Costume Room Rules

• Absolutely no food or beverages other than water are allowed in the Costume Room.
  • If you need to eat, please do so in the Office or Staff Lounge.

• This is not a place to hang out.
  • We need to keep people moving as quickly as possible. 
  • Staff can enter, clock in, grab their costumes, change, and then they need to leave.
  • Nobody will be permitted to hang out in here, even after hours.

• Absolutely nobody besides the Costume and Performance Lead should be behind the counter. NO EXCEPTIONS!
  • Actors needing assistance getting into costume will need to ask one of their teammates.

• Keep things clean and organized.
  • Organization is super important, especially in this room. It should be left clean, neat, and tidy before you head home for the night, and especially after an event.

• The Costume Lead has the complete authority to kick someone out of the Costume room or send them home for the night.
  • If staff members are lingering and getting in the way, the Costume Lead can and should tell them nicely to leave and free up some room. Staff should only be in there to clock in/out or if they’re changing. After that, they need to move to the Staff Lounge.
    • Absolutely no Staff members should be in the Costume Room during the meeting unless changing into a costume.
  • If a Staff Member puts up a fight about their scene, costume, mask, prop, or has just a generally bad attitude, they can be reminded that there are plenty or resources at their disposal to use for scene placement, costumes, masks, and props on the Fear Columbus Cast Page on the website. They can be given one more opportunity to be a team player or they are welcome to leave with a write-up.

• REMEMBER: This is YOUR space.
  • A lot of work goes into these events and letting the staff know what you need from them for this process to so as smoothly as possible is totally acceptable and necessary. 

Off Season and In Between Events

• Create or replace mask, costume, and prop tags.
• Make sure Costume Room is Clean and Organized.
• Switch Out Events
  • For example, switching between the Season and Krampus.
• Make sure Inventory is up to date and order supplies.
  • Whenever you need something, please make a list and present it to Jess for approval.

Season and Operational Events

• Arrive on time so you have time to wash costumes.
• Pull Costumes for Actors.
  • You can also hang half masks, accessories, and props on their hangers.
  • Make sure their name tag is on it and any other tags for stuff they need.
• Put all Costumes that are not in use away.
• Check in with Makeup once they arrive to make sure they have everything they need.
• Distribute Costumes for Actors.
• Assist with simple costume needs.
• Put tags back on hangers for pulling costumes or put them away in the binder once everyone is changed.
• Ensure everyone is in costume and ready to go in a timely fashion.
• Collect costumes, props, masks, and accessories at the end of the night.
• Ensure the Costume Room is clean before leaving.
  • Make sure to fill out the opening and closing checklists each night.

Pulling Costumes and Masks

• Each time an Actor is hired, they will need a tag made.
  • Their first and last name will be put on the front, “Performance” will be put on the back.
  • This can be done in Avery, and the black tags are in the Costume Room for you to attach them.
• There are two clothing racks, one for each attraction.
  • They each have rings on them so you can sort costumes alphabetically.
• When you pull a costume, put the Actor’s tag on in, then hang it alphabetically on the correct rack.
  • If they have a mask that can also be hung on the hanger, hang it with the costume. 
  • If their mask cannot be hung, hang the mask’s tag with their costume.
  • This also applies to props and accessories.
• Make sure to get their tags back once they get their costume, either by having them place it on the bowl on the counter or by taking it off and placing it in the bowl as you’re handing them their costume.
• Any tags being used can be placed back on a hanger. Any tag not being used can be stored in the file folder.
• Pants will not be placed on hangers but are hanging between dressing rooms. 
  • Put a “Get Pants” tag on an actor’s hanger if they need to get some and they can take it from there!
• IMPORTANT: If an actor does not have a tag when they show up for their first shift, it more than likely means their paperwork is not complete. This needs to be double checked and completed before they can work, NO EXCEPTIONS.

