Costume-Hire Quote BS DetectorEasyStagecraft Course · Tier 1B · Module 6 (Wardrobe & Makeup) · v1.0 · the padded lines on a costume-hire quote, and the push-back for each
Why this matters. Costume houses quote the same way every other vendor does: a fair core (the garments + freight), with padded service lines bolted on that a school with a parent team and an op-shop run simply does not need. The discipline is identical to the lighting and sound BS-detectors — go line by line, separate the genuine garment cost from the service padding and the insurance upsell, and push back with one clean sentence. The garments on stage don't change. What you strip out is service the school already provides for itself.
1
"Costume coordination fee"
The pattern A flat coordination/management fee (A$800–1,500) bolted onto a full-cast hire.
Why it might be legitimate If you genuinely have no wardrobe supervisor and want the house to run your plot and fittings end-to-end.
Why it's usually over-spec This is your wardrobe supervisor's job. You have a parent coordinator running the plot, sourcing and fittings already.
Ask / say "We have our own wardrobe team for coordination, so we won't need that line." Saving: A$800–1,500.
2
"Alterations package"
The pattern A blanket alterations fee (A$1,000–1,500) across all hired costumes.
Why it might be legitimate Rarely — and note most hire houses forbid permanent alteration anyway.
Why it's usually over-spec Because hires are pin-and-tack only, the "alterations" are temporary fitting your sewing team does in-house at no cash cost. You're being charged for work the terms don't even allow them to do.
Ask / say "What are your alteration rights — hem and take in, or pin-and-tack only? We'll do the pinning in-house, so drop the package." Saving: A$1,000–1,500.
3
Flat "cleaning fee" across all items
The pattern A mandatory flat cleaning fee (e.g. A$600) applied to every item regardless of whether it needs dry-cleaning.
Why it might be legitimate Return-clean is a real cost — hires must go back clean.
Why it's usually over-spec A flat fee across 30+ items is heavy. Many pieces just need airing/laundry, not professional dry-clean.
Ask / say "Is cleaning charged at actual cost or a flat fee? We'll pay actual dry-clean on the pieces that need it." Saving: A$300–450 of the flat fee.
4
"Damage waiver" (non-refundable, all hires)
The pattern A blanket non-refundable waiver (A$700–1,000) on top of the hire.
Why it might be legitimate Never as a blanket non-refundable line. Genuine, itemised damage is fairly chargeable — but only if it happens.
Why it's usually over-spec A blanket waiver is an insurance upsell. You should accept liability for actual damage you cause, not pre-pay for damage that may not occur.
Ask / say "What's your policy on actual itemised damage versus a blanket waiver? We'll accept liability for genuine damage, but decline the blanket waiver." Saving: A$700–1,000.
5
Sizing assumed, not measured
The pattern Costumes quoted to a generic size run with no request for cast measurements.
Why it might be legitimate Early-stage ballpark before fittings.
Why it's a risk, not a saving You're hiring blind for teenagers between sizes. A bad fit means pinning jobs, damage risk on return, and a costume that doesn't read on stage.
Ask / say "We'll send measured sizes per performer — can you confirm fit against your size chart and flag anything that won't work?" Benefit: avoids fit disasters and unfair damage charges.
6
Pre-existing damage not documented
The pattern No arrival-condition record, so you wear charges for damage that was already there.
Why it might be legitimate It isn't — this is purely your protection.
Why it costs you A torn hem you didn't cause can cost more in penalties than the hire itself.
Ask / say "We'll photograph everything on arrival so we're clear on pre-existing condition." Benefit: kills unfair damage charges before they're raised.
Worked example — a padded full-cast hire
Full-cast hire, period musical, 32 performers, 6-show season. Quote arrives at A$8,940.
Saving: A$3,900 — about 44% — without changing a single costume on stage.
The one-sentence push-back
"We have our own wardrobe team for coordination and alterations, so we'll take the hire and freight, pay actual return-cleaning, and accept liability for any genuine damage — please re-quote on that basis."