#wardrobe crew

[high-quality-tiktoks]

sometimes we be going too hard😅

[interplanetjennette]

I almost cried during my work evaluation today because my managers told me I was doing a great job and were impressed with my work ethic and one of them said he “really loved seeing me in my element backstage” and that when I graduate I’m going to be so ready to work as a dresser or wardrobe crew person. I’m so happy that I’ve found something I love to do and that I excel in! It’s not a traditional career but man am I passionate about it!

[back-in-bllack]

im back baby (long post)

So it’s been a whoooole semester and im here to check in once more!!

This fall I worked as a sound designer for These Shining Lives! It was great and I even participated in the talkback as an underclassmen!!! And apparently I did really well according to my previous Dramatic Literature professor. It was exciting getting to see everything come together from production meetings to opening day!! And I got to meet a whole bunch of the freshmen who are honestly so talented!

I also worked on Titus Andronicus as a part of the Wardrobe crew and got work on quick changes for the first time and oh shit there were SO MANY QUICK CHANGES. I think we ended counting 24 in the first 5 minutes alone? On this crew, my designer and master started calling me the Blood Master since I had to have a condiment bottle of zesty mint mouth blood in my apron the whole time. I’m not opposed to it lmaooo. I got to work with some of my friends and even my roommate who ASMed the show. Even though that show ruined EVERYONE for a good 4 months, I miss it :(

I have started my internship process! My first resume will be sent to Dallas Children’s Theatre I think? So I won’t be working shows with my friends on campus this summer if I can get a nice paid internship, which I’m kinda bummed about, but eso sí qué es. So if anyone has any advice for tech theatre internships, pls send it my way! I’m hoping for costume or lightning since that’s were I have the most experience and interest! It’s a bit scary moving into the “””real world”””” but I hope my excitement can outweigh it when the time comes.

I have also continued my auditorium technician job! I’ve worked on two versions of A Christmas Carol, a Vienna Boys Choir show, and 2nd City Comedy. And I’m having such a good time working with these people! I’ve made some great connection just by being there to be a load in/out crew. And I’ve learned so much by just being on the job in the theatre. Getting paid well above minimum wage doesn’t hurt either ;)

Both fortunately and unfortunately, the theatre dept is getting a new building which means we have to be moved out of our current building and auditorium by May. Which also means we will be without a dedicated performing space for about a year and a half to two years...... I don’t know how that’s going to work but i guess we’ll make it happen, we always do. I just feel bad for the sound and light and projections tech to have to work with the other shitty shitty auditorium spaces that are definitely NOT MADE WITH THEATRE IN MIND. As someone who is now interested in costuming and makeup and wigs n such, it’s a bit easier for me and my colleagues to pick up house and move, but it’ll still be difficult for all of us :/ so if anyone has any ideas on how to make moving house easier or on how to use outdoor spaces as performance areas, pls lmk. we need all the help we can get

But, that’s just my winter break update! I’m making new friends with more and more people as I apply myself more and more. And I’m really happy with where I’m at at this point. At this point I feel confident and capable in most thing and that feels really good.

but until next time 🎭✨

[the-theater-tech]

When the actors think dress rehearsals are for them and they complain about all the holds.

Wardrobe crew:

[jcams88]

In case anyone was wondering what it’s like to work in theatre in the wardrobe department, I woke up from a nightmare at 5:30 AM about show laundry not being done and places was called. 

[consumecommentrepeat]

How to survive on tour

Hey y’all. 

For the past 6 months I have been on tour. I don’t need to get into specifics on what tour; but we traveled around the country and it rhymes with Shimderfella. 

So, if you are anything like me before you leave for your first tour, you google everything. Every little nugget of information you can find on what to expect on a tour, you’re finding it. Sadly, the bulk of the information are for regular band kinda tours. Which if you’re a drummer in a rock band, awesome! But if your doing a Theatre tour, not so awesome. Different set of circumstances. 

During my 6 month voyage across the USA and Canada, I compiled a list. A list of what I learned that I want to pass on to you. Your company may do things differently. And this list is going to be very beneficial to crew people. Sorry actors, our buses are completely different as are our schedules. So here goes!

The Bus:

Ah! Your home away from home because if your tour was anything like mine, you wont have many hotel rooms. So cherish the moments when you do. But the bus! The bus is...fun. If you are considerate and get along with your crew members, the bus is gonna be the shit. 

