Tipping Your Dresser? — Page 4

Sueleen, are you suggesting that Janet Jackson simply forgot to tip her dresser?

She felt threatened because of some lace up boots?


Maybe she shouldn't be dressing people, if it's that rough on her.


*Edit* Sue, I LOVE that video! It always made me wonder, "Doen't anyone clean their room before making a video?"

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Updated On: 12/31/08 at 12:34 AM

That's what they did.

Actually, they started in red tux's and stripped during the sequence. The girls went topless and the bots got down to what you see in the picture.

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Are dressers also responsible for laundering the costumes or is that someone else's job?

Unless stated in the contract, the dresser is usually the one in charge of the laundry. I once did 15 hours (total) of laundry for Fiddler on the Roof (at the end of the run).

I don't necessarily consider myself a dresser (but I have worked in that function before). On the first day of The Producers, I introduced myself to everyone in the cast. Later on, in the run, one of the girls said to me that she knew I wasn't really a dresser and how she got an actor vibe from when I was introducing myself. (I have no idea how that happened, as my basic introduction was "Hi, mine name is ___. I'm on the wardrobe staff.")


It's definitely stressful, as pointed out earlier. I remember my first time as a dresser (for Beehive) there seemed to be so much running around!

As for tipping - working with the ensemble, you can't always expect something. Sometimes the dressers in charge of the ensemble got a group tip, which was divided amongst the wardrobe crew. In my first year of dressing, I remember getting a cupcake from one of the actors. It was totally unexpected and very nice.

Diva mentioned going up and beyond the regular dresser duties, and I thought I'd share my two cents on the matter -- if an actor asks you for help, do not ignore them. Even if they're not your responsibility. There have been times when I've to take care of another dresser's actors simply because they were giving the actors an attitude (about something insignificant). And even if you don't get tipped for the extra work, it's still a good feeling knowing you helped out.

There's been a few instances where I've had to be stern in order to get a point across. Usually, I try to accommodate the actor to the best of my abilities. Sometimes, that gets rewarded. Other times, not so much.

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No, you're right, I didn't have to ship the show, but I was questioned when some of the items went missing. ><

And I meant to point out that laundry is not always done by the dresser. It depends on the theatre. Of course, since we worked in a regional theatre (which wasn't union), some of the duties normally given to someone else were given to the wardrobe crew.

I do remember having a laundry schedule for MFL, so some nights I'd have to be making sure everything was washed. It can be very frustrating, which is why I guess some people take the easy way out. I'd rather wash everything, get it done, and have it in the rooms ready for the actors.

Another thing, while on the subject of laundry and dressing -- I find it quite irksome when dressers just dump the diddy bags and shirts on the actors stations. It doesn't take that long to make everything look nice! :P

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TheaterDiva, I would love to do what you do. I did the same kind of things in high school (on a much smaller scale obviously), and I plan on doing it some more next year throughout college.

It all sounds stressful but also very rewarding, and your stories are fascinating!

CATSNY I've cleaned in 1 Jujamcyn Theater for 10 years and another Jujamcyn Theater for 6 years(still there) and never once thought about stealing from the rooms I clean.SO you shouldn't judge everyone because of what someone else does. I can tell you we make good money cleaning the theaters.

"Sueleen, are you suggesting that Janet Jackson simply forgot to tip her dresser?"

LOL!!!!! Post of the year!!!

the usher at the theater walks from point A to point B then back and forth several times before the show. Seems like dressers do MUCH more for the actor from start to finish of the show.

I read this entire thread and I was honestly waiting for someone to say. "Hahaha! Just kidding. We don't do that." It's really difficult for me to wrap my head around this...

It'd be awkward for me, personally, to hand someone money when I'm as personal with them as I am. These people are seeing ME. These dressers are seeing me at my most physically vulnerable and I've grown close to a lot of my dressers in the past (obviously I've never been on Broadway, so I'm talking about community theatre) and to think back on those times, and then add in me handing them money just... I cannot wrap my head around it.

You learn something new every day. I'm glad I read this whole thread, though. TheatreDiva's remarks have been truly insightful and fascinating.

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These people are seeing ME. These dressers are seeing me at my most physically vulnerable and I've grown close to a lot of my dressers in the past (obviously I've never been on Broadway, so I'm talking about community theatre) and to think back on those times, and then add in me handing them money just... I cannot wrap my head around it.

You would tip your massage therapist, who sees you nude and rubs your naked body. If you went to a restaurant and your friend was the waiter, you'd tip them--probably more generously than someone you didn't know. How is this different to you?

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Updated On: 4/4/10 at 01:28 PM

I did read the entire thread. I was responding to the post which I quoted, saying that I don't understand his/her logic vis-a-vis not tipping. Does that not come through in my post?

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