I'm an actor, new to NYC and I'm looking for an evening job. I have experience costuming; how tough is it to get a job as a dresser?

i have a good friend who is a swing dresser for several broadway shows while she auditions.

i asked her the same question when i came back from tour and was looking for work.

it is a unionized job in most of NYC, i believe, so you have to do whatever it takes to qualify for the union (at least for any job you apply for that is under dresser union jurisdiction- is that the stagehands union? i'm not sure).

she also said it's a small circle of people who get known and are requested to work. she made it seem fairly difficult to break in, to be honest.

but start small. work on showcases and non-union gigs in the city, if possible, build up a local reputation, and then look at the union and start trying to get union gigs.

I have a friend trying to get into this as well. He learned a ton from actually contacting the union. I can't think off the top of my head what the local is, but google it and contact them. They were very helpful to him!