Everyone has provided good suggestions. Just one caveat: you may
not make a living wage at theatrical costuming, but if you can
supplement your income with some of the other ideas people have had,
sewing, wedding planning, etc, you might do ok. I also think it is
important to live in a city that has a lot of paying job opportunities
in your field, and there aren't too many of those, outside of Los
Angeles, New York, Chicago and maybe a few more I'm not aware of. I
live in the Denver area and paying jobs for costume designers are few
and far between.
I think you also need to be prepared to travel for short term jobs,
especially in the summer, when there are lots of theatres hiring.
I don't think your age is a drawback at all. The 40s are not old
anymore, in my opinion. If you choose to go to school and get a
degree in theatrical costume design or construction, I would definitely
think about relocating to one of the big cities where there are more
opportunities. And I would try to get jobs in summer stock theatres
that work with big name designers and try to be an assistant. Working
for a regional theatre designer is the best experience ever. Regional
theatre pays the best, outside of Broadway and the movie industry, but
it is a very closed field and takes contacts to work into.
Sylvia
On Aug 15, 2008, at 12:47 PM, Joan Broneske wrote:
I'm not sure where to start with this, but I figured you kind people
on this
list may be able to point me in the right direction.
Without getting into too much detail about the circumstances
surrounding my
personal life at the moment, I find myself in a situation where at age
44
and after being a stay-at-home mother and homemaker for 14 years, I
may need
to "start my life over". 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.
I am seriously thinking of pursuing some type of career where I can use
these strengths that I have, because I know that I have them. What I
could
really use some direction and assistance on is:
A) Am I too old to pursue this?
B) What kinds of things could I do with these talents?
C) Would I be able to pursue something which I could make a comfortable
living at? (other than an $8 an hour receptionist)
D) What types of schooling should I be looking into?
E) Would it help me to create a sort of "portfolio" of the hobby things
I have done over the years with pictures, etc.?
I appreciate any insight, assistance, suggestions..
I currently live near Sacramento, California, but there is a chance I
may
end up near Utica, NY or near Winston-Salem, NC.
Thank you all for your time.
Joan B
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