Joan, you're never too old as long as you're breathing! You write: >My great love over the years has always been >costuming, making things, building things, helping with events, putting on >elaborate Halloween displays in my garage, helping with school plays and >things of that nature. I have never been paid for any of it, and it has >always just been a "hobby", never anything professional. I have no college >education in anything (other than a few college courses over the years in >various general things like English, Logic and Anthropology) and no real >work experience other than a few stints as a clerical worker, medical typist >and retail clerk.
First, think of college as a long-term investment. It may or may not give you immediate marketable skills by itself, but it will stretch you, wake up any slumbering brain cells, and open you to a wider world. Besides, if you are going to be thinking about things like costumes and sets, you need to know as much as you can about things like geography, architecture, history and cultures of the world. They will be your inspiration. It also may be worth your while to start your search with a couple of sessions with a career counselor. Definitely take advantage of this right at the start if you are going back to school -- many schools have career services available starting when you enroll, including programs specifically for older students re-entering the work force. They will help you plan your education to make best use of the skills and experience you already have. If you aren't ready to think about school yet, I'd still think it would be worthwhile to look for "re-entry" help at places like women's centers. There are many women now who do just what you're thinking about doing -- after time staying home with the kids and doing volunteer stuff, deciding to go back to school or work. There are nonprofits and paid services set up to serve people exactly like you. Places that specialize in "re-entry" counseling can help you see all of the real, useful, *professional* skills you have been using and developing while you've "helped" as a volunteer: managing people, drawing up plans and time lines, running committees, assigning tasks, budgeting, shopping for materials, supervising other workers, soliciting sponsorships, recruiting and training volunteers -- all of that translates directly into the business world as essential management skills. Consider a number of possible careers -- fashion and theater are obvious starting points if you're thinking about costume. But also consider others, especially if you like the "people parts" of the job as well as actually making stuff. For instance, there are whole companies out there that specialize in creating very theater-like "sets" for other businesses who need booths and exhibits for trade fairs, or table setups and banners for training seminars. *Someone* has to design, make, pack, ship, and set up all those tables, banners, background panels, signs, sample displays and so forth. Consider event planning: lots of people are happy to pay someone to organize their weddings and parties, or corporate picnics, or whole conferences. That can get you into everything from flowers and balloons to food to custom clothing to music and entertainment. If you set your sights low, you are likely to fall into some career "traps", by which I mean careers that look appealing, but where you really have to fight hard to get the wages and the respect you deserve. Custom dressmaking is one -- many people have made a success out of it, but as I think this list can testify, many wind up working long hours for very little money, because customers often think they should get Yves Saint-Laurent clothes for sweatshop prices. Theater costuming is another place where we've heard a lot on this list about lack of respect, impossible expectations from management, no budget, unpredictable crises and low wages. I know there are good shops, but you have to look for them and be firm about what you will and will not accept. Best of luck! You know this list will support you. ____________________________________________________________ 0 Chris Laning | <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> + Davis, California http://paternoster-row.org - http://paternosters.blogspot.com ____________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
