Where to Begin??
1. As soon as you know what show you have selected-give us a call 630-879-5130 or fill out our Show Request Form. We need to know your show name. performance dates, number of cast members, theater or performance location and how much of the show you need us to costume with you. Once we confirm the show is available for your dates; or that we can help with the pieces you need we move to the next step.
2. Send in the completed Theatre Rental Agreement. This commits us to your show, and you to us. It also gives us all the important contact information, shipping information and billing information. We will lock in your show as soon as the Theatre Rental Agreement is complete. We lock in shows on a first come first serve basis, so for popular show titles. it behooves you to complete this step as soon as possible.
3. Measuring your cast members is the important next step. Be sure you measure all cast members in need of costumes. Our measurement sheets are available to download and print out on our website. Be sure to measure carefully. Also, please get these in quickly. Once we know what you need, we can be better prepared to have the proper inventory ready to pull for your show, or if we need to build certain pieces, it gives us time to do that for you. It is also important to provide a cast list for us to double check that we have all needs accounted for.
4. Fill out the form giving each actor’s name, and role(s) they play in the show. There is a section so you can specify which costumes are needed. Example: you may have ensemble members that portrays four different characters; but you need us to provide only two of their four costumes. You can specify this in the section headed "Costumes Required"
5. All measurements are required to get an accurately fitting costume including height and weight. This give us a bit of a visual of how the measurements relate as we select costumes for each character. Also, please let us know of any casting irregularities. For example: not enough males auditioned so females are cast in traditionally male roles. Let us know if you want the females to be dressed as women versions of the role, or as males. Please be aware that beards and wigs are not part of the standard costume rental.
***IMPORTANT NOTE-HOW TO MEASURE: The most important part of measuring is having one person do all of it. It will ensure measurements are consistent. We also ask that they be taken in feet and inches. Ask your actors to wear comfortable yet form fitting clothing for the measuring. Bulky clothing and accessories, including sweatshirts and belts will have a direct impact on your final measurements. Ask for the actors, if possible, to wear the shoes they plan to wear in the show, so length measurements are accurate.
We will have a video up online demonstrating how to use your tape measure and where to position it on an actor’s body to get the most accurate measurements possible.***
6. To ensure the contract and measurement sheets have arrived you can request a confirmation email. Communication is your best tool.
7. Communicate any special costuming needs: choreography, pocket requirements, quick changes as well as any variations to the show effecting costuming, i.e. gender-blind casting. If you would like to set up a meeting to review your design concepts with your assigned designer, please call us. Our mission is to give you the show you envision. Please note that scheduling the meeting is better at the beginning of the process than after progress has begun.
8. We will pull and build your show and have it ready to ship or be picked up on the agreed upon date. We will be in contact with you if we have questions or concerns.
9. Once your costumes arrive let us know if there are any major issues we can resolve either by replacement, repair or swapping costumes due to fit issues As much as we pull and alter costumes to fit your actor measurements, there will always be some issues If you need to do any alterations, please follow the rules on the rental agreement. Use large stitch widths on your sewing machine, or larger basting stitches that will hold the costume but are easy to remove. Please do not cut or glue anything. Do not tape up hems or use any bonding tape i.e., Stitch Witch. Do not use sticky back Velcro. If you have questions on how to handle an issue, please call us and we will guide you through adjustments.
10. At the end of your performance run, please return the costumes in a timely fashion as well as in the way they were delivered, by hanging the costumes back on the hangers provided. This allows our staff to check them in quickly. Returning costumes loose in bags or in boxes risks damages to the costumes and will result in addition fees to your rental costs, which is addressed in line 7 of the Theater Rental Agreement
BREAK LEGS! and have a wonderful performance!
We look forward to assisting you in your actor’s costuming needs.
1. As soon as you know what show you have selected-give us a call 630-879-5130 or fill out our Show Request Form. We need to know your show name. performance dates, number of cast members, theater or performance location and how much of the show you need us to costume with you. Once we confirm the show is available for your dates; or that we can help with the pieces you need we move to the next step.
2. Send in the completed Theatre Rental Agreement. This commits us to your show, and you to us. It also gives us all the important contact information, shipping information and billing information. We will lock in your show as soon as the Theatre Rental Agreement is complete. We lock in shows on a first come first serve basis, so for popular show titles. it behooves you to complete this step as soon as possible.
3. Measuring your cast members is the important next step. Be sure you measure all cast members in need of costumes. Our measurement sheets are available to download and print out on our website. Be sure to measure carefully. Also, please get these in quickly. Once we know what you need, we can be better prepared to have the proper inventory ready to pull for your show, or if we need to build certain pieces, it gives us time to do that for you. It is also important to provide a cast list for us to double check that we have all needs accounted for.
4. Fill out the form giving each actor’s name, and role(s) they play in the show. There is a section so you can specify which costumes are needed. Example: you may have ensemble members that portrays four different characters; but you need us to provide only two of their four costumes. You can specify this in the section headed "Costumes Required"
5. All measurements are required to get an accurately fitting costume including height and weight. This give us a bit of a visual of how the measurements relate as we select costumes for each character. Also, please let us know of any casting irregularities. For example: not enough males auditioned so females are cast in traditionally male roles. Let us know if you want the females to be dressed as women versions of the role, or as males. Please be aware that beards and wigs are not part of the standard costume rental.
***IMPORTANT NOTE-HOW TO MEASURE: The most important part of measuring is having one person do all of it. It will ensure measurements are consistent. We also ask that they be taken in feet and inches. Ask your actors to wear comfortable yet form fitting clothing for the measuring. Bulky clothing and accessories, including sweatshirts and belts will have a direct impact on your final measurements. Ask for the actors, if possible, to wear the shoes they plan to wear in the show, so length measurements are accurate.
We will have a video up online demonstrating how to use your tape measure and where to position it on an actor’s body to get the most accurate measurements possible.***
6. To ensure the contract and measurement sheets have arrived you can request a confirmation email. Communication is your best tool.
7. Communicate any special costuming needs: choreography, pocket requirements, quick changes as well as any variations to the show effecting costuming, i.e. gender-blind casting. If you would like to set up a meeting to review your design concepts with your assigned designer, please call us. Our mission is to give you the show you envision. Please note that scheduling the meeting is better at the beginning of the process than after progress has begun.
8. We will pull and build your show and have it ready to ship or be picked up on the agreed upon date. We will be in contact with you if we have questions or concerns.
9. Once your costumes arrive let us know if there are any major issues we can resolve either by replacement, repair or swapping costumes due to fit issues As much as we pull and alter costumes to fit your actor measurements, there will always be some issues If you need to do any alterations, please follow the rules on the rental agreement. Use large stitch widths on your sewing machine, or larger basting stitches that will hold the costume but are easy to remove. Please do not cut or glue anything. Do not tape up hems or use any bonding tape i.e., Stitch Witch. Do not use sticky back Velcro. If you have questions on how to handle an issue, please call us and we will guide you through adjustments.
10. At the end of your performance run, please return the costumes in a timely fashion as well as in the way they were delivered, by hanging the costumes back on the hangers provided. This allows our staff to check them in quickly. Returning costumes loose in bags or in boxes risks damages to the costumes and will result in addition fees to your rental costs, which is addressed in line 7 of the Theater Rental Agreement
BREAK LEGS! and have a wonderful performance!
We look forward to assisting you in your actor’s costuming needs.