Running Your Theater: Costume Storage Room, a.k.a. DISASTER AREA!

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Costume Storage Room, a.k.a. DISASTER AREA!

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Theater Administration
Forum Name: Running Your Theater
Forum Discription: General questions about how to make it work
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2526
Printed Date: 10/30/25 at 9:29pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Costume Storage Room, a.k.a. DISASTER AREA!

Posted By: vpaoffice
Subject: Costume Storage Room, a.k.a. DISASTER AREA!
Date Posted: 7/11/07 at 5:48pm

ARGGHHHH!

We store all of our costumes and properties in the basement of our office. It is a good sized room (approx. 500 sq ft), and STUFFED with so many things, that despite our best efforts, we can't seem to keep it nice and organized. With volunteers as costumers for each show, it seems that all the new items for each production are thrown into a box at the bottom of the stairs on the day of Strike.

We have collected so many things over the past 32 seasons, that it is now hard to decipher which items are neccesary, and which items should be thrown out. We are in the midst of our Annual "Throw-everything-away-that-we-won't-be-using-in-the-near-future-or-is-easy-to-replace" cleaning, and as is tradition, there are arguments as to what needs to be kept for future use.

Any suggestions to solve our dilemnna??

Any ideas for accessable storage on odd items like hats and shoes?

HELP?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?

Replies:

Posted By: TimW
Date Posted: 7/12/07 at 9:09am

We just recently went through the same 'issue'. Try using 3 piles-1 for "definately keeping", 1 for "i'm not sure", and 1 for "we don't need or can replace". The trick is not to look at everything and remember all the fun shows it was in (although this is fun), but to take a "few seconds glance" at the article and decide.

When you are done, go through the "i'm not sure" pile again and decide then to keep or not. I usualy will give this second look a little more attention.

Also, do this with only the key members of the group. You can always get help later to organize.

Something else, can you have one or two people "in charge" of the room? If so, have them be the ones to place everything back after the show. This might help cut down on the things obtained that aren't really needed.

Posted By: dboris
Date Posted: 7/12/07 at 12:50pm

I have the exact same problem at my theatre and the suggestions that TimW provided are excellent ones and have worked for us whenever we were able to implement them. As he said, when cleaning out limit the number of people who are making the toss/keep decision. 2 people experienced in costuming would be the best, if you have more there will be two many opinions and nothing will get thrown out.

Also remember there is little difference between throwing something out to make room, and keeping something in a costume room that is so disorginized that you can't find the item anyway.

Another thing that may help, if you have a member who is willing to lend some attic space in thier home, you can store special items that aren't needed every season, but may be good to have for certain shows. Just keep a good catalog of what is stored offsite so you can find it when you need it.

Dan

Posted By: vpaoffice
Date Posted: 7/19/07 at 4:12pm

Thanks for the suggestions! We are doing something along the lines of "three piles". Offsite storage is a problem, due to access. All of our cast and crew are volunteers, and it would not seem fair to have a treasure hunt everytime they need an item for a show. I wouldn't feel right asking them to drive to another location to retrieve an item that should be in the "basement".