Dressing Them Up

Powderhorn Love

2010-12-01T07:43:00.000-08:00

The last week the neighborhood I live in has been in the news. Basically some teenagers attacked a woman in the park by my house. They were in the process of attacking two girls in a garage just down the alley from where I live. The kids were apprehended.

I have to say I am amazed by my neighborhood. I am blessed and lucky to live where I live.

First of all let me say that my neighborhood is a great place to live. The park by my house hosts all these great events throughout the year like The May Day Parade and the Art Fair . People enjoy the park on a daily basis. People fish in the lake, walk on paths, have outdoor theater performances. In the winter there is ice skating and people cross country ski and snow shoe in the park. In the winter I skate in the park at least once a week. I actually can't wait until skating opens up for the season.

There are fireworks in the park for the 4th of July. Not big sparkley Downtown fireworks but fireworks over the lake with neighbors and friends.

There is an Art Sled Rally in the winter where people slide down the hill home made sleds that look like Speeders from Star Wars.

A group of neighborhood photographers have been running a 365 neighborhood photo project for two years. Check it out here.

I am proud of my neighborhood. In response to these attacks neighbors have organized a peace vigil in the park tonight. It's BYOFire Pit (if you have one) or Hot Beverage to share.

The mother who was attacked wrote a letter encouraging compassion and love for the kids who did this.

Another neighbor wrote an essay for MPR

I bought a condo in the Powderhorn neighborhood six years ago. Some days I wish I'd waited when I see how cheap real estate is now. But then I walk a half a block to the park and I am reminded again why I love where I live.

Wardrobe Girl and Homework Guru

2010-10-17T18:46:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I go above and beyond the call in my wardrobe girl duties. This week subbing in a show for a coworker was no exception.

There are kids in the show, well teenagers really, and with them comes homework. While I don't do all that algebra business I do hand out good advice on things like poetry and book reports.

One of the girls in the show was working on poems. She had to write several poems for school. I don't think she was excited about it. But I told her about hearing Susan Marie Swanson speak at a conference and how she had gotten this third grader who claimed he didn't have anything to write about because it was just him and his dad to write a beautiful poem about his dad making frozen pizza.

She wrote and awesome found poem using words and stage directions from the show. Super cool.

I also managed to make a quilt square of a chinchilla for the show inspired quilt. I will post pictures once the quilt is finished.

Wardrobe worst case scenario survival guide- Shoelaces

2010-09-13T19:17:00.001-07:00

So the worst thing happened. Yep right in a quick change the shoelaces broke. Not a little broke but like super really broke somewhere in the middle of the shoe lace holes.

OK so I'm armed with shoe laces.

I've run through this scenario in my head a gazillion times. But it didn't go the way I thought cause the shoes were too tight on the kids foot for me to lace.

If shoe laces ever break in the middle of a quick change again I'm going to take the remaining lace and lace it through the top two holes and tie a bow, or maybe a knot. Like the tap shoes I had as a kid.

If I ever find myself without laces (this won't happen. I'm armed with shoe laces) I will sacrifice the lace from my hood on my hooded sweatshirt.

Dance on Broadway

2010-08-23T12:06:00.000-07:00

Earlier this summer I had the fabulous idea to start buying the paper so I could have the coupons. I figured if I saved enough money this would pay for itself.

My plan backfired because after I read the paper and the ads and clipped my coupons I still had the Target ad staring me in the face for the rest of the week. Usually I read the paper that someone brings into work and I look at the Target ad once before someone else takes it.

So I had lots of time to think about the game Dance on Broadway for the Wii.

Hello, I work in theater I totally needed this game. Plus I decided that this game would get me in shape.

The in shape part hasn't happened yet but I don't really play it all that often because it is summer and I have been playing outside more.

Anyway I love this game. It has songs from musicals like Chicago and Cabaret which is perfect since I'm working backstage on a Kander and Ebb show called The Scottsboro Boys (go see it for real. It is amazing).

It also has selections from Hairspray, The Lion King, Fame and Little Shop of Horrors.

There isn't a dance pad for this game so you dance using the remote like in the Just Dance video game.

I recommend this game for anyone who loves dancing and who love Broadway.

ninja wardrobe rack

2010-08-14T05:50:00.000-07:00

I used to work at a theater where backstage noise was a problem. The walls of the theater were brick and it had a metal roof and the space was small so a person couldn't breath backstage without it being heard onstage. In order to go back to the dressing room area you had to walk up a staircase behind a curtain that went right next to the audience so usually once places were called we were stuck backstage for the whole show

As a result of working here when I buy shoes/ clothes to wear backstage I think about how quiet they will be. I really try to be as silent as a ninja.

I don't work in that space anymore but I still understand the concept of being quiet backstage.

Recently I worked on a show that I would call a quiet show. It was not a musical and there weren't a lot of sound cues going on through the show. There was a rack set up for quick changes backstage but there were complaints about noise from the rack. After getting a note about it I decided that something had to be done.

So I made a ninja wardrobe rack. I covered the top tube of the rack and there were no more complaints about noise from the rack of clothes backstage. I'm still really proud of my invention and was just showing it to the ASM on the show I'm working on now. Even though it is a musical it is still important to be quiet backstage. So far I'm proud to report there have been no complaints about noise from the wardrobe rack.

A whole new Level

2010-05-26T21:21:00.000-07:00

I know I've talked on this blog about dressing pets up. There were the matching sexy costumes and the holiday costumes for cats which were clearly designed by someone who had never owned a cat.

But this is a whole new level of pet dress up.

Yep, that's a person in a dog costume. See more pictures here.

I have officially seen everything now.

Matinee fun

2010-05-17T19:32:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday I went to see a matinee of M. Butterfly.

I often see matinee people going to shows when I am at work on matinee days for my own shows. So I don't want to stereotype weekday matinee people but the the median age of the house is definitely higher on those days.

So my friend Sara and I got seats in the 5th row. When I go to shows on Opening nights I am usually in the balcony.

When we got to our seats the lady sitting beside us started a conversation. Here is what happened.

Patron: I bet you were in the rush line.

Me: Oh no we work here.

Patron: I have season tickets with my group of friends and I couldn't come on the night we had our tickets so I'm here today. I usually sit on the aisle.

Sara: Oh do you want the aisle seat?

Patron: Oh no that's your seat. I couldn't take your seat.

Me: Oh it's no big deal.

Patron: Oh thank you so much.

After this we were treated by our new friend as though we were celebrities. She asked every question she could think of about costumes, props and actors. I think at one point in time she missed a line and she asked Sara "What did he say?" and Sara repeated the line for her.

I sat next to a man who fell asleep during the first act (I blame the darkness and the fact that he may have had an adult beverage with lunch from the way he smelled. The play was great. Not nap inducing) he jerked awake so suddenly that it startled me.

So anyway going to a matinee was an eye opening experience and I may have to go attend more matinees.

There's the resume I'm looking for

2010-03-29T11:58:00.000-07:00

This weekend I went to my sister's wedding.

I have perhaps mentioned before how I'm really useful to have at weddings because of my expertise with clothing.

I arrived in town on Saturday evening and didn't connect with my mom and sister because they were buying luggage for Kim's honeymoon. My mom did stop by my room to say good night.

