If You Want to Look Like a Pro (and get paid like one), You Have to Dress Well

Noah’s dry cleaning bill was $174. Mine was just under $50. Why do we spend that kind of money on dry cleaning? Because one of the most important things you can do as a professional, a creative, or an entertainer is to look fantastic.

If you expect people to spend thousands of dollars on your art, your show, or on you, then you need to look like you’re worth that kind of money. One of the easiest ways to elevate your image is to make sure your clothing is always in top condition. Dry cleaning isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity if you want to land those higher-paying gigs.

Every performer should have at least a couple of ready-to-go outfits hanging in their closet. Something clean, pressed, and ready to grab at a moment’s notice. Maybe you get invited to a high-end dinner. Maybe your flight’s delayed and you have no time to prep before walking on stage. Or maybe, like me once, you get a call while lying in bed and have to be onstage in 15 minutes. I was dressed, packed, set up, and performing in 22 minutes. That only happened because I was prepared.

Like the Marines say: last to know, first to go.

Your look is part of your brand. It tells the world that you take yourself seriously. Investing in your wardrobe—and in the care of that wardrobe—is investing in your success.

And let’s talk about costuming. Too many entertainers look like they’re wearing costumes. It’s like watching a kid in a toy fireman outfit—you know they’re pretending. At the highest levels of entertainment, your “costume” shouldn’t look like a costume at all. Think of Prince, Elton John, Dolly Parton, or Elvira. They’re always in costume, but it never feels like one—it’s simply who they are.

That’s the goal. To find your personal style and live in it. When your wardrobe reflects who you are, you stop playing the part of an artist and start being one.

If you want help getting there, I also offer personal style consultations and wardrobe coaching. Whether it’s shopping together, learning what colors and fits work best for you, or completely revamping your closet, I can help you build a look that matches your ambitions.

Follow me on social media @MrBillBerry and check out patreon.com/mrbillberry for more behind-the-scenes videos, creative coaching, and insight into what it takes to make a living as a professional entertainer.

Because success doesn’t just happen—you prepare for it, you dress for it, and you live it.