About Phantom on a Budget

Some fun reading into the history of the website and what inspired me to create it.


Phantom on a Budget (www.phantomonabudget.com) serves primarily as a resource to fans interested in costuming and makeup specifically for the Phantom while operating on a tight budget.  Instead of using expensive materials and complicated processes to create the Phantom’s deformity, I specialize in using the most basic of materials and techniques to create the look.  This is especially helpful to the average Phantom costumer, or occasional Halloween goer, who is not interested in spending hundreds, if not thousands of dollars to create the horrific look they are striving for.

            In addition to the Phantom makeup and costuming, I also have several other resources available to those interested in other aspects of the story.  There is a brief history of Leroux’s original tale and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical.  There are links to resources for Gaston Leroux’s novel, the Ken Hill musical, Yeston/Kopit musical, performers’ websites, fan websites, fan forums, and costuming references.  Over the years I have photographed many of the Lloyd Webber musical costumes; these photograph collections are available on the site, free of charge to anyone interested in using them for research and reference.

Phantom on a Budget was launched in the late spring of 2006. Initially its purpose was just a collection of photos of past makeup trials.  Due to interest from fellow Phantom enthusiasts on forums such as Phansonline.net and Phantomoftheopera.com, I was encouraged to transform it into a makeup tutorial site in the fall of 2006.  Several makeup tutorials were added to the site’s content, and photos were updated regularly.  Currently, there are tutorials for three different makeup schemes (Andrew Lloyd Webber stage show, Gaston Leroux/Lon Chaney, and 2004 movie/gelatin makeup).  In 2008, after much consideration and more encouragement from fans, I decided to produce tutorial videos and post them on YouTube.  The YouTube account currently features two makeup tutorials, as well as a wig making tutorial, wig information video, and a two-part series on costumes. Various other videos include my attempts at humor, as well as the TAG commercial spoof and a really snazzy Backstreet Boys impersonation.  More recent videos include footage from the 2009 Phantom Fans Week in Las Vegas.  The videos have over 62,000 collective views, and the YouTube channel currently has 177 subscribers and counting.

What encouraged me to create Phantom on a Budget?  It seemed like an excellent niche to fill.  I was initially inspired by JoAnna’s (SylentFantom) site, Phantom’s Theatre when I stumbled across it years ago.  While I thought it was an excellent site, and still is, I thought the makeup tutorial aspect could be expanded upon and featured on its own site.  Phantom on a Budget also evolved from my college years, where fellow Phantom fans and some of my closest friends collectively called ourselves by that name, more or less because of my initial meager attempts at Phantom costuming while on a strict college student budget.  Upon graduation and the shooting of our (somewhat infamous) Phantom TAG commercial spoof, I continued to keep my creations under the Phantom on a Budget label.

Over the last three years I have been contacted by fans from all over the globe, asking for assistance or simply offering their comments on the site.  It has truly been a rewarding experience creating the site and interacting with fans this way.  I am always flattered and humbled when someone from halfway across the world emails me offering thanks for the tutorials, or looking for additional help on the costume or makeup.  But while I do take that aspect of the site very seriously, I make sure to have fun with it as well!  I love the lighter side of the Phantom fandom.







About Me

I have been a fan of the story of The Phantom of the Opera now for 14 years, ever since I first heard the Original London Cast Recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber's blockbuster musical.  A year later, I read Gaston Leroux's original novel, and have since read multiple versions of it over the years.  I also have read Susan Kay's novel, Phantom, many, many times.  She provides the depth of character that brings Erik to life.  I have experienced nearly every version of Phantom of the Opera available, whether literary, film, or stage.  Over the years I have seen the Webber musical over 20 times across the United States, from Broadway, the U.S. National Tour, and the Vegas production.  I have had the privilege of meeting many wonderful cast members and touring backstage on several occasions, both on the National Tour and in Las Vegas.  Because of this, I have had the opportunity to see first hand how the show is put together, from set pieces and stage management, to costumes, makeup, hair, props, and more.  I have even had the opportunities to speak with actual Phantom makeup artists from the show, and discuss makeup techniques.  One has even seen me in makeup first hand!  All have been truly memorable experiences that I will never forget. 

I started in makeup during my senior year of college, while taking a Theatre Production class as an elective.  From there I developed a strong interest in stage makeup techniques, as well as the work done by special effects makeup artists.  I educated myself as best I could through the use of the best reference materials I could find, such as Richard Corson’s Stage Makeup, amongst many others.  I also learned how to create fully hand tied lace wigs in the same fashion they are created for the Lloyd Webber musical.  While I do not see stage/special effects makeup in my future as a professional, I find it to be a fascinating and rewarding hobby, and I enjoy sharing the bit of knowledge I possess with others who are also just starting out in this area.

Favorite Versions
There is a great intrigue associated with the story of Phantom.  The "look" of the Lloyd Webber stage musical story drew me in.  He is such an extremely elegant figure in the musical, with so much depth and danger that the show only begins to touch on.  I love listening to Lloyd Webber's music as well.  The idea of Erik's human side (while not fully explored in the ALW musical) kept me interested in the story and digging deeper to discover all I could about this amazing character.  The original novel is a favorite of mine because it is where this whole phenomenon started.  Lon Chaney's masterful portrayal in the 1925 silent film is nothing short of genius.  To this day he remains the best film Phantom (indeed, one of my favorite of all time), and in my opinion is unlikely to ever be surpassed.  He truly brought the character to life for the first time.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, while my favorite of the stage productions, is certainly not the first stage version of The Phantom of the Opera.  What draws me to it is its timeless elegance, and for better or worse, the romance.  While Leroux did not intend for his story to be a romantic one, Lloyd Webber infused that aspect into his musical and has created something beautiful. In addition to this, I have experienced the Yeston/Kopit stage musical, David Staller stage musical, Charles Dance miniseries, Claude Raines 1943 film, Robert Englund 1989 film, and so many more.  I try to experience as much of the story as possible.

Photos by Art Andrews (www.asqaredconcepts.com)