Email Isn't Communication: It's Record-Keeping. Get on the Phone.

For effective, immediate, and nuanced communication with your crew, particularly in the fast-paced world of costume design, picking up the phone or walking over to someone is always superior to sending an email. Emails are essential for documentation and formal directives, but they fundamentally fail at fostering true collaboration and resolving urgent issues.

I’ve seen countless hours wasted on set and in prep because a critical question was buried in an email thread, misconstrued due to lack of tone, or simply not seen until it was too late. When I'm trying to figure out if we can squeeze in that last-minute custom build with the tailor, or if a specific vintage piece has cleared approval with the director, a quick phone call offers instant clarification, allows for back-and-forth problem-solving, and conveys urgency in a way plain text never can. My team understands the priorities when they hear it directly from me, live.

While some argue that emails create a paper trail and prevent 'he-said-she-said' scenarios, that's precisely what a follow-up email confirming a phone conversation is for. You get the best of both worlds: urgent resolution and documented proof. Are we so reliant on asynchronous communication that we've forgotten the efficiency and relational benefits of a direct conversation?