How much do you charge for a costume?

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Mariyam

New member
Hello everyone,

For those of you who are making costumes for others: how much do you charge (approx. per hour) for the making of costumes? Or if you are buying custom-made costumes, how much are you paying the creator approximately per hour?

Slightly off-topic, but I'm making a wedding dress for a friend of mine and she is asking how much money I want for my work. I've done some sewing for friends before, but I usually charge nothing because these are small projects not worth the hassle.

Since bellydance costumes and wedding dresses are almost in the same category in terms of work and creativity, I thought I'd ask you :p

Thanks!

Mariyam :)
 

Aniseteph

New member
Hi Mariyam

I can't speak from experience as I only make things for myself (purposeful creative outlet after YEARS messing about pointlessly with fabric, beads and embroidery... belly dance where have you been all my life?). But try this link - everything's in dollars but it gives some useful pointers.

http://www.costumegoddess.com/pricing.htm

Happy sewing!

A xx
 

Mariyam

New member
That's actually a quite interesting website, thank you very much! :)

What she mentions is pretty much in the same range of what I was thinking, so I guess I wasn't that far.

Thanks again for the link!!

Mariyam :)
 

Azeeza

New member
Great Question

I've been finding myself doing work for other dancers and I'm using my time and my supplies and not getting paid for it.

Sometimes it takes me hours of work and I need to start charging I think.

I really resent that I am at home using my time to work on someone else's project while they are out socializing. That's just not right, is it?

Azeeza :mad:
 

Rachy

New member
I haven't made any custom belly dancing outfits yet. However, I do sew a ton of children's items, from baby carriers (slings and such) to gift items and fabric bowls, and boxes. I love to sew, what can I say.

Depending on the item, usually if it's a job that will take less than 30 minutes to complete, I charge $15.

$15-Button, new zipper, hem pant legs, replace buttons (all new ones) Fix seams and sew a small-medium sized tote bag (no pockets, nothing fancy) if they supply me the stuff.

$15 is basically the labor fee, because they are usually giving me everthing, unless I need a $1 spool of thread. I have about a gazillion buttons, so I don't make them bring or buy those unless they want something out of the ordinary.

Now, I have been more cautious with my sewing goods, and have found that the more I charge the more likely I am to sell the item, because people can sense that I am comfident in my work and know that it's not cheap labor.

:)

Hope that helps!


PS-That website was very informative for a first time person.
 

Aisha Azar

New member
Costume prices

Dear Group,
First, the idea of charging by the hour is almost impossible. No one ever gets rich building belly dance costumes unless they are using very cheap (think overseas) labor, as do most wholesale costume suppliers.
Depending on what the person wants and how much aggravation they cause me, I usually charge anywhere from $350 to $1,000 for a complete costume. Most fall into the $500-700 range for custom, one of a kind work.
I am a professional theatrical costumer as well as a dancer and worked as costume designer and shop supervisor in a university theatre department for 7 years, so I have done all kinds of costuming.
These days I stick to dance costumes and sometimes I have free time to build a costume for someone and sometimes I do not, depending on what the needs of my dance company are at any given time. I also build all of my own belly dance costumes.
I love making dance costumes because they are just so beautiful and they practically speak to you about what to do to make them a work of art.
Regards,
A'isha
 

ditzahdancer

New member
I live in New Zealand and make beautiful costumes for me and to sell

The thing is this is a vey small country and its reall hard to get sequin braid and pailettes and such , I try to get back what I pay for the bits then try to make at least another 100 to 150 on top of that because if I priced out my time at 15.00 an hour for approx 15 hours I'd never sell it no matter how beautiful it was, I also take a confidence dive because I'm the only one I know to use a glue gun to decorate my costumes , If anything the use of the glue gun adds many advantages.And having test run many of these costumes made with a glue gun I find less wear and tear than imported ones. And mine fit better than those concrete cup ones I have seen for all their money. I guess I'm really doing it for the love of seeing someone dancing with joy felling beautiful___Here's one of mine
 

Mariyam

New member
Many thanks for all your very interesting comments! Since my friend is going to do something for me in exchange, I feel a bit uneasy about asking for money. She is a dear friend and I didn't make her dress in order to make money, I did it because I love sewing, because I loved the challenge of making a dress from scratch and because... I just wanted to do it :)

But at least you all gave me an idea of how much this kind of creative work is worth, so we can see if her work for me is going to be in the same range. For info, she's a graphic designer and she will design a logo for my translation & training services, which will appear on my website, correspondance, brochure, flyer, etc. This is also a lot of creative work ;)

Thanks again to all! :eek:
 

Moon

New member
Hi Mariyam,

I don't know how to sew so I'm not experienced at all in this area, but I can understand you feel a bit uneasy about asking money. Anyway, I would certainly ask for the money you spent on the materials.
 

