IT will be a nice idea to consult with style specialist first, if you don't have clear vision of your style.

David Thiel, great advice as always. Thank you for sharing.

Look at them, but don't dress exactly as they do. Otherwise, you're just another "cookie cutter" corporate mentalist, interchangeable with all the other corporate mentalists.

A suit is fine, but make sure to add something to the suit that is uniquely yours (and fits your character/persona). That way you will be described as "that guy with the weird mental powers who wears a . . . ," whatever that is.

Exactly. Let's face it most of this entire community is copycat, cookie cutter (performance, appearance, website, etc.).
I don't consider a "fine suit" stagewear if it is something that anyone could also go in and buy. Invest in yourself and your uniqueness.

Not sure if it's true, but heard a rumor Devlin may be considering making the move from Magic to mentalism.

One thing's for sure, he is unique - and memorable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d00pTfhD4Vw

Apologies to whomever originally posted this video in another thread. Couldn't find the original post. But also could not forget it.

Like a blinding white sequined jacket and a mullet?


Also, IMO there are a myriad of shirts, ties, and suits 'off the rack' that can be assembled into stylish yet unique outfits.

A great example of exactly what I've said - it depends on the performance market and many other factors including branding, image, positioning, price points, etc. Siegfreid & Roy would never come out in an off the rack suit regardless of the myriad of shirts, ties or how stylish. Dressing in white with big hair was their branding, their performance market, their venue, image, etc. Elvis also wore white jumpsuits with big died hair. Country music stars for generations have worn Nudie suits with rhinestones and crystals. I would never wear white on stage myself but it has worked well for many over the years in many types of entertainment.

To make specific claims or generalizations is absurd. What if Elton John came out in a regular ($5000) suit. It isn't congruent with his image or the venues/markets he serves/performs.

An entertainer is supposed to be unique, special, and on many levels, an elevated feature artist. That doesn't sound like Men's Warehouse to me. In many circles casual means unprofessional. Again, much individual thinking rather than thinking and operating from an industry perspective.

Sure if you are a non-descript restaurant worker, busker, nightclub or generalist performer, dress how you'd like, how you prefer, what makes you comfortable, but you may be creating your own limitations.

A quick note about suits and jackets: Find a crusty, rude old-world Italian tailor. Mine is, unbelievably, more ornery and sarcastic than I am but can make an off-the-rack jacket or suit look [sic] tailor-made. I'm a big guy and my weight sometimes fluctuates but we have a relationship and he knows me. Anyone in the fruit shapes (pear, apple, etc) should take these words to heart. He takes things in knowing I may be back to have them let out again in six months. I've never been a bespoken suit man and now that they blew up the Kingsmen probably never will be. For twenty bucks it makes a world of difference. He even managed to make my camouflage tuxedo look good on me.

And on that note, I do have tuxes and dinner jackets in my wardrobe because I've been called on to emcee a lot of formal events. Gio makes sure I don't look like the waiters or, Heavens forbid David, a magician!

People have been wearing make-up on stage for 100s of years so it's not new.

If you do wish to conceal a certain feature and highlight another then it's a must.

Some people's facial feature wash out under bright stage lighting and whilst it isn't as bad as it use to be, a little make-up add the definition back is very sensible.

The opposite is also true: men wearing make-up (unless it's your thing or character) in close up is just scary. LOL

Hmm, your website shows you wearing what sure looks like a white, sequined (or something else shiny) jacket...

A sequined white jacket. Okay, I can see that working in the right situation. But a mullet hairstyle?! On your main homepage? Didn't mullets go out of style 25 years ago?

MindPro has informed me that the site I was talking about is outdated and not in his control, and indeed is around 20 years old.

And also that the jacket is silver, not white.

Ah, well it all makes sense now...

So many angles to this. There's definitely no one-size-fits-all answer for these questions. Not that anyone is suggesting there is. All we can share are guidelines or things to take into consideration, experiences, etc.

I always simply ask the event planner what the dress code is for their specific event and take it from there. If there's any doubt, I'll ask "So would I be okay in a sport coat and jeans?" (or whatever it is I would like to wear) Then I'll know the baseline that I have to work with, and I can always go up. Sometimes I'm told "Most everyone will be casual, but our president and board members will be in suits." Then I'll usually wear a suit.

I have made it a practice for over 30 years to deliberately look for high-dollar, name brand clothing items to go on sale and scoop them up whenever possible. Specifically for my performing wardrobe.

I've done formal for corporate events, and even quite a bit of casual dress (yes, blue jeans and blazer). Even short pants and polo shirts, but it was 100 degrees, outdoor events, corporate picnics, etc. No one cared. In fact when I've shown up a bit overdressed for these events I've had people tell me I looked hot or miserable (in my early performing days), so it was counter-productive so I stopped doing that. The shows went great and I wasn't miserable. I do a lot of "blue-jeans casual" corporate events, and I love them. Sometimes, depending upon the event, I will still wear a suit & tie to these if it seems to fit the bill.

I've even worn a blazer with shorts out in the heat, but I'm more of a comedy guy and it helped somewhat lend to the fun atmosphere.

All of this is in reference to corporate gigs.

Today, even when I'm casual, I still dress with some of the best, dressiest casual clothes I can find. But that fits my personality and character. I have a few pairs of high-dollar name brand jeans (the wives/women executives seem to notice in particular), nice casual shirts, and pairs of spit-shined leather casual/dress shoes, nice genuine leather belts, etc. I personally think that well-kept shoes and leather belts are a very important part of dress on any level; formal, casual or otherwise. Including tennis shoes or sneakers. An average looking suit can be greatly enhanced by top-of-the-line shoes, belt and cufflinks, but a nice Hart, Schaffner & Marx suit loses it's appeal when worn with shoes with soles ground down on the edges, dull or unpolished, and a cheap, cracked belt, necktie and/or shirt, etc.

If a performer is already a celebrity-of-sorts (in the public eye), I believe this changes the dynamic considerably. If a corporation hires Colin Cloud or Luke Jermay, they've already signed off on their appearance as far as I'm concerned and know that they're dealing with guys with lots of tattoos and...well...their perfectly-placed-but-supposedly-messy hair. They have the luxury of getting a bit more freedom to be who they are because they've already established something and have been selected because of who they are.

When a performer is not a celebrity, however, when it comes to dress, appearance, selling your act, etc., then I believe a performer has to ask themselves how much of the game they want to play, for whom, and how much they are willing to play the game by the rules. Do you want more corporate work, but don't like wearing suits and ties? Then you're limiting the work you will get unless you change that, or unless the corporate market overall changes. Focus on a different market then, or adapt yourself to it the best way you can. A suit and tie can be worn without compromising who you are, your character, etc. In fact, it can enhance it greatly if you get creative and work on making it do so.

It's a fun little dance we have to do as performers; "fitting in" while at the same time "standing out."

So I can remember early on being told that the magician should be the best dressed person the room. Today and with the advent of new age, I think the mystery performer or mentalist could dress quite esoterically? Kenton Knepper comes to mind but as has been said his character supports it. Personally I don't think many could pull it off. It might however be fun to try?