--- title: Your No Stress Dance Costume Planning Checklist description: We know that planning for the upcoming season can be stressful! We've compiled a dance costume planning checklist to help you keep everything in order. image: https://blog.thelineup.com/hubfs/Ashwaubenon%20Coaches%20Planningblogg.jpg --- - [Contact](http://thelineup.com/contact) - [About](https://www.thelineup.com/about) - [Sizing](http://thelineup.com/sizing) - [Fabrics](http://thelineup.com/fabrics) - [My Account](http://thelineup.com/account) - [My Cart](http://thelineup.com/cart) [![the line up](https://blog.thelineup.com/hubfs/2018.TheLineupTheme/logo.png "the line up")](https://www.thelineup.com/) - [Shop](http://thelineup.com/) - [Design](http://thelineup.com/services-design) - [Learn](http://thelineup.com/learn) - [Inspire](http://thelineup.com/inspire) . # [Blog](https://blog.thelineup.com/) # Your No Stress Dance Costume Planning Checklist Posted by [Meagan](https://blog.thelineup.com/author/meagan) on Jul 21, 2017 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![Dance Costume Planning Team Plan Session.jpg](https://blog.thelineup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ashwaubenon%20Coaches%20Planningblogg.jpg?width=790&name=Ashwaubenon%20Coaches%20Planningblogg.jpg "Dance Costume Planning Team Plan Session.jpg") Feeling overwhelmed with all the details when it comes to figuring out all of your team's apparel needs?  We know that planning for the upcoming season can be stressful, so we've compiled a dance costume planning checklist to make sure you're on track.  It includes activities for: - Dance costumes, - Cheer and performance uniforms, - Camp apparel, - and Warm-ups!   Follow the step-by-step guide to make sure you hit all your apparel deadlines! --- ## **Dance Costume Planning Checklist By Month:** Side note before we get started: we know not every team's season may align with the months we have outlined in the guide.  Feel free to adjust the months for your team's season and timeline!   ### March  **COLLECT** all uniforms and accessories. **ASSESS OVERALL INVENTORY STATUS**. Will you need replacement, repair or new design for these items? - Warm-ups - Camp or official practice apparel - Game Day uniforms - Competition costumes ### April![Dance Costume Planning Sizing and Measuring.jpg](https://blog.thelineup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_7110-cropblog.jpg?width=250&name=IMG_7110-cropblog.jpg "Dance Costume Planning Sizing and Measuring.jpg") **TAKE TEAM MEASUREMENTS AND SIZES** for costumes, shoes, tights, t-shirts, warm-ups, etc., so they are available whenever needed.  Check out our [Sizing and Measuring page](http://thelineup.com/sizing/) for some additional tips, including a How To Measure Your Team video tutorial!   **DETERMINE IF YOU WILL BE PURCHASING NEW APPAREL** and establish budget.  - What is the estimated cost?  - When and how much to fundraise? - Design and in-hand deadlines? - Identify potential suppliers and early booking discount opportunities. **TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNTS** if you know the theme for your competition season performance. Many companies offer discounts to start early with the design process - even if you aren’t ready to confirm your quantities or sizes yet! Read our blog post: [The Easiest Way to Save on Your Custom Costume](https://blog.thelineup.com/blog/2016/03/15/the-easiest-way-to-save-on-your-custom-costume/) for more early dance costume planning tips! ### May **ORDER NEW GAME DAY, CAMP, AND TEAM APPAREL.** Order now to make sure you receive them in time for your team’s first appearance or performance. Average lead time can be 4-12 weeks. **START ****DESIGNING AND PLANNING** your competition costume. For help with design and and inspiration for your next costume, check out [The Imagination Kit: A Costume Planner.](http://info.thelineup.com/imagination-kit) **REORDER UNIFORMS AND COSTUMES** if you are reusing your team apparel from last year and need additional pieces. For more details, here are [6 Tips for Making Dance Costume Reorders a Breeze](https://blog.thelineup.com/6-tips-for-making-dance-costume-reorders-a-breeze). ### June  **PLACE A