Thread: Feedback, please? Costume Goddess videos

Hi everyone,
I recently have begun to post short "Tips" videos to a Costume Goddess YouTube Channel.

I did all the videos by myself, using the backwards-facing display screen. Very handy! That way, my poor husband doesn't have to watch me do 12 takes, cussing after every mistake that makes me start over.

This videography is a new experiment for me, and I'd appreciate any feedback. You can be honest! Maybe you know of a instructional video for how to make instructional videos?

Also, it's the first time I've used images of me for Costume Goddess since I broke up with Miss Clairol, so quite a change of image, if you have any of my books picturing me as a brunette.

The most recent one is about "Avoiding Costume Malfunctions":

I figured out how to assemble a bunch of very short clips and add a title.
I feel the background is too dark, and mean to replace it with a lighter color. Other than that?

The other clips are on my YouTube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/DinaLydiaCG

If this gets a good reception, and the dancers feel this is useful, I will try producing longer videos in higher definition, displaying specific costuming techniques from my books.

Thanks in advance!

UPDATE: I've added subtitles (YouTube annotations) as you suggested.

Ah, Dina Lydia, thank you for doing these . . . keep up the good work!!!

I love your work. You were an inspiration and helpful guide when I started making my own costumes. I've linked to the you tube page from my own costume-related facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kashiw...es/84299390665 ) and to this thread here and I hope that helps bring you traffic and feedback. Right now I have nothing to add, but am curious to see where this goes.

I also keep an inspiration notebook with items I've torn from fashion magazines. I also try to go through my "inspiration images" on my computer every once in a while, combine them in photoshop, and print them out and put them in the notebook as I find I will flip through them more if they are all in one place and not in a computer file I tend to forget about.

I keep a similar notebook of fabric swatches, beads and bead labels and such so when I go to a fabric store I can be SURE of matching fabrics, sequin sizes and such.

I subscribed to your channel & have watched all the uploads so far. The one on belt lining was timely for me, as I'm constructing a costume & was just thinking about linings earlier this week. I like the videos & hope you'll do more. ..g.:

Additional feedback: You look stunning in your white and grey natural hair.

Thanks everyone, for your encouraging remarks and compliments!

I'll continue making more videos and welcome any responses or suggestions.

Yeah, great video! Wish I'd had helpful stuff like this when I first started. Thanks!

Originally Posted by ozma

Additional feedback: You look stunning in your white and grey natural hair.

Thanks very much...Now that the artificial color is gone, I'm letting it grow. I don't know of any dancers with natural white hair, so my role model is Carole King, here in a recent vid rockin' out like a young thang:

Big kudos to you in letting the "color" go in your hair!

I am thinking along those lines myself. I started to color because I thought it would help me compete with younger workers but now I find myself having to do it every 3-4 weeks! What a pain. . . not to mention I could use the money for other things. I'll probably have to change my hair stylist to be able to do that as every time i bring it up, he just says "NO, No, No!!". But I actually dread the thought of being one of those women who lives with a stripe most of the time and/or the color no longer matches their age. And I already know I have lots of silver/white around my face so it is getting close to time . . . maybe I need to have a ceremony to bid adieu to my brown hair, hehe.

Originally Posted by cbarros

Big kudos to you in letting the "color" go in your hair!

I am thinking along those lines myself. I started to color because I thought it would help me compete with younger workers but now I find myself having to do it every 3-4 weeks! What a pain. . . not to mention I could use the money for other things. . . maybe I need to have a ceremony to bid adieu to my brown hair, hehe.

I did feel regret saying goodbye to my brunette (and younger) self. I did all the coloring in my own bathroom for 20+ years...
It made sense at at 40, even 50, but now...I feel relief and liberation. Oddly enough--many people, even strangers, come up to me and compliment the hair.
Here's a hint: the last couple years I used temporary color only, as I was thinking that would make the transition more graceful if I stopped using it.

I enjoyed your video. I tend to pin a small stash of pins on the inside of my cover-up or belt because I most often hear the plea for safety pins minutes before going on stage when there is not time to run back to the dressing room.

There are a few times where it seems like you’re about to tell a great story about how you acquired the knowledge for the tips, but you cut it down. Feel free to share them!

I like your hair too – I wish I had curls!

Originally Posted by dinalydia

I did feel regret saying goodbye to my brunette (and younger) self. I did all the coloring in my own bathroom for 20+ years...
It made sense at at 40, even 50, but now...I feel relief and liberation. Oddly enough--many people, even strangers, come up to me and compliment the hair.
Here's a hint: the last couple years I used temporary color only, as I was thinking that would make the transition more graceful if I stopped using it.

Yep, I am getting ready to crossover to the big 6-0 next May! I know some ppl still use wigs and even those make you look older after awhile . . . but one of my friends keeps saying "but at least you have good hair!" . . . ah, to each their own! I've seen some beautiful silver/gray hair on women . . . I am thinking about Amel Tafsout too!!!

FYI, I believe I have all your costume books . . . stored away most of the time because I haven't been making anything lately . . . but I do drag them out to look for ideas and now I think I need ideas more than ever! I need to create my own look that suits me and not some egyptian's idea of me, hehe . . . sort of like the hair stylist not wanting me to go grey!!!

Originally Posted by cbarros

I know some ppl still use wigs and even those make you look older after awhile . . . but one of my friends keeps saying "but at least you have good hair!" . . . ah, to each their own!...
I need to create my own look that suits me and not some egyptian's idea of me, hehe . . . sort of like the hair stylist not wanting me to go grey!!!

This could be a whole new thread. Re-inventing yourself as the years roll by is an experimental process when there are few role models, but exhilarating at times.

Your hair stylist has a financial interest in keeping you in thrall to the bottle, so....??,r:;

For what it's worth, I think something far more aging than hair color (or lack of it) is poor posture. I know some women past 50 who diligently dye their hair black or red but habitually walk and sit round-shouldered and hunched. They probably CAN'T straighten up. Dancers likely don't have that problem. They walk proudly, bend and stretch regularly.

Also, I learn new things regularly; I think it keeps my brain flexible and open. Right now I'm taking singing lessons. I've never smoked, so my voice is clear and I've just been taught to sing 5 notes higher than I used to. My hubby and I do karaoke. Strangers come over and tell us we look like a real fun couple.

Originally Posted by dinalydia

I know some women past 50 who diligently dye their hair black or red but habitually walk and sit round-shouldered and hunched. They probably CAN'T straighten up. Dancers likely don't have that problem. They walk proudly, bend and stretch regularly.

Also, I learn new things regularly; I think it keeps my brain flexible and open. Right now I'm taking singing lessons. I've never smoked, so my voice is clear and I've just been taught to sing 5 notes higher than I used to. My hubby and I do karaoke. Strangers come over and tell us we look like a real fun couple.

Yeah for learning new things!!! Very important to keep the posture . . . and hard to do when you sit hunched in front of a computer.

So the next project could be about learning to costume yourself as age, hair and body change???

Originally Posted by cbarros

So the next project could be about learning to costume yourself as age, hair and body change???

I gotta think about that one. I rarely perform any more, so am pondering that as I think about a gig next month.

I know one thing, I always wear sleeves...the audience shouldn't have to see my elbows...

dinalydia, thank you for taking the time to provide these clips. You always have a lot of useful information to share. My main concern about the clip you have here is that the longer format may not be a good fit for the short attention spans of a large portion of the target audience you need to reach. The content of this particular clip doesn't seem to be aimed at experienced performers, or even inexperienced performers who are conscientious and methodical when it comes to getting ready for a show. This sort of implies that it's going to be the most beneficial to the students who are under-informed, common-sense-challenged, and impatient-to-get-out-there: in other words, the students least likely to be under the tutelage of a good teacher who cares whether her students are learning what they need to know before getting on stage. As such, a nine-minute, talking-head clip is a long stretch, particularly when those students are younger dancers who may be used to multitasking online. It would be a shame to invest a lot of effort in preparing a clip, only to have it met with "TLDW."

I think it would really up the accessibility if you subtitled important phrases as you are going. (e.g., "Every dance bag should have safety pins," "Don't skip your dress rehearsal," "Remember to check your costume from different angles," etc.) Subtitles don't require any reshoots, and they would help refocus the viewer's attention on the points you want to make. As a bonus, they also increase comprehension for ESL viewers. The other clips on your channel are short, and it isn't as much of an issue there, but if you go into demonstration clips, materials lists and other on-screen reference points make a clip more useful than one without.

DL, I think your hair looks lovely.