On Sunday morning I woke up and showered and went to get some breakfast. On my way to where the continental breakfast was set up I saw my mom dragging a steamer to one of the hotel rooms.

"There's the resume I'm looking for. We need your help to steam the dress." My mom said.

So while the steamer was heating up I got my bagel and got ready to start steaming.

This is 2 hours until pictures.

While I was steaming one of the bridesmaids asked me about the possibility of making some straps for her dress to go over her bra straps so I got her started hand sewing those while I finished dress steaming and when I was done steaming I finished sewing the straps then pinned them to the dress then stitched them on.

So I guess that having a wardrobe girl in the family comes in handy sometimes.

Play a let

2010-02-28T14:29:00.001-08:00

What is the best thing about two show days?

Is it that Groundhog Day feeling of having done something before? No

Is it getting a two hour break in an 8 hour work day? No.

The best thing about two show days recently has been the four square games.

During the second show the cast plays four square as a warm up. They have technically already warmed up from the first show. It is quite fun and everyone comes down and gets in line for a turn.

OK remember when I said that this game was universal. OK that is not true. They play it a little differently across the pond. Here are some differences.

1) You can't hit the ball down, you have to hit the ball from under or the side. Hitting the ball from above will result in a warning, 3 warnings and you're out.

2) There is only one kind of play. A lot of kids have different games like Popcorn, Four Corners and Cherry Bombs. These don't exist in this game.

3) The person at the front of the line to play is the ref and must make calls on tough plays. Always pay attention in this spot.

Here are some terms from four square you might find helpful

Play a let= do over *Note- The phrase "play a let" is sort of sung like a cheer or chant

Bridesmaid= to hit another player with the ball.

Last week we had a leading lady show down on the four square court and there is always a line to play that snakes down the hall. Yesterday we had an official ref for a while. Very fun.

English Lessons

2010-02-19T15:00:00.000-08:00

Beginners= Places

As in "This is your beginners call for the show."

Badders= Badminton

"Was that beginners? I couldn't hear it, we were playing badders.

The theater where I work has a four square court taped out in an open area. I have learned that this is not unique to my workplace other theaters have them as well.

I think the best moment was when the cast for this current show saw that four square court. They were so excited. "How did they know that we'd want to play four square." They are apparently known for their mad four square skills.

Last night before the show they invented a new game. Badders Four Square. That is four square played with badminton rackets and a birdie.

It is good to know that four square is universal

So does the curse cross over?

2010-02-15T14:54:00.000-08:00

I wrote about Macbeth a couple weeks ago. You know that it was a really good show and people should see it. That is still true.
One of the old theater superstitions is that the play is cursed. It was said that Shakespeare used real witches chants in his play and so then real witches cursed it.
For this reason people don't even like to say the name of the play. Apparently if you say the name of the play you have to step out of your dressing room turn around three times, spit and swear and then knock and ask to be let back into the dressing room. My superstitious actors did that this weekend.

I am not working on the Scottish play but I am next door. This weekend our play had some technical difficulty but the show went on and everyone handled it brilliantly. However as five actors came back for their final change they were a little upset. One of them said "It's cause they're doing that Scottish play next door."

The Scottish play has had its share of adventure this weekend as an understudy went on.

Lord Lennox came to say hi yesterday and to assure me that they would try to use different rats in the stew.

The British are Here

2010-02-10T20:39:00.000-08:00

I just finished Day 2 of tech for a show that has come to us from across the pond and I have to admit that I feel like I need to write down all the little "british" things they say.
There are things I've known for a while since I've read books like Harry Potter and worked around other actors from England
Elevator = Lift
Sneakers = trainers
suspenders = braces
headset = cans (I think of this as like old school walkie talkies being cans on a string but I'm probably wrong)

vacation (or time off) = holiday - I am thinking of adopting this term for my 6 week layoff in April. I think it is much better to call it a holiday than a layoff. Layoff sounds so negative. Holiday sounds positive like I'll be doing something awesome like lying on a beach somewhere instead of looking for little temp jobs like I'l really be doing.

lobby = foyer

Actor: Carrie I can't find my hat. I think I might have left it in the foyer when we went out there at the end of the show or maybe it is on stage or something.

I take off to go search for hat. I search on stage, I search in the house. I come back to talk with the actor about if he remembers where the hat is.

Actor: Oh I think I left it in the foyer.

Me: Do you mean the lobby? Or the hub? I don't know where you were.

Actor: We were in the foyer. You know the one with all the leather chairs that over look the dock.

At this time I'm freaking out because I realize the actor is telling me he has left his hat in the lobby and that it is 7:00 pm and even though we are just doing a run through there is really no way this hat is still going to be there because an usher or helpful audience member will have already picked it up by now.
OK so I go to stage door.

Me: Hi did a little black wool hat get turned in here.

Unhelpful stage door lady: ( looks at the list of lost and found things and can't find the page for that day)
Me: (Really trying not to lose it here cause I want to scream at her because why can't she walk five steps to where the actual lost and found is kept and look and see if there is a black hat there. She can't and I do not have time for her so I leave her still looking at the lost and found log for the day)

Hat is later brought up by stage door lady after she tries calling up to us three times. In the end she had to come all the way upstairs with the hat because she couldn't walk five steps to look at the actual lost and found.

But really costumes pieces shouldn't be left in the lobby. Ever. Again.

MacBeth review

2010-02-06T15:52:00.000-08:00

One of the perks of my job is the comp tickets. I usually end up giving them to friends but on the rare occasions when I have time off I sometimes try to use them myself.
I got my comp tickets to opening night of MacBeth at The Guthrie a while ago and I wasn't sure I was really up for tragedy on my week off. I mean it is February in Minnesota and the ground has been covered in snow since the beginning of December. That is tragic in itself.
Earlier in the week I turned on the TV and saw a spot on KARE 11 about the show and decided that I could not miss this show. Since I start on another show on Tuesday I figured this week would be my only chance so I called up my friend KT to come see some tragedy.
*I have certain people I call for certain shows. Musicals are best enjoyed with my friend Jim while it seems like KT is the person I call to see Shakespeare.
I can's find the video that made me want to see this but here is a link to the article.
kare11.com | Twin Cities, MN | Guthrie Theater opens MacBeth
I thought this play was amazing. It opens with this battle and people flying in on ropes. MacBeth wins the battle and the witches come and make their prediction that Macbeth will be king.
From the moment Malcom is named Prince of Cumberland by his father Duncan you can see MacBeth's desires and ambition to be king and to see what the witches said come true. I think Lady MacB's ambition is apparent from the first moment we see her reading a letter.
It is only after he has murdered Duncan that he realizes that there was more to the witches predictions than that he would be king. There was also the prediction that Banquo would be father to a long line of kings. Only after he has murdered and has blood on his hands does Macbeth remember this part of the prophesy.
The fight scenes in this show are amazing from the beginning battle scene to the final scene when MacDuff comes back to avenge his family.
One thing I have always loved about Shakespeare's tragedy is that when I am watching them I always feel like tragedy marches on. The events get set in motion and they march on to then end. When just a small act could change them. A letter arriving on time or listening better to a prophesy could have managed to change the course of things but that doesn't happen and so we wait with MacBeth while the forest seems to start marching towards him and MacDuff comes for revenge.
Yep. Do not miss this show.

