Live Arts ASSISTANT COSTUME DESIGN Role Description.
2015.2016
Hello!
Welcome to Live Arts! We’re thrilled to have you on board the team as ASSISTANT COSTUME
DESIGNER for this show. Thank you for volunteering your time, energy, and creativity to this process.
We hope it’s a fun, challenging (in a good way!), and fantastic experience. We are here to help make that
a reality.
The document you’re reading is a brief description of the role of Assistant Costume Designer on a
Live Arts show. If you are familiar with the concept of costume design, but have never worked here before
(or just need a brush-up), the following should give you a good idea of your role and responsibilities in a
Live Arts production.
If you have never designed costumes before, this may not teach you everything. Just remember, ask for
help if you need it. The Live Arts staff team is here to support and train you along with experienced
members of the Costume Guild who may be able to offer you support or mentorship.
Always feel free to ask your Director of Engagement, Tracie Skipper,
for more information: 434-977-4177x107 / tracie@livearts.org
All right! Let’s get started.
Goals of the Assistant Costume Designer:

You will be designing and creating the costumes for this production. At Live Arts, there are three
major methods of costume creation:
— Building: This means that you create a garment from scratch (or alter an existing garment).
Live Arts has a stock of fabric and a costume shop with sewing machines, a worktable, and
supplies that you can use. You may also want to use part of your budget to buy fabric if you
can’t find what you need in stock.
— Pulling: Live Arts has its own costume storage; you may be able to pull many of the costume
pieces you need from this existing stock. We have a large collection of modern clothes, as
well as a good number of period/specialty garments.
— Renting/Buying: You may also want to use part of your budget to rent or buy certain costume
pieces. Other theaters and universities in the area are sometimes able to rent pieces to us.

You’ll be working primarily with the Director to create the look of the production. Weekly design
meetings (as well as any meetings you and the director will want to have on your own) will
provide you with an opportunity to share your ideas with the director and to hear his/her feedback.
The goal is to build a collaborative working relationship with the director and to work towards a
unified aesthetic and (of course!) a great show.

At weekly production meetings, you will also have the chance to collaborate with your fellow
designers (Set, Lights, Sound, etc). These relationships are important since they are
interdependent. For example, pure white costumes can be difficult to light, so if such a costume is
important to you, you may want to talk to the Lighting Designer about the best solution. Or you
may want to speak to the Set Designer about the color palette for the whole show, to make sure
that you are working towards a common goal.

Last but not least, your biggest practical goal is to be aware of the production and to remain
within your budget as you create and implement your designs in collaboration with the Hair and
Make-Up Designer.
— As you make purchases, the receipts are to be given to the Producer.
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Live Arts ASSISTANT COSTUME DESIGN Role Description.
2015.2016
—
If you feel you may need an advance to make purchases, please see The Director of
Production.
— IMPORTANT! Receipts turned in after strike CANNOT be reimbursed.
Responsibilities of the Assistant Costume Designer:

Create sketches or samples or find imagery to share at production meetings that communicates
your design goals with the Director and design team.

With the help of the Stage Manager, schedule costume fittings with the actors.

Turn in your receipts for any materials you’ve purchased at weekly production meetings: usually
you will give these to your Producer or Director of Production.
— To prepare your receipts: please affix these receipts to 8 ½ X 11 paper, label each with a
description of the item’s purpose (i.e. “pants - George”), and tally the total.

If necessary, meet with a member of the Costume Guild to discuss the production and find
mentors, assistants, or helpers. Director of Engagement, Tracie Skipper (tracie@livearts.org),
can put you in touch with someone from the Costume Guild!

Coordinate costume pieces needed for rehearsals with the Director or Stage Manager (usually
these pieces don’t have to be “the real thing.”)

Discuss costume changes with the Director and Stage Manager (how much time do actors have
to change? How do their costumes need to accommodate that?).

Prepare costumes for publicity photos (usually 3 weeks before opening). Communicate with
Marketing and Communications Manager, Kisha Jarrett (kisha@livearts.org), for exact dates.

With the help of the Director of Engagement, find any wardrobe assistants you might need for
the production: dressers, people to help with laundry, ironing, etc.

Ask the Director about when to attend rehearsals. With the help of the Director and Stage
Manager, organize dress rehearsals once costumes are complete.

Attend tech rehearsals to ensure costumes are operational and last minute modifications are
dealt with prior to opening night.

Help make necessary repairs to costumes during the run of the show.

Ensure costumes are being laundered and refreshed as needed.

Collaborate with the Artistic Director, Julie Hamberg (julie@livearts.org), to ensure the highestquality production possible.

Supervise costume strike.
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Live Arts ASSISTANT COSTUME DESIGN Role Description.
2015.2016
Assistant Costume Design Agreement
Okay, here’s the official part. It lets us know that you’ve read the Assistant Costume Design Role
Description and that you’re able to commit fully to this process.
Please read and sign the following page and return it to the Director of Engagement, Tracie
Skipper. If you have any questions, need any help, or would like more information on anything at all,
speak to a member of the Live Arts staff. We can’t say it enough: we are here to help you.
Trust
Yes, in theatre we sometimes like to 'break the rules' to make great art -- but in this real-life community,
trust is imperative.
NO illegal drugs here;
NO under-age drinking here;
NO working or volunteering here while 'under the influence' of same.
YES to rockin-legal parties here;
YES to respecting each other;
YES to a safe space to make art here;
YES to respecting each other’s time and each other’s abilities.
Weather
Have you heard the phrase “the show must go on”? This holds true in all types of weather. The decision
to cancel a performance is left up to the Artistic and Executive directors. Our number one goal is
everyone’s safety and we will do what we can to insure that. With that said, unless the city declares the
roads closed and you hear from the Director of Production, Artistic Director, or Executive Director, the
show will go on.
See Timeline Attachment … Important dates for your production!
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Live Arts ASSISTANT COSTUME DESIGN Role Description.
2015.2016
I have read the description for this position at Live Arts and I agree to fulfill my production obligations as
Assistant Costume Designer for the show I am participating in. I have reviewed the timeline and
understand my commitment to the dates requesting my participation. I understand that I will not receive
financial compensation for this volunteer effort. I agree to allow my image to be used for non-commercial
purposes in the photographs/video for the show I am participating in. I understand that these photos will
be used for the promotion and marketing of Live Arts and the production of the show I am participating in.
I am participating in the Live Arts Production of:
I have read and understand the role description for Assistant Costume Designer.
Live Arts Rep Signature
Assistant Costume Designer Signature
Print Name
Print Name
Title
Address
City, State, Zip
Date
Date
RETURN SIGNED PAGE TO:
Tracie Skipper – before production meetings have begun
Your Producer or The Stage Manger – after production meetings have begun
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