Mariyam

New member
Oh, she paid for all the material herself, except perhaps the few notions that I will most certainly reuse after the dress is finished. These I bought myself, for myself. But I get to keep the fabric/lace/ribbon remnants :p

It's just so hard for me to put a value to the dress and on my work. The original is worth about 2500 euros, because yes she asked me to "copy" a dress from an original dress she had tried on in a bridal shop. But I don't carry the name or the fame of the designer!! We used different materials, we tweaked the model into what she really wanted, we decorated it with what she wanted. So in the end, it's not quite like the original... :rolleyes: When it will be finished, I can post pictures in the Off-Topic forum :)
 

Amulya

Moderator
Dear Group,
First, the idea of charging by the hour is almost impossible. No one ever gets rich building belly dance costumes unless they are using very cheap (think overseas) labor, as do most wholesale costume suppliers.

I found it not profitable. First you would have to have access to wholesale beads and fabrics and most of us don't. Remember you'd have to buy quality bras to use for the costume and that is going to cost quite much too. The work you spend on it and the price you can ask for a costume just don't compare.
 

da Sage

New member
Maryam,

You could always make the dress as a wedding gift, if you do not feel comfortable charging, and if you don't need the money. If you can use the money, just charge what you like and feel is fair - perhaps the price of something particular that you need or want, like dance lessons or materials for your own project. Tell your friend what she is "buying" for you, it will make her feel good.:)

The problem with doing big favors for friends, is sometimes *everyone* wants you to do the same big favor for them!:rolleyes: So if people start asking you about doing *their* wedding dress, you may need to discourage them. Giving the dress, or swapping is a good way to do that, because then people don't feel they are entitled to buy your services for the same $$ price.

Tell people that you were very happy to make the dress, but also tell people inquiring about the cost or similar gifts: "It was a lot more work than I thought! And I'm not sure I will be ready to do such a big project again anytime soon!" That way, you will only have to do the sewing you *want* to do, and not end up doing everyone else's projects while your own hobbies are neglected.:cool:
 

Aisha Azar

New member
Costumes, etc.

Dear Amulya,
I bu most of my beads from a place in western Washington, USA, called "Shipwreck beads" and pay wholesale by the kilo, usually. Shipwreck is a place I could stay in for hours, and occasionally do!! they ahve everything for the bead enthusiast. There is also a place in New York that is great for buying beads, but the name escapes me momentarily ( a side effect of being 53 years old, I guess.)
Shipwreck buys many of their beads from, I think Hungary. There must be a wonderful place to buy them there!!
Regards,
A'isha
 

Mariyam

New member
da Sage said:
The problem with doing big favors for friends, is sometimes *everyone* wants you to do the same big favor for them!:rolleyes: So if people start asking you about doing *their* wedding dress, you may need to discourage them. Giving the dress, or swapping is a good way to do that, because then people don't feel they are entitled to buy your services for the same $$ price.

Tell people that you were very happy to make the dress, but also tell people inquiring about the cost or similar gifts: "It was a lot more work than I thought! And I'm not sure I will be ready to do such a big project again anytime soon!" That way, you will only have to do the sewing you *want* to do, and not end up doing everyone else's projects while your own hobbies are neglected.:cool:

These are real words of wisdom and you have actually verbalized my biggest fear: I have never had the intention of turning it into a "job" and I certainly never will. I never take on a sewing project that was imposed on me, I'm usually the one who offers. And to me, that's where the difference lies. When I'm offfering, it's because I know that I will have the resources (=time!) to take on the project. Otherwise, I know I'll be stressing out and that I won't be happy. I want sewing to remain a hobby I enjoy, not a source of stress. I guess the same goes with dancing, I'm sure you professionals will agree: if it becomes a source of stress and a source of distress, it's no fun anymore...