No More Wire Hangers

2010-01-28T12:39:00.000-08:00

When I was a kid I was obsessed with the movie Mommy Dearest. I would ask my mom if we could watch the movie about the mean mom.
Today as I moved a pair of pants from a wire hanger to a pants hanger I thought how funny it was that this should be my life.
I do admit to being a little OCD about hangers in my job. When I hang up a costume for a show it usually has a hanger that it goes on. Some things can go on wire hangers but if I'm hanging a suit or a pair of pants or a coat I tend to pick a better hanger. Pants on wire hangers drive me crazy and the fact that all of our pants hangers seem to be on their last legs is driving me crazy too. Seriously I have thrown out 4 pants hangers in the run of this show because they were broken.
Does the OCD hanger problem (which I think makes me a good wardrobe girl) stem from the fact that my parents weren't very good about monitoring my TV habits as a child?

Beware of Monsters

2010-01-25T15:01:00.000-08:00

Check call board then get coffee

2010-01-19T13:22:00.000-08:00

Today was another one of those "For whom does the alarm clock buzz" student matinees. Three of them this week.
When I find myself getting to work at the same time that people who work during the day arrive I have one thought. Caffeine.
On those days I make my first stop the Coffee bar and get a tea.
I do however run past all these daywalkers in an attempt to get my coffee before them because after all they are used to being at work early and I am not. This makes my coffee need an emergency while theirs is just sort of habit.
Today I used my frequent coffee drinkers card to get a free beverage.
When I got downstairs to the call board I saw a sign saying that the cast a crew of the show could have a free coffee or treat.
So my priorities of caffeine before work meant that I got to have a treat instead. Yippee!

Product review- Oil of Olay ultra hydrating moisturizer

2009-12-21T09:19:00.000-08:00

I just completed my third nine show week of Christmas Carol. Only twelve more shows to go before it is off to the next.
The other day one of the kids from the Want and Ignorance scene asked if she could use some lotion on her face since her skin was getting so dry from the make up and then scrubbing the make up off during a quick change. I said that was fine. I think I thought she was going to put it on after our change but she put it on before the change. Brilliant.
Now I remember that part in Stage Make Up 101 in college when we put moisturizer on before applying all the stage make up.
So the kid, Want, gets dirt on her face so she can look really needy and poor. It is some kind of black make up and another dresser applies it with a sponge. I never know how much is going to be on and I have maybe a minute to scrub it all off so the kid can go back to her role as a Crachit kid.
Enter the Oil of Olay moisturizer. Now the make up comes right off with very little scrubbing at all. Just a quick wipe with the wash cloth and it's gone.
So I need to remember for future dirtying- Oil of Olay equals speedy dirt removal.

Holiday pet dress up

2009-12-06T08:14:00.000-08:00

The other day at Target I found myself staring at an end cap full of holiday cat costumes. I would buy one but I think that I will take the $5 and donate it to the adopt a family fund.
The costumes, for cats, included a hat, a collar piece and then some sort of leg warmers- brown for the reindeer costume and red for the santa costume.
OK so anyone who owns a cat knows ho difficult it is to get them to wear just the hat. So really, leg warmers? I know my cat would be hiding under the bed before I got the collar and hat on.
Thankfully my cat is 20 pounds and the idea that cats come in different sizes has not occurred to Target so my cat will be spared the humiliation of a reindeer costume. Maybe I will just cut and his face in an Elfyourself video.

Friday Beads

2009-12-05T08:38:00.000-08:00

Every Friday as I look at my non-theater friends' status updates on Facebook there seems to be a theme. TGIF. Countdown to leaving the office. Only two more hours of work.
This is not the case for people in theater. This is our busy time. Fridays usually begin the start of a four or five show weekend. One Friday, two Saturday, two Sunday or maybe only one on Sunday. But right now I'm working on Christmas Carol so that means five show weekends.
One of my friends wanted to make Fridays more exciting for those with five show weekends to look forward to on Fridays instead of only two more hours at our desk. And so the Friday Beads were born. They are black beaded necklaces, cause backstage people wear black. They are usually plastic and purchased at second hand stores. You can take them out and wear them on Fridays cause it is fun and it makes Fridays special. If you aren't into wearing them you can just take them out of your locker and shake them in the air for a second, like "yay bead Friday".

For whom does the alarm clock buzz? It buzzes for thee.

2009-12-02T16:26:00.000-08:00

This morning when the alarm rang it was dark and it was early. I think that the offending alarm ended up getting relocated from the night stand to the floor in an effort to put some distance between me and the buzzing.
Why would a wardrobe girl have her alarm set to go off at O' Dark thirty you may ask.
The answer is a 10:30 matinee.
There were two of these this week and two last week and there will be two more next week.
I used to be a waitress. I worked the lunch shift and would often go in and open and get cut after the lunch rush. This could mean getting done with work by 1:30 or 2 depending on how busy the place was and how many servers were on. When I first started working on student matinees it always reminded me of working a lunch shift. You went in for a couple hours and then you were done and you had made your money for the day.
Even though I get up early to get to the gym and work out and spend part of my day writing there is a difference between getting checking my facebook at 9 and being at work at 9.
So I have been going to work early, sometimes before people who work during the actual day get there and I have been done with work by 1.
The writing schedule that I had been so good at sticking to is long forgotten although I did write a little today.
This morning the sound guy actually said "morning" instead of grunting a greeting like yesterday.
Next week is our last 10:30 matinee of this run which is celebrated by Jammie Breakfast in which the Wardrobe girls cook eggs and bacon for the cast, crew and well pretty much anyone who is drawn in by the scent of bacon.

Showtime Repair Kit

2009-11-30T18:18:00.000-08:00

Today my friend KT called me to see if I wanted to go to Michael's for craft supplies for the Grown up Shrinky Dink Party she is hosting this week.
I'm always up for a visit to the craft store so I said yes.
When we went to aisle 11 to find the grown up scissors I found this little gem.

That's right, it's the "Showtime Repair Kit" Ideal for Recitals, plays, cheer and dance events and other performances.
As a seasoned wardrobe girl I can say that this does include the basics that any good wardrobe girl or boy would need.
This kit includes buttons, bobby pins, double sided tape, hook and loop circles, pre-threaded needles, safety pins, scissors, seam ripper and straight pins.

Although I have my own all of these things in my station I was sucked in by the pink packaging, the promise of being perfect for plays and cheer performances and the amazing folding lint brush.
I'm not sure I can actually imagine using this tiny lint brush but I guess it could do in an extreme emergency
But now I have a pair of scissors and a seam ripper in the preferred color of wardrobe girls- black.
So I give this kit a thumbs up for the folding lint brush, the pink packaging and the supplies.

The trip to the $1 section at Michael's also inspired me to participate in CC Secret Santa game. So whoever is lucky enough to have me as their SS will get totally awesome Santa Soap, Santa Pez and a candy cane striped journal. Now all I need is some candy and I'll be set to go.