Jump on the bunk assignment train early. They probably give first priority to returning crew members but in case its a free for all, don’t be nice. Ask for a middle bunk!! The top is fine but jumping up to get to your bed can be hard if your drunk or the bus takes a turn at that exact moment. The bottom, well its the bottom. Pros: you can just roll in and out of the bunk. Cons: sometimes they are the smallest of the bunks. 

No number 2s. DON’T POOP in the bus. Don’t even think about pooping! Just keep that sphincter tight until you’re off that bus.

Label your food in the fridge and be considerate regarding space. The fridge is only so big and you gotta share it with 11 other people. 

Keep a bus bag. If you don’t have a hotel room and are showering in the theatre, keep a duffle in the back lounge with clothes to last you until you get a hotel room. Keep your toiletries there, shower shoes and a towel. 

Bunk alley is the quite zone. Don’t even think about talking above a whisper unless your absolutely certain no one is sleeping. 

Respect bus call times. You’re an adult. Get on the bus on time! There is a tight schedule and you don’t want to have everyone mad at you.

How I made my bus bunk suck less:

Mini humidifier: it gets hella dry in that bus.

Plug that can charge multiple things at once

Pillow

Blanket. I would even recommend a heated blanket if you’re like me and get cold all the time. They keep bunk alley at a cool 60 degrees. Your gonna freeze your ass off if you are the type of person who gets cold easily.

Slippers

Small shower caddy that can suction to the wall. It can hold your glasses, mini humidifier, and phone. 

How to pack for tour: 

Look at your tour schedule. Pack for the cold and hot if need be. We went from Milwaukee in early November to Dallas before thanksgiving. I needed my winter coat in one and not in the other. So pack accordingly. 

Limit your shoe options. I promise you, you wont need a lot of shoes. I got away with two pairs. My docs were my all the time shoes and a pair of sneakers for the gym or when my feet needed a break from the docs. 

Pack more socks and underwear than you think you need. 

Pack clothes that work for multiple things. The only pants I packed were black workout leggings that I wore to the gym and to work the show. I basically only rocked the atheleisure look. 

Pack one nice outfit if your tour lands on a holiday and the company is gonna do something nice for you. And for closing night parties, companies go all out for closing night parties so dress nice. 

A nice towel for the times when you have to shower in the theatre. And write your name on it. If your wardrobe department has a bus towel bag you don’t want anyone else using it! 

 How to save the environment:

Pack tupperware. You can end up with a lot of leftovers if you’re like me and don’t eat your load out meal that night. But hey, its lunch the next day! 

Reusable silverware

Travel coffee mug and water bottle, obviously!

Don’t get your hotel room cleaned all the time. Or at least don’t get your sheets and towel changed every time if you do. 

My bus had a Keurig machine. I would use the k-cups from hotel rooms but for the most part, I bought a reusable one from walmart and a bag of coffee and used that. 

Take hotel soaps and encourage your crew and actors to do the same. When you have enough and are in a city for longer than 2 days, find a shelter and donate them. 

How to save money: 

Find ways to cook. Go half on a instant pot with someone and use that to cook. I made rice in my hotel room and in the wardrobe room at work. 

Stay out of the mall

Go grocery shopping. Eating out for every meal adds up. 

Eat the free breakfast at hotels if you’re in one and they have one

Cut back on your drinking. Or buy the beer at a supermarket instead of going out to the bar every night. 

Look at the buyout options and if its cheaper to book your own travel to and from layoff, do that! I made like 200 bucks taking the bus home rather than the flight they would have booked me on and it was only a 2 hour drive. 

Buy detergent pods and dryer sheets. Most venues let you do your laundry if your crew. If your an actor, make nice with your wardrobe people and they’ll make nice with you. Not a guarantee but we let actors do their laundry at the venue if they were desperate and bought us wine. 

As much as you like grub hub, Uber eats, or whatever, don’t do it. Save it for the times when you’re in the middle of nowhere or just got back from layoff and they haven’t done a grocery store run yet.

Stay sane on tour: 

Find your own thing. I made it a priority to go to every art museum in every town we were in if time allowed.

Be by yourself so you’re not with your crew every day. You’ll get on each other’s nerves that way. 

Branch out and hang with other people. Other departments, musicians, actors, they are fun too. 

Learn to say no to nights out and do some self care in your hotel room.

