Full disclosure I'm not a lawyer. None of this is legal advice. It's my own opinoin.
This week's topic: Props and Costumes
"May I...
Eat, drink, or smoke in my costume? Generally speaking - NO! Ask before you throw a robe on too. This is something to ask your Director, Stage Manager, and/or Costumer. They can give you clear instructions about THEIR policies surrounding food and drink.
NEVER smoke in costume unless it's a part of the production.
Costumes are not your clothes, and even if you're using your own, these pieces of clothes are super important to the work.
Touch someone else's prop, even if it's to help them? I appreciate you want to help, but I'd have to say no again.
Props and Costumes are precious and the less people have contact with them, the better.
May I take a prop or costumes piece home as a souvenir? We have all heard the stories of actors taking things home without permission. I'm going to say your choices come with risk, proceed with caution.
May I have a say in what my costume looks like? Most likely you won't, but what you can have a say in is a few things around it.
If you have any fabric allergies like myself I'd strongly recommend you share that information from the beginning. Put it on your audition form. Make it aware in writing (preferably email because it's easier to share) to whom you speak to when you're hired.
Do you have any preferences in how clothing should fit and or modesty? It would be good to share this with the Director BEFORE you accept the role.
I was once in a show with a female actor who didn't realize she should have disclosed she didn't want the front of her chest shown because of surgical scars. By the time she got her costume, it was too late. There were tears and makeup applied, but this didn't make up for how the actor had felt upset earlier.
For context, it wasn't me, but a friend of mine and I was there when it all went down.
I've also had to cover a number of tattoos on fellow actors. So if you have any special requests, it's good to get those in early. I don't know what will happen, but it doesn't hurt to speak up.
May I wear purfume or cologne? Please don't! One reason is in close quarters smells can irritate other people's breathing, etc. So be mindful for the other people you are sharing a space with. Even if YOU don't think it's a strong scent, others may disagree with that.
The second reason is perfumes and colognes can cause damage to costumes. Some pieces may be pulled from storage. They are not your clothes. When possible, costumes are used many times by a variety of Actors.
Now, if you feel your costume(s) have a bad odor to them, alart wardrobe asap and ask if there's something they can do about the smell.
In closing...
Costumes and Props are very important to the story. They're mobile pieces of the story, and at times characters in their own right. Please treat them with respect. Without them it can be a game changer in the stories we tell.
Break a leg!