CHRISTIANNE BAKEWELL COSTUME DESIGN
  • Portfolio
    • Design
    • Construction
    • Sketches
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog

"Side Hustle" Tips from a Boss Costume Designer

5/28/2018

1 Comment

 
Having a “side hustle” is something most people living in New York need to have to keep up with living expenses. But, people in California, Florida, all fifty states also have “side hustles”. What is a “side hustle”?

I define “side hustle” as a job other than your primary job used to bring in supplementary income.

I brought in my colleague and friend, costume designer Kim Griffin, to talk about her “side hustle” and give advice to young theatre and costume professionals looking to start their first venture.
 
Kim Griffin has an Etsy store: CreatedbyKimGriffin where she sells circle skirts, Mickey Ears, and quidditch uniforms.
Picture
My first question to Kim was how she went about choosing how to host her “side hustle”. Having the right host for you is very important. It needs to be easy for you to change, customize, and get foot traffic. A “side hustle” is your side business. If you are putting more time into it than your main career/job, it is no longer a “side hustle”.

Kim told me she chose Etsy for a few reasons. Etsy has its own search engine optimization (SEO) making your items easier to find. They show up more often in searches in turn bringing more people to your site. There are other sites like Weebly, Wix, etc. that allow for shops to be attached, but those require a different understanding of SEO and search terms. Kim felt Etsy was easier for her because of this. She also picked Etsy for their shipping ease and user friendly amenities that aligned with how she wanted to run her “side hustle”.

After picking a good host for her side business, I asked Kim to give some tips on how to make sure your “side hustle” remains just that , yet how to make sure it makes a profit.
Kim was very quick to say research. Research is important as a costume designer and as a “side hustler”. It is important to research your demographic, your product, your host, etc. Know what kind of cut your host will take from your sales, know what others making similar products to you are charging, etc.

The next tip is to have a community. Having someone to bounce ideas off of or to ask questions when you hit a problem is very helpful. As I talked about in a previous blog (here) it is important to have Facebook groups, chat groups, friends, etc. to talk through things with.
Kim keeps organized to streamline her business. Her specific products can be prepped easily so they are ready to customize and finish when they are ordered by her customers. Finding moments when she has free time Kim preps her supplies just like a prep cook in a restaurant. Having things organized and ready to go keeps the time needed to do things for the “side hustle” to a minimum.  Also having a specific area of your living space designated to your business is important to keeping thing organized.

Being a business you would buy from is also important. Kim sets her customer service high as well as her diversity and inclusive advertising. If you want to buy from the company, most likely others will also buy from you. Kim’s business is all about her customers. She customizes her products for each order. Working with the creativity of her customers excited Kim. It also excites her customers. Many other stores make products and sell them as is. Kim prefers to have starting points for her customers to build from. Kim also uses models of different sizes and skin tones. She admits she needs continue to expand her inclusiveness of models but strives to make her products non-binary and friendly to all who wish to purchase them. “I like buying things from places like Unique Vintage and Modcloth who have more inclusive models and products. I want my business to reflect that.”

Overall Kim says find something that makes you happy and you may be doing even if you weren’t paid for it. She started making ears for Disney Bounding (dressing to suggest a Disney character using modern fashion) just for herself and friends. People would come up to her in the parks asking where she got them and if they could buy them. This sparked the idea that she could make money from something she was doing anyway.
It was great to get some insight into a “side hustle” from a fellow costume designer. Kim’s biggest tip is to find a “side hustle” that you love to do and can make a little cash from and treat your customers well. “There will be people making what you are making. Find a way to stand out.”
Picture
Picture
I recently went to Walt Disney World and asked Kim if I could purchase some ears from her for my sister and myself. I wanted an all new design for Robin Hood which is one of my favorite Disney movies and a version of Kim’s Mulan ears for my sister as it is one of her favorite Disney movies. I enjoyed my meeting with Kim customizing the ears. I also greatly appreciated that she focused on the comfort of the ears. As someone who gets headaches and also wears glasses, having someone pay particular attention to padding the headband was great. In the parks my sister and I got many compliments on our ears. I did have to remove my ears half way through the day for an hour because the combo of glasses and headbands. My sister was able to keep hers on all day and enjoyed all the attention she received.

