Utilikilts were quite new, only the original Seattle firm making them, and they showed up at a Games with a booth.

The booth was very popular with crowds gathering around, trying on the garments, and buying them in huge numbers.

However the reaction of all my band-mates was extremely negative. They made derogatory comments about the Utilikilts all weekend calling them "wrinkly skirts" etc.

After all, outside of orchestras, no one else has to wear funny-looking outfits to play their music.

Actually around the world it's quite common for musicians to be expected to wear costumes of one sort or another. Rock bands and Country Western bands are only two of many current examples. (How rockers look might not be a "funny looking outfit" but you can tell a rocker walking down the street due to their hair and clothes.)

It's especially so with "folk" or "traditional" music, for example Bulgarian, Mexican, Bolivian, and Spanish folk musicians have specific costumes they generally perform in.

In my pipe band, members pay for their shoes, kilt hose, kilt pin (if desired), waist belt/buckle, shirts (long and short sleeve), Argyll jacket, Inverness cape (waterproof, not wool), and Glengarry. Many times, the band will order some of these items (mainly the kilt hose) in bulk and offer them to the band at cost, or slightly above, to reduce costs and make sure everyone gets the same look/color. Everything else (the kilt, cap badge, waistcoat, flashes and tie), the pipe chanter, reed & reed cap for the pipes and drums/carriers for the drummers, are provided by the band.

I've been in a few different bands here in Southern California, the first (1977) wearing Full Dress and issuing everything: feather bonnet, doublet, kilt, plaid, crossbelt, waistbelt, brooch, sporran, hose-tops, flashes, and spats.

By the 1980s bands had generally done away with Full Dress and of course nowadays bands nearly all compete in waistcoats, jackets being a thing of the past.

Bands around here, over the last twenty years, have issued cap-badge, tie, kilt, sporran, hose, and flashes. The members buy their Glengarry, shirt, and Ghillies. Now with waistcoats bands here don't need to issue belts.

[OC Richard]

I cannot say if those attitudes are present with band members on this side of the Atlantic, I hope not!

I've heard similar stories about band members abusing their kit from both sides of the Atlantic, sorry to say.

It is interesting how different things are here and in Scotland concerning how many hours one spends in one's band uniform.

Here, band members drive themselves to the Highland Games. Since many don't like wearing their kit while driving they tend to arrive in the car park in their ordinary clothes, and change in the car park (strange I know!) or at the Band Tent inside the Games.

Many band members change into their uniform right before performing and change back into ordinary clothes right after. Thus they might be in uniform for only an hour or two.

In Scotland bands hire a coach and make the trip to and from the Games in full uniform the entire day.