Costume Room Organization

• Everything in the Costume Room has a place, and this is of the utmost importance.
  • Everything being in place ensures the most efficient and quickest system for getting a lot of people dressed.
• Costumes are hung and sorted by type and attraction.
  • There is a key hanging above each section as well as rack rings to distinguish what goes where.
• Masks are all displayed on the same wall.
  • They all have a name and are sorted alphabetically and by type. 
• Most items have a tag to label where it belongs in storage, but also so you can use that tag to attach to an actor’s hanger to signify that they are to receive that costume or item.
• Back Storage
  • Krampus and Valentine’s Costumes, Masks, Props, and Accessories are all being stored in the little room behind the counter.
  • Nightmare Combat costumes and accessories are being stored in the Nightmare Combat room on a rolling rack in the store.
• It is imperative that things stay organized in this room! Please make it a top priority. 

Typical Night Timeline and Tasks

• 1:00 PM (4 hours before staff arrives)
  • Costume Lead has arrived no later than this time and is either heading out to wash costumes or is pulling them.
    • Please Note: Costumes need to be washed after every wear.
    • If washing costumes is impossible, they can be placed on the same actor after being sprayed and disinfected or they will need to remain in the wash bag and a new costume will need to be pulled. 
  • All Staff Call-Offs need to be in.
    • Call-Offs made late without a reasonable explanation can result in a write-up.
    • If someone calls off due to transportation issues, inform them of the Rideshare channel in the Discord or offer to get them an Uber that will be deducted from their paycheck.
      • It is their responsibility to make sure they have a ride to work. It will rarely count as a reasonable excuse to not be in.
    • A No Call/No Show will result in an automatic write up and will serve as the one and only warning not to do that again.
  • Opening Checklists need to be completed.
• 30 Minutes Prior to Call Time
  • All Costumes, Masks, Accessories, and Props are Pulled.
  • Makeup Artists Arrive and begin to set up.
  • Performance Lead and Creepers will arrive
    • If the Performance Lead, Creepers, and Queue Line Staff want to keep their costumes, props, masks, and accessories in the Haunt Hub, they are welcome to do so as long as they keep it neat and clean.
    • If they want their costumes washed, they can throw them in the laundry bags in the costume room and will need to grab them from the costume room before their next shift.
• Actor Call Time (Usually 5pm)
  • Actors will arrive. Costume and Makeup are ready to go.
    • Staff will clock in, get their costumes masks, and props, then go to makeup.
• 30 Minutes Past Call Time
  • Performance Lead will Check in with Costume Lead to see where we’re at with staffing.
• 45 Minutes Past Call Time (or sooner)
  • Costume Lead will begin to call staff that isn’t here. They may enlist the help of the Performance Lead.
    • You can access the contact list here.
    • You can also use Haunt Scheduler for contact infromation.
• 60 Minutes Prior to Open
  • Final Scene Changes are made.
• 45 Minutes Prior to Open
  • Nightly Meeting and Pump Up
  • Check to ensure that everyone is clocked in before everyone heads into scenes.
• 15-30 Minutes Prior to Open
  • Actors head into their scenes.
  • The Costume Lead should remain in the costume room as long as possible to assist with Costume or Mask changes.
  • The Costume and Performance Lead can walk through the attractions before the Performance Lead gives the go-ahead to let people in.
    • The Costume Lead’s main priority at this time is to remain in the Costume room for last minute changes. If they are confident they are not needed, they may do the walkthrough. However, they need to have their walkie on and with them.
• Once everything is open and customers are in the building, Lead is welcome to work Queue or on other projects. Please make sure to touch base with Jess, Nick, and Marco before doing so to make sure there’s nothing else that needs to get done. Other tasks include, but are not limited to…
  • Costumes and Repairs
  • Scheduling and Placement
  • Cleaning and Organizing
  • Pulling Costumes
• Closing
  • As soon as the final guests enter the inside queue, the Costume Lead should head to the Costume Room and prepare for the actors to get dismissed.
  • Once everyone is clocked out and changed, the Costume Lead should double check things are neat and tidy. Once everyone has finished changing and things are clean, you’re good to go!