Years of professional costume design experience
Amy Baldwin
Honolulu,HI
Summary
A people-loving creative type with decades of customer service and retail experience, and a veteran of the garment industry and the theatre and film costume world. With a degree in apparel design, a lot of moxie, and a love of new adventures, my career has been amazingly multifaceted. I strive to inspire creativity, foster diversity, support a sense of community, and build a positive rapport within the working environment and beyond.
I have an imdb credit as Amy Carlson Baldwin as seamstress on the film Eden (1996).
View some of my custom work on Facebook at Amy Baldwin Design, and costumes and some graphic design at Seattle Immersive Theatre.
Overview
8
8
15
15
Years as a designer in the garment industry
31
31
Years in a management or leadership role
33
33
Years of custom clothing design and construction
38
38
Years of sewing experience
43
43
Years of theater experience
Work History
Front of House Manager
Hawaii Theatre Center
10.2023 - Current
- Maintain Front of House operations and preparedness before, during, and after shows to drive high quality standards and meet patron expectations.
- Manage, schedule, and coordinate 8 food and beverage staff, up to 20 volunteers, up to 12 security staff, and 2-3 cleaners per show.
- Act as main point of contact for patrons to foster strong relationships, addressing inquiries and concerns promptly and professionally while maintaining positive rapport to ensure positive theatre experience.
- Streamline operations for improved efficiency and cost savings by creating and implementing a Standards of Operations manual for all aspects of Front of House including creating event orders, improving bar functionality, managing catered events, ordering bar, kitchen, theatre, and office supplies, and delivering accurate rider requests from talent.
- Increase revenue by monitoring sales data and adjusting menu offerings based on customer preferences and show-specific demographics.
- Coordinate special events, including VIP events with performers, private parties, and corporate functions, tailoring menus and décor to meet client needs while maximizing profits.
- Partner with back-of-house management to maintain communication between teams to ensure smooth productions.
Assistant House Manager
Hawaii Theatre Center
04.2023 - 09.2023
Associate Artistic Director
Seattle Immersive Theatre
06.2015 - 01.2021
- Joined with Artistic Director to plan theatrical shows and events for non-profit (501c3) theater
- Established strong brand identity by developing a unique artistic vision that set the theatre apart from others in the city
- Co-managed auditions and cast selection processes, assembling talented ensembles for each production season
- Increased audience attendance through engaging marketing campaigns that showcased the artistic talent of the ensemble
- Designed graphics and collateral to support marketing campaigns in print and online
- Managed front of house and bar operations during shows
- Implemented strategies for promoting campaigns on social media
- Directed day-to-day business operations and made strategic decisions to further organizational goals
- Represented theater for tours, interviews, and press
- Managed theater website and ticket sales database
- Collaborated on production design and set build-outs
- Contributed to creative process through original ideas and inspiration
Costume Designer
Seattle Immersive Theatre
05.2014 - 01.2021
- Collaborated with directors and producers to create visually striking costumes that supported the overall vision of the production.
- Enhanced costume designs by incorporating historical accuracy and cultural relevance into each project.
- Utilized specialized design techniques such as draping or flat pattern-making to create unique garments tailored specifically for individual performers or special genre and story requirements.
- Sewed full outfits for use by actors.
- Completed alterations to existing outfits to fit specific body sizes and types.
- Created visually appealing character styles that married story with director vision.
- Elevated production quality by collaborating closely with lighting designers to achieve optimal color balance between costumes and stage lighting.
- Attended and participated in extensive rehearsals for theatrical productions.
- Developed entire looks encompassing garments, shoes, makeup and wigs.
- Coordinated with and supervised vendor studios where commissioned costume components were necessary.
- Maximized efficiency during rehearsals by providing quick-change solutions for complex costume changes between scenes or acts.
- Managed budgets and timelines effectively, ensuring all costumes were completed on time and within budget constraints.
- Assisted in set dressing tasks when needed, contributing to cohesive visual storytelling throughout a production.
Freelance Costume Designer
Self
09.2014 - 02.2020
Education
AAS - Apparel Design & Services
Seattle Central College
Seattle, WAHigh School Diploma -
Battle Ground High School
Battle Ground, WACertifications
My Design work
Highlight the url below, right click, and select "go to" to view my custom clothing designs, costume design and construction, and graphic design:
Amy Baldwin Design:
https://www.facebook.com/Amy.Baldwin.Design/photos
Seattle Immersive Theatre:
https://www.facebook.com/SeattleImmersiveTheatre/photos_by
Costume and Clothing Skills
- Decades of experience including custom clothing and costume design, construction, alteration, repair, and reconstruction
- Flat pattern making and draping
- Highly proficient at fitting
- Color theory
- Fashion history
- Technical design
- Textile knowledge
- Industrial sewing machine operation including lockstitch, needle feed, walking foot, serger, buttonholer, bartack, and hemmer
- Basic light duty and industrial sewing machine maintenance
Management Skills
- Staff hiring and management
- Payroll administration
- Billing and Invoicing
- Timeline planning
- Expense Tracking
- Customer Service
- Fast problem-solving aptitude in stressful situations
- Reliable decision-making skills and professional acumen
- Ability to listen and communicate effectively
Computer Skills
- Mac OS X
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
- Salesforce and PatronManager
- Social media
- POS system operations