PROFESSIONALISM: Dressing For The Part?

[elliebelle]

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.

[thtstagemanager]

Dress to impress.  If you are the stage manager you need to make a statement with your outfit.  YOu are in charge of the entire production, so don't be sloppy and take the time to make extra efforts to look good.  I avoid t-shirts and tanks, that will make you look young and childish.  Button shirts, polos, and dressier shirts are best to wear with jeans or any pants really.  For shows I will wear dress shoes but for rehearsals, let's face it you have to be practical, wear sneakers or casual shoes. 

Some people like to dress how they feel, but you should dress how you'd like to be treated.  Respectfully.  You can't always earn respect from actors, patrons, parents, co-workers if you aren't making an effort.

[centaura]

But I have a hard time with the whole dress-nicer-and-people-will-think-you're-more-professional notion.

Its a very unconscious reaction, but its there.  Even you have pointed out that you make an effort at first impressions by dressing differently for them - so I think you understand it partly on a subconscious level.

I don't propose wearing heels, impractical skirts, etc.  That's not dressing appropriately.  There is a balance between looking professional, and wearing clothing that still allows you to do your job.  Try walking down the street and looking at folks and taking note about what crosses your mind first.  And then try to analize how you came to that conclusion.  You'll be amazed about the conclusions you've come to about the people around you just based on how they're dressed.

-Centaura

[dancesm]

I don't propose wearing heels, impractical skirts, etc.  That's not dressing appropriately

Oh dear - I guess that depends upon what you are able to get done in your choice of garments.

I wear skirts and heels 80% of the time, at work and at home.  It's what I'm comfortable in.  I guess if you're not comfortable, you shouldn't be wearing it!  During the rehearsal process, I do my job in skirts and heels.  Once show time rolls around, I lose the luxury of dressing the way that pleases me, esp during the summer when I do a lot of outside work; climbing a scaffold in a skirt with patrons on the ground?  I think not.  But I do strive to look professional and feminine when I am able.

[centaura]

Quote from: centaura on June 11, 2008, 11:43:28 AM
I don't propose wearing heels, impractical skirts, etc.  That's not dressing appropriately
Oh dear - I guess that depends upon what you are able to get done in your choice of garments.

My apologies, I should have put the word 'impractical' in front of heels, as well.  I was not trying to specify that heels and skirts themselves are impractical, but that there are versions of these items that are.   Often younger folks don't know what that middle ground is between 'dressing up' and 'practical garments'.

The main message that I think we've been trying to convey with this thread is that how you present yourself goes a long way towards how people perceive you.  Even though that's not a message that some folks straight out of high school and college want to hear, and is sometimes flexible in its interpretation for non-paid theatre positions, its a fact of how the business world works.

-Centaura

[playjunkie]

When starting out, like when first approaching the director (around here, you don't interview, it's based on who you know) and during read-throughs, I usually break out the business casual.  Nothing too fancy, just nicer shoes, black jeans, a nice t-shirt or pretty top.  Now, when the show gets underway, it's black cargo pants (being human, I only have two hands and I need about 30) and black t-shirts or tank tops, depending how sweaty I'm going to get that day.  And I love my black DC's.  As long as it's black and not ratty, you look pretty professional.

[ljh007]

I was actually the lone voice in a seminar the other day recommending that our Arts Management Interns reconsider wearing a suit if they were going for a backstage job. Of course, the HR leaders said "You can never go wrong with a suit" - and that is usually 100% true for interviews. But I opened my big mouth and mentioned that if you were interviewing for a tech or backstage job, you should certainly dress nice, but a suit might actually seem way out of place for people used to dealing with stage crews in ratty blacks. (And I'm sure I'll get plenty of feedback on my comment here, now, too!) But my point was, as many others have been saying in this forum, dress appropriately for the job at hand. If you're interviewing for a fundraising job for a theatre, wear the suit - and pearls! If you're trying to land the Assistant Tech Director job, ditch the suit jacket. Or at least wear a goth rock t-shirt underneath. Pearls still optional.

Even if the HR people didn't understand what I was getting at, I think the Interns did. 

[LCSM]

I agree, over-dressing for any job can put people off you right away ("he's wearing a suit, how important does he think he is?") and in a sector such as theater it's important to gain people's confidence from day one.

I tend to dress nicer near the beginning (when we're at the table and such), then by the time my clothes start to look a little less pretty people are already familiar with me and don't really notice.