Sleep at a reasonable time. Especially if you have an early call the next day. No point in staying up drinking till 3am if you have to be at work at 6 the next morning. No one wants to hear you bitch about how tired you are when you did it to yourself. 

Stay Healthy:

Hotel gyms. An hour a day does help. 

Cut back on drinking, especially beer. 

Eat healthy when you can. Even if the only option is fast food. You can still get a salad from McDonalds. 

Eat a large meal before the show so your less likely to eat afterwards and then you’re going to sleep after a heavy meal. 

Drink lots of water. 

Get a flu shot before you leave.

I threw a lot in there and I’m sorry. I totally made it seem like its gonna suck. Part of it will. But its also gonna be a lot of fun! Find ways to make it fun for you. 

We found so many fun things to do. Escape rooms, axe throwing, arcade bars. You’ll find someone who likes that kind of stuff too and you can enjoy doing them with your new friends.  And even though I said don’t drink like twice up there, doesn’t mean you cant enjoy a cocktail every now and then. Sometimes you need to decompress over a cocktail. Just be conscious of the cost and the frequency. 

So the part that is guaranteed to suck: ONE NIGHTERS! How do you make them suck less? Sometimes you can’t. You’re stuck in a shitty one nighter but here’s how to make them suck less:

Buddy up with an actor. If their hotel is close by and your load out is done before you have to leave for the next city, you can walk to their hotel and shower in their room. Beats showering in the theatre, if there is even a shower in the theatre. 

Think about food options. Pack for lunch and preshow dinner because you might be in the middle of nowhere and there are no options. 

No matter how shitty the venue or how tired you are, don’t take it out on your crew. They could be the shittiest people ever but don’t take it out on them. Word spreads and you could get in trouble with your company or they just are gonna suck even more because you yelled at them. 

Take what you can! 

Some venues provide a really good craft service spread. Take what you can. I’ve gotten so much butter, bagels, coffee creamers, OJ. Pretty much anything that could be eaten and would most likely be thrown away by the venue at the end of the night, I took. My crew made fun of me for basically leaving venues with groceries, but that stuff went a long way. I ate for free a lot because I took food. 

[back-in-bllack]

hey techblr i need advice

My name is gaby and I’m now a sophomore majoring in technical theatre, minoring in visual art. I went into my major after only working one show in high school so I’m fairly new.

I have no clue what I’m doing

My school has tech majors choose two focuses (ie: lighting and sound, scenic and props, stage managing and directing, etc) but I have no clue what I want to do. I’ve dipped my toe into so many areas already. I’ve been a wardrobe crew, run crew, fly rail, production assistant, light board op, spot op, sound board op, load in crew, electrictian, scenic painter, set designer, props master, and i will be a sound designer and probably wardrobe crew again this fall. And I’ve genuinely loved everything I’ve done. Genuinely I have.

But, I’ve always envisioned myself working in the middle of everything and maybe working with a touring company; I thrive in chaos and love being in the middle of everything. My favorite thing has been run crew (or stage crew depending on what you call the job) or wardrobe crew or but my advisor is pushing me to get “higher in rank” and be a stage manager or a wardrobe master or designer. But I’m content being a part of a crew rather than in a position of higher power. I’m planning on taking our stage management in the spring and I’m taking costuming come August, but I’m stuck on something more “simple” like run or wardrobe crew.

Is this weird to not want to be in a position of power? What should I tell my advisor? I love just helping out and feeling helpful in general. Any advice?

[ascaredindividual]

i was a dresser for my college’s production of into the woods and i decided to start a twitter thread where i just talked about all these little things i noticed from each of the actors (since i got to see and hear most of it every night) and i tagged each person in it and like. everyone loved it and it was fun to do and all. 

but like i was usually adding to it during the show when i noticed something new and like. i love making people happy and complimenting people and spreading positivity and it’s not like i haven’t complimented these people on twitter before. but it always took me totally off-guard when someone would approach me literal minutes after i tweeted something nice about them to thank me in person

like my initial reaction was almost like “NO! HOW DARE YOU THANK ME IN REAL LIFE FOR A TWEET THAT I POSTED PUBLICLY AND TAGGED YOU IN. THAT WAS PRIVATE”

(but for real though that was a fun thread to make and i was blushing every time someone mentioned it. i’m just an awkward person but i truly enjoyed making people happy)