# Wearing a band's t-shirt to their concert. Bad. Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 29, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482 "2005-10-29T18:52:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/21 "2005-10-29T22:33:55Z")
Wow. After an interesting OP, this thread has turned out to totally suck. And I mean that in the way that most strongly suggests that I’m against whatever minority you happen to belong to. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/22 "2005-10-29T23:22:43Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Seriously, sorry for the hijack, but the overdependence on smileys have created some kind of bizarro world where things are assumed to be serious unless accompanied by a smiley. Exactly true, except for the bizarro part. Which is why you absolutely need smilies. Now I’m also going to stop hijacking the thread. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/23 "2005-10-30T00:31:24Z")
Moderator interveneth: OK, this thread has been hijacked beyond recognition. You can either get back on topic, and I mean NOW, or I’ll shut the damn thing down and the OP can try again. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/24 "2005-10-30T01:09:03Z")
**Snooooopy** had it right back in post #5. If you wear a concert T, make sure it is from at least two tours ago, the older the better. For maximum points wear a shirt from the front man’s failed solo project. ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/25 "2005-10-30T01:47:34Z")
Wow. I never would have guessed that this would’ve caused a trainwreck. From what I read, it is just an issue of not looking like an over enthusiastic fanboy, and is really only enforced by “hipster indie” type kids. sounds good. I don’t really have much band clothes anyway, but was curious as I had heard that it wasn’t cool, but could come up with no compelling reason why. Now to go start a GD on whether smilies should be mandatory. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/26 "2005-10-30T02:12:08Z")
so I guess then it’s okay for me to wear a Mets T-shirt circa 1986 (blue stripes and orange trim) to a game next season when they will certainly have come out with one more permutation of their colors in a totally new design; but not purchase the fan version of the horrendously overpriced new garment? ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/27 "2005-10-30T02:13:51Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > so I guess then it’s okay for me to wear a Mets T-shirt circa 1986 (blue stripes and orange trim) to a game next season when they will certainly have come out with one more permutation of their colors in a totally new design; but not purchase the fan version of the horrendously overpriced new garment? That’s just good financial sense! ---
**Author:** ![parthenokinesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/cc9497/32.png) [@parthenokinesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parthenokinesis)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/28 "2005-10-30T02:39:36Z")
I think you might be safe in wearing a Dread Zeppelin t-shirt to a Led Zepagain concert. That would probably ensure the most possible cool points one can get if one is actually seen at a Led Zepagain concert. Though you rep would probably be better served if you wore a bag over your head. (I refuse to put a smiley here for humor accentuation, cause that would be gay) Jack ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/29 "2005-10-30T03:09:54Z")
Yes, this is a silly “rule”, not like anyone would enforce it, whatever that means. Given that, it’s kind of useful to follow. If you’re at a show, people know you like the band. Duh. So wearing their shirt doesn’t give much more info. Maybe if it’s an early shirt, they know you’re a hardcore fan, but a current shirt means little. Especially one bought that night. OTOH, if you wear a shirt for another band, or a festival, then there’s the additional info floating around that, hey, you like that other band. Good conversation starter. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/30 "2005-10-30T03:52:43Z")
Let me see if I have this right: Wearing a band t-shirt advertises how long you’ve been a fan. Wearing a new t-shirt annnounces that you are a newbie to the band fandom, and therefore lame. Wearing an old band t-shirt announces “I have been a fan longer than you have” and is therefore very cool. Wearing a band t-shirt of moderate age says “I’ve been a fan as long as you, but I’m a bit too into the band to actually be cool”. Am I on the right track? ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/31 "2005-10-30T16:14:07Z")
I would never wear a band’s t-shirt to their concert. But that’s more because I don’t need to let the people there that I’m a fan of that band; they can figure that out. Nor do I need to promote that band to those people; they already know what a great band they are. If I saw someone wearing one, I wouldn’t give it a second thought. To each his/her own. ---
**Author:** ![threeorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@threeorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threeorange)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/32 "2005-10-30T18:34:35Z")
> [@Dead Badger](#): > > Well, _I_ laughed. Am definitely going to paint myself blue for Broken Social Scene next month. Just don’t wear the same shade of blue for Broken Social Scene as you would wear for Death Cab For Cutie; then people would think you were uncool. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/33 "2005-10-30T18:48:07Z")
What if you go to a concert in a nice non-committal, inoffensive t-shirt and then some doofus bumps into you and spills his Big Gulp all over your shirt, so there you are all cold, wet and sticky with about $40 to waste on a new band t-shirt - can you buy and wear the t-shirt in that case or is it better to stay in the cold, wet and sticky t-shirt and not be ridiculed by the cool kids? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/34 "2005-10-30T18:54:22Z")
…and whatever you do, DO NOT wear a band’s T-shirt to their concert and then order a well-done steak. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/35 "2005-10-30T18:56:01Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > To be cool, you must always look like you would rather be somewhere else. Yeah, that’s rule number one of coolness. If you’re a Princeton student, NEVER be caught dead in a Princeton tee-shirt. “Acme Academy of Air-Conditioner Repair” would be a perfectly acceptable substitute. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/36 "2005-10-30T19:00:17Z")
Of course, you could always go to a concert by a band that’s too cool to even have T-shirts. Those who have been to those concerts will know each other by that certain look in their eyes. A slight nod is all you need to know. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/37 "2005-10-30T21:20:45Z")
> [@Ukulele Ike](#): > > Yeah, that’s rule number one of coolness. If you’re a Princeton student, NEVER be caught dead in a Princeton tee-shirt. “Acme Academy of Air-Conditioner Repair” would be a perfectly acceptable substitute. Very true. It’s not just about looking like you’d rather be somewhere else; the place you’d rather be has to be so obscure that no one else has ever heard of it. Ideally it wouldn’t even have a name, but this of course makes the t-shirts hard to decipher. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/38 "2005-10-30T21:49:05Z")
> [@Ukulele Ike](#): > > Yeah, that’s rule number one of coolness. If you’re a Princeton student, NEVER be caught dead in a Princeton tee-shirt. “Acme Academy of Air-Conditioner Repair” would be a perfectly acceptable substitute. so, wait. If you actually attend the “Acme Academy of Air-Conditioner Repair”, what tee-shirt would you wear then? Obviously everyone has heard of Princeton. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/39 "2005-10-30T21:50:47Z")
Good point. Harvard, then. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/40 "2005-10-30T22:06:37Z")
If at all possible, I walk into concert halls, buy a band t-shirt & a hat if they have one before the concert, & put them on. I know that the record labels screw over the musicians on the recording contract, & a lot of acts rely on t-shirt sales for income. (actually, I’m lying. I don’t really regularly do this, but that’s 'cos I don’t go to concerts. too loud.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482.md?page=3)