About Putting on Those Event T-shirts
June 28, 2019 5:00 AM Subscribe
There are [people I know] going to a rather large awareness event tomorrow [think: cancer walk, awareness walk], and they are having rather strong anxiety about where they will put on the t-shirts that they get at the event.
[People I know, women of various ages] are going to a rather large awareness-walk-type event. They are getting their t-shirts at the event, and they are wondering where they put them on, and it is causing them pretty strong anxiety. I told them I would ask here on their behalf, in hopes that they can get a good night's sleep tonight as the event is very, very early in the morning.
They are wondering if there are tents set up to change into the event t-shirts, or do they just put the shirts over their regular clothes, or do people just quickly change their shirts in the open in front of the expected 3,000+ people so they should make sure to wear their prettiest bras because people will see them while they change their shirts (their attempt at comic relief).
We tried to Google this with no results. They are too shy to ask the event coordinators, as they know these events happen with such frequency that they feel they should already know the answer. We asked a friend of mine who has gone to a few events of this type, and her response was simply "I don't remember". So, I told them I would ask here on their behalf.
Apologizes if this is one of the stranger questions here, but I couldn't think of anywhere else to ask.
[People I know, women of various ages] are going to a rather large awareness-walk-type event. They are getting their t-shirts at the event, and they are wondering where they put them on, and it is causing them pretty strong anxiety. I told them I would ask here on their behalf, in hopes that they can get a good night's sleep tonight as the event is very, very early in the morning.
They are wondering if there are tents set up to change into the event t-shirts, or do they just put the shirts over their regular clothes, or do people just quickly change their shirts in the open in front of the expected 3,000+ people so they should make sure to wear their prettiest bras because people will see them while they change their shirts (their attempt at comic relief).
We tried to Google this with no results. They are too shy to ask the event coordinators, as they know these events happen with such frequency that they feel they should already know the answer. We asked a friend of mine who has gone to a few events of this type, and her response was simply "I don't remember". So, I told them I would ask here on their behalf.
Apologizes if this is one of the stranger questions here, but I couldn't think of anywhere else to ask.
I've been to a few similar walks before and in my experience there's not generally an expectation that people will/must put on their t-shirt at the event! Many people just walk in whatever they're wearing and take the t-shirt home for future wear; it's more a souvenir than a Required Uniform For Day Of.
I think some people do, e.g., do a quick-change in the open with maybe something like a camisole or thin tank top on as an underlayer for modesty's sake. Some people change in the porta-potties. Depending where the event is held, there might be a public restroom somewhere nearby to duck into and change.
I don't think I've ever seen a changing tent, and would not count on one being there.
posted by Stacey at 5:13 AM on June 28, 2019 [28 favorites]
I think some people do, e.g., do a quick-change in the open with maybe something like a camisole or thin tank top on as an underlayer for modesty's sake. Some people change in the porta-potties. Depending where the event is held, there might be a public restroom somewhere nearby to duck into and change.
I don't think I've ever seen a changing tent, and would not count on one being there.
posted by Stacey at 5:13 AM on June 28, 2019 [28 favorites]
I would expect that the shirts will be men's sizes and probably too big and therefore easy to put on over clothes. But they can do whatever they like, there is no right or wrong way here and no one is going to judge them for Doing Event Shirts Wrong.
posted by corvine at 5:17 AM on June 28, 2019 [14 favorites]
posted by corvine at 5:17 AM on June 28, 2019 [14 favorites]
Whatever they want to do will be fine. If they're worried, corvine is right, the T-shirts will be big - just have them wear either a vest top or long-sleeved top or whatever suits the weather, that will let them put the shirt over the top. There will also be rows of portaloos that they could change in if they prefer - they're presumably planning to have a wee at some point over the whole proceedings, so wherever that happens they'll be in private?
Or, if you'd like a total stranger to ask the event organisers, memail me the details, and I'll do it without embarrassment and relay the answer back - I've done loads of large running events and this seems completely within the bounds of a normal question to ask.
Also - I don't know about this event, but at running events, the T-shirt is often something you're handed as a gift or prize after you cross the line, not at the beginning to wear during the event. They could check out previous event photos to see if people are actually wearing the event t-shirt during the walk or not.
posted by penguin pie at 5:27 AM on June 28, 2019 [6 favorites]
Or, if you'd like a total stranger to ask the event organisers, memail me the details, and I'll do it without embarrassment and relay the answer back - I've done loads of large running events and this seems completely within the bounds of a normal question to ask.
Also - I don't know about this event, but at running events, the T-shirt is often something you're handed as a gift or prize after you cross the line, not at the beginning to wear during the event. They could check out previous event photos to see if people are actually wearing the event t-shirt during the walk or not.
posted by penguin pie at 5:27 AM on June 28, 2019 [6 favorites]
When I used to do these events, I showed up in a cami with a light zipup hoodie on top, popped the tee over the cami, and tied the hoodie around my waist.
posted by kimberussell at 5:36 AM on June 28, 2019 [6 favorites]
posted by kimberussell at 5:36 AM on June 28, 2019 [6 favorites]
People usually put on the event shirt over the shirt they’re wearing to the event.
posted by capricorn at 5:39 AM on June 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by capricorn at 5:39 AM on June 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
I usually see people put the shirts on over other clothes or just hold the shirts to bring home as a keepsake. I’ve never seen special tents for changing clothes. These events are so busy that I don’t think anyone would notice you quickly changing out in the open, especially if you wore a sports bra.
posted by sallybrown at 5:41 AM on June 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 5:41 AM on June 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
If it's going to be hot for layers, this is a reasonably modest way of changing Tshirts in public. Works particularly well with larger event Tshirts. Basically you treat the promo tshirt as a dressing tent.