Visit Kim’s website to see her passionate products. 
1 Comment

A Lighting Designer's Perspective

3/19/2018

1 Comment

 
I have had the pleasure of working with Zachary M. Brienza (Lighting Designer) on three new play productions. Each time there is a new challenge to work through together, whether it be creating a realistic diner on stage, or figuring out how not to blind the audience with gems and sequins. Discussing costumes with lighting is a very important part of the design process. I asked Zachary to sit down and share some of his insight in to the Costume and Lighting Designers' conversation.
Picture
  • C: When working on a new production how do you like to start conversations with the Costume Designer? What pieces of the costume design is most important for you to know?
    • Z: To start off the conversation the first thing I like to talk about is the project itself. It is one of the liveliest conversations to have in the process. All the ideas free flowing, some get knocked down quickly while others take time to catch ground. From my experience, I respond to what the Costume Designer wants in their clothing. Especially when it comes to a specific period since color palettes can be specific to the time.
    • Z: The most important pieces to know about are the fabric choices. More specifically the color and texture.
  • C: Say I wanted to put a red dress on stage and wanted it to pop and take focus in a scene. How would I go about discussing this with the Lighting Designer? How is one way they would achieve this?
    • Z: I would say just to make sure the intention of choice to make the dress take focus is clearly expressed. This would allow the Lighting Designer to take into account the specific shade of red and plan their plot accordingly.
    • Z: One way to achieve such a task can be done via two follow-spots. One uses a red gel/filter to color correct the white light to red and is then focused on the red dress. The second spot would be and open white to clear the actors skin of the red light and allow the dress to reflect more of the red light.
  • C: Do you have any tips that make discussion easier between designers" Are swatches helpful to you (fabric of gels)?
    • Z: Some tips to aid in discussion are just to make sure everything is discussed as early as possible. Provide research and renderings of how you want the costumes to look so that I as the Lighting Designer can put together a color palette that suits the project needs.
    • Z: Personally, swatches of your fabric choices are an important resource. Even just taking the time to meet up and look over your most important items under light is a great help. This gives not only you as a costumer an insight to how it will look onstage as well as give the Lighting Designer a look at what color correction to use.
    • Z: I designed a show where the costume designer brought in some samples of black trousers to match to a black jacket and after looking at them under different light (Color corrected via gel/filter or L.E.D) we discovered that not all black fabric is created equal. Some had different amounts of pigment that would absorb light differently thus altering the color of black you saw on stage. We chose to go with the closest match to the jacket.
  • C: What has been your favorite moment to light so far in your career?
    • Z: My favorite moment to light so far would have to be the scene in Julius Caesar where Cassius and Casca discuss the raging storm and lion walking the streets of Rome. In the Rutgers Theater Company production the set was completely bare blonde wood to mimic the shape of The Globe stage as well as front projection. This combination made this scene specifically exciting to see come to life. 

If you want to see some of Zachary's work you can visit his site: zacharymbrienza.com
1 Comment

Makeup Musings

10/21/2013

0 Comments

 
A colleague of mine recently commented on how she believed theatre makeup was becoming obsolete and that more "street" or everyday makeup brands were being used in the place of classic theatre brands such as Ben Nye and Krylon. This piqued my interest. I did some research including getting ahold of a makeup artist and wig designer friend of mine Melissa Thiede.  
PicturePhoto courtesy of Melissa Thiede
I had noticed a large array of makeup at different theatres I have worked at. Most still used traditional oil based or water based stage paints, but recently I had noticed such companies as MAC and Cover Girl sneaking into different artists' makeup bags. Was this becoming a trend? I asked Melissa for a professional's opinion. 

Bakewell: "Have you noticed a transition in theatre makeup away from "stage" makeups towards "street" makeups like MAC? If so why do you think that is?"

Thiede: " I have heard that there has been changes that have occurred industry. I've only been doing makeup for about four years. I haven't seen any major transitions. Lots of new techniques. This always makes my job exciting. From what I heard from other artists, characters' makeup looks have become more blended and less bold shapes. The makeup can more easily translate from stage to close up."

Bakewell: "Could you give me an example of one of the techniques that has changed since you've started makeup?"

Thiede: "One technique that has really changed is blocking out your eyebrows. I was first taught to use nose and scar wax. Even then, my teacher said it wasn't something used much anymore. It can fall apart very easily when an actor moves their brows. Now, I don't really know any artist that uses it. I was taught by another teacher to use soap or a glue stick to block out eyebrows. This technique appears more natural on an actor's face. Their eyebrow hair easily stays up and out of the way."

Bakewell: "What is the difference between stage and street makeups in application?"

Thiede: "Corrective stage makeup and everyday makeup is similar. You have to highlight and contour just in different ways. My favorite type of makeup to apply is big transformations. For example, an actor into a monster or creature of some sort. "

So based on the questions I've asked Melissa and some industry research, it looks as if there may be a slight transition to more everyday brands of makeup. The old severe contouring and highlighting of the Vaudeville days may be on it's way out. This is understandable since many theatres are become more intimate and actors sometimes physically interact with their audiences. Many performances are also being taped, broadcasted, or shown in movie theatres. Stage makeup is not easily photographed since it is meant to be seen from a distance; not up close. 

I don't think I'll throw away my current stage makeup kit and run out to buy all new "street" palettes, eyeliners, and shadows, but it is nice to know I have that option. 

Melissa wanted to leave you all with a little parting present. Makeup tips that you can use every day!

-Instead of eyeshadow primer, you can use concealer. The eyeshadow sticks to concealer and it will stay all day.
-Eyebrows can completely change your face. They can either make or break your makeup look. 
-Bronzer is not blush. Use it to contour to your cheekbones and jawline.
-Don't sleep in your makeup ever. It ruins your skin and makes you age faster. 
-Use shimmer eyeshadow in the corner of your eyes to make eyes brighter.

Question of the Post

What's your favorite makeup tool/product? 
Mine? Tinted moisturizer (for my own use)

A big THANK YOU to Melissa Thiede! Check out her makeup and wig work over at her website: http://melissathiede.wix.com/gallery
Melissa is a good friend and a great theatre professional. I have learned many things from her. 

If you would like to see more guest appearances on my blog please comment and let me know. I love collaborating with others. That's what theatre is all about. 
0 Comments

    Topics

    All
    Collaboration
    Curious Fashion History
    Graduate School
    History's Halloween Costumes
    Planet Friendly Costuming
    Sample Pack Makeup History
    Theatre News/History
    Thoughts
    Wigs

    Archives

    July 2021
    January 2021
    October 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    December 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    March 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

Picture
Portfolio
About
Contact
Blog
  • Portfolio
    • Design
    • Construction
    • Sketches
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog