How exciting! You just got a nice new pair of shoes!

You’re pumped to wear them for the first time.

You decided to wear them to your stand-in job on a TV show or film. The production shoots in a studio. Stand-ins hold inside the studio so they can be close to the set when needed.

It’s not long after arriving on set and the first rehearsal or take that you’re walking around, and you suddenly notice …

YOUR NEW SHOES SQUEAK!

You’re frozen in place because if you take one more step, your shoes are bound to squeak again, and someone from the sound department will potentially yell at you.

From what you gather, the sole of the shoe and this floor do not mix.

What are you to do about this sound, especially since you’ll be working for about twelve more hours?

Here are some ideas for dealing with a squeaky-shoe problem when you’re standing in.

Don’t Walk around During Takes

The easiest thing to do when working with squeaky shoes is not to walk around when rolling. If you do, your squeaky footsteps will definitely draw some negative attention to you, no matter whether the squeak picks up on the mics.

So, if you have a squeaky-shoe problem, of course, you can just stay put when rolling.

Leave the Stage When Rolling

Similarly, if your shoes squeak, you may find it useful to leave the soundstage when you are not needed. As soon as you are excused from standing in on set, you can hustle to leave the studio and stand nearby the doors.

If you take this route, make sure you tell a PA where you will be in case second team is suddenly called back to set. You’ll be slightly impaired because you won’t be on stage immediately when they need you, but the sound of your squeaky shoes won’t poison the audio.

Are There Booties Around?

Sometimes on sets with flooring that production doesn’t want messed up, production will have booties to pull over crew members’ shoes. This prevents crew from tracking dirt onto set.

If there are booties around, putting them over your squeaky shoes may prevent the direct interaction between your sole and the floor, causing the sound. They won’t look great, but booties may permit you to walk around during a take if you need.

Do You Have Other Shoes You Can Wear?

You may have already thought about this, but in case you brought a second pair of shoes, it may be better to wear those shoes than your squeaky ones.

In the event you need to wear your squeaky shoes for height reasons when standing in, as soon as you step off set, change into your other pair of shoes that don’t squeak. Keep flexible, though, because if you’re called back to set suddenly, you may need to change your shoes back to your squeaky ones.

Can Wardrobe Lend a Pair?

In the event you’re stuck without a resolution to your squeaky-shoe problem, it may be worthwhile asking the BG PA, the 2nd 2nd AD, or a friendly wardrobe person if production has a pair of shoes you might be able to wear for the day that don’t squeak like your current ones.

Of course, you would just need these shoes for the day, when working, so you would give them back at the end of the day. (Presuming you have a better pair at home!)

In the event you ask wardrobe for a pair of shoes, make sure the replacement pair a) doesn’t squeak either, and b) has about the same lift as the shoes in which you’re working. That way, your replacement shoes won’t have complications for setting up a shot, with your now being too tall or too short for your stand-in work.

Can the Sound Department Provide Some Foam for Your Soles?

When actors on camera have squeaky shoes, the sound department will often stick foam on the bottom of them. This is a good solution but also arguably a precious resource intended mostly for on-screen talent.

It may be worth asking someone you know in the sound department if they can spare some foam for your shoes. If so, great! However, keep in mind that sometimes the foam wears down or falls off, so you’ll be back to squeaky shoes in such an event.

Also keep in mind sometimes it can be so sticky, that it can mess up your new shoes’ soles — at least until it finally wears off.

Does Scuffing Them Up Help?

It may be that the slick surface of your new soles is what’s causing the squeaking.

In the event you are near some coarse ground like cement, you might try scuffing your feet along it to see if you can wear off some of the cause of the squeak.

Don’t Go to Socks or Bare Feet

Because of all the equipment on a TV or film set, it is ill advised to opt to go in socks or bare feet when you are faced with a squeaky-shoe problem.

In general, keep your shoes on