The first thing I do when I arrive at work is do laundry, it's a very messy show! I restock costumes, do repairs, place orders with vendors, and make sure everything is ready for the show. I set costumes in their onstage locations and set the dressing rooms. I apply the bald caps and makeup to performers, and then get them into costume. I am there to assist the performers and do touch ups on their makeup. Afterward, I get the performers out of costume and makeup, do laundry, and then go home.
CAREER
Costume Attendants
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$47,850
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+4.7% (slower than the average)
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Costume Attendants Do
Select, fit, and take care of costumes for cast members, and aid entertainers. May assist with multiple costume changes during performances.
Other Job Titles Costume Attendants May Have
Costumer, Dresser, Wardrobe Assistant, Wardrobe Attendant
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
Today for example, I got to work and made sure each of my three assistants had projects going. I had about 7 chorus fittings to attend as well where I fit masks, stove pipe top hats and crazy looking monocles. All of these things are created in my workshop from scratch. I worked on a pattern for a hat and then put it together in leather. I corrected a pattern that an assistant was working on and talked her through various steps for her project. Yesterday I was sculpting antlers and painting.
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Create worksheets for dressing lists, show notes, or costume checks.
- Provide dressing assistance to cast members or assign cast dressers to assist specific cast members with costume changes.
- Arrange costumes in order of use to facilitate quick-change procedures for performances.
- Design or construct costumes or send them to tailors for construction, major repairs, or alterations.
- Examine costume fit on cast members and sketch or write notes for alterations.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Costume Attendants
Most common level of education among people in
this career: High school diploma or equivalent (32%)
High school diploma or equivalent
Some college, no degree
Bachelor's degree
Majors Related to Career
Educational Paths Suggested by Leaders
Suggested Path
Bachelor
Costume Design
Graduate
Costume Design
Costume Designer/Wardrobe Supervisor ,
Children's Theater of Madison, Forward Theater Company
Suggested Path
High School
Bachelor
Theatre/Theater
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
Costume Designer/Stylist
Perseverance is key. Don't let the little things hold you back and don't let the set backs derail you. You have to have a good sense of your aesthetic. Creativity and design sense is obviously needed, but you also need people skills and organizational skills.
Understanding theater basics are really important, so I would suggest doing as much theater as possible for any theatrical job, onstage or off. For my role specifically, theatrical dressing experience and sewing/garment construction/alteration skills are very important. Special effects makeup training can be very helpful and can open up more opportunities in makeup. You should have management and administrative experience and be able to plan, manage a budget, and lead a team.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
High School Students
Find a college program that specializes in costume technology. Many programs are very design oriented, and while that is fun, it is knowing how to make costumes that will pay the bills.
Costume Designer/Wardrobe Supervisor ,
Children's Theater of Madison, Forward Theater Company
Start making stuff. Either sewing or crafting or drawing, whatever. Start using your hands to solve problems. I wish I started making stuff earlier, to build my confidence in that kind of problem solving. Also, find a group of people making stuff too and work with them. It is great to see all the different ways people solve problems. Get an internship in a costume shop somewhere. Do all the jobs they give you but while you are doing it, watch others work, how they solve problems.
If you love theater and know you want to be part of it as a career, don't limit yourself to being onstage. There are so many amazing backstage jobs that exist for all types of personalities, all vital to making a performance come alive.
College Students
Everyone
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
