Excerpt from Alice Through the Proscenium-Set Design Book

By Clare Floyd DeVries

Amalgamated Home & Field Kit
The “Always-Prepared” Kit to Awe & Impress All Others:

Here is stuff to have on hand all the time in a carry bag, your car, or your garage.

Tape Measure - a small one (for shopping), 25’ or larger in kit or car.
Camera - to document furniture, dressing, or a theater.
Sketchbook - always! and with it have a…
Pen, Pencil, & Eraser – duh.
Stapler - small in the car &/or Paperclips.
Scale Rule - you can use the tape, but a small scale is nice.
Drafting Tools - a small Triangle is handy or a traveling Board.
Tracing Paper - steal (borrow!) copy paper, but trace is useful at meetings or Build.  Some designers like Grid Paper.
Construction Drawings - always! Have your latest-revised drawings.
Samples - paint chips, fabrics, photos…
Calendar - when’s that due? when can you meet?
Cell Phone - no one can catch you otherwise.
Contact Sheet or #s - or you can’t call anyone else.
Paint Clothes and Shoes - you’re tired of paint on good clothes.
Paint Tools - most theaters have most basics, but bring what’s missing or needed for that special technique, also Small Brushes  and a Drop Cloth.
Screw Gun - and assorted Screws.
Fasteners - a grab-bag of: nails, hooks, upholstery tacks, wire, fishing line, safety pins, etc.  If nails, then Hammer.
Staple Gun - assorted Staples & a comfortable, dependable gun (if you can find one) &/or a Screwdriver to unstuck it.
Pliers - preferably needle nose pliers with wire cutter edge.
Knives - mat/craft knife, Xacto knife, snap-blade knife, pocket knife (pref. with scissors for fabric samples).
Scissors - sharp craft &/or fabric scissors.
Adhesives - theaters usually have Gaf and painter’s tape plus Elmer’s &/or carpenter’s glue, but you may want your own plus double-stick tape, Super Glue TM, etc. and you will want your own…
Glue Gun & Glue Sticks - lots o’ glue sticks.
Sewing Supplies - include a curved Upholstery Needle and black & white Thread and Button Thread.
Old-Faithful Furniture - footstool or Pouffe that can be easily reupholstered; probably a Chair or small Table that can be painted.
Basic Set Dressing - assorted Picture Frames, Pillows, Vases, etc. that you find yourself using over and over again.

Visit clare at www.devriesdesign.net or www.devriesdesigndiary.blogspot.com

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