A costume attendant is a person who works in the costume department of a movie, a theater production, a circus, or another type of show. Although having certain valuable skills can make it easier to find work as a costume attendant, there is no set path to follow. Costume attendants often enjoy sewing, but a background in fashion or the performing arts is also advantageous.
Certain abilities are required in order to work as a costume attendant. Costume attendants are often responsible for maintaining costumes, making alterations, and even sewing entirely new costume pieces, so sewing skills are essential. Needle skills can be learned quickly and easily in a few basic classes, or even at home.
A person who wants to work as a costume attendant will need to be able to sew as well as have good organizational skills. Actors and entertainers may be required to change clothes several times during a performance, often in a matter of minutes. A costume attendant is in charge of making sure that each costume is ready and completed on time, and may even have to assist the actor in changing into the next outfit quickly. Costume attendants are also in charge of collecting and organizing each discarded outfit, as well as laundering and repairing costumes after each performance.
Volunteering with local theater productions or community college theater programs is one way to get started as a costume attendant. These organizations frequently seek people with needle skills and a keen sense of fit to assist them in their costume department. Working as a volunteer can provide valuable costuming experience as well as help an ambitious individual make contacts for future jobs. Because many costumers work on a freelance basis, forming good collegial relationships can be a great way to expand job opportunities.
A person attempting to become a costume attendant can typically find work with professional theater, dance, or performance companies, television or film production houses, or even universities after mastering basic skills. These jobs could be temporary, lasting only as long as the production continues. This could be only a week or two for a theater production. A costume attendant on a popular TV show, on the other hand, might be able to work for several years.
Some costume attendants go on to work as designers, creating fashion lines or film costumes with their creative and sewing abilities. Those with managerial skills may be able to advance to running costume rental businesses. Whatever your future plans are, becoming a costume attendant can be the first step toward a long-term and rewarding career in the performing arts or fashion industry.