Catherine, it's your stylist's job to make recommendations about your hair, not to bully, guilt-trip, or otherwise encourage you to do something you don't want. I don't know the relationship between you and your stylist. He might be telling you not to stop coloring because he genuinely believes it's the right look for you...or he might be operating on the idea that it's to the salon's advantage to keep you on the hook for those coloring services as long as possible. It's your hair, not his. If you want to transition back to your natural hair color, do it.

Originally Posted by Tourbeau

dinalydia, thank you for taking the time to provide these clips. You always have a lot of useful information to share. My main concern about the clip you have here is that the longer format may not be a good fit for the short attention spans of a large portion of the target audience you need to reach....

This is very useful feedback, thanks! I'll respond to your points:

SUBTITLES: Of course! Why didn't I think of that? Reading the topic while hearing the tip doubles its effectiveness. Less of a "talking head" look, and I should have a "prop" or two for each topic, for more visual interest.

LENGTH OF CLIP: Each "malfunction" tip alone was too short to make a topic, and these seemed to be appropriately themed to go together. But you are right, 9 minutes will strain some viewers' attention spans, though I try to be concise and not blather (that's what makes me impatient when viewing such things). In the future I'll try to keep the clips less than 5 minutes....with subtitles.

TARGET AUDIENCE: Is the "Costume Malfunctions" clip for scatterbrained newbies only? Maybe...but I've seen these mistakes over and over, in some performers with sufficient experience that I was surprised. Some of them may have "issues" of denial and avoidance when it comes to fitting problems; some detest sewing so much that they will convince themselves it's unnecessary. Some don't mind sewing but can't seem to find time to finish until the performance date is dangerously close (me!)

You think "conscientious and methodical" dancers, even newbies, won't make these mistakes. But lots of creative people are neither. Overcoming performance anxiety and remembering their choreography seems to be where many beginners' focus is. In my observation, they do need basic tips, and then more advanced tips (which I'll eventually get into covering). As I said, suggestions for needed topics are more than welcome.

TEACHERS' RESPONSIBILITY: Is the teacher supervising beginners' costuming? She SHOULD be, maybe...but if so, why have I seen these costume mistakes frequently? NONE of my early teachers mentioned these things. They focused on teaching dance techniques and motivating the students. Some teachers have poor costume judgement themselves, and can't sew, either!

So...you're partly right, no doubt. Eventually I will have enough videos to divide them into basic, intermediate, and advanced costuming, for a variety of target audiences.

Thanks!..g.:

I suppose "clueless" is vague enough to include "ought to know better" and "willfully oblivious." I'm not sure why there are so many people making costuming mistakes that they should have the experience to avoid. Even the best dancers can have an occasional lapse in preparation, or a costume that seems to have an impish mind of its own. Sometimes stuff just happens, mistakes are made, and things fall through the cracks. I do think a lot of the problem can be traced back to a failure of early teachers to pound the proper stage protocol into their students' heads, though.

My feeling is that if you go far enough up the educational tree, eventually you'll find a teacher who dropped the ball, someone who knew better and didn't emphasize the right things to her or his students. It seems that we have a lot of conversations here on Bhuz about teacher responsibility, failure to give candid feedback to students, passive (or passive-aggressive) permissiveness. I guess I think a teacher is responsible for modeling and enforcing good behavior in beginners. Most students start performing through a class or student troupe, and someone at that studio has the power to lay down the law: "Come to the dress rehearsal the way you'll come to the show, and when it's your time to run through the performance, be fully ready--not half dressed, not without your cover up, not without your stage makeup. This is how we'll both know you're really ready to perform (and I can correct what needs to be addressed before showtime). Anybody who doesn't take the dress rehearsal seriously won't be allowed to be in the show." It's hard to imagine that many show organizers would be ballsy enough to set down rules and then tell dancers who aren't their students that if they don't follow those rules they're out of the show, but can you blame students when the only consequence of sloppy costume prep that they have to be afraid of is partial nudity? (Doesn't explain why even that isn't always a sufficient deterrent, though...)

Originally Posted by Tourbeau

...Sometimes stuff just happens, mistakes are made, and things fall through the cracks. I do think a lot of the problem can be traced back to a failure of early teachers to pound the proper stage protocol into their students' heads, though....

Yes, a lot to think about, there.

Example: One teacher arranged for our beginner class to perform at a hafla in a nearby town. She had decided we should all be in black skirt and midriff top or bra with silver accessories, a color scheme fairly easy to put together.

