So You Want To Start A Costume Business
Sooner or later,
most costumers consider going into business. Here are some
questions that may help you decide if a costume business is right
for you.
Why do you want a Costume business?
Have you always dreamed of sewing beautiful costumes for a living? Or are you just so fed up with your current job that anything else sounds better? Do you want work you can do while staying home with your children? Have you just set your place of business on fire and become unemployable in your current field?
(don't laugh--that really happened to me. But it WAS an accident.)
What financial return do you expect from your costume business?
Are you looking for a business that will support you, and possibly a family? Or do you just want to make a bit of money at your hobby?
Don't give up your day job yet. Almost no one makes a full time living at costuming. It's oversupplied and underpaid. You'll be far better off thinking of this as a money making sideline.
What's your skill level?
Are you really up to doing this on a professional level? Can you make patterns, or will you rely on commercial patterns? Can you alter them? Are you familiar with a wide range of fabric types? How's your hand-stitching? How's your machine work? Do you have related skills such as jewelry making or millinery?
If the answer is "no", do whatever you can to improve your skills. Take classes, read books, examine the work of other costumers, and practice, practice, practice.
How's your equipment?
Do you have a room or area where you can work, or do you have to set up on the kitchen table? Will your sewing machine handle heavy fabrics or leather? Do you have a backup machine? Do you have a serger? Do you need one?
You don't have to spend a fortune on a fancy computerized sewing machine, but you do need strong, reliable equipment. Consider buying secondhand commercial machines, if you have the space.
If you can possibly have a separate room for your business, do it. Not only is it the only way you can deduct a portion of your rent from your taxes as a business expense, but domestic peace is much more easily maintained when the door can be shut on the mess.
What about your historical knowledge?
Do you have a reasonable amount of knowledge about the periods you want to make for? Do you have a decent book collection, or will you have to wait eight weeks for Interlibrary Loan? Can you recognize the sillouhettes and some details of the costumes of all the major historical periods? Do you know when which fabrics were used?
There's no substitute for knowledge. Study!
How about communication skills?
Can you write a clear description of a costume? Can you draw it? Can you explain sewing terms to a non-sewer? Can you write a business letter, invoice, or press release?
Your public library has books that can help you to do all these things. Community colleges and adult schools often have business English courses and drawing classes.
How much time can you commit?
will this be in addition to a fulltime job? Do you have small children? Are you willing and able to work long hours to make a deadline?
Not meeting deadlines is a way to ruin a business. Constantly overcommitting time is a way to ruin a day job, a marriage, your health, or your kids' childhoods. Be realistic.
How are your people skills?
Can you tell after a short encounter if someone is going to be a flake? How will you work with difficult customers? How far will you go to please them? Do you enjoy "selling" yourself?
You don't have to be Pollyanna to do this job, but you do need some psychological skills.
How are you set financially?
If you're planning to do this full time, do you have savings or another person (such as a spouse) ready to carry you for, say, two years? Do you have medical insurance? Do you have renter's insurance? Will it cover your business equipment and stock, or do you need additional insurance?
Consider doing it part time, and keeping the income and benefits you have.
How's your health?
Costuming is a strenuous line of work. Is your back up to it? Do you get sick a lot, badly enough to interfer with deadlines?
Think about getting one of those sewer's back braces. Make sure your cutting and sewing surfaces are the right height. Get a good chair. Take your vitamins!
Will you enjoy the work?
Even work you love is work. Do you want to be a costumer because you love the social interaction? Do you realize that you will spend most of your day alone in the sewing room? Will you like sewing costumes that aren't necessarily your favorite colors or fabrics? Will you resent not having the time or inclination to sew for yourself after a day of paying work?
Think about this a lot, lest you burn yourself out.
I hope all this helps you make your decision. Good Luck!
