How to Prevent Lipstick Transfer Onto Your Instrument

1. Use non-transferring products. Lipstain markers and water tints are always safe bets for this. From what I've heard on Bustle, the Topshop Beauty Velvet Lips lipstick is non-transferring. (Remove it with an oil-based makeup remover or coconut oil. You can use olive oil too.)
2. Set your lipstick with a powder. Just take some powder onto a brush and sweep it across your lips.
1. Baby powder is an inexpensive, easy solution for this. Your lipstick will look more pale, and the finish is a bit chalky.
2. Eyeshadows are a good option. You might wind up altering the color of your lipstick if you do not use an eyeshadow of the same color.
3. Translucent powder is the "best" option for a good finish that is true to color. If you apply too much, it will feel gritty on the lips. 
3.  Use a matte-ifier.  Smashbox Insta-Matte works for this. (I tested it at Sephora.)  However, it is rather expensive ($24.00 for 0.34 fl oz) and I understand that most musicians do not have huge budgets. The Maybelline Baby Skin Pore Eraser is a well-known dupe for this as are other matte-ifying primers (basically, anything with dimethicone in it).
4.  Do a "kiss test" to make sure you have eradicated all transfer. To do this, kiss your palm and press it into your face as hard as you can. Add more powder/matte-ifier until NOTHING comes off during the kiss test. 

Now you have a perfect pout as well as a perfect part for your concert! Here is a picture of me wearing Benetint for an audition. (I used two coats to achieve the look below.)

How to Deal With Open-Ended Concert Attire

1. Go to Target, Macy's and other common stores. They will sell concertable clothing at low prices and a decent quality. Their clothing items are more often than not comfortable, easy to maintain, and look good. 
2. Look in department stores. If you want to make a larger investment, go to a department store. Their clothing items look better, but are more expensive and harder to maintain. However, your increase in professionalism may very well be worth the cost.
3. Go to Ross, Stein Mart, and other overstock or wholesale stores. Overstock and wholesale stores sell designer and department store clothes, but without the brand name. These stores will occasionally sell concertable items and tend to be very hit-or-miss. In my experience, I have not found concertable clothing at these stores.
4. Look online. If you do not like what is locally available and you have the time, look online for whatever you need. Double-check the sizing and read the reviews so you do not end up getting ripped off. I found my American Rag blouse online and love it. 
• If you are a lolita, you're in luck. Lolita blouses are generally very concertable.
5. Piece together your outfit. Just because you have two good pieces does not mean they will look good together. Coordinate your outfit to flatter your body type and personality. One of the benefits of open-ended concert attire is the ability to individualize your appearance to a greater extent than a specific uniform allows.

Concertable: Resembling what is typically worn as concert attire without being marketed as such, much like "loliable" among lolitas.

How to Dress for Solo and Ensemble

I get it. A lot of people are confused when it comes to what to wear or solo and ensemble, so I wanted to share tips. These are guidelines, not set-in-stone rules. These guidelines are in place assuming your director or teacher doesn't have something specific in mind regarding appearance.

1. At minimum, please be hygienic. This means brushing your hair, wearing deodorant, washing your face, and wearing clothes that don't have any noticeable stains or holes. You will seem more professional if you at least make an effort to clean yourself up. 
2. Take your instrument into account. You wouldn't want to wear something floor-length if your instrument comes in a rolling case. Wind musicians should not wear very restrictive clothing. If your instrument has multiple large parts (Percussionists, I'm looking at you.), wear clothes that allow for the movement required to unload large instruments.
3. Take the nature of solo and ensemble into account. You will be (under the assumption that you are ambulatory), on your feet more than you think. If you wear shoes, make sure you can spend about two hours straight in them while being fairly active. 
4. Keep it simply simple. While an accessory can elevate an outfit, your adjudicator is here to listen to your music. With that said, solo and ensemble is not the best time or place for a full-on Decora coordinate. Wear black and white and go for conservatively-styled clothing. In other words, something similar to concert attire makes a good solo and ensemble look.
5. It's not that kind of festival. This mainly applies to high school age females because this is where I see it the most. Please make sure that your dress or skirt is at least fingertip length and that your chest is covered to some degree. If you need to keep adjusting your dress so you don't show your undergarments, it's probably not a good idea to wear it. In the case of wearing white shirts, keep in mind that white shirts tend to be kind of transparent. Wear a camisole underneath if you feel it is necessary.
6. Do not show up in a T-shirt and jeans. I get that not everyone wants to get dressed to the nines to perform their piece, but do not show up in a T-shirt and jeans. This is very unprofessional. At least wear dress slacks or a nice skirt. I have seen some semi-casually dressed people at solo and ensemble and they still looked professional. 
7. Be comfortable. Go for it if you feel like dressing to the nines. If you don't, wear your concert clothes. If you want an example, here you go:

 

Want the look?

1. Blouse: American Rag
2. Jacket: Old Navy
3. Skirt: Merona 
4. Shoes: Merona