The CDG application for membership is available as a PDF download.  Please complete the application in entirety before submitting.  Your application can be processed only when all requested documents are provided.  If any of the required documents are missing, your application will be on hold until they are provided.

You must meet one of the requirements listed under the classifications below. Upon acceptance of application and documentation, an in-person interview may be conducted.

1. Costume Designer on a non-union production that was organized into a union production by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). Independent documentation of credit from a deal memo, crew list or call sheet must be provided.

2. Costume Designer on at least one (1) feature motion picture, television production, commercial, or music video made for commercial release, with independent documentation from a deal memo, crew list, call sheet, or DVD screenshot with credits, and three (3) signed letters of recommendation from Costume Designers or working professionals that are knowledgeable about your skills. Live entertainment (theatre, pageants, etc.) are covered by other union locals. Student projects are not acceptable credits.

3. Costume Supervisor (as a member of Local 705) on at least one (1) feature motion picture or television production for commercial release, with independent documentation from a deal memo, crew list, call sheet, or DVD screenshot with credits that you were the sole supervisor of both men’s and women’s costumes (a production that did not have a costume designer) and three (3) signed letters of recommendation from Costume Designers, Line Producers, or Directors that you have worked for in the capacity of costume designer.

Membership Costs:

Important Payment Information: Payments will be scheduled based on your chosen payment option below (1, 2, or 3). Your first quarter dues is wrapped into the total fees listed below.  Thereafter, you will then be responsible for maintaining your future quarterly dues based on the following schedule: Quarterly dues fall on the 1st of January, April, July, and October.

Entrance Fee: $6,500.00
First Quarter Dues: $345.99
IATSE Processing Fee: $100.00
Sketch Stamp: $25.00

TOTAL DUE: $6,970.99

Payment options

1. Pay the total of $6,970.99 upon notice of membership acceptance. Payment method – Check, Cashier’s Check, or Credit Card.

2. Pay $3,485.50 (1/2 entrance fee) AND within 45 days pay remaining $3,485.49. Payment method – Check, Cashier’s Check or Credit Card.

3. Pay $3,485.50 upon notice of membership acceptance AND $1,161.83 will be automatically charged to a credit card for the next 3 consecutive months. This option requires providing valid Credit Card information (which will not expire during the payment period) at the time of the initial payment. *There is a 3% convenience fee for all charges.

You must meet one of the requirements listed under the classifications below. Upon acceptance of application and documentation, an in-person interview may be conducted.

1. Assistant Costume Designer on a non-union production that was organized into a union production by the IATSE. Independent documentation of credit from a deal memo, crew list, DVD with credits, or call sheet must be provided.

2. Assistant Costume Designer, Costume Supervisor, or Costumer on at least one (1) feature motion picture or television production, commercial or music video for commercial release, with independent documentation from a deal memo, crew list, DVD screenshot with credits or call sheet and three (3) signed letters of recommendation from Costume Designers, Line Producers, or Directors that you have worked for in the capacity of the assistant costume designer. Live entertainment (theatre, pageants, etc.) are covered by other union locals.

Membership Costs:

Important Payment Information: Payments will be scheduled based on your chosen payment option below (1, 2, or 3). Your first quarter dues is wrapped into the total fees listed below.  Thereafter, you will then be responsible for maintaining your future quarterly dues based on the following schedule: Quarterly dues fall on the 1st of January, April, July, and October.

Entrance Fee $3,750.00
First Quarter Dues $284.77
IATSE Processing Fee $100.00
Sketch Stamp $25.00

TOTAL DUE $4,159.77

Payment options

1. Pay the total of $4,159.77 upon notice of membership acceptance. Payment method – Check, Cashier’s Check, or Credit Card.

2. Pay $2,079.89 (1/2 entrance fee) AND within 45 days pay $2,079.88 Payment method – Check, Cashier’s Check or Credit Card.

3. Pay $2,079.87 upon notice of membership acceptance AND $693.30 will be automatically charged to a credit card for the next 3 consecutive months. This option requires providing valid Credit Card information (which will not expire during the payment period) at the time of the initial payment. *There is a 3% convenience fee for all charges.

1. Three (3) signed letters of recommendation from Costume Designers, employers or other professionals who are knowledgeable about your skills directly related to costume illustration.

Membership Costs:

Important Payment Information: Payments will be scheduled based on your chosen payment option below (1, 2, or 3). Your first quarter dues is wrapped into the total fees listed below.  Thereafter, you will then be responsible for maintaining your future quarterly dues based on the following schedule: Quarterly dues fall on the 1st of January, April, July, and October.

Entrance Fee $3,500.00
First Quarter Dues $235.11
IATSE Processing Fee $100.00
Sketch Stamp $25.00
TOTAL DUE $3,860.11

Payment options

1. Pay the total of $3,860.11 upon notice of membership acceptance. Payment method – Check, Cashier’s Check, or Credit Card.

2. Pay $1,930.05 (1/2 entrance fee) AND within 45 days pay remaining $1,930.06. Payment method – Check, Cashier’s Check or Credit Card.

3. Pay $1,930.06 upon notice of membership acceptance AND $643.35 will be automatically charged to a credit card for the next 3 consecutive months. This option requires providing valid Credit Card information (which will not expire during the payment period) at the time of the initial payment.  *There is a 3% convenience fee for all charges.

