Costumer rules?

[Over_the_Moon]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 8:30pm

In two recent shows I've been in, the costumers have had very similar lists of rules for the cast to follow during performances and dress rehearsals. They were really just basic rules like, "Wear underwear." and "Use deodorant."

Now I'm costuming a very large show, and I would really like to have that list to give to my cast members, and I've searched online and can't find anything vaguely similar.

Anyone have anything?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 8:33pm

Wear Deodorant
Wear Underwear
NO Smoking, eating or drinking ANYTHING while in costume.
If it wrinkles, don't sit down in it.
You break it, you bought it.



Those are just off the top of my head.

[theatrebabe]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 8:33pm

I would tell them not to eat in costume. That's something our costumers always tell us. I can't think of anything else right now.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 8:37pm

Oh, also:

No perfume or cologne.
If it's not yours, don't touch it or try it on.
No horseplay while in costume.
Treat it like it's your prom outfit, only better.


I'll think of more

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 8:45pm

If you aren't wearing the costume, it belongs hung PROPERLY on a hanger. Not dumped on the floor and not thrown over the hanger.

Bring a robe for wearing before the show and at intermission.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 8:52pm

Make up goes on first, then the costume. DO NOT apply make-up while in costume.

No hairspray is to be used when the costume is being worn. It sticks to the costume and attracts dirt.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 9:07pm

If your costume touches the floor, pick it up and carry it before you get on stage, don't let it drag.


Stick by the no water rule. Some folks will whine, "It's just water!" But I guarantee you, they will spill it on themselves right before an entrance.... I've seen it happen too many times.

If they need water back stage, between scenes, I always had a bottle of water with a hole cut into the lid just big enough for a straw to go through. Never spilled a drop.

[Jon]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 11:34pm

Here's one that SHOULD be obvious, but I've seen cases where it had to be said:

NEVER take any part of your costume home between shows.

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 11:51pm

Under no circumstances is powder to get near the costumes. Unless you like having a peach streak down your front...

[Over_the_Moon]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 11:00pm

Here's what I have thus far- Excuse my plagiarism. Some I had to leave out because they're just not feasible considering our situation.

Thanks a lot, all.

1. Shower daily--maybe more
2. Wear Deodorant--baby powder is your best friend.
3. Wear Underwear (NO THONGS!!!)
4. Girls--black or white tights, corresponding to your costume color.
5. NO eating or drinking ANYTHING while in costume. (No ice cubes down the cleavage!) ABSOLUTELY NO GUM!
6. If it wrinkles, don't sit down in it.
7. You break it, you bought it.
8. No perfume or cologne.
9. If it's not yours, don't touch it or try it on.
10. No horseplay while in costume.
11. Treat it like it's your prom outfit, only better.
12. If you aren't wearing the costume, it belongs hung PROPERLY on a hanger. Not dumped on the floor and not thrown over the hanger.
13. Make up goes on first, then the costume. DO NOT apply make-up while in costume.
14. If your costume touches the floor, pick it up and carry it before you get on stage, don't let it drag.
15. NEVER take any part of your costume home between shows. If it needs to be fixed, tell the costumer.

[CostumeMistress]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 11:54pm

Wear underwear.

Don't go outside in costume.

Wear underwear.

DON'T SMOKE IN COSTUME!

Wear underwear.

If you're going to be wearing something you're not used to while on stage, start wearing a version of it while you rehearse. Example - if you're a girl who has to wear a big poofy skirt, start wearing the that skirt (or a similarly-fabric-heavy rehearsal skirt) to rehearsals so that you know how to move around in all that poof without tromping around like a cow. Or if a guy has to wear a wedding band onstage, he needs to start wearing it in rehearsals so that he'll be used to the feel of wearing a ring and won't fiddle with it while onstage.

Wear underwear.

[CostumeMistress]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 11:58pm

SKINTONE underclothes go under WHITE clothing. If you wear a white bra under a white blouse, your bra will be shining under the lights. If a dark-skinned guy is dancing around in a pair of white pants and white underwear, everyone will be looking at his underwear - wear undies that blend with your skin tone!

Updated On: 2/23/06 at 11:58 PM

[Di2]

Posted: 11/17/05 at 9:00am

"3. Wear Underwear (NO THONGS!!!)"?????

I am a dancer and so are all of my friends and we never wear underwear under our tights. It's too bulky and it shows panty lines. Very unattractive under tight costumes.

If we do, we wear small g-strings from a lady in Las Vegas that makes them for us. (They are really cute and you can pick your own fabrics)

[KelRel]

Posted: 11/17/05 at 9:01am

I think that this might be for a school production so naked or g-strings might be pushing the envelope a bit too much.

[Di2]

Posted: 11/17/05 at 9:04am

ooohhh.


my bad. sorry. This is a school show. Now I get it.

I was gonna say...In all of my years of performing, I have never heard a costumer or dresser tell me what to wear under my costumes...

[KelRel]

Posted: 11/17/05 at 9:10am

It could be worse. At my high school we didn't have a costumer it. It was here is kind of what we are looking for. Go find it yourself at Goodwill or something and you buy it, keep it clean and ready for the show.

[CostumeMistress]

Posted: 11/17/05 at 12:47pm

As Joey said on Friends, you shouldn't "go commando in another man's fatigues." You never know who may have to wear the costume after you.

[Di2]

Posted: 11/17/05 at 2:27pm

All of the costumes that I have worn have been made specifically for me so no one wears them after me for quite a long time. OUr costumers build the costumes for each person based upon their size..

and we wear tights and then bloomers so nothing gets near my "stuff."

So, it's all good!

[pndmnd]

Posted: 11/18/05 at 10:40pm

A comment on underware:
I'm a dancer, too, so if I'm in a leotard and tights, I don't wear underware. However, I've been in college and professional shows where actors have had to be told to wear underware. Unless there is a reason not to, though, always wear underware. I've been a wardrobe mistress before, and it's just rude to the costume crew to not wear it. Whenever I've had to wear show-specific underware, I've either washed it out myself in the sink, or I've put it in a lingerie bag so it doesn't have to be handled.

And to piggy back the hanging up of your clothes thing, that's crucial, but also have them be aware of the make-up lights. Those things get hot, and I've seen costumes get thrown around during fast changes, get caught on a bulb, and burn.

Another thing the actors should look out for is hangers on the floor. This sounds like a little thing, but if you step on a hanger on a tile floor, you can slip.

[Broadway_Baby]

Posted: 11/18/05 at 10:46pm

*enter Baby, spelling/grammar bitch*


For god sakes! UnderWEAR, U-N-D-E-R-W-E-A-R.


*exit stage left*

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 11/18/05 at 10:49pm

Heh, I was just about to post that.