WARDROBE SHOP ASSISTANT

The WARDROBE SHOP ASSISTANT is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the School’s costume shops, labs, and equipment, under the guidance of Resident Staff and faculty. The position’s duties encompass 3 major areas: maintenance and tidiness of the facilities and equipment; student support for, and tutoring in, wardrobe class projects; and liaison and consultation with facility users, such as production Wardrobe managers and crew.

The WARDROBE SHOP ASSISTANT may assist production crews on show work, should they be interested and available.

This position works very closely with the paid Work Study position of WARDROBE ASSISTANT, which is responsible for the efficient operations of the costume storage areas, and the various production WARDROBE SUPERVISORS, CUTTERS and HEAD  DRESSERS. The WARDROBE SHOP ASSISTANT reports to the PRODUCTION and OPERATIONS MANAGER, the faculty HEAD OF COSTUME and the staff WARDROBE SUPERVISOR

General areas of responsibility may include, but are not limited to:

SHOP MAINTENANCE and TIDINESS

• Ensures that the all School facilities are kept clean, tidy and organized at all times
• Ensures the spaces are returned to a neutral state following the strike of a production
• Monitors and performs minor maintenance on shop equipment, including industrial and domestic sewing machines, sergers, irons, washers and dryers
• Is responsible for ensuring all equipment is functioning smoothly, to allow work in the spaces to continue unhindered
• Notifies the faculty HEAD OF COSTUME,the PRODUCTION and OPERATIONS MANAGER and the staff WARDROBE SUPERVISORwhen any piece of equipment is not working
• Assists students, as necessary, with adjustments and minor repairs to equipment
• Obtains and purchases supplies, as necessary
• Ensures that there is an adequate supply of distilled water in stock at all times
• Communicates Costume Shop policies to users, verbally and through signage
• Assists the faculty HEAD OF COSTUME and Work Study WARDROBE ASSISTANT with space allocation and traffic flow within the shops and storage areas
• Co-ordinates, and performs when required, the construction of, or repair to, venue-related projects

CLASSROOM SUPPORT

• Becomes thoroughly familiar with the teaching and production wardrobe areas, dressing rooms, storage areas, equipment, and breaker panels, etc.
• Answers questions about, and demonstrates, basic costume skills
• Trains user, as required, on equipment operation
• Acts as a wardrobe resource to all user groups

LIAISON AND CONSULTATION

• Meets with all user groups, well in advance of load-in, to discuss space and logistical concerns
• Anticipates problems; works through any and all building and storage issues with the production’s WARDROBE SUPERVISOR
• Consults with the Resident staff and faculty PRIOR to implementing any changes to approved methodology
• Liaises with other Faculty members needing wardrobe support for classes, and assists as necessary

RULE ENFORCEMENT AND DISCIPLINE

• Ensures that all work by any student or member of the production company is completed using accepted, safe working practices as outlined in the Ministry of Labour’s SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR THE LIVE PERFORMANCE INDUSTRY IN ONTARIO
• Enforces the School’s SAFETY SHOE POLICY
• Enforces rules regarding eating, drinking and smoking in the shops and storage areas
• Takes all necessary precautions to ensure that safe, uncluttered and clean conditions exist in the shops and storage areas

GENERAL

• Keeps a stocked First Aid kit available at all times, and prepares INCIDENT REPORTS for the staff PRODUCTION and OPERATIONS MANAGER and TECHNICAL DIRECTORS, if necessary
• Ensures, through the co-operation of students and production crews, that the shops and storage areas are returned to their neutral states after strikes and class endings
• Documents for the PRODUCTION and OPERATIONS MANAGER, any incidents or damage
• Attends and participates in Post Mortem, as required
• Submits written evaluations for all appropriate managers and crew no later than the start of the Post Mortem

This information is intended as a guideline only. It is not intended to replace the required reading or research in your area, or information gained in the classroom.

The demands of this position, and the hours worked, will vary with each production.

THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS POSITION MAY BE ALTERED WITHOUT NOTICE BY THE RESIDENT STAFF AND FACULTY