1. Member of United Scenic Artists, Local 829 applying to join Local 892 in the Costume Designer classification and providing documentation of good standing with Local 829 at the time of application.

2. Three signed letters of recommendation from Costume Designers, Line Producers, or Directors that you have worked for in the capacity of the costume designer.

Membership Costs:

Important Payment Information: Payments will be scheduled based on your chosen payment option below (1, 2, or 3). Your first quarter dues is wrapped into the total fees listed below.  Thereafter, you will then be responsible for maintaining your future quarterly dues based on the following schedule: Quarterly dues fall on the 1st of January, April, July, and October.

Entrance Fee $3,250.00
First Quarter Dues $345.99
IATSE Processing Fee $100.00
Sketch Stamp $25.00
TOTAL DUE $3,720.99

Payment options

1. Pay the total of $3,720.99 upon notice of membership acceptance. Payment method – Check, Cashier’s Check, or Credit Card.

2. Pay $1,860.50 (1/2 entrance fee) AND within 45 days pay remaining $1,860.49. Payment method –“ Check, Cashier’s Check or Credit Card.

3. Pay $1,860.51 upon notice of membership acceptance AND $620.16 will be automatically charged to a credit card for the next 3 consecutive months. This option requires providing valid Credit Card information (which will not expire during the payment period) at the time of the initial payment. *There is a 3% convenience fee for all charges.

If all the required materials listed within the application are provided, the process will generally take one week.

If you have a job starting and wish to secure your membership quickly, please make note of it in your application and we will process it as a rush. Turn-around approval time is generally a few days and we strongly suggest including your financial paperwork.  *Approved applicants will only be considered an active member when a payment is provided (Payment option 1, 2, or 3).

No, 30 days on a union job is not a requirement to apply to Local 892. Our sister union Local 705 is a rostered union and does have a 30-day requirement, but our unions and qualifying requirements are different. Local 892 is a ‘non-rostered Local’, and there is no roster listing needed for applying to the Costume Designers Guild, Local 892.

If the type of file you plan to send is not included in this list, you should convert the file to an acceptable file type.  Example: Pages from a Mac platform an unable to be read, only PC version.

1. Adobe PDF
2. Microsoft Word document
3. Jpeg images format

If you submit a file type that is not listed, your document will be refused and you may be required to submit an acceptable file type that can be opened by the Guild Office.

Everyone must submit a completed application including all the required information for their respective classification; costume designer, assistant costume designer, costume illustrator, and 829 costume designers. You can submit some of your application, however, everything must be received before it will be reviewed/approved by the committee.

No, IMDB is not a qualifying independent credit. The independent credit requirement is applicable for only costume designer or assistant costume designer applicants. Call sheet, crew list, or a deal memo on a union or non-union project are the only acceptable credits. They should be current, but a previous year’s credit from a project under our jurisdiction (film, television, online streaming, music video, or commercial) will work.

*If you are applying as a costume designer and have no history of credits but you do as a supervisor, you may use that in lieu of the costume designer credits.

*If you are applying as an assistant costume designer and have no history of credits, but you do as a key/key costumer, you may use that in lieu of the assistant costume designer credit. If you do not have any of these, contact our Member Services Administrator, Suzanne Huntington, to discuss further.

Recommendation letters are unique to you and your skillset. A good letter should speak what made you an asset on the project – be it your work ethic, creative problem-solving abilities, ease in navigating on a crew, a tricky deadline, challenging actor, or capturing the creative vision, etc. A signature must accompany the letter and their listed job title is suggested.

Letters should be from a past employer with a working knowledge of your experience related to the field: industry professionals who could potentially hire you. Letters from academics, a dean, or a counselor are not eligible. Listed below are suggested options for each classification:

Costume designer/assistant costume designer applicants: director, line producer, or fellow costume designer (in or outside our Local)

Costume Illustrator applicants: costume designer, director, line producer. If you are newly entering illustration for film/television/commercials, letters from video game industry, fashion illustration, or related vendors are acceptable.

Your application will remain on hold until you submit the document with the appropriate signature included on your recommendation letter.

No, but a picture in equal size and clarity should accompany the application. The image is used to place face to a name when new members are sworn in.

Payment is not a requirement upfront when applying, but it is if you are accepted and wish to be considered a member of the Costume Designers Guild, Local 892. If you have been accepted and no payment has been received, you will be considered an ‘accepted applicant’ until such time a payment is made.

Your application cannot be finalized if you have been terminated from another IATSE Local for lack of payment and it has been left unpaid. You may pay your outstanding back dues to your Local or to the Costume Designers Guild. Either option will settle your financial affairs with the IA office in New York and complete the final step in the application process – acceptance to the Costume Designers Guild.

If you have already begun paying your entrance fees and have become delinquent, please contact the Member Services Administrator to discuss further.

No, we do not provide job placement in the industry.  Our main function is protecting the rights of our members working on union signatory jobs.  We do provide educational classes on a variety of topics, networking events, resource listing, etc., to improve your viability in the workforce.  It can often be challenging for applicants coming in without industry contacts or current/prior union job offers.  It is important to have a through understanding of the skills needed for the job and be able to effectively execute them.  If you don’t have the experience, educate yourself, find avenues to create opportunities.