[MarcieA]

As someone who works a full time day job in an office, I have to dress appropriately for work as well as rehearsal. I'm oftentimes a little more dressed up during the week, when I'm coming from the day job. If I have an event at work that i need to be in a dress for, I bring a change of clothes, but otherwise it's business attire for me most days. I always make sure to bring sneakers and/or other rehearsal appropriate clothing with me when I don't start the day that way.

[BalletPSM]

On the subject of interviews, I always go for what I call "artsy-dressy." As a woman -- personally -- I would never go to an interview in anything but a skirt or dress.  But because I work in theatre, I figure it doesn't have to be the standard 3-piece dress suit, with black skirt, black jacket, white shirt.  You want your outfit to say "I'm ready to be a creative and hard-working part of this team."  I figure, an interview for something theatre related is the time when I can wear the purple dress with the red shoes. Dressy, put together, but also says that I am artsy and creative.

You want to wear your outfit -- not have it wear you.  Own whatever you're in and you can make a tank top and jeans look like a  million bucks.

[sarahbear42]

In college they always told us to wear a suit for interviews, so I was a good little student and did just that... and felt ridiculously out of place when in my interview for my internship I was in a suit and black leather pumps and one of my interviewers was wearing cargo pants and a tank and the other one was wearing shorts and a Hawaiian shirt. Since then, for interviews, I go with a nice button-down top and tailored pants, and flats (I'm 6'1, so shaking hands with a 5'3 interviewer is already awkward without the heels.)

For rehearsals, I generally wear nice jeans, flats or nice looking tennis shoes, and a dressy-casual top if it's a weekday, or a good looking t-shirt if it's a Saturday rehearsal. I also always make sure that I look decently turned out with hair/makeup-- I once had an ASM who used to come to rehearsal with her hair still wet just thrown up in a ponytail on Saturdays... which I think sends totally the wrong message. I always look in the mirror and make sure I look like I've been sitting staring at the script or something for 3 hours before the rehearsal-- to admit to the cast that you were asleep an hour ago just feels disrespectful to me, I'd be mad at any actor who showed up like that.

For performances, I always go with nice looking black stretch jeans (I buy a new pair every show or two at walmart-- keeps them from getting faded), black belt, black tennis shoes, a black tee or tank top, and a long sleeve black men's dress shirt. I always get the dress shirt one size up from what I'd normally wear-- it's not so much bigger that it looks baggy, but it gives me freedom of movement. The booth where I spend most of my time during shows isn't very well air-conditioned, either, so having a loose thin material is better than wearing something that won't let you breath!

For opening nights, I take the time to blowdry my hair, wear studs and a necklace, and sometimes change out the tennis shoes for black flats and the jeans for trousers, if there's no set changes or anything that require me to do major physical work every night.

[kmcooper09]

I think its more important to dress comfortable for you but to sill look presentable and I always try to dress as neat and as appropriate as i can. I wear nice black pants( found a really comfortable and durable pair at old navy--then bought 5), a plain black 3/4 shirt, black sneakers, black belt and hair neatly pinned back.

[SMExtraordinaire]

What I wear depends heavily on what I'm doing a certain day. For example, if it's a rehearsal and I'm likely to be running around a lot, I wear clothes that can take the wear and tear like most people have said, but if I'm running auditions, I like to look a little nicer because I know I won't be crawling around the floor with spike tape or running all around the theatre. Plus, the actors are seeing me for the first time, so it gives them a better first impression than jeans and a t-shirt would.

I completely agree that it depends on the situation, but I will tell you that it also depends on the theatre. I work in regional and I have never had anyone have an issue with my wearing my baseball cap and holy jeans. I try not to wear holy jeans too often however, but I have them (which got that way because of taping out/painting floors).

I really think it depends on the theatre and you can take your cue from those you work with. Show up in casual and if you see you need to dress better or can dress down for certain things than feel free to do it.

**And by the way, the bigger regional theatre around here - their PMs generally wear holy jeans, black rock group shirts and leather studded bracelets and they (PM and APM) are considered 2 of the best in the area. Sometimes it is a matter of doing your job well that can determine what you can and can't wear.***

[SM19]

I totally agree, but here's my question.

I don't actually work in a theatre, it's pretty much voluntary basis for the shows I work with. So, we don't exactly have a 'dress code' for people who walk in the door (unless you're wearing clothes that are totally innappropriate...you know what i mean). Is that the same thing for other theatres? What about theatres where people are actually hired for the jobs they do, or does that depend on the theatre/standard of the theatre???

[SMExtraordinaire]

I think most of us that replied "work" in theatre and were hired to do so....so the previous answers still apply.