Costume Shop Manager

Carol Hammond is a costume shop manager. Her role as a manager is to work closely with the designer, to understand their designs. I realized that her role is very important since she has to supervise the costumes being made and make sure it fits, she is involved in the whole process. However her role doesn't include designing but having control over budgeting,hiring and organizes schedules for costume fittings. It's almost as if she is running a small business. Their priority to work with the designer is important but at the same time fun to do. They have to comprehend where the they're coming from, what their inspiration is, so that they can make it come to life. There's a great amount of collaboration between the designer and costumer manager. There is an alliance theatre which is a costume shop where the dressers work during night shows. The costume manager may not do all the work themselves but they've to plan it out so that all the pieces come together for the show. At the end of each show, it's her job to sort out what costumes to keep, and maybe redecorate for other shows or to throw them away. They have to make sure what they accomplish is done to th best of their ability. I never knew being a costume shop manager would be such a challenge, but it really is. I mean they have to work with the designers to make sure they get their perspective on how the costumes should look like and make sure it's done the way they want it to be. I mean it's not a piece you can go back and fix, that's why they have to put some thinking and creativity in it. Basically try and be in the designers shoes to try and see their vision with the costumes. I always thought that the manager makes the actual clothing but they don't. I think it't more stressful for them since they have to make schedules for fitting times. They have to make sure the designers are doing what they asked for. I never knew that the costume shop had so many different areas, like a wig area, craftshop and it's a huge space. I think there is a lot of pressure on making sure everything goes in order for the final show, but also I think you get more experienced and becomes a bit more easier and there's lots of creativity and imagination involved which is always fun.