A costume attendant is a member of the cast and crew who is in charge of the costumes. Costume attendants may be in charge of costume design and construction in some productions, while a costume designer is in charge in others. The costume attendant ensures that the costumes for a production are kept in good condition throughout the performance and that they are returned or stored properly when the show is finished.
A costume attendant may be assigned to one performer in some cases. This is common when a performer has a lot of costume changes during a show or when the costumes are high-maintenance and require special care and treatment. In other cases, costume attendants are in charge of the entire production’s costumes.
Between shows, the attendant cleans and presses the costumes, double-checks that all of the costume’s components are present, and handles minor repairs. She or he is in charge of inspecting costumes to ensure that they are in good condition, as well as laying out costumes between changes and shows so that they are ready for the performers.
The costume attendant keeps detailed records and logs about the costumes throughout the production. This information can be used if a production is remounted in the future, and it can also be used at the end of the run to determine where various costume components should be returned when the show is broken down. Returning rented and borrowed items, as well as preparing items for storage in a costume storage department, are all tasks that costume attendants can handle.
Costume attendants may also assign and maintain lockers and dressing rooms in some production companies. The costume attendant, for example, would lay out costumes in a dressing room for a performer and ensure that everything the performer required was ready. The costume attendant would assist the performer with dressing or changing between scenes if necessary.
In the performing arts, this job is typically regarded as an entry-level position. Costume designers, for example, may begin their careers as costume attendants to learn the trade. Costume attendants can be trusted with increasingly complex and demanding tasks as they gain experience, such as managing the costume department for a touring show or handling costume modifications to accommodate changes in performers’ bodies or an artistic desire for a change in the production’s look and feel.