Career summary

Details for Costume Attendants


Description

Select, fit, and take care of costumes for cast members, and aid entertainers.

Tasks

  • Distribute costumes or related equipment and keep records of item status.
  • Arrange costumes in order of use to facilitate quick-change procedures for performances.
  • Return borrowed or rented items when productions are complete and return other items to storage.
  • Clean and press costumes before and after performances and perform any minor repairs.
  • Assign lockers to employees and maintain locker rooms, dressing rooms, wig rooms, or costume storage or laundry areas.
  • Design or construct costumes or send them to tailors for construction, major repairs, or alterations.
  • Purchase, rent, or requisition costumes or other wardrobe necessities.
  • Check the appearance of costumes on stage or under lights to determine whether desired effects are being achieved.
  • Inventory stock to determine types or conditions of available costuming.
  • Collaborate with production designers, costume designers, or other production staff to discuss and execute costume design details.
  • Monitor, maintain, or secure inventories of costumes, wigs, or makeup, providing keys or access to assigned directors, costume designers, or wardrobe mistresses/masters.
  • Create worksheets for dressing lists, show notes, or costume checks.
  • Direct the work of wardrobe crews during dress rehearsals or performances.
  • Examine costume fit on cast members and sketch or write notes for alterations.
  • Review scripts or other production information to determine a story's locale or period, as well as the number of characters and required costumes.
  • Recommend vendors and monitor their work.
  • Study books, pictures, or examples of period clothing to determine styles worn during specific periods in history.
  • Provide managers with budget recommendations and take responsibility for budgetary line items related to costumes, storage, or makeup needs.
  • Participate in the hiring, training, scheduling, or supervision of alteration workers.
  • Care for non-clothing items, such as flags, table skirts, or draperies.
  • Provide dressing assistance to cast members or assign cast dressers to assist specific cast members with costume changes.

Interests

  • Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
  • Artistic - Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
  • Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Education, training, experience

  • Education - These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
  • Training - Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
  • Experience - Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

Knowledge

  • Administration and Management -Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  • Design -Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Skills

None found.

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