Put large tshirt on over other tshirt. Slip arms inside both Tshirts. Carefully slide arms out the bottom of both Tshirts then up push the inner shirt to get your arms throigh the armholes of just the outer tshirt. Pull inner tshirt over head. Works best with loose-ish tshirt and a bit of shoulder flexibility.
posted by platypus of the universe at 6:26 AM on June 28, 2019 [9 favorites]
Put large tshirt on over other tshirt. Slip arms inside both Tshirts. Carefully slide arms out the bottom of both Tshirts then up push the inner shirt to get your arms throigh the armholes of just the outer tshirt. Pull inner tshirt over head. Works best with loose-ish tshirt and a bit of shoulder flexibility.
posted by platypus of the universe at 6:26 AM on June 28, 2019 [9 favorites]
There won't be anywhere to change besides the portaloo or doing the change-inside-the-shirt thing. I usually wait to pick up my shirt until toward the end of the event and take it home. This is super common, especially at big events because a lot of teams will make customized team shirts that they wear during the actual walk. Would they be interested in DIYing a cute team shirt to wear together on the day? It's quickly done with a printable iron-on or some fabric markers, and is a way to feel part of the festivities without dealing with the shirt pickup situation.
Pro tip for next time: wear last year's shirt to this year's walk, pick up your new shirt at the end of the event, repeat til cure.
posted by assenav at 7:17 AM on June 28, 2019 [4 favorites]
Pro tip for next time: wear last year's shirt to this year's walk, pick up your new shirt at the end of the event, repeat til cure.
posted by assenav at 7:17 AM on June 28, 2019 [4 favorites]
Best answer: They are wondering if there are tents set up to change into the event t-shirts
I've worked many an event like this and never seen such a thing. People either duck into the bathrooms/portapotties, wear the event shirt over what they showed up in, or do a quick swap in a secluded but public area (generally with a sports bra on rather than something more revealing).
If the event happened last year as well, they can check for photos to see what portion of the crowd actually wore the shirts at the event. Very often people just keep them as a memento rather than wearing them there that day.
Assuming they're in a part of the world with the ongoing heat wave, they should also make sure they have something to put whatever shirt they wear there into, as they're unlikely to want to double up.
posted by Candleman at 7:36 AM on June 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
I've worked many an event like this and never seen such a thing. People either duck into the bathrooms/portapotties, wear the event shirt over what they showed up in, or do a quick swap in a secluded but public area (generally with a sports bra on rather than something more revealing).
If the event happened last year as well, they can check for photos to see what portion of the crowd actually wore the shirts at the event. Very often people just keep them as a memento rather than wearing them there that day.
Assuming they're in a part of the world with the ongoing heat wave, they should also make sure they have something to put whatever shirt they wear there into, as they're unlikely to want to double up.
posted by Candleman at 7:36 AM on June 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
I either wear a tank top under my shirt and change overshirts in the open as Stacey mentions or do the arms-inside-the-shirt changing method described by platypus of the universe. I've never seen private changing facilities at this kind of event unless you count Porta-Johns, which are usually either too cramped or too few in number to accommodate changing.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:10 AM on June 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:10 AM on June 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
just seconding no need for anyone to feel shy asking such an innocuous logistical question of the event coordinators. I mean, i'm sure this whole thing will be easily resolved on site.. but maybe next time try asking just as exposure therapy to help them get better at speaking up and asking..
posted by elgee at 11:09 AM on June 28, 2019
posted by elgee at 11:09 AM on June 28, 2019
Team changing room! And by this, I mean the team is the changing room. The group surrounds the shirt changer, facing out (backs toward the changer for an attempt at privacy). Team members hold up aforementioned large t-shirts, towels, or other articles of clothing to create a visibility barrier. Clothes changer changes quickly, trades places with a member of the “wall”, repeat.
posted by Bunny Boneyology at 2:52 PM on June 29, 2019
posted by Bunny Boneyology at 2:52 PM on June 29, 2019
Team changing room! And by this, I mean the team is the changing room. The group surrounds the shirt changer, facing out (backs toward the changer for an attempt at privacy). Team members hold up aforementioned large t-shirts, towels, or other articles of clothing to create a visibility barrier. Clothes changer changes quickly, trades places with a member of the “wall”, repeat.
I was once in a production of Cinderella in which I had the widest skirt panniers in the cast. If anyone needed a moment of privacy in the communal dressing room, they would go in the corner and have me stand in front of them.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 4:04 PM on June 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
I was once in a production of Cinderella in which I had the widest skirt panniers in the cast. If anyone needed a moment of privacy in the communal dressing room, they would go in the corner and have me stand in front of them.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 4:04 PM on June 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: For those who search this out and want to know how it ended up being, there was a pre-registration where you could get your shirts, so most people wore their shirts there. We didn't know this, so we all got our shirts at the event. All three of the women changed in the open. Two had sports bras, one didn't. The people near us acted like we were aliens, but it wasn't a huge deal or anything, but it was a very public moment for three super introverts! (I am not one of the women; I am one of the husbands.)
posted by TinWhistle at 7:07 AM on July 5, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by TinWhistle at 7:07 AM on July 5, 2019 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by teststrip at 5:10 AM on June 28, 2019 [6 favorites]