This is why I feel regular production meetings are so important. At the first meeting, all the designers and the director get together and discuss the direction of the show re: design, style, etc. As soon as the show is cast, meet again and make any changes (if the leads won't look good in the original ideas, change them ASAP) Then meet every week until tech week. It keeps the director and producer from getting any surprises and you can let folks know if their expectations aren't going to be met because of budget/time/lack of help, etc. As to professional standards, if the director/producer changes my ideas so radically that I would be embarrassed to have my name on them, I do the job as asked (I'm assuming you're getting paid), but ask that I not be listed in the program as the designer, after all, if your designs have been altered, they aren't a good reflection of your abilities.
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of AVCHASE Sent: Friday, April 11, 2008 7:46 PM To: h-costume posts Subject: [h-cost] DESIGNER PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS Hi, All. The most recent show on which I worked opened last last Thursday. And over all its a good show. But some of the fallout has been very upsetting to me. The director invited me to do this show for her, her last show (she's said that for for the last three years), and I've done them. Each time some cast members have been down right vicious. This time was the worst. It occurred to me we expected different things as/from a designer. I'd just assumed they all understood that I only did these shows to practice my craft, keep my abilities in shape, and explore my ideas. Maybe her agenda was different? So I sent an email and asked what she had expected when she engaged a designer. She wrote back to me a very complimentary (damned by praise-forget faint) note about my design capabilities; but-said I was overbearing, didn't listen to the actress's ideas and was not willing to take suggestions form the actresses. The ideas and suggestions were put forth a few days before dress and production had gotten me no help for a small musical with 48 changes in it. Some very small; most changes are full costume though. I found I was being difficult when I said there just wasn't time. The worst part is that the changes weakened the visual dramatic impact but were more conventional. Now I want to write a little paper setting forth designer's professional standards. It isn't that I don't know what most are but I don't know if they are enumerated anywhere. Are they? Please help, both scholars and practitioners. Audy in the high boonies of Central Texas ________________________________________ PeoplePC Online A better way to Internet http://www.peoplepc.com _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
