Get into Character
The first (and perhaps most important) thing a living statue needs is a character. A real statue has a character—a deity, an ideal, a portrait, or a historical person. You, a statue mimic, need a character in order to be convincing.
You need to decide what type of material you will be "made" of, for example, bronze, marble, gold, steel, or concrete. Take your costume budget and time constraints into account when you choose a character. Some costumes will be easier to find than others. For instance, a white sheet and white clown makeup (for a marble statue) are relatively cheap and easy to find, but a gold-colored colonial coat and vest, pantaloons, shirt, and buckled shoes for a bronze colonial statue will be difficult to find at any price. Start small in case you find that living statue isn't for you.
Get Shopping
Once you have decided on your living statue character, it's time to shop. Don't try to buy everything the day before you perform; shopping a week or even a month ahead is a good idea, especially if you have a limited budget. Make a list of everything you will need, from head to toe, and character-specific. For example:
White Marble Statue Shopping List
- White sheets (one to cover pedestal, one for clothing, one for head covering)
- Pedestal
- Whiteface clown makeup
- White powder (to set makeup)
- White gloves
- White sandals (flip flops)
- Prop (white urn or basket)
- Any items want to give the audience
- Underclothes (white tank top, light colored shorts)
- Sewing notions (needle, white thread, safety pins)
- Tip jar or hat
You can find some items around the house, and some can be bought inexpensively. You may already have sewing notions, sandals, and a white tank top. Perhaps your grandmother has a low and sturdy side table you can use as a pedestal. Sheets, a prop, and even white gloves could be found at a thrift store, if you're willing to shop around.
Other items may cost more. Good whiteface makeup and powder from a professional theater makeup line can be bought online fairly cheaply, provided you start shopping in advance to allow for shipping time. And whatever little items you choose to give your audience should be bought new.
Get Made Up
Good makeup is what makes the living statue really convincing. Professional-quality clown makeup goes on easily and stays put for hours when set with powder. This is not the kind of makeup you find at a party supply store; go to a costume shop or find stage-quality makeup online. It shouldn't be too expensive; a small tub of makeup and a container of white powder should cost about $20 at a costume shop.
Before you apply the makeup to your entire face, do an allergy test. If your skin is fine, apply to your face first. Find a balance between full coverage of your skin tone and keeping the layers as thin as possible. Apply makeup to your neck and any other exposed skin before powdering. Once you have an even layer and good coverage, get a powder puff and cover the made-up area with a dusting of powder. When finished powdering, you should be able to touch anywhere and not stick.
Be aware that putting on makeup will make a mess of the bathroom and your clothing, especially when you are doing it for the first time.
Plan and try on your costume before you apply your makeup, but wear a button-down junk shirt during application instead of your costume to avoid ruining it.
Get Dressed
If you want to make a costume out of non-clothing materials (e.g. sheets), you need to sew the fabric or securely pin it. If you are planning a sheet costume, it is important to wear something underneath. Sheets can be a bit see-through; folding the sheet in half before constructing your costume or using more than one sheet may help resolve the issue. If you need assistance constructing your sheet costume, there are many toga-folding tutorials online.
If you are using clothing instead of sheets, make sure each piece is the same color to maintain the statue illusion. If you are spray-painting your clothing, test some first to find out the effect paint will have on the material. It may soak into each fabric differently, causing color differences, or it may change the way the cloth bends.
Regardless of the costume you choose, every exposed inch of skin should be covered, either with makeup or costume. Audiences love to look for little things that show you are not a real statue, so try lots of poses in the costume and find out where your skin shows. Gloves are a must, especially if you are intending to touch any of your audience; if you paint your hands instead, they can smear and make a mess of anyone you touch.
Get Prepared
Once you get all your supplies together, do a complete costume and makeup test. Testing a week to three days before your performance gives you time to fix things without panicking. Put on your whole ensemble, and show your friends or family. Ask if there's anything that breaks the illusion. Have someone take photos or a video of you so you can see anything that might be wrong. Practice getting up and down on your pedestal in costume. If you're satisfied with the way you look, you're ready for your living statue debut.
Read more about living statue in Living Statue Location, Posing, and Interaction Guide.
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