90 minute cardio workout

2009-11-29T05:47:00.000-08:00

So it it back to that holiday classic, A Christmas Carol, this year. Actually we opened about a week ago.
The big change in this year's production is the fact that it has been cut to 90 minutes with no intermission. Apparently patrons wanted a shorter play so we gave it to them
The first time we ran this show it was total chaos backstage. From the front no one could tell that it looked like a herd of Victorian college kids had moved in and thrown their clothes every where backstage. Things were in discard piles that actually needed to be tracked. There is a great deal of do or die tracking in this show.
I missed three changes upstairs because I was trying to convince an actor downstairs that it was indeed time to change.
Fortunately the second time was better and it is up and running smoothly now.

It does still feel a little like a 90 minute cardio workout. I signed up for something called the Frosty Challenge at work. The Challenge is not to gain weight between Thanksgiving and New Years. I'm kinda thinking with this show it isn't going to be a problem. Not only do I go up and down the stairs about 4 or 5 times while doing my presets but I go up and down the stairs three more times during the show. Needless to say when they asked if I wanted info on walking or climbing stairs in the building as part of the Frosty Challenge I declined. Not only am I running around backstage I also don't have time to eat during the show at all. No time to stop in the crew office and have doughnuts or cookies. Maybe I should look into those Goo packets that runners "eat".

40 years of Sesame Street

2009-11-08T07:08:00.000-08:00

Well Sesame Street turns 40 this week.
When I first graduated from college I worked at a place making costumes for the Sesame Street Live tours. I remember ten years ago celebrating 30 years of Sesame Street and 25(?) years of Sesame Street Live tours.
My time there was fun but I was so young. I remember when I first got the job out of college thinking that working with Sesame Street Live things was like a dream come true and I guess that for a while it was. But after a while it became a little mundane for me. I was also young and hadn't yet learned how to balance work and social life yet. I ended up quitting after two years when I came to the realization that I was making more money at my evening and weekend waitress job. After completing years of school and college I think I just wanted to have fun.
When I quit it was sort of sad for me. I had gotten a couple bad reviews at my annual review times. Partially I think it is because I wasn't properly trained in on the processes they wanted us to use and partially because I was having a lot of boyfriend drama that was leading to depression. When I left there I thought I would never work in theater again. I was sure that even if I wanted to the two years I spent there would haunt me.
That did not happen. After waiting tables for about 6 months I got slowly back into theater and realized that it was still a passion. I think that because of those two years I try to maintain a level of professionalism where I work. I always try to give my best because I feel so thankful that I was given a second chance at theater. When I'm having a bad day I just think about how lucky I am to be where I am.
So Happy Birthday Sesame Street.

Laundromat reviews

2009-11-07T08:44:00.000-08:00

I took on this laundry gig while I was off from my regular job.
I am just wrapping up the last of the laundry for the show. First of all let me say if I knew the laundry was going to be 3 double loaders full of laundry I never would have taken it on. But I did and now it is finished.
As a result of taking on this gig I have spent a lot of time at the laundromat over the last month because my condo building is not prepared to handle this much laundry for a show. If it had been two loads like it was the first day then maybe I could have gotten away with it but once it became apparent that it was three heaping laundry baskets full I realized that the only way to get it done and respect my neighbors would be the laundromat.
The two laundromats I spent a lot of time at were the Ultra Wash on Bloomington Ave. This laundromat is also home to Ultra Tan although I have never seen any tanning customers while I have been there. The prices seem good with the double loaders at $2.25, the triple loaders at $4.25 and the Mega loaders at $5.50. Drying is .25 for 6 minutes.
The space is kept clean and orderly by the attendants and they are always there to help with questions or issues with the machine.
Like all good laundromats the Ultra Wash has a TV which during the weekdays often have some version of Justice on, Judge Hackett, judge Joe Brown. If there are kids there they might have some PBS on.
No laundromat would be complete without a little Ms. Pac Man, which they have. They also have Soul Caliber.
The other laundromat I went to was the Vend-a-wash on Chicago and Lake. The benefit to this laundromat is that it is open 24 hours.
Think the neighborhood is sketchy? Don't worry. They lock the doors at night, there is always an attendant on duty and the attendant will help you bring laundry to and from your car.
This laundromat has everything. A jukebox that plays some current hits as well as many spanish hits. I think I heard one song in English and the rest were Spanish.
The laundry is a little more expensive here coming in at $3. for the double loaders $5 for the triple and I didn't even check the mega loaders. The dry is more expensive too. .25 will get you 5 minutes. But there are lots of tables for folding and the place is always attended so I guess you pay extra for that.
Besides the Jukebox they also feature a popcorn machine, the machines that dispense stickers and wattoos and sticky spider toys. They also have a claw machine.
Laundry wise they have a huge 10 load washer that is good for washing rugs and stuff and they have the pressing machines.

matching sexy costumes

2009-11-01T05:03:00.000-08:00

I know Hallowwen was yesterday so this post may seem a little late. However experience has taught me that there are a lot of procrastinators out there. So this may help people get a jump on next years costume.
The other day after a long day of renting out costumes we were sitting around talking about Halloween costumes. The subject of the "sexy costumes" came up. OK so these are the short little dresses that are made for grown up women. They are low cut and fitted in the bodice and then have a short skirt. Sexy witch, sexy pirate, sexy maid, sexy Dorothy, sexy devil. The only thing that really changes is the colors and sometimes the bodice but the fit is the same. They even sell patterns for the "sexy" costumes for the DIY girls. Here are some examples of a sexy Wizard Of Oz look.
Now there are places who sell matching sexy costumes for humans and their pets. Check out SpoiledRottenDoggies.com. I was unaware that chihuahuas could feel sexy.

There are two things that make me sad about this.
1. I only found out about this on Oct. 30th.
2. They only come in XS, S and M. If they came in L or XL I would want to get one for my 20 pound cat. Also where is the love for the German Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers or English Bulldogs who wanted to be Sexy Pirates or Sexy School Girls?

Happy Halloween

2009-10-30T17:08:00.000-07:00

The last week I have been working at the warehouse helping people rent costumes for Halloween.
This has been fun. It is like being a wardrobe girl as you get to find all the pieces that go with a costume and put it all together for the customer.
It has been really fun seeing some of the costumes come together. Today I dressed a pirate, a gypsy, a pheasant and a salsa dancer.
So here is the thing I notice. At this point in the game when we are just a day away from Halloween it seems like people are just paralyzed with the idea of making a decision. This is the point where you would actually have to commit to being a pirate or a roman soldier or a vampire or whatever.
I notice that a lot of people come having no idea what they want to be. The idea of making a decision is sort of overwhelming and so they try on things and then decided to maybe come back tomorrow. Really tomorrow. What about all the parties on Halloween Eve since Halloween is on a Saturday this year it means and extra day of parties. Some of these have turned out really fun and others still have no idea what to be so they leave no closer to a costume than before. It is kind of a bummer.
Sometimes people want to be someone. They don't want to explain that they are a pirate or a devil or a cavalier or Jane Austen. They want you to look at them and know that they are Little Bo Peep or a hippy or the Queen of Hearts.
The other thing is that people who procrastinate are also reluctant to spend money. I walked into work today to find that a costume I rented out the other day got cancelled. So I guess that people have this huge buyers remorse but what they don't realize is that maybe they could win a costume contest and pay for their Halloween fun.
Also at this point in the procrastination game people say "Oh I could buy that a black cape at Target for $15." Really? Have you been to Target? Cause I was there just there this morning and unless you are four or have four legs there isn't much selection left so good luck finding a cape at any of the cheap retail stores.

