Musings

So last night was a local Meet and Greet for local filmmakers and every once in a while my actor/fight choreographer hubby and I are able to make them.  I usually don't like going to stuff like that because--believe it or not--I'm not all that comfortable in crowds.  I handle myself fine with film crews and being on a film set because I am usually part of the Hurry-Up-and-then-wait phenomenon that happens on some sets.  So networking at these things usually don't bode well for me--luckily enough I have my husband who ends up doing most of the talking and meeting of new people.  I just stand and smile unless someone approaches me.  Yep, I'm a wuss.

Anyway, yesterday's meeting was good in some aspects, but it got me to thinking in others.  In a room of about 100 people, I was the only costume/wardrobe designer and when they introduced each section, all eyes were on me when they asked if there was anyone with my talents in the room.  I liked the fact that everyone got to see me, but I didn't like the conversation I had with one of the filmmakers/photographers just a few minutes after that.

This filmmaker/photographer came up to where I was sitting and asked if I was the costume designer and when I said I was, she started asking about where I was located and what I've done.  All standard questions to which I gave my standard answers. Then, she pulled out a photo of a costume (I've actually made that one before) and asked me how much it would cost to make something like that for a model who is 6ft.  For someone of my height (which is a few inches shorter), the entire costume takes about 11 yards.  Yes, a lot of fabric, but that is just the main fabric.  It then takes another 11 yards of lining, plus any tulle and decorations needed.  It is a lot and it isn't cheap.  I told her that it would cost a minimum of $800, including my time.  She looked at me and said that there was no way it would cost that much.  I replied that it is usually the minimum and it depends on the cost of materials, what her deadline for the costume would be and for my time because there is no way that I am making it for free.  I told her that if she wanted a different and ultimately cheaper fabric, it could be done but it wouldn't look the same.  She just gave me a look and said thanks, then walked away.

That led me to thinking.  Around here, a lot of people sew.  Many do it well, others give people who have taken classes and studied how to sew a bad new.  However, with the market so saturated with "costumers" and "designers" that when you come across someone willing to do quality work and put their stamp on it and guarantee their work, people aren't all that willing to pay.  It happens to me a few times.  I've had inquiries about costumes before and when I give them a minimum quote, they get all huffy saying that "so-and-so could do it for less" and I usually reply with a "go right ahead then" because I know how much I need to charge for my time and energy and expertise.  If they want to go for someone who is willing to do it for cheaper, then so be it.  They may get the product they are looking for, they may not.

I don't like being taken advantage of.  I've worked on film sets before for "just credit" and I enjoy doing that if I have a bit of extra money coming from somewhere else and if I am using my own costumes or clothing.  If I need to go out and buy things, then I expect to be reimbursed unless it is something that I think can be of some use to me in my collection.  Selfish?  Maybe a little, but I've found through trial and error that htat is the way it needs to be in order to make things work.  Perhaps I don't get a much work.  Perhaps I have a reputation that says I don't work for cheap.  But I know what I "cost" and I know what things cost.  I can do things for cheap if it needs to be done, but I won't sew for just anyone for free.

Now, everyone once in a while I'll do a free costume because I want to better my skills and the first one didn't come out all that great or I'm making it for someone who I know will return the "favor".  I'm willing to deal and trade, but it needs to be of the same quality/quantity before I think the trade is far.

Yes, I'm probably rambling but I had these thoughts and I needed to get them down.

Now, on to the costume stuff.  With Halloween being right around the corner, I haven't had as many orders/requests on costumes so I'm pretty much done with stuff.  That is, stuff for other people.  When it comes for stuff for my hubby and me . . . that is a different story.  One of these days I'll take a picture of my sewing room and you'll see the half-finished costumes and mock-ups and everything that goes on in the organized chaos.  Yes, I know where everything is and the majority (well, 90%) of the partially finished costumes belong to either my hubby or me.  I'll post some pictures later this week of what I've accomplished in the past little bit.  I've got a few fun costumes done, plus one of my costumes was used on another book cover.  Melissa Williams is a cover artist I've met through some of the local authors I know and she used a couple of my costumes for her cover art for a book called Spur of the Moment. I'll ask her if I can repost some of the pictures here.  Check her out, she's rather good.  =)