Costumes..?

Hi again!

So, I wanted to spice up my face painting a bit more, and I've noticed some people dress up for themed gigs. What's your take on this? I was thinking about it, considering I'm still a child at heart, and thought it would be fun, but I wanted to consult the board first. If you're still unsure what I'm talking about, I mean like if a little girl is having a princess party, you can charge extra to face paint in a princess costume, or pirate party, pirate costume, etc.

So, questions:
1. What's your opinion on dressing up?
2. Do you offer the service?
3. If so, where do you get your costumes, or do you make them/put them together yourself?
4. Buy them, where from?
5. What costumes do you offer?
6. Any other things you might want to add, I can't think of anything else, but I may add more later.

I won't always do it, just offer it and let the client decide, and it's just face painting, nothing else.
Opinions?

Sorry for the odd post to start off my time here.

I don't offer costumes yet...as I'm worried about them being comfortable enough to do a full day gig in. But for a 'theme' party...if I had an outfit that would match and I wasn't worried about getting paint on it, then I'd probably just wear it for fun.

I know there are some painters with a costume to match every occasion! I salute them! Some costumes are so hot and constricting!

Sorry not to offer more help.

I usually make my own costumes (except fairy wings...my friend Kathy (Metzpah) makes them). I have bought some odd bits from costume stores and Kathy donates stuff to me too! ;D hehe

1. What's your opinion on dressing up?
Fun! Any excuse, but often for face painting it just adds time to my "booking" so I don't really push it. Part of the reason I stopped offering my clown (I killed her two years ago...) was that the prep time was non-recoverable... added time I wasn't billing for.

2. Do you offer the service?
Yes, but I don't promote it. For extra charge of course.

3. If so, where do you get your costumes, or do you make them/put them together yourself?
I'm a big time costume freak, Trekkie (the kind that dresses up to go to conventions) and involved in local theatre - and if I need a costume for something I design it, and either get my mom to sew it or put it together from various pieces I have already. I have two tickle trunks in the basement full of costume items...

4. Buy them, where from?
Value Village, Goodwill... I hunt for bits to put together. I've bought wings from Value Village around Halloween as they have a massive costume section. Bought some clown bits from Mooseburger.

5. What costumes do you offer?
Clown (I'm an ex-clown so have all that gear still), Princess, Fairy Godmother (I play her in local pantomimes all the time so have a character that is known in some circles!), Gypsy, Pirate, Witch, Space, Bajoran Vedic, Klingon... and special requests possible.

As I said I don't promote it - just a mention on one page on my site in text, no really photos that show it (although, on my costume and sfx pages on my website you can see some of the costumes I have).

WooHoo!
thanks so much guys!
I can't even begin to say how much that helped!

I do offer be being in costume as a perk - but I also tell them that I would rather spend extra time on new painting/balloon designs than creating extra costumes, so I offer a princess, pirate and ragdoll (or can wear streetclothes and attempt theme colours, etc) as choices. I don't have a shirt and pants uniform, so I actually find it somewhat easier to wear a costume - either way, I'd still have to make up my face, and now I don't have to worry about what to wear!

The downside right now would be the knee-high boots I wear for the pirate...hot!

The princess and pirate outfits I fell into by accident (a woman my mom knows had closed down/cleaned out her costume shop, and handed them all over!), and I picked up a "real" tiara and shiny shoes somewhere for the princess. I got an underbust corset made for me for the pirate, and bought earrings/headscarf/these awesome skull wristband things at Ardene's. I'm still looking for proper slouchy pirate boots; in the meantime I'm wearing a pair of my old combat boots - still does the trick.

I made the ragdoll outfit myself - it's a skirt and top set, with an apron (almost Alice in Wonderland-y), and throw a crinoline skirt (from that costume shop!) underneath for an extra dash of adorable.

I hope that helps!

That did help Kristal, SO MUCH!
You guys rock, all of you!
Thanks again!

I don't really offer it as a service, but like to dress up if the occasion requires it. When we painted for the recreated Gasparilla pirate invasion parade in Tampa - all the face painters had to be in pirate garb. I had fun with it.

As I see it, we are in a creative field, so it's just another way to express or exhibit your creativity.

Go with what you're comfortable with or see what your customers are wanting.

thanks all!

I always dress up. I have a couple of characters... the main clown is Perry Noia, but I also have a sports clown called Frederika Farensquair and a non-clown character called Cadenza.

I make my own costumes from Simplicity patterns. These can be thrown together in an hour or two if you're a so-so seamstress. Always use a cotton poly blend because it won't shrink, resists wrinkles and breathes well. A cheap broadcloth works fine and comes in very bright colours.

Perry uses a Raggedy Anne pattern, Freddie a pajama pattern that looks like a referee outfit, and Cadenza is a pattern from Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz... I just use totally different colours of fabric from what you would expect for these patterns and they look completely different.

Thanks Perry

Was Wondering:
I'm a ballerina, pointe shoes and all,
Maybe I could offer that as a costume?
Opinions?

Any pics as a Klingon, Shannon???? I love to see them or the Vedic.
My husband is a Trekkie but doesn't go to conventions (he's a bit shy!)

Glenda

The Klingon on my SFX page is my brother (it is also posted on my blog...) Most of the photos of me are pre-digital - in albums not on the computer and my scanner is not operational. I haven't actually been in that costume for several years so haven't had a chance to take new photos - we don't have many ST conventions up here!

I enjoy designing my own costumes...I just finished a country/ western clown costume for my husband and I. I have a christmas one that I'm working own...Sometimes I buy square dancing dresses and skirts, take things apart and add stuff for me..we love dressing up...It's fun and the kids love it...even the grown-ups....

If you like Star Trek Conventions, have you ever been to Vulcan Fest? Yes, the small town in Alberta with the same name sake as Spock's hometown. I was there this year doing ppf, tons of fun. I didn't do a costume this year, but I have in the past as a Klingon warrior, serving at the dinner theatre where my friend was the caterer. I painted my own face as a Klingon and looked back to the 80's for inspiration for the height of my hair.

I'm not a trekkie, but I always have fun with this event. As a Klingon you can be rude and abrupt and people love it. LOL

Dressing up is fun for all ages any time!
(semi plug from the costume shop employee, but I do love it, it's why I work there!)

While I am a confirmed Trekkie... a road trip of that nature is not really a consideration.

When we lived in Vancouver my brother and I, in full costume and make-up (proper prosthetics) would ride Skytrain into town... the tourists loved it!

We also hauled our gear on cruises and dressed up for masquerade nights (we always won the costume contests!)

You're a woman of many talents, Shannon! Must show the Klingon to my husband!!!! Brilliant.

Glenda

I just started offering to dress up. I got a couple wigs really cheap on ebay, an 80's sequin vest- 1/2 teal 1/2 magenta, a dress for a cute clown (forever 21 has some interesting items right now, thanks to the 80s revival fashion, which won't last), a fairy dress off ebay, shiny shoes, and a sequin barret- oh and a really cool black Tshirt with sequins in a tiger pattern. I really didn't spend much since I got stuff on ebay and from teen stores. I am wearing my vest and the barret or a wig for my regular costume, the tshirt with sequins and the baret for more hip events. The kids and parents really like the vest so far.