Why do singers/bands never seem to sweat through their clothes etc, despite performing for hours on end? They only ever seem to sweat on their face.
In: Biology
They do sweat through their clothes. I used to do live sound at small venues and the performers would absolutely reek once the performance was over.
The difference is that they know this is going to happen, so they plan for it. They wear layers to soak up the sweat and/or darker colors to hide it. They also (sometimes) change between songs/sets if they get too sweaty.
Undershirts and dark colors are most of it. But it I think the real key is, when you see faces sweat, you’re seeing their makeup running and rubbing off. You’re seeing the makeup changing color and shape dramatically, while their clothes don’t change, and assume that they’re “only sweating on their face.” No, they’re sweating everywhere, it just looks dramatic in one spot.
Plus, lights. Everything else is covered up, but their faces and clear and brightly lit.
OP as an avid concert goer and a friend of musicians they do sweat so much on that stage it is almost disgusting. They lights and equipment generate heat combined with the crowds body heat and an elevated stage make it hot up there.
I saw Avett Brothers at a hot outdoor venue a few years ago and you could see the sweat pouring off their hands and face like an athlete and their clothes were completely soaked. At ACL (or any festival) you see the folks in lighter clothes just get absolutely drenched; David Byrne’s trademark gray suits were dark in like 5 minutes during his afternoon set.
As someone who used to play guitar in high energy punk and hardcore bands, I can tell you definitively that we do indeed sweat through our clothes. Unless we were headlining (in which case we wouldn’t be done playing until roughly 2 AM and taking all our gear back to our practice space took another hour to an hour and a half) I ALWAYS took a shower after a show.
Drummer here, anyone who isn’t sweaty as hell after a show isn’t playing hard. Not that they are bad, just not playing hard. Also probably at an open air venue
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