When I used to work in the costume shop at another theater where we did not rent Halloween costumes people were always calling around Halloween to find costumes. Here is how that conversation goes.
Customer: Do you rent costumes?
Me: We rent to schools and theaters who are doing plays?
Customer: Well it's for a school Halloween party/ fundraiser.
Me: Well it is going to be at least $150.
Customer: Oh No that's to much. Do you know anyplace that has costumes.
Me: (rattle off names of places who rent/sell costumes)
Customer: Do you have the phone numbers of those places.
Me: um they should be in the phone book or on the internet

King of Shadows

2009-10-25T19:23:00.000-07:00

I'm off work and using the time to go see some plays.
When I tell people I work in theater I think they imagine that I get to see a lot of plays and I guess that technically I get to see the plays from a different perspective. But I do get to see a fair amount of shows.
The play "King of Shadows" by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa at Pillsbury House Theater is a show that has been on my to see list since it opened at the beginning of (R)October. With only one more week left to see this show I decided to get myself down to the Pillsbury House and see it.
First of all I love this theater. It is in my neighborhood and it is small but they do really excellent work.
The play is directed by Randy Reyes and is about a homeless youth, Nihar, who is befriended by a social worker, Jessica.
Nihar, played by Qadir Kahn, is homeless and survives by selling sex. After Jessica,(Catherine Johnson Justice) interviews him for her book he asks if he can crash at her house for a couple of days. Jessica is the guardian for her teenage sister Sarah (Taj Ruler) and she is dating a cop, Eric (Josh Foldy).
Nihar predicts the weather and tells a story of the King of Shadows and the Green Lady who he believes stole him from his real parents and took him to live in their world. He is trying to escape The King of Shadows and the Green Lady.
Jessica wants to believe Nihar and to help him. Trust is a huge part of the play as Nihar has to trust Jessica enough to let her interview him and then he asks her if he can stay at her house and she has to trust him enough to let him stay.
It is suspenseful as you wonder what is reality and what is myth created for survival.
Overall I think this play is good and would highly recommend it to friends.

wash in delicate

2009-10-07T09:13:00.000-07:00

My favorite baseball team is in the post season. After wearing my favorite Twins shirt for four of the last 5 days I decided it was time to wash it before going to watch the tiebreaker with friends.
When I posted my facebook status that I washed my shirts one of my friends (a Cubs fan???) told me that I washed all the "luck" out of the shirt.
OK first of all I was a little upset at her for jinxing my new favorite shirt but it is OK because I am a professional wardrobe girl.
As a professional wardrobe girl I have done my fair share of laundry with glitter and sparkles and lace and motifs. Needless to say I know how to take care of laundry. I think this extends to luck. I believe that I can wash a shirt without washing the luck out. I wash in cold water on the delicate cycle. I air dry or tumble dry low.
That is how a wardrobe girl keeps her Twins shirt lucky.

Bravery

2009-09-28T17:58:00.000-07:00

Today I was in my writing class and it was my turn to workshop my chapter. That means that people will give praise and then ask questions.
I must have gotten that deer in headlights look because my instructors encouraged me to not give up and whatever.
OK the deer in headlights thing is just a look I get when I'm processing stuff sometimes. I'm tough. I'm resilient. I don't give up. I can handle workshops.
But it made me think how being a wardrobe girl has prepared me for writing criticism.
As a wardrobe girl part of my job is to take care of my actors. This means telling them that they are beautiful, thin, talented. It means telling them that the audience loves them. It means always encouraging. It means listening to my actors. Sometimes it means cheering for my actor while they are getting ready before they go onstage. So since I can do this for other people I can do this for myself.
One thing that I love about theater is the amount of courage it takes to get up in front of an audience and tell a story. To enter into a contract with a different audience every and portray a character. It takes a bravery that I am in awe of every day.
I admire the process of creating the art.
But I like to think that being in the presence of this bravery every day has made me a better writer. It has gotten me to the point where I can put my work out there and take suggestions and compliments and be a better writer.
Seeing the process of the way a play comes together makes me realize that writing is a living ever changing thing too. When I think of how every time I read certain books I feel differently it feels like the same way when I feel when I see plays. Every performance has the chance to show me something different.

2009-09-21T19:50:00.000-07:00

Last night I closed the show I was working on. I have to say that I was very sad to see the show end since I love the people and the music of the show.
So when we get a cast list for a show many of my coworkers go on google/IMDB to see who we will be working with. Before we had computers for use at work this was usually just done by looking in the bio in the program.
My fellow coworkers googled and found out that Tina Fabriqe, the actress playing Ella, sang the Reading Rainbow.
So at the closing night all of us 30 year olds gathered round and she treated us to a live and in person performance of the song.

Work and Identity

2009-09-09T14:30:00.000-07:00

I work in theater. When I tell people where I work they usually ask lots of questions. Then one of three things happens.
Thing 1. My job is not interesting or important enough for them. They have to mend this in their mind. Next time I am introduced by them they say "This is Carrie. She is in charge of all the costumes at _________. " Then I have to say oh no and explain my job for real so people don't get the wrong idea about me or my duties.
I have often wondered about this need for other people to elevate me from mere Wardrobe Girl to some sort of Super Costume Woman. Over the years I have decided that it has more to do with people needing to feel more important. If they know someone who works somewhere cool it sounds even cooler and more important if they have a cool job.
Thing 2. When people know where I work I often get introduced in terms of my work. "This is Carrie. She works at _________."
This is a little less annoying because it does sometimes prove a good icebreaker for me to talk about what I do. People ask me lots of questions. But sometimes it makes me wonder because I don't always introduce people in terms of where they work. I also wonder if I would be half as fascinating if I worked in an office filing TPS reports. It is good because it pulls me out of my shell.
Thing 3. Sometimes discussion about my work leads to lots of questions and I end up feeling like I unintentionally derail the normal set path of something like a writing class because people want to talk about my job for way longer than they would want to talk about me if I was a waitress or something.
I start a new writing class on Monday which will mean meeting new people and lots of new conversations about what I do. I'm looking forward to my class and will have to send them here if they want to know about my job.

Shoe Shine Girl

2009-09-06T07:17:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid I would watch my Dad shine his shoes every week. This was in the early eighties when people who worked in offices with computers wore suits, at least when other people were going to be at the office.
My Dad was a computer programmer but he also called himself an engineer. Since I watched a lot of Sesame Street I was sure that engineer meant someone who drove the train. I knew from Sesame Street that a train engineer wore striped bib overalls and a matching hat. But every day Dad put on a suit and tie. I never understood why he would need to wear a suit to be an engineer. I think I figured that he changed when he got to work or something.
But every week Dad would break out the shoe polish and the shoe brush and he would polish his wing tip shoes and I would watch and talk to him while he went about his shoe polishing task.
I know that a lot of men learned the art of shining shoes from their fathers but I guess I did too. I also learned the art of tying a tie from watching my Dad get ready every morning.
This has actually served me well in my job since I sometimes have to shine shoes that are in the shows. Whenever I shine shoes for a show I always remember sitting and watching my Dad shine his shoes.
Sometimes I see ads on Craigslist for shoe shine girls under the Events sections and although I'm not sure if I want to shine shoes as a job I know that I could. I also usually see a Shoe Shine Girl at the airport when I travel. This gives me hope. Besides sewing and dressing and food service I have yet another skill that I can market- shoe shining.

