Wardrobe Assistant Careers

Work Environment:

Being a wardrobe assistant, you'd assist to create, find and take care of costumes and clothing utilized in TV productions, theater and film.

You'd work under-supervision of wardrobe mistress or master, or costume-supervisor. Your job may comprise:

• maintaining precise records of items required
• assisting to hire and purchase costume items
• altering and mending items

• ensuring that all costumes and accessories are there when required
• taking care of costumes during scenes/takes
• assisting to create pieces and put outfits together
• unpacking and packing accessories and costumes
• fitting actors/performers
• returning hired-items and storing outfits
• ironing and cleaning

Qualification, Education and Experience:

You'd require practical abilities in dressmaking, machine and hand sewing, and pattern cutting. To be a wardrobe assistant, you do not necessitate standard qualifications. Though, you can gain useful abilities by academy courses like:

• BTEC: Diploma and Certificate into Art and Design
• 'City and Guilds': First, Second and Third Level Certificates into Creative Techniques, with choices comprising for sewing machine methods, theater costumes and pattern cutting

You'd also necessitate work experience. You can obtain work experience by:

• working as a costume-daily at TV and film sets
• dressmaking
• student film productions and theater
• work within a theatrical-costume hire firm
• community/amateur theater

For details regarding work experience into television and film, contact skill-set.

Training Details:

You'd improve your abilities at the work, by experienced designers, wardrobe-supervisors and costume makers.

Within television and film, you might be capable to get apprenticeship type training in the beginning of career with new entrant programs. These programs are occasionally provided by broadcasters, like media training associations, BBC and local screen agencies.

You'd be required to demonstrate your dedication and enthusiasm through gaining related experience, before applying for such programs. For details about available programs, contact skill-set-Careers.

You must keep improving your costume-knowledge and abilities all though your career. To achieve this, you can enroll with professional organization, like Costume Society, or accomplish short training courses into different costume abilities. Check the websites of skill-set and Association of British-Theater Technicians, for information about related courses.

Skills and knowledge:

• excellent interpersonal skills to work within a team
• a knowledge of period clothing, design and fashions
• a patient, calm and tactful approach
• style and creativity
• calmness under-pressure
• an adaptable and flexible approach
• capability to comprehend instructions
• excellent sewing abilities
• excellent organizational abilities
• concentration to details

Salary and Other Benefits:

• Within theater, remunerations for wardrobe assistant can be about $14,000 to $30,000 for a year.
• Within television and film, earnings are generally high, though you might be required to work at low pay scale in the beginning of career.

Working Conditions:

Hours of working could be unsocial and long, as per the schedule of production. Repairs and fittings are done in daytime. Though, evening work will be included if you're working as dresser within theater.

You may work within TV or film studios, theaters, or temporary-cabins if working outdoors on-location. Working circumstances at backstage might be hot and cramped.

Different Opportunities:

You can work with theater firms, film-studios, and television or film production firms. You may work on freelance basis.

You'd be likely to do specialization into TV and film, or theater work, although you can get into another field once you're established. If experienced, you can advance to stage-management or set/production design.

Few openings are publicized by nationwide press, business publications and websites. Though, it's common to obtain job by contacts and networking.

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