We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Emma Scott a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Emma, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I knew that pursuing a career in live theatre would be risky. Though I knew I wanted to be involved in costumes, there’s always the fear of the unknown. Would I be successful? Where do I even start looking for backstage jobs? Am I the right fit for this career?

Ever since I was young, I’ve wanted to be involved in some kind of creative career. I loved designing clothes, and admired all the popular designers that have become household names. But I also loved live theatre! I grew up in a household that really appreciates the arts, whether it be our local art museum, or a professional musical performed on Broadway. My first professional show was Andrew Lloyd Webber’s now somewhat forgotten musical Starlight Express, and I was hooked from then on. I was heavily involved in my school and local productions, both as an actress and eventually as a costume shop attendant, member of the backstage wardrobe team, and eventually as a novice wardrobe supervisor.

I just had to tell myself that I knew I was passionate, and that I had to keep that passion going in order to achieve my goals. I also had to accept the lifestyle. In order to find work in theatre, you have to travel to it, more times than not. Although I’m from the Detroit area, there isn’t much in the way of permanent costume shop positions, unless one worked for the Detroit Opera House or a touring company like Feld Entertainment.

Despite all these risks, I jumped at every opportunity I was given. I have a Fashion Design Technician degree from St. Clair College in Canada, with all of my classes focusing entirely on furthering my knowledge of sewing, construction, drafting, drawing, designing, and so much more. I worked hard on every piece I designed and created, and ended up winning third place in my class at our final Atelier Fashion Show. I’ve moved all over the USA, working as a costume intern in several different notable theatres. Now, I’m excited to break away from the “intern” position and move into a more managerial position. The risks have all paid off in the end!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

Hello! My name is Emma Scott, commonly called Scotty by my friends, and I am a theatrical costumer and cosplayer! You can commonly find me behind my sewing machine, backstage during a show helping with costumes, or attending a comic-con dressed as my favorite science fiction or fantasy character. I’ve been sewing ever since I was little, and those lessons have turned into a blossoming career in costume shops all over the country, and award-winning cosplays I love to share with the world! I’ve learned a lot through the years, and I am eager to continue honing my craft and gain new experiences!

All of my work is combined under my own personal brand: The Scotty Dog Costumes. You can find all of my theatre and cosplay work under that name!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I will never get over the feeling of pride I have when I see a costume I worked hard on onstage. Theatre, movies, television shows, and other forms of storytelling, are so important to our development as a society. They help us learn about the world around us, gain empathy and humility, and make learning important life lessons more digestible. I’m so glad I’ve gotten to be a part of this ancient tradition of performance for so many thousands of people. I love watching the costume I made move onstage and inform the character’s personality for the audience, and a successful fast costume change really show off the magic of live theatre.

I also love finally getting to show off a new project. Whether it’s a finished character cosplay, a new handmade hat, a knitting project just completed, or a costume commission finally sent in the mail, I love showing it off to my audience, even if it’s just my parents and my dog! And I’m thankful for my family, friends, followers, and coworkers, for always supporting me and encouraging me to keep learning and growing.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

2020 was a hard year for everyone. As a theatre professional, I was no exception. My internship was unexpectedly ended early, and I had to pack up my life and drive for a day to get back to home base: Detroit. I was worried, as was the rest of the world. When would theatre be able to come back? But I had to be resilient, live in the moment, and worry about today. My previous theatre asked me to make masks for their patrons, and I happily obliged. I made hundreds of masks for them! I was also commissioned to make some for friends and family, so that added to the mask assembly line I had created in my basement sewing studio. I tried to keep my creative juices flowing, making more cosplay costumes I could wear out one day, working on improving my millinery and knitting skills, and making sure I would be ready to rejoin the world of theatre again one day.

Contact Info:

• Website: thescottydogcostumes.com
• Instagram: @thescottydogcostumes https://www.instagram.com/thescottydogcostumes/
• Facebook: @thescottydogcostuming https://www.facebook.com/thescottydogcostuming/

Image Credits
Photo credit to personal friends: Heather Slanec, Catherine Dicks, Elizabeth Dicks