Tap-a-tap-tap

2009-09-03T13:11:00.000-07:00

Last night I had a crazy dream which reminded me of my favorite crazy backstage dream.
Once I dreamed that I showed up for work not wearing my ninja quiet monochromatic black converse. Instead I was wearing tap shoes.
I am constantly worried about noisy shoes backstage ever since I worked at a theater that was just a big concrete square with a metal roof. I tend to work on quieter plays on my stage as opposed to musicals. This has led me on an obsessive search of the most quiet shoes.
But in my dream I am wearing tap shoes. So I am running around backstage and up and down the voms to all my quick changes in tap shoes. I think that there are times I tried to tip toe in the tap shoes but they still made noise.
I woke up from this dream highly entertained unlike the dream I had last night. It has always been one of my most highly entertaining theater dreams.

Code of Ethics

2009-09-02T08:36:00.001-07:00

I found this on the internet.

A 1945 Code of Ethics for Theatre Workers Surfaces

by Janet Thielke | August 11, 2009

While appearing on Broadway in her Tony-nominated role of Jeanette in The Full Monty in August, 2001, Equity member Kathleen Freeman died of lung cancer. Equity Councillor Jane A. Johnston, a longtime friend and executrix for Ms. Freeman’s estate, later discovered among Ms. Freeman’s papers a document containing A Code of Ethics for Theatre Workers. Ms. Freeman was a daughter of a small time vaudevillian team. Her childhood experience of touring with her parents inspired this Code of Ethics, Ms. Johnston writes. She also notes: “What is particularly interesting about this list of dos and don’ts for the theatre is that it was written in 1945 when Kathleen was establishing one of the first small theatres in Los Angeles and she was 24 years old. I wish I had been told some of ‘the rules’ when I was a young actress instead of having to pick them up as I went along.”

The theatre was the Circle Players (with Charlie Chaplin among its backers), which later evolved into the Players’ Ring. Although there is no record that either company used an Equity contract (they certainly pre-dated the 99-Seat Code in Los Angeles), Ms. Johnston confirms that all the participants were professionals.

Foreword to the Code:

“A part of the great tradition of the theatre is the code of ethics which belong to every worker in the theatre. This code is not a superstition, nor a dogma, nor a ritual which is enforced by tribunals; it is an attitude toward your vocation, your fellow workers, your audiences and yourself. It is a kind of self-discipline which does not rob you of your invaluable individualism.

“Those of you who have been in show business know the full connotation of these precepts. Those of you who are new to show business will soon learn. The Circle Players, since its founding in 1945, has always striven to stand for the finest in theatre, and it will continue to do so. Therefore, it is with the sincere purpose of continued dedication to the great traditions of the theatre that these items are here presented.”

The “rules” follow:

1. I shall never miss a performance.
2. I shall play every performance with energy, enthusiasm and to the best of my ability regardless of size of audience, personal illness, bad weather, accident, or even death in my family.
3. I shall forego all social activities which interfere with rehearsals or any other scheduled work at the theatre, and I shall always be on time.
4. I shall never make a curtain late by my failure to be ready on time.
5. I shall never miss an entrance.
6. I shall never leave the theatre building or the stage area until I have completed my performance, unless I am specifically excused by the stage manager; curtain calls are a part of the show.
7. I shall not let the comments of friends, relatives or critics change any phase of my work without proper consultation; I shall not change lines, business, lights, properties, settings or costumes or any phase of the production without consultation with and permission of my director or producer or their agents, and I shall inform all people concerned.
8. I shall forego the gratification of my ego for the demands of the play.
9. I shall remember my business is to create illusion; therefore, I shall not break the illusion by appearing in costume and makeup off-stage or outside the theatre.
10. I shall accept my director’s and producer’s advice and counsel in the spirit in which it is given, for they can see the production as a whole and my work from the front.
11. I shall never “put on an act” while viewing other artists’ work as a member of an audience, nor shall I make caustic criticism from jealousy or for the sake of being smart.
12. I shall respect the play and the playwright and, remembering that “a work of art is not a work of art until it is finished,” I shall not condemn a play while it is in rehearsal.
13. I shall not spread rumor or gossip which is malicious and tends to reflect discredit on my show, the theatre, or any personnel connected with them-either to people inside or outside the group.
14. Since I respect the theatre in which I work, I shall do my best to keep it looking clean, orderly and attractive regardless of whether I am specifically assigned to such work or not.
15. I shall handle stage properties and costumes with care for I know they are part of the tools of my trade and are a vital part of the physical production.
16. I shall follow rules of courtesy, deportment and common decency applicable in all walks of life (and especially in a business in close contact with the public) when I am in the theatre, and I shall observe the rules and regulations of any specific theatre where I work.
17. I shall never lose my enthusiasm for theatre because of disappointments.

In addition, the document continued:
“I understand that membership in the Circle Theatre entitles me to the privilege of working, when I am so assigned, in any of the phases of a production, including: props, lights, sound, construction, house management, box office, publicity and stage managing-as well as acting. I realize it is possible I may not be cast in a part for many months, but I will not allow this to dampen my enthusiasm or desire to work, since I realize without my willingness to do all other phases of theatre work, there would be no theatre for me to act in.”
All members of the Circle Theatre were required to sign this document. And they must have-because the theatre, and the group into which it evolved, was successful for many years.

2009-08-31T16:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I amazed even myself on a trip to the Mall of America.
Here is how I got conned into going to the Mega Mall.
Mom: Well I think I'm going to go into Goodwill* and see if I can find anything to wear to the wedding.*
Me: Mom, no. You are not going to find black tie at the Goodwill. We'll go to the mall when you come to visit.
Mom: Really? Are you sure? Do you think they'll have something?
Me: Yes. We'll go to Nordstom Rack and find you something really nice.
Mom: OK
So we go to The Rack. I got a little distracted by some Smart Wool socks but then I switched into costume girl mode and found a fabulous dress for my mom By Alex Evenings.
It was kind of magical that we found it and even the cashier was impressed with our find.
It is absolutely wonderful and after a little altering it will be perfect for the wedding.
I have to admit that I feel very skilled. Not only did I find my mom the perfect dress but I also altered it. So my dresser skills carry over into real life and have come in very handy during this summer's wedding season.
*Mom claims she said she was going to an upscale second hand store, not Goodwill.
*Wedding is Black Tie requested and is causing my parents stress and confusion as they try to figure out what is appropriate attire and come to grips with my step father buying a black suit that was made in this decade, not his grey suit from 1973.

