Thrift stores are a very important aspect of the theatre person’s life. Aside from the fact that all of the clothes and materials in the store are low priced, most of the crap in these stores is really out dated. In the theatre world, out-dated means vintage. And nothing is more status-worthy than vintage 1980s Nintendo T-shirts. The thrift store is hours of entertainment because one must sift through every single piece of coal in the store in order to find the diamond that is certainly there. And there is always a diamond. Purchases I’ve seen in the years 2005-2008:
A paper thin Turbo Graphix 16 shirt
A leather vest lined with fur
A full length faux fur coat
A pair of jeans with Tupac’s face airbrushed on them
A book of riddles from 1890
A pair of skis from 1970
A burgundy polyester tuxedo circa 1970
Now, all thrift store purchases are not just for vintage clothing and the bragging rights that come with them. No no no, the thrift store is a resource for something much more important. Props. It’s the first stop on the props journey. Furthermore, most theatre people think it should be the only stop and if they can’t find what they are looking for in the thrift store, they will complain heavily about having to pay retail for it. Everyone knows that thrift stores should always keep a Hitler Heiling Pigeon or a Sweeney Todd barber chair in stock.
In order to impress a theatre person, the best conversation starter in the world is:
“Oh my god, did I tell you what I found at Goodwill/Salvation Army/Arc yesterday!”
Trust me, they’ll bite. If not to hear what bargains you found, then to brag about theirs.
