Wardrobe
A Wardrobe department or position in opera and theater production is responsible for managing all aspects of costumes and accessories for performances. This includes maintaining, organizing, and ensuring proper care of theatrical costumes, helping performers with quick costume changes during shows, and keeping track of all costume pieces. Think of it like running a specialized clothing library that needs to be perfectly organized and ready for use at a moment's notice. The term can refer to both the physical storage space for costumes and the department that manages them. When you see this on a resume, it usually indicates experience in costume management and theatrical dressing.
Examples in Resumes
Managed Wardrobe operations for 3 concurrent opera productions
Supervised Wardrobe team of 5 dressers during national tour
Coordinated Wardrobe changes for cast of 30 in main stage productions
Typical job title: "Wardrobe Supervisors"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Wardrobe Supervisors
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you handle wardrobe management for multiple productions running simultaneously?
Expected Answer: A senior wardrobe supervisor should discuss scheduling systems, inventory management, staff coordination, and problem-solving strategies for quick changes and costume maintenance across different shows.
Q: What's your approach to managing a wardrobe budget and inventory?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate knowledge of budgeting, cost-effective solutions for maintenance and repairs, inventory tracking systems, and experience with purchasing decisions.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you organize quick changes during a performance?
Expected Answer: Should explain planning change locations, coordinating with dressers, preparing costumes in advance, and ensuring smooth transitions between scenes.
Q: What's your system for maintaining costume inventory?
Expected Answer: Should discuss labeling systems, tracking methods, cleaning protocols, and how they manage costume repairs and alterations.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the basic responsibilities of a wardrobe assistant during a show?
Expected Answer: Should mention helping with quick changes, basic costume maintenance, organization of costume pieces, and following supervisor instructions.
Q: How do you prepare costumes for a performance?
Expected Answer: Should describe basic costume care like steaming, pressing, spot cleaning, and organizing costumes in dressing rooms.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic costume maintenance
- Dressing assistance
- Organization skills
- Following show plots
Mid (2-5 years)
- Quick change coordination
- Inventory management
- Basic alterations
- Show running
Senior (5+ years)
- Department supervision
- Budget management
- Production coordination
- Staff training
Red Flags to Watch For
- No experience with quick changes or live performances
- Lack of organization skills
- No knowledge of costume care and maintenance
- Poor time management skills
- No experience working under pressure
Related Terms
Need more hiring wisdom? Check these out...
Workforce Solutions Aggregators: The Next Big Thing You Didn't Know You Needed
Culture Add vs Culture Fit in Hiring: Why It May Be Time to Rethink Your Approach
Beyond Borders: Mastering the Art of a Global Onboarding Calendar
