Tipping Your Dresser?- Page 4

[MrSweetNAwful]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 12:26am

I'm officially in love with this thread.
To think if Gobstopper hadn't started the Joan Jett thread and I hadn't gone looking for info on Bway.com I wouldn't have found the interview where Daphne mentioned tipping the dressers, the first time I'd ever heard of the custom.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 12:29am

Sueleen, are you suggesting that Janet Jackson simply forgot to tip her dresser?

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 12:30am

TheaterDiva I know redic right?

The problem was the dresser was nowhere near as skilled as you and couldn't handle a quick change. The costume design had boots that had to be fully laced up (which could be done) but she just wouldn't plan right.

So my friend who was in the cast saw and went to run over and tie them quick so it would last for the scene until I came off to fix them again and she went and punched her in the face. Unprofessional, but Lateisha felt threatened.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 12:34am

She felt threatened because of some lace up boots?


Maybe she shouldn't be dressing people, if it's that rough on her.


*Edit* Sue, I LOVE that video! It always made me wonder, "Doen't anyone clean their room before making a video?"

Updated On: 12/31/08 at 12:34 AM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 12:36am

That would be a conversation I hope never to have with a dresser. Don't worry about the opening scene. I don't wear anything. It's an orgy scene. Just have a robe waiting for me off stage.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 12:43am

That's what they did.

Actually, they started in red tux's and stripped during the sequence. The girls went topless and the bots got down to what you see in the picture.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 1:07am

After this show, she wasn't. haha.

[Perfectly Marvelous]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 6:04am

Are dressers also responsible for laundering the costumes or is that someone else's job?

Unless stated in the contract, the dresser is usually the one in charge of the laundry. I once did 15 hours (total) of laundry for Fiddler on the Roof (at the end of the run).

I don't necessarily consider myself a dresser (but I have worked in that function before). On the first day of The Producers, I introduced myself to everyone in the cast. Later on, in the run, one of the girls said to me that she knew I wasn't really a dresser and how she got an actor vibe from when I was introducing myself. (I have no idea how that happened, as my basic introduction was "Hi, mine name is ___. I'm on the wardrobe staff.")


It's definitely stressful, as pointed out earlier. I remember my first time as a dresser (for Beehive) there seemed to be so much running around!

As for tipping - working with the ensemble, you can't always expect something. Sometimes the dressers in charge of the ensemble got a group tip, which was divided amongst the wardrobe crew. In my first year of dressing, I remember getting a cupcake from one of the actors. It was totally unexpected and very nice.

Diva mentioned going up and beyond the regular dresser duties, and I thought I'd share my two cents on the matter -- if an actor asks you for help, do not ignore them. Even if they're not your responsibility. There have been times when I've to take care of another dresser's actors simply because they were giving the actors an attitude (about something insignificant). And even if you don't get tipped for the extra work, it's still a good feeling knowing you helped out.

There's been a few instances where I've had to be stern in order to get a point across. Usually, I try to accommodate the actor to the best of my abilities. Sometimes, that gets rewarded. Other times, not so much.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 11:15am

"Unless stated in the contract, the dresser is usually the one in charge of the laundry. I once did 15 hours (total) of laundry for Fiddler on the Roof (at the end of the run)."

And that was the ONLY time during the run you did laundry. In Union ouses, there is only one person (may be two) hired just to do laundry. We weren't in a Union house.

Besides, Tater wasn't even washing the clothes. I found out he was shoving the dirty clothes into the dryer with a dryer sheet ('because it was easier' he said).

One of the MANY reasons I was overloaded with work this last summer.

Hey, at least you didn't have to pack up the whole show and ship it back, while trying to get the next show open...

[Perfectly Marvelous]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 12:01pm

No, you're right, I didn't have to ship the show, but I was questioned when some of the items went missing. ><

And I meant to point out that laundry is not always done by the dresser. It depends on the theatre. Of course, since we worked in a regional theatre (which wasn't union), some of the duties normally given to someone else were given to the wardrobe crew.

I do remember having a laundry schedule for MFL, so some nights I'd have to be making sure everything was washed. It can be very frustrating, which is why I guess some people take the easy way out. I'd rather wash everything, get it done, and have it in the rooms ready for the actors.