One student showed up without ANY of her costume, cause she forgot. The teacher let her dance with us anyway, with her jeans rolled down and her tee shirt rolled up. I thought it made us look crappy, I was disappointed.

Footnote Edit: That was the last time I performed in a group.

In light of this issue, why not video blog about "How to talk to your students about costumes...." it might not be a short video blog but it could be useful for both students and teachers.

Originally Posted by ozma

In light of this issue, why not video blog about "How to talk to your students about costumes...."

"Video blog": I've never heard that term, but that suits what I'm doing very well. At this point, the videos are not detailed enough to be commercial, nor do they follow a methodical 1-2-3 instruction; they are thoughts based on my experience, that others might find informative or interesting.

Love your work and advice on your site ^_^


Advice from youtube-generation-girl?

1) You did a good just with stating your street cred/ Ethos by physically showing your books (great selling point!), but maybe you should make it stronger by stating how many years you've been making costumes? or an example photo?

2) Love the idea of subs, it would bring more visuals as some people learn better with visual than audio portions. Maybe have a photo of "bad" versus "better" on a mannequin? For girls that have NEVER been to a Hafla, she might be confused how tight/snug a belt really should be. Even the simple safety pins kept me perky!

3) Like all classes I've taught in academics or arts, when you say "In Conclusion" or "In Summary" Everyone in the class perks up and pays attention. Kids magically rise from slumber to hear that calculus theorem for 5 mins, after 45 mins of sleeping. >_< Maybe you should add a bit more? It's why bullet lists are so popular in power points.

4) Length was already discussed; 5 mins seem good. 7 is pushing it, but better than a bunch of 2 min videos. Can get annoying fast if same 30 second opening is always used- it's 1/4 of the video! (I've seen these "commercials" before!) The information overload-age has really turn us off on commercials and "longer" videos. Sad but true.

5) I think the core things you discussed were great. I enjoyed watching it, sent it to my friends, and I'm going to watch the other ones! :D

Ayla Almee,
Thanks very much, very useful feedback!

Addressing your 4th point:
Yes, the same intro can be tiresome after viewing several of a series. However, I think each video needs to stand on its own; the viewer may have found it using search words, rather than through my channel or website, and may NOT be familiar (hard as that is to believe!) with my name or background.

I've done searches and stumbled upon a video - part of a series, apparently - where the speaker vaguely refers to previous videos. Sometimes they don't even identify themselves. This leaves me puzzled and annoyed: who is this person? Yes, I could look for a link to their channel or website and find out more, but that's an extra step that shouldn't be required (YouTubers' gnat-like attention span again).

IN SUMMARY, vid guidelines

1. KEEP INTRO VERY BRIEF (15 sec): my own name, business name, physical CGTA books, the subject (BD costuming), maybe years of experience. Might have a sign with my logo in the background, so it's always visible.

2.TOTAL LENGTH: 3-5 minutes.

3. Be CONCISE, don't blather off-topic in an attempt to be chatty (the weather, what I had for breakfast, jokes, local Seattle events). That's my own rule.

4. Variety of VISUAL interest (besides talking head): Title graphic, subtitles, full-length photos of completed costume, comparisons, close-ups of costume details, materials, etc. A mannequin would be useful (mannequins are expensive, even used torso-only, but I'll keep looking).

5. HAVE A SUMMARY: Important "bullet points" repeated briefly in text and spoken word.

6. END PITCH: Suggest a subscription to my YouTube Channel.

I'm working on a new video with these thoughts in mind.

~Dina Lydia

btw - love your Bananarama video! ((tee hee))

Originally Posted by caasious

btw - love your Bananarama video! ((tee hee))

Thanks very much! That was fun. I used the "color swap" function on the camera to give it a blueish tone.

On a purely technical cameraman issue, check your lighting levels. The change in the lighting levels through out the video drove me a little crazy. Also, play with angles. You could raise the frame or bring it in just a little.

Great start!

{{{HUGS}}}

Originally Posted by tahiradancer

On a purely technical cameraman issue, check your lighting levels. The change in the lighting levels through out the video drove me a little crazy. Also, play with angles. You could raise the frame or bring it in just a little.

Great start!

{{{HUGS}}}

Yes, I was experimenting with lighting/camera settings and it isn't consistent. That won't happen again. I am still learning the capabilities of this camera.

In the future, I'll do one take, or keep the levels consistent.