Can I do it?

[Squeaky McMurdo]

I certainly wouldn't want to watch a piping competition in which everyone was wearing street clothes.

I was disappointed enough when the piper we hired for my father-in-law's funeral showed up in a suit.


BP, you look great. Keep trudging onward!

--Chelsea McMurdo--

[SteveB]

As OCRichard stated on it was on another forum that is oriented about piping in a thread about the wearing of the kilt outside of the performance was seen as uncool by quite a few posters. I read through the thread, and was rather shocked. I know many pipers in my area that are comfortable in the kilt both on and off the competition grounds. I posted in favour of wearing the kilt the whole day, as you never know when the economic opportunity of being offered a gig will come up. I have seen a few who change at the band tent, and would rather like to compete in other than Highland kit.
I hope the rules do not change.

[Bugbear]

That was my thought! It does indeed sound like a nice outfit. Me, I'm wearing my saffron shadow tartan from Stillwater with a green shirt and green hose, with black leather accessories. I only wear pants to my martial arts classes, and that's only because they're part of the uniform. For me with my body shape- I'm very large- it's much more comfortable.

Thou art an Daucus carota! (Carrot)
Just joking, Nighthawk. You probably look best in orange and green.

[Highlander31]

(You'll probably see me wear these hose a lot because they're warm, comfortable, and go with anything.)

Nice look.

[BEEDEE]

(You'll probably see me wear these hose a lot because they're warm, comfortable, and go with anything.)

Yea!!! MacRae!!!

Brian

[OC Richard]

I certainly wouldn't want to watch a piping competition in which everyone was wearing street clothes.

I was disappointed enough when the piper we hired for my father-in-law's funeral showed up in a suit.

Yes indeed the Games will always insist on Highland dress for their competitiors because 1) it's tradition and 2) the "show" of the pipe bands in full kit is one of the biggest "draws" with the general public.

There was an incident about a year ago when the Oran Mor Pipe Band (one of only two active Grade One pipe bands in the USA) was travelling to a Games together in a coach and the coach caught fire. All the people got off the coach but the band's entire kit went up in flames. The competition granted permission for Oran Mor to compete in street clothes.

By the way, while Highland Dress is required at all Pipe Band competitions in the USA, the world's largest Pipe Band competition, the World Pipe Band Championships, held in Glasgow each August, does NOT require Highland Dress to be worn by competing bands.
The rules only state that "Highland Dress or other regional dress" must be worn. This allows pipe bands from Spain and Brittany and the Middle East to wear their normal dress which is based on the costume of each region.
By this rule a Pipe Band from Texas could wear cowboy boots, cowboy hats, Levi jeans, chaps, Western shirts, etc and be fully within the rules.

A piper performing at a funeral wearing a suit doesn't seem fitting to me. However a number of posters on that bagpiping forum have mentioned wearing suits when performing at weddings and funerals at which they were ordinary attendees, not paid performers. I've always worn kilts at such times, one reason being that I don't own a suit!

[Fit2BKilted]

So? I only have six, and two of those are full argyle so I only wear them during formal events. If you wear ankle socks inside the hose they'll protect them from sweatiness.

That's a great tip, I am sure to try! Thanks! With my high metabolism I tend to be an easy and heavy sweater, so laundry is a major issue. I'll have to pick up some ankle socks at the Costco, because I expect regular sweat socks would create a rather noticeable sock-line midway up the calf.

[Tobus]

By this rule a Pipe Band from Texas could wear cowboy boots, cowboy hats, Levi jeans, chaps, Western shirts, etc and be fully within the rules.

A minor correction: no self-respecting cowboy would wear Levis with that outfit! It would need to be Wrangler jeans.

That would just be weird, though, seeing a cowboy pipe band...

[HarborSpringsPiper]

A piper performing at a funeral wearing a suit doesn't seem fitting to me.

Nor to me, but I acknowledge that may just be my mindset. I believe the GHB and the kilt remain linked in public performance. Not a rule but more of a convention that has evolved over time. Invariably I will be asked by somone requesting me to play at their event if I will be wearing the kilt, so I think that convention is present in the general psyche too.

I'm not sure if any of the pipers mentioned who find the kilt a hassle are looking to dump band uniforms completely. Most of their complaints seem to be about solo competitions, including competitions not associated with larger Highland Games. Admittedly, many of these have little to no public attendance, beyond direct family and friends. However, I would find it sad indeed if things devolved to flip-flops, shorts, t-shirts and baseball caps as the uniform of the day. Even other instrumental competitions I'm aware of have some form of dress code. It used to be that dress and deportment were taken seriously in piping and drumming comps; don't know how much they count for any longer.

[Hamish]

Greg, I am extremely surprised that you have not tried this before!

As a full-time kilt wearer now for almost 11 years I say: if I can do it then you certainly can ........ so, go for it (oh, I see you have started - well done!). Of course it takes a while to amass sufficient shirts, hose, etc before full-timing can be comfortably undertaken, but it can be done - and you will, believe me.

I'll be watching your progress with interest.

Take care,
Ham.