The most successful

2009-08-26T14:53:00.001-07:00

When I was in college one of the toughest things I had to do was to convince my parents that I really could work in theater and support myself.
The first summer I work in summer stock I worked crazy hours and made no money. My parents knew how much I worked because the theater was in the same town as my dad. That fall I needed some money for a car repair so I went to the bank of Mom and when the bank of Mom would not approve my loan I went to the bank of Dad. The Bank of Dad told me that he would give me this loan but it would be the last loan and that if I was going to work in theater I was going to have to figure out how to not ask him for money.
Since I was in my junior year I felt a little past the point of switching majors I decided that I would have to make it work.
Also by this time I loved what I was doing.
So I've worked hard over the years and been smart with my money and with work. Sometimes with work it is feast of famine meaning that there will be times when there is more work than I could ever handle followed by times when there is no work at all. But I think that this pressure to prove to my parents that my job is real and can support me has put me in a better financial state than my siblings who did not have to prove that nursing or engineering were good careers. My brother has yet to land a job in his field and my sister quit nursing after a couple years.
So as I pointed out to my dad a couple years ago, technically I'm his most successful kid.

Advice from Musical Theater

2009-08-18T10:27:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was the official start of my part time gig in the costume shop.
The day started with the typical drama of theater when my cutter/draper called me the night before to see if I could give her a ride to work since her car had broken down. So out the window go my plans to run three miles before work and to stay a little later so I can leave early on Friday.
I started on lead boy pants as if I had never left and knew what I was doing. OK those men's pants with the flap front are hard but I survived. Then I put a new back on a vest and made a mock up for a skirt.
My favorite thing of being back in the shop is the musical selection. Oh how I have missed having access to every musical ever made.
After listening to MPR all morning which was really good and had a very confirming story on living adventurous lives from No map. No guide. No Limits I felt good about my decision to focus more on writing.
Yesterday's music was Wicked, Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book and Gypsy the 2008 production with Patti LuPone.
The advice that I was able to get from musical theater yesterday was a gem from Gypsy "You gotta get a gimmick if you want to get ahead."
Ever since then I have been thinking, What is my gimmick? Is it my new found talent for hula hooping? Is it writing?
Probably half the fun in life is trying to find a gimmick.

Quick-Change Turrets

2009-08-16T06:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was reminded of a condition that I like to call Quick Change Turrets. No one I am working with right now has QCT. But I was reminded of the condition during a conversation yesterday and I thought it would make a good blog post.
Quick Change Turrets is when an actor comes off stage for a quick change and begins swearing. It should be noted that they aren't actually swearing at their dresser but just swearing in the stress of having to change a suit or dress in 30 seconds.
The pressure of changing an entire costume in 30 seconds causes this. They worry they will not make an entrance or that if they make the entrance it will be without some essential item like pants. So they begin a string of swear words that would make a sailor proud.
Not every actor is prone to QCT. Some actors use quick change time to worry about if the audience loves them or not. Some talk about other outside of work things. During a quick change the perfect actor will not try to "help". "Helping" can be defined as anything other than standing still and allowing other people to dress them. Perfect actors will stand still and resist the urge to help button or zip things. They will not reach for their shoes while you are trying to zip a bodice.
A wardrobe girl or quick change artist must have a tough skin. Sometimes we have to remember that an actor is not swearing at us but at the change or the suit or the fact that the playwright only gave them 30 seconds to change a costume.
It is important to remember that in two weeks the change will be so smooth and fast it will feel like you have tons of time. You and your actor will be joking about drinking cocktails or smoking cigarettes during the change because that is how much time they have. Quick Change Turrets will be a distant but funny memory.

I'm not Goth, I just wear a lot of black

2009-08-14T12:12:00.000-07:00

Most of the summer has been below average, temperature wise. But this last week has been in the 90's.
That is great. Summer finally arrived.
But it isn't so awesome when most of your wardrobe is black.
People who work backstage wear black. This is so you will blend into the darkness of backstage instead of sticking out in a white shirt. It even gives this tip in the Backstage Handbook that I had in college.
The majority of my wardrobe is black. I have a drawer that is devoted to black jeans and another drawer that is devoted to black shirts and tops. I have a black hoodie for every day of the week. Sometimes despite the fact that I am a grown up people will think that I am still stuck in some high school goth phase. Despite my black converse they never think I am going through a ninja phase.
It has been 90 degrees for the last week. On really hot days like today I wish that I owned less black.
Today for example I went outside and set up the new hose hider for my condo. It was so hot out I nearly did not complete the task.
I also wish I owned less black when I am off from work. I long for different colors but standing in front of really cute tops that are not black I can't figure out when I would wear them.
The funny thing about wearing all this black in the heat is that once I get to work it is freezing cold. Seriously I wear a sweatshirt backstage and I am still cold. It is so cold that the actors don't even want to stand backstage when it is time for places.

Stitchin and Bitchin

2009-08-13T14:51:00.000-07:00

Well Monday starts a seven week gig working in a costume shop.
I have worked at this costume shop for the last eight years and actually feel like I owe this costume shop my eternal gratitude for the job that I have right now. It was in this windowless costume shop where I first sat next to my current boss and she asked me if I had ever worked on wardrobe for a show before. Oh it turned out that I had and the rest is history.
The thing is that I happen to be really shy. I would never have applied at the theater I work at now because I would have been convinced that I did not have the experience to work there. So thank goodness for the costume shop where I met my boss and got my job.
But this loyalty to the shop led to burnout as I was working full time as a wardrobe girl at night and full time as a stitcher during the day.
A couple years ago I had one of those awakening moments where I realized what I wanted to do was be a writer. I mean I have always written and I have filled up journals for the last decade but I wanted other people to read what I wrote. This meant that one of the jobs had to go.
The economy sucks which meant a little creative planning.
So now I am returning as a part time stitcher for a build on my terms, two days a week. I'll still have time to write and I'll have a little extra money/work for a while.
I'm sure I will have great stories to tell from this experience.
Conversations in the shop often range from musicals to politics to who would play you in the Hollywood version of your life story. We often talk about the TV sitcom about our shop which would be called Shop Talk. So hopefully it will be a good experience.

I want to be a Producer

2009-08-11T14:00:00.001-07:00

Well I don't really want to be a producer but I sounded like one the other day.
The midwest is home to much severe weather and while it is unlikely that a tornado will make its way through downtown often the suburbs will experience a tornado touch down. This summer has not been full of much severe weather. It hasn't been hot meaning we haven't had the fronts moving through that would cause severe weather.
The other night we had some severe weather and the sirens were going off and there were tornados sighted in the suburbs so we had to go through what the protocol for severe weather was.
Basically it is to get everyone in one of the theaters as these are the safest spaces. So being the wonderful dresser I am I encouraged the cast to just keep singing/playing since they were already in the safest place they could be in.
Fortunately the storms went to the north of the city and we did not have to put my advice into action.
But I was told as I was giving my words of advice that I sounded like a producer.

Product I can't live without

2009-08-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

OK well it is summer in MN which means wedding season is in full effect. So far this summer I have altered 1 bridesmaid dress, 1 wedding dress and I have one more bridesmaid dress that I will be altering soon. I have a cousin getting married in September.
I have been an attendant or bridesmaid at a number of weddings in my day. Actually being a personal attendant is like being a dresser so it is something that I already know how to do and am fairly prepared for.
With all these weddings I can't help but talk about my favorite item to bring to a wedding. Double stick tape.
Whenever I attend a wedding I always have a roll in my purse. Well except this one wedding where I actually forgot to bring it but totally could have used it.
Here are some uses for double stick tape at weddings.
1. Use it to make sure your strapless bridesmaid dress is not going to fall down or your wedding gown or whatever. Dress strap not staying where you want it. Tape it there.
2. Use it to hem a groomsman's/dad's/usher's pants. Cause seriously you know that one of these people will inevitably forget to get their pants hemmed. a few strategically placed pieces of double stick tape and they are ready to dance the night away.
3. Are your flower girl/ring bearer shoes a little too big. Stick a piece of double stick tape in the back of the show so that they have a better chance of staying on when they walk up the aisle.
4. Well it is still tape so it can be used to tape pretty much anything in place from vows at the podium to the order of the service. Whatever it's tape.
When navigating which double stick tape to buy a girl might be tempted by the "Hollywood Tape" that usually resides in the bra section of places like Target. It claims to be the "secret of Hollywood stars" If paying more for something in a pink package with the word Hollywood makes a person feel better go for it. It is your day and whatever. But really the secret is wardrobe girls and guys have been using plain old double stick tape long before they put it in glamourous "Hollywood" packaging.
I recommend taking your little shopping basket over to the office supply section and buying one of two thing. Either the Scotch brand double stick tape that I think comes with the yellow packaging or the 3M Poster tape. The poster tape is really nice because unlike the Scotch brand they put a little paper over one of the sticky sides so that it is covered until you want to use it. This means that you don't have to waste tape.
When the wedding is over you will probably still have tape left over. Save it for the next wedding you go to. You never know when you will have the chance to save someone's special day with you super awesome wardrobe powers.

Once I carried Steven Tyler's Luggage

2009-08-07T07:08:00.001-07:00

I keep seeing little news blips about Steven Tyler falling off the stage at a performance at Sturgis.

Poor Steven Tyler.

So I can't say that I have worked with Steven Tyler although I did stand around waiting to carry his luggage to the limo after a performance a few years ago.
He was on the phone with Liv. He kept trying to hang up cause he was busy. He was like "Liv, I'll call you back. I'm working on the commercial for _________."
I have to say that he is much smaller in person than I think he is going to be. I mean I know that the stage makes people taller but he is really not very tall also he is skinny.
Waiting to carry Steven Tyler's luggage was one of the more awesome moments of my life. It was one of those times where I did not wish I had some "normal" day job where I did something boring like file TPS reports all day.
When you work backstage you have to be pretty cool about other people's fame. You can not act like a fan. It isn't professional. I mean think about it. Would you want to come to work and sign autographs for the people at your office? I mean it might be cool for a minute but it would get really old fast if people were trying to get you to sign something so for their daughters friend or whatever.
I must admit that this was one of those moments when it was hard to remain cool. I mean here I was, standing outside a rock star's dressing room.
So I took a breath and pretended to be a little bored. As in "Oh carry rock star luggage. Yeah I do that all the time." Eventually he finished on the phone and was whisked away in his Limo as quickly as he had arrived.
So anyway I hope he heals up quickly.

Laundry tip of the day

2009-08-05T14:16:00.000-07:00

So you are going along in your day and you cut yourself. Maybe you nick yourself shaving or slice your finger in the kitchen or get a bloody nose. Unfortunately you get a little blood on your jeans or your favorite shirt.
Don't worry. Spit on it. That's right your own spit will get out your own blood. So if the blood hasn't dried give it a little spit.
Every time I tell an actor or a fellow costume person this they are amazed at how well it works.
I had a wardrobe friend who had kids and after she had her kids she had super spit and could get out not only her own spit but her children's spit as well.

the beginning

2009-08-04T10:08:00.000-07:00

So how does a self-proclaimed shy girl end up in show business?
Trial and Error and an undecided major in college.
When I was four I dreamed of becoming a ballerina. I imagined wearing a tutu every day and pirouetting through life.
My mom enrolled me in a combination tap/ballet class only we did not have the money for tap and ballet shoes. This meant that for the tap portion of the class I wore a pair of brown Mary Jane’s. For the ballet portion of the class I wore my Spiderman bedroom slippers.
I began to dread going to class. This was not the ballet I had seen in little clips on Sesame Street. There were no pink slippers. There were no tutus and then there was that flap-ball-change which was not ballet at all.
The culmination of this class was a recital for the parents. I had already been in holiday pageants at my preschool and getting up in front of people was not for me. Most of the recital was spent with me red faced and crying on stage. The only good thing was that I got to wear a tutu.
My next flirtations with the stage came in late grade school through high school years. My mom got remarried landing me in the kid’s choir in my step dad’s church. My new aunt was the director of the choir, which could be a good thing if I had been able to sing. I couldn’t so I ended up changing the foam core set from clubhouse to Noah’s Arc. I also made sure the props got passed to the little kids.
I remained active in my church’s drama group through high school. During a dinner theater production my role was to be waitress. Not the waitress onstage but an actual waitress during the dinner theater portion. Since this was not what I signed up for and I was already a hostess at a restaurant I quit drama group.
At school I would show up to auditions only to chicken out before actually auditioning. I did show up to help build sets which was kind of fun.
In high school my dream of what I wanted to be when I grew up changed. I wanted to be an editor of Sassy magazine. I practiced for this by being the news editor on my high school paper. But I was still shy especially when it came to interviewing people.
Fast forward to college during a time when it was just becoming ok to enter with an undecided major. So that is what I did. I loved English and thought I might do something with that so I ended up with an English Professor advisor.
*Small world story my advisor in Iowa was a childhood friend with my Aunt’s sister who lived in New York. Meaning my advisor grew up in the same town in Upstate New York as my Mom.
So my English advisor advised me to a theater class and I was hooked. I volunteered in the costume shop sewing muscles on an alien costume and then I worked wardrobe for a show. From then on there was no turning back. I had found my place on the stage was actually backstage. I was in show business, baby.

The Dresser Diaries

2009-08-03T15:26:00.000-07:00

Ok so people blog about everything right. People blog about cake and people blog about cooking. People blog about parenthood and pet ownership. Some even blog about work.
I've always thought my job was interesting. When books like The Nanny Diaries and The Devil Wears Prada I thought wouldn't it be cool to write about my job.
But I didn't. Why? Because while most people can relate to being a nanny not a lot of people can imagine what it is like to be a dresser at a theater.
That's what I do. I'm a dresser or if you want to be fancy I'm a wardrobe technician.
When you go and see a play and an actor goes off stage only to return seconds later in a completely different costume, that's me and my fellow wardrobians.
But I do more than that really. I pass out laundry. I do minor repairs or sometimes major repairs. I make sure my actors have water or tissues or Throat Coat Tea.
While theater goers are enjoying their dinner or just leaving for the show I am getting to work. After the audience has filed out and gotten in their cars I am bringing laundry to the laundry room to be cleaned for the next performance.