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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dressing For The Part?
« on: Apr 25, 2008, 08:00 pm »
Hmm. This is interesting. I'm not sure I agree with a lot of these posts.
I do agree that you shouldn't dress like a friggin' slob. DO dress up for interviews, openings, and any special occasion, and it's definitely okay to dress up a bit for things like meetings where you probably won't be crawling around on the ground.
But I have a hard time with the whole dress-nicer-and-people-will-think-you're-more-professional notion.
When starting a new gig at a new place, I'll dress nicely for first day meeting and greeting business, but usually after that it's jeans, T-shirt, and Chuck Taylors or Sambas. My thought has always been: the actors are wearing sweatpants and shirts with the necks cut off... I really don't think they'll be judging me harshly for jeans. Most of the directors I've ever worked with will come to rehearsals in more casual clothes, as well.
I have never had anyone even hint that they didn't like what I was wearing (knock on wood; watch, it'll probably happen next week now!) and I've never had a problem with being disrespected or unable to assert my authority (I know this one's coming up, too!). Granted, I don't wear shirts with logos that might fall under the "offensive" category, but they're t-shirts nonetheless. I also have several tattoos that, on the occasions that they aren't totally covered up, get nothing but compliments.
On the other hand, I've seen stage managers who have come to a regular rehearsal looking lovely and stylish and professional, who end up having to hold their skirts while they crawl across the floor, or taking off their heels to climb a ladder, or ripping their nice pants when bending over. Usually I find myself thinking "have they DONE this job before?" (and usually it turns out that they haven't).
Meh. My $.02.
I do agree that you shouldn't dress like a friggin' slob. DO dress up for interviews, openings, and any special occasion, and it's definitely okay to dress up a bit for things like meetings where you probably won't be crawling around on the ground.
But I have a hard time with the whole dress-nicer-and-people-will-think-you're-more-professional notion.
When starting a new gig at a new place, I'll dress nicely for first day meeting and greeting business, but usually after that it's jeans, T-shirt, and Chuck Taylors or Sambas. My thought has always been: the actors are wearing sweatpants and shirts with the necks cut off... I really don't think they'll be judging me harshly for jeans. Most of the directors I've ever worked with will come to rehearsals in more casual clothes, as well.
I have never had anyone even hint that they didn't like what I was wearing (knock on wood; watch, it'll probably happen next week now!) and I've never had a problem with being disrespected or unable to assert my authority (I know this one's coming up, too!). Granted, I don't wear shirts with logos that might fall under the "offensive" category, but they're t-shirts nonetheless. I also have several tattoos that, on the occasions that they aren't totally covered up, get nothing but compliments.
On the other hand, I've seen stage managers who have come to a regular rehearsal looking lovely and stylish and professional, who end up having to hold their skirts while they crawl across the floor, or taking off their heels to climb a ladder, or ripping their nice pants when bending over. Usually I find myself thinking "have they DONE this job before?" (and usually it turns out that they haven't).
Meh. My $.02.