Our show is on Saturday. Everything is organised and now it's just getting there, setting up and dancing. But there are still a few things that need to be done ... like pack our dance bags.
Things you need to pack:
- Costumes
- Jewellery
- Make up
- Props
- Safety pins
- Water
- Snacks
- Copies of your music on various types of media
- A coverall or change of clothes
If you are only doing 1 dance then packing is easy. If you are doing multiple, packing becomes a little trickier.
My tips for packing (and unpacking) for multiple costume changes:
Firstly, when packing my show bag, I pack each costume into an individual costume bag. If it's a non-crease I will use a large shopping bag. This keeps the costumes contained and you don't have to search through your bag to find the missing arm cuff or belt. I do the same for the jewellery. I use those small bags you get with toiletry bag sets or organza gift bags to house each costume's set of jewellery, which then goes in the relative costume bag.
Always triple check that every part of your costume and jewellery is in your bag before you leave for the show.
When I get to the venue, I lay out my costumes in the order I'm dancing. Depending on the space, either side by side or in a pile (first on top, last on the bottom). As I change during the show, I move from one bag to the other, placing the worn costume away from the "still to be used" line-up.
For quick changes, I make sure the costume is out of the bag and ready to be put on. If safety pins are required for that costume, I make sure they are pinned onto the area that needs to be pinned, so I don't have to go searching for my pins.
For a VERY quick change ... change in the wings & have a change buddy to help you. Obviously you can't do this in all situations, but it's still a handy tip. Find the closest place to set up your quick change station.
Earlier this year Melanie, Termare and I set up all our quick changes in the back corner of the wings. I made sure before hand that no one could see us from the audience, even if the wings shifted. We had 1 song between each item we were to dance in. It worked so well. We were ready for our next dance within a minute. If we had run to the change room to change we wouldn't have made it.
Melanie and I will be doing that kind of quick change again on Saturday.
Pre-planning your costume changes while packing for a show makes all the difference. Your stress levels are less as you know where everything is and you can concentrate on your dancing. If you shove everything into 1 bag and think you'll sort it out when you get there, you will be flustered and might leave something at home or lose something, only to find it at the bottom of the bag when you are packing up.