What is the current status of the various costume makers?

I don't frequent here too often except to look.

But I have a friend who is an excellent costume maker and she is seeking commissions.

So is there a need for another costume maker?

I think the place could always use another costume maker.

Definately, although is a fine balance between cost and quality.
What kinda medium does she work with s also impt

Heatshock said:

---

Definately, although is a fine balance between cost and quality.
What kinda medium does she work with s also impt

oh yeah cost is a big factor. first set a budget and then double it with an extra 10% for emergencies

Do you mean here on the RPF or just in general? Like, she's trying to establish her own costuming business?

I would say there is a need for more reliable and honest costumers. People who don't take someones money and run. And also for costumers who don't have insane time deadlines. The amount of costumers I hear about from others where it takes a year to make something minor is insane.

But I find as a costumer who takes commissions that I have been very very busy these past two years. But even so I don't make an extreme amount of money because soft costuming never seems as impressive as hard costumes. So you can get someone to pay $4,000 for a batman or Halo suit but ask $600 for an all silk medieval wedding gown and people seem to keel over and die from a heart attack.

I would say the need is more for someone who is willing to do really, really, really cheap stuff that's ok but very simple for the generic public costume enthusiast or for someone who has a niche. Something unique to their style and business. For example, my corsets and coats are usually what I get attention for and orders for. Only recently have I been getting more full costume orders but they are far and few usually.

Just my 2 cents and experience so far. I've also been doing this only for about 4 or 5 years so I might still not have enough experience to know truly what the need is for.

Heatshock said:

---

Definately, although is a fine balance between cost and quality.

TRUE THAT! My wife and I are just getting into the convention scene and have all ready had multiple people share stories with us about costumers you did shoddy to sloppy work, and then we remake the outfit at better quality for a fraction of the cost, mostly because we tend to under charge as we are still figuring out what a fair price range is. That is IMHO the hardest thing about this business is finding the right price with not over charging the costumer and not under charging yourself at the same time.


That might be a good thread what makes for reasonable price range.
-GZH

its easy to get caught up in the fast pace of commisions when the payments start arriving. Its overwhelming , then for us we just step back and slow it down. This after making the mistake of selling to much before. My wife and enjoy new projects nore than ever and now really keep the pace manageble. I agree that people will easily pay 3000-6000 on a cool costume and freak over something small. I dont get it but thats life...

I think there are plenty of people out there looking for costumes and can't find someone to make it. On this board I often see people popping into threads where someone is making something and they ask 'will you make me one too?'

And I get emails from people who visit my website asking me to make costumes or sell one of my costumes. I don't do it because I don't have the time or interest. Some try to argue with me about it. haha!

So it's just about taking the pulse of what people are looking for and then figuring out how to make that. Maybe staying ahead of what's popular?