Orchestra Uniforms

Today posed a massive challenge as Aimee, having rung our costume hire company, discovered that the costumes we intended to order had infact been booked out until the 6th of December. Hearing this my heart sank but action was taken quickly to try and resolve the manner asap. I looked back to emails I had sent out in the summer to various hire companies for the uniforms and took down their details again to make contact, Grace also rang various companies to see what they had to offer and were available. Aimee also came across some uniforms in a shop we which we were planning to view with our measurement sheets tomorrow, however on her return with photos they were not quite right and it would also leave us to find all the shirts, missing trousers and most importantly shoes which would have ended up taking a huge amount of time and costing us a great deal more. Our most favourable alternative option was going to cost £150 plus vat. per costume which was beyond budget.
Eventually we came to a solution, to hire out the costumes on the 6th where Grace and Aimee could pick them up and check them over with our measurement sheets.They will then be brought back and hired for a week allowing us to spend a bit more on extra items in case they don't fit. Grace having rung Nick who is the contact for the Orchestra found that most of the players are at a rehearsal in Poole on the 7th which means we can fit them then prior to the 9th which is great luck. The other two members, if happy to do so, will be visited in their homes on the 8th to be fitted for the 9th also and the conductor fitted first thing on friday the 9th. Ultimately although fairly stressful will be the best option and will as a happy side affect reduce our hire cost slightly.

Reflection:
Sudden problems are likely to occur in this business and I have learnt from this that one must stay calm, think rationally as an alternative option will be available. We are lucky that we had time and the expertise of our course leader's to help in this situation but ultimately we found the best resolution relative to time, cost and achieving an authentic WWI look. Grace and I will have to make sure we are on top of costume and efficient this week so we are ahead for next week when she has to be away doing fittings. Grace will also now involve an assistant who can take charge of costume when she is away and I am involved in set which will be extremely helpful in saving us time and remaining organised.