Costume attendants prepare and fit costumes for entertainment productions. They may also help performers change costumes during live shows. Those who secure costume-attendant jobs can play a key role in Broadway plays and other areas of the entertainment industry.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 5490 costume-attendant jobs in May of 2010. As would be expected, California and New York have the highest numbers of these costume workers due to the movies and Broadway. Nevada puts on many live shows, as well, making it 4th (behind 3rd-place Florida) for the number of jobs for costume attendants.
Performing-arts companies hire the most attendants, with amusement parks and arcades actually coming ahead of the motion picture and video industries. Other employers include professional sports teams and colleges and universities that have a thriving drama department.
In May of 2010, the median salary for costume attendants was $29,150. Naturally, this is not the position for big bucks in the entertainment industry. However, for the person who enjoys the production side of entertainment, this could be a rewarding job.
The typical training route to these jobs is on-the-job training. Generally speaking, there really is no such thing as a formal education in costume attending. However, those seeking the best jobs can improve their chances by getting an education in an entertainment field. Drama or other performing-arts majors would be a good step in getting an education plus building some contacts in the industry.
One might also consider going to design school and getting involved as a costume attendant while building a costume or fashion design business. This would also be an excellent way to build contacts in the industry that may later have an interest in your costume designs.
Applying directly with theater and film companies is the usual way to get a job as a costume attendant. You may also wish to volunteer your services with the drama department at local colleges or with the community theater in your city. These organizations often have a very limited budget but will accept volunteers who want to get experience in the business.
Resources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Career and Salary Information for Costume Attendants