Costume Attendant

Select, fit, and take care of costumes for cast members, and aid entertainers. May assist with multiple costume changes during performances.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Costume Draper; Costume Seamstress; Costumer; Draper; Dresser; Wardrobe Assistant; Wardrobe Attendant; Wardrobe Supervisor

Tasks

• 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.
• Distribute costumes or related equipment and keep records of item status.
• Check the appearance of costumes on stage or under lights to determine whether desired effects are being achieved.
• Clean and press costumes before and after performances and perform any minor repairs.
• 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.
• Purchase, rent, or requisition costumes or other wardrobe necessities.
• Study books, pictures, or examples of period clothing to determine styles worn during specific periods in history.
• Return borrowed or rented items when productions are complete and return other items to storage.
• Review scripts or other production information to determine a story's locale or period, as well as the number of characters and required costumes.
• Inventory stock to determine types or conditions of available costuming.

Knowledge

• Fine Arts
• Production and Processing
• Design
• Customer and Personal Service
• Psychology
• English Language

Skills

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Monitoring

Abilities

• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Problem Sensitivity
• Near Vision
• Fluency of Ideas
• Information Ordering
• Category Flexibility
• Speech Clarity
• Written Comprehension
• Originality
• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Selective Attention
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Finger Dexterity
• Speech Recognition