DEPOSIT** on your competition costumes now to have them in time for the competition season. Consider a 16 week lead time for any costume, custom or catalog. **CONFIRM YOUR COSTUME DESIGN** and arrange for a sample costume. This is essential if you are working on a custom costume design. **PASS OUT GAME DAY, CAMP, AND TEAM APPAREL UNIFORMS**. Document who gets which piece. For easier tracking, number each item on the inside tag. ### ![Dance Costume Planning Team Apparel.jpg](https://blog.thelineup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/_Blog-Images/Jackson%20Pinnacle%20Jasper%20420_23.jpg?width=640&name=Jackson%20Pinnacle%20Jasper%20420_23.jpg "Dance Costume Planning Team Apparel.jpg") ### July **CONFIRM YOUR QUANTITY AND SIZES** to finalize your order for competition costumes. **APPROVE YOUR SAMPLE COSTUME** so it is ready for production.   ### August![Dance Costume Planning and Dance Costume Spot Cleaning.jpg](https://blog.thelineup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/_Blog-Images/Spot%20Cleaning.jpg?width=275&name=Spot%20Cleaning.jpg "Dance Costume Planning and Dance Costume Spot Cleaning.jpg") **MAKE FINAL PAYMENTS** to confirm your in-hand date for your costumes and apparel! ### September **HAVE EACH TEAM MEMBER TRY-ON THEIR COSTUMES**, once received. Be sure to have them rehearse and move around in their costumes to make sure everything stays in place and looks its best! **GO OVER GARMENT CARE WITH YOUR TEAM**. Identify 1 person to be the Garment Care Team Leader - a coach, parent or team member. We recommend having one person do this so the washing is done correctly and consistently!  Check out [The Do's and Don'ts of Dance Costume Care](https://blog.thelineup.com/the-dos-and-donts-of-dance-costume-care) for more recommended guidelines.  **WATCH WASHING VIDEO WITH YOUR TEAM** for a great visual and [step-by step tutorial.  ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzBD2ec5mRo) ### October & November **IF COSTUMES ARE NOT RHINESTONED OR EMBELLISHED**, get the team together to add the perfect finishing touch! Check out our blog posts on [How to Rhinestone a Costume](https://blog.thelineup.com/how-to-rhinestone-flat-back-method) using the [Hotfix](https://blog.thelineup.com/how-to-rhinestone-a-costume-hotfix-method) and [Flat Back](https://blog.thelineup.com/how-to-rhinestone-flat-back-method) methods. **CONFIRM ACCESSORIES** that may be needed to finish your look and purchase. Jewelry, hair pieces or hats, tights, shoes, gloves, mitts, etc.  ### December  **ASSESS HOW YOUR COSTUMES ARE PERFORMING** after your first few competitions. Look at the judges’ evaluations - do you need to make any changes or switch out some accessories? ![Benilde St Margaret High School MN Highkick Dance Costumejpg](https://blog.thelineup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/_Blog-Images/Benilde%20St%20Margaret%20High%20School%20MN%20State%20(2)%20High%20Kick-1.jpg?width=640&name=Benilde%20St%20Margaret%20High%20School%20MN%20State%20(2)%20High%20Kick-1.jpg "Benilde St Margaret High School MN Highkick Dance Costumejpg") ### January  **IF YOUR TEAM IS COMPETING AT A HIGHER LEVEL COMPETITION**, such as State or Nationals, consider ordering fan apparel or more team gear to have in time for those competitions! **ORDER APPAREL FOR YOUR ALUMNI!** ### February **CLEAN THOSE COSTUMES!** After competition season has come to a close, make sure to clean your costumes to enhance their longevity. **WATCH THE [WASHING VIDEO](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzBD2ec5mRo) ONE MORE TIME** to ensure everyone knows how to properly launder their garments!    ---   [![Competition Season Planning Guide - Free Coaching Checklist](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/1594707/92f0151e-0ba0-484b-b260-100db99a1f80.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/1594707/92f0151e-0ba0-484b-b260-100db99a1f80) Topics: [Coaching Tips](https://blog.thelineup.com/topic/coaching-tips), [Costume Design Resources](https://blog.thelineup.com/topic/costume-design-resources), [Budget Tips](https://blog.thelineup.com/topic/budget-tips) ### What do you think? 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