Another thing, while on the subject of laundry and dressing -- I find it quite irksome when dressers just dump the diddy bags and shirts on the actors stations. It doesn't take that long to make everything look nice! :P

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 12:14pm

"but I was questioned when some of the items went missing. >< "

As was I...GRILLED, but I think someone put all of those hats in a garbage bag and then someone else threw them away on accident.

Frankly, I don't care. That place is a ****ehole and they were left with a HUGE deficit this year. So much for all of their 'planning' and hiring 'people who knew what they were doing.'

But, I'm not going to say any more on that subject.

[Shannon Bo Dannon]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 1:20pm

TheaterDiva, I would love to do what you do. I did the same kind of things in high school (on a much smaller scale obviously), and I plan on doing it some more next year throughout college.

It all sounds stressful but also very rewarding, and your stories are fascinating!

[Perfectly Marvelous]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 1:25pm

""but I was questioned when some of the items went missing. >< "

As was I...GRILLED, but I think someone put all of those hats in a garbage bag and then someone else threw them away on accident."

Yeah, I remember.

As I've told many people, that place makes me hate working in wardrobe. It's unfortunate but it's true.

That's not to say I want to give up dressing indefinitely. It's a good job. I just think the next time I need to be in a different setting. And possibly get a chance to not work with the ensemble for a change.


Oh, and I forgot to mention this earlier but food is also a good tip. (:

Updated On: 12/31/08 at 01:25 PM

[dreamz]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 2:33pm

CATSNY I've cleaned in 1 Jujamcyn Theater for 10 years and another Jujamcyn Theater for 6 years(still there) and never once thought about stealing from the rooms I clean.SO you shouldn't judge everyone because of what someone else does. I can tell you we make good money cleaning the theaters.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 5:15pm

I didn't mean to sound like I was judging you. You guys are professionals. Regional theatre is another story. They steal.

[fbueller]

Posted: 1/2/09 at 1:07pm

"Sueleen, are you suggesting that Janet Jackson simply forgot to tip her dresser?"

LOL!!!!! Post of the year!!!

[DAME]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 8:55pm

Diva.. do you file tips?

[PReeves]

Posted: 4/4/10 at 1:12am

the usher at the theater walks from point A to point B then back and forth several times before the show. Seems like dressers do MUCH more for the actor from start to finish of the show.

[Heather79]

Posted: 4/4/10 at 8:18am

Tipping dressers is not only a tradition but the most polite way to thank them for the big help they give before, during and after a performance.

Of course you tip according to what you get but still, unless there has been some huge issue, tipping is an implicit thing to do (or should be).

[angelxschunard]

Posted: 4/4/10 at 9:05am

I read this entire thread and I was honestly waiting for someone to say. "Hahaha! Just kidding. We don't do that." It's really difficult for me to wrap my head around this...

It'd be awkward for me, personally, to hand someone money when I'm as personal with them as I am. These people are seeing ME. These dressers are seeing me at my most physically vulnerable and I've grown close to a lot of my dressers in the past (obviously I've never been on Broadway, so I'm talking about community theatre) and to think back on those times, and then add in me handing them money just... I cannot wrap my head around it.

You learn something new every day. I'm glad I read this whole thread, though. TheatreDiva's remarks have been truly insightful and fascinating.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 4/4/10 at 12:59pm

Well, wrap your head around it, because tipping your dresser is a normal thing in professional theatre.

If you don't want to hand them money, then put it in an envelope with their name on it and just leave it where they will get it.

[AC126748]

Posted: 4/4/10 at 1:28pm

These people are seeing ME. These dressers are seeing me at my most physically vulnerable and I've grown close to a lot of my dressers in the past (obviously I've never been on Broadway, so I'm talking about community theatre) and to think back on those times, and then add in me handing them money just... I cannot wrap my head around it.

You would tip your massage therapist, who sees you nude and rubs your naked body. If you went to a restaurant and your friend was the waiter, you'd tip them--probably more generously than someone you didn't know. How is this different to you?

Updated On: 4/4/10 at 01:28 PM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 4/4/10 at 1:34pm

Read the entire thread first, before you post.

The answers in there.

[AC126748]

Posted: 4/4/10 at 1:35pm

I did read the entire thread. I was responding to the post which I quoted, saying that I don't understand his/her logic vis-a-vis not tipping. Does that not come through in my post?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 4/4/10 at 1:41pm

Sorry, coffe is still kicking in.