In an online group for male illusionists (the Male Illusionist Exchange – MIX – on Facebook) there was a post a while back about making sure one’s costume is neat and “odor free” before performing. So true. I’m going to take it to the next level, since costumes are the window to the soul. Or something. Just go with it.
If the entertainer is the gift, then the costume is the wrapping. You always see the wrapping first and you always judge a book by its cover, at least to start. The second you step on stage the first thing people see is what you’re wearing. Make it count! But there are a few things to keep in mind when figuring out what you’re going to wear for a number.
Clean. Everything should be clean. Makeup on the collar is one thing. Giant stains from Goodwill are another. Wash things before you start altering or if you don’t notice something until after the fact, Shout wipes, Tide pens and dry cleaning are all viable options. Buy a steamer! Trust me on this one. You can get them for $20 at Walmart and I promise you’ll thank me later. Steaming can get out wrinkles and creases that result from blinging, sewing, gluing etc that ironing can’t. It’s also safe on pretty much any material from tulle to gauze to silk to denim.
Ok, I’ll jump off that soap box for a minute. Now about adhesives. I’m a fan of E6000 and Gemtac for stones and bigger elements. A little bit goes a long way. Gemtac is great for stones because it goes on white so you can actually see where you put the glue, and it dries clear. The end of a toothpick works great for placing glue for smaller stones. Do not use tape, either clear or duct, to stick elements to a costume. If it’s an emergency and you’re at a show and you need to fix something, that’s one thing. But don’t just tape shit on to a pair of pants or a shirt. It looks tacky, messy, rushed and like you didn’t give a shit. Need to throw something on last minute? Spray adhesive works great for something like that! The Elmer’s brand is non toxic and is great for any facial masks etc that you may want to use. The 3M stuff is great for costumes, but I wouldn’t recommend it for anything that’s going on your face. I can tell you that from experience. I had some awesome chemical burns from that crap and it hurt like a bitch! If you have glue residue on an outfit that you need to remove, I’ve found that pure acetone works great. Grab a cotton ball, get some acetone on it and start scrubbing. For more delicate fabrics test it first to make sure it won’t ruin the fabric.
Oh, and just as a side note… once you are in costume, if you haven’t performed yet, don’t go wandering around the bar! People want to be surprised. They don’t want to see you wandering around in the outfit before they see it on stage. If you must go out into the crowd, find a cover-up. Keep the audience guessing, they want to be entertained and your costume is a part of the package!