I know people will be impressed, I know I'm going to be congratulated and I'm sure I'm going to have tons of comments like "My cousin/sister/niece/neighbor is getting married/prom/party, can I give her your name?" :rolleyes: And honestly, I'm not ready for that and I never will...

This is probably why I feel bad about asking for money from my friend, as making the dress was about making my friend happy, making sure she's the best looking bride she can ever be, so she can cherish this moment forever. Just knowing that makes all my efforts worthwhile. It's so personal, there's a little bit of myself in that dress and I cannot do the same for a stranger or a "client". So I admire those of you who are making garments or costumes for total strangers!!!

One of my teachers once talked about setting up her own troupe and knowing I can sew, she asked me if I would like to make simple costumes for the group (I'm emphasizing the word simple!). I said yes, of course, because that teacher is a darling and my fellow classmates are great gals. But we're not there yet! Classes have yet to resume, we have to figure out the who/what/when/where/why of the troupe and then only we can start thinking about the costumes...

Anyways, THANK YOU for your message da Sage, you hit the nail right on the head, you have no idea!
 

Shanazel

Moderator
Mariyam, I think you must be a very good and generous person. I made my own wedding dress, and my quick and firm answer to anyone asking me to make a dress for them would be a polite verbal refusal, matched in my most secret heart by a scream of, "Not just no, but hell, no, I'd rather be nibbled to death by ducks than make another wedding gown." I firmly believe that brides and dancers alike should not ask their friends and students to donate long hours of labor as a favor- or worse, act like being asked to spend a hundred hours sewing on a dress is some kind of honor being bestowed on the potential laborer. Yeah, I know, I sound like an ungenerous grouch, ad I don't mind helping my students out with costume making directions and some practical help, but to make costumes for an entire group??? I cannot imagine asking a student to do such a thing, but then I make costumes myself and know how much time it takes to make even a simple circle skirt.

I suggest contacting professional seamtresses and tailors in your area and finding out what they charge per hour. There is a lot of protest in this forum about dancers providing their services free and undercutting the professionals, and the same can be said for the business of sewing. If you don't want to get into the business of sewing professionally or as an amateur for others, and feel you need a good excuse, you could offer this one.

End of rant.
 

Aisha Azar

New member
Prices, etc.

Dear Shanazel,
I think you have said it just perfectly!! While costuming has an esthetic reward, it also MUST have a monetary one, because it is HARD WORK!!!
Regards,
A'isha
 

da Sage

New member
Hi Mariyam,

I don't sew much for other people, and when I do, it's always really a favor, not a business (whether or not they pay me!). I make that pretty clear. I really like the designing and looking at the finished product part, much more than the sewing!

A (Dutch) friend of mine sews beautifully for herself, and she also made an elegant wedding dress for her friend, and a sharp tailored suit for her mother-in-law. All of a sudden, *everyone* wanted her to make clothes for them, both friends and relatives (which was very uncomfortable)!:eek: She had to put her foot down, but it would have been easier if she had started to gently discourage people from asking, from the very beginning.

I always tell people that I'll be "happy to help you learn to sew for yourself"...that is a good line, too! And also, "Sorry, you can't borrow my sewing machine - I need it at home.":D

I would encourage you to have a couple of other troupe members help you with sewing costumes, especially if you wind up making more than one set of costumes. It is easy for non-sewers to discount the time and trouble of sewing, even though they have decided that it's "too hard" for them to do themselves.:rolleyes: But making the first set of costumes, would be a great and generous way to help the troupe get started. I would be so proud to see a whole troupe in my costumes!:cool:
 

Mariyam

New member
When I'm talking about making costumes for the troupe, I mean making about 5 circle skirts with no trimmings whatsoever ;) So this isn't much work, it can bedone in one afternoon on a rainy day! LOL I'm not talking about making complicated skirt, bra and belt sets... uh uh, I wouldn't get into something like that! :eek:

I'll prepare some replies for the ever insisting persons :p
 

Safran

New member
Oh Mariyam, that dress is gorgeous... I especially love how you've laned the fastening at the back with a row of pearls + the whipped-cream-like top layer of the skirt part! I now completely understand why you fear that there will be a line of brides-to-be at your doorstep soon ;)

Shanazel and others - I find your rant completely justified. This is why every dancer should try to sequence-bead-fringe a belt of their own first.. Then they'd have a completely different view on the prices of costumes :)
 
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