Having a towel on your lap while performing

twocats · 2025-01-18T23:05:26+00:00

I just wrote on the performance anxiety thread that playing without my hand towel on my lap should be one of my goals. I have hyperhidrosis which is a genet...

Sgisela

twocats I don’t think there’s any reason to feel badly about this. And I’ve seen black and white videos of famous pianists who commonly use handkerchiefs to wipe their brows — I would think of this in the same vein:

However, I think if it were me, I’d consider wearing black and using a black napkin rather than a kitchen towel, so that it could blend in. Or embrace the retro nature of handkerchiefs and use it.

twocats

Sgisela using a black napkin

I'd need like 3 napkins 😂

My towels are these really nice cotton ones from Maison d'Hermine. I will look into whether they come in black or only designs.

ShiroKuro I think it will be fine. If having it in your lap makes you feel better, then have it in your lap. I doubt people notice it very much.

Thank you 🥰

Haha, it would shut them up pretty quickly if I said "I have a medical condition" 😆

ShiroKuro even if you use a colorful one, it's fine and I wouldn't worry about it

I'll take some daylight photos tomorrow! They are very pretty, like watercolor painted birds. I have many of these towels because I rotate through them.

ShiroKuro

@twocats I think it will be fine. If having it in your lap makes you feel better, then have it in your lap. I doubt people notice it very much.

I was going to mention what @Sgisela said, about using a black towel, but really, even if you use a colorful one, it's fine and I wouldn't worry about it.

ShiroKuro

twocats They are very pretty, like watercolor painted birds.

Then it will look very fashionable!

Sgisela

https://www.target.com/p/4pk-20-34-x20-34-hemstitched-design-border-dinner-napkins-black-saro-lifestyle/-/A-53082323#lnk=sametab
twocats these napkins are 20x20 inches, which is a little under a standard tea towel size (20x28 inches), but not that much. You should do what works best for you and not worry too much about it, but if you want to try something that’s a bit more discreet, I think something like this could work.

Sam

I've watched plenty of competition videos from events like the Cliburn and Chopin competitions. It's pretty common for competitors to have handkerchiefs to wipe their hands, brows, and keys. Not in their laps though, but on the piano, usually up where the music desk would be (they play from memory, so no music desk).

twocats

Josephine Maybe you can buy a larger one and make it the size of the seat of a piano bench. Then you can sit on it, and use it on both sides next to you.

I think this would look even more awkward than having a towel in my lap! 😂

I did some Googling this morning and what I have are "tea towels", which are much cuter and low-profile than a terry towel.

Sam It's pretty common for competitors to have handkerchiefs to wipe their hands, brows, and keys. Not in their laps though, but on the piano, usually up where the music desk would be (they play from memory, so no music desk).

The more I think about it the more I think it really does have to be in my lap for easy access. Even if it's just a second of break I can reach down and squeeze it in my hand. I guess it can be my weird quirk!

ShiroKuro

twocats I think you should definitely have the towel where you want/need it, and not give it a second thought.

Well, other than to choose fun patterns, if you wish, because that would be fun, I think 🙂

Bellyman

First thought... Oscar Peterson. He would be playing and that left hand would reach and grab that towel, wipe off his forehead, put the towel back, and the music never stopped.

Stub

Pianist's I've seen that have used towels usually put them on the piano, out of sight of the audience, and use them when natural pauses come during the recital. I can see how, for you, having the towel in your lap so that it can be used during micro-breaks in the music would be important. As with earlier posters, my first thought was to have the towel in your lap match as closely as possible what you're wearing, at least color- and pattern-wise. I think that would be a win-win for you (you have your towel where you need it to be) and the audience (minimal distraction).

twocats

Stub As with earlier posters, my first thought was to have the towel in your lap match as closely as possible what you're wearing, at least color- and pattern-wise.

I looked a bit for nice black tea towels, but they don't seem to exist! Also, black doesn't work well in our household because we have a white cat, and aside from the fur issue I can see cotton looking ratty and like a rag. I do have a black "performance dress" that gets sticky rolled right before I leave home.

I do think the towels I own are pretty and am thinking I should just own it! If I have one in my lap there really isn't any way to truly hide it.

twocats

Josephine my opinion is that it would look very unprofessional to sit on a towel, even more so than having one on my lap. But I also like reaching down to my lap and just having it there 🙂

pianoloverus

You've probably already done this, but have you discussed this particular issue when playing the piano with a doctor? Unless you're playing in front of others for a long time interval, maybe there's a way to prevent or reduce the wetness for a short period of time but not dry out your hands to the degree that it's even worse than having them wet?

twocats

pianoloverus have you discussed this particular issue when playing the piano with a doctor?

Unfortunately anything to reduce the sweating causes excessive dryness which is actually worse for me! I've learned to live with it, I was more concerned about the aesthetics and "acceptability" of having a towel on my lap. But now I think I don't care what people think. I've never been very polished in what I wear (comfort first!) and I think it's ok as long as I make an effort to be presentable.

twocats

So pretty! I usually have the tea towel folded up nicely in a little bundle until the sweat gets worse.

ranjit

You know, just a thought -- maybe you could just wipe the sweat on the dress. 🤣 Tbh if I'm wearing jeans and can get away with it, I might end up doing just that... it ends up looking like a nervous tic lol

twocats

ranjit You know, just a thought -- maybe you could just wipe the sweat on the dress. 🤣

OMG you have no idea the extent of my sweating! A dress would not absorb sufficiently and then there would be a big wet patch on the front 😂

Player1

Maybe a long scarf? One made of a microfiber material that absorbs moisture quickly like car guys use for washing/drying their cars?

twocats

Player1 a long microfiber scarf is not gonna be a good look 😂

Player1

twocats

Nonsense. You just gotta own it.

twocats

Player1 I don't think that's the right solution for me!

Player1

twocats

Nonsense. Make it yours and own it.