The Blue Man Group comes to the Roanoke Civic Center on Friday.

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Ever wanted to see a blue Cheesy Western? Watch this video.

Wes Day is 32 and has been a Blue Man for 10 years.

In this line of work, he travels the world and puts on odd theatrical shows and, he estimates, wears four times more makeup than a woman. Being in the Blue Man Group means dressing up every night.

The standard uniform is a smearing of blue grease paint, plus bald cap and black clothing. And for shows, performers put on the Blue Man's silent, wide-eyed persona.

This BMG costume may be a familiar pop culture icon -- the troupe has done it for more than 15 years -- though many people may be vague about what a Blue Man does.

Performances blend high-energy theatrics, humor and heavy percussion, at times, on unexpected instruments. Blue Men appear in trios and act like futuristic rock star mimes, making music from tubes and gadgets.

Day, a veteran Blue Man, broke the trademark silence last week with a call from New York. He offered some dress-up tips for Halloween, in advance of the BMG's show in Roanoke on Friday.

(Sadly, Day won't be a part of the Blue Man crew that visits the civic center.)

Q: For someone who wants to be a Blue Man for Halloween, give us the $10 version of the costume?

It's really cheap and easy.

Buy a regular bald cap at a Halloween superstore. Fashion yourself some blue paint -- we use a regular grease paint makeup. I suppose you could take clown white grease paint makeup and change the color with food coloring. It's cobalt blue.

Then cover your hands, look for a turtleneck and then black pants and black shoes.

Q: Any tips for a good face paint application?

You're supposed to use a latex glove. The makeup comes in a round cake, like the size of a cupcake. You dip your hand in and smear it on.

I know it looks like we dip our heads in a bucket, but that's not the case. If you did that you'd get it up your nose.

Q: How about face paint removal?

You get it off in five, 10 minutes. You use a regular hand towel for makeup removal ... You do want to take a shower and use soap. And maybe floss your teeth afterward.

Q: Have you ever broken out from the paint?

Not too bad.

Q: Any face paint no-nos?

A lot of people don't realize it doesn't just get on your head. It gets on your clothes. It gets on your furniture. Everyone who works in Blue Man knows not to show up wearing white.

Q: Is dressing up for Halloween a no-brainer for you, or do you avoid old reliable?

I don't ever dress up as a Blue Man for Halloween ... unless we have a show that night. But that's work.

Q: What's the most creative costume you've seen?

Do you remember "The Karate Kid"? When [actor Ralph Macchio] was the shower? Someone dressed up as that one year. Also, I saw someone who did a really amazing Edward Scissorhands. It looked dangerous. You didn't want to shake his hand.

Q: "Arrested Development," Fox's now-defunct TV comedy, featured a character eager to be a Blue Man. How'd that play with the group?

I think it's hilarious because there are people exactly like that. I've been at the audition table and [seen people thinking] "if I dress up blue, they'll see I'm just so crazy I've got to work here."

We thought it was funny.

Q: You know the myth that in the course of your life everyone eats 50 spiders in their sleep? How much blue paint have you accidentally eaten?

Probably a lot. Probably about twice as many spiders.

Q: How's the taste?

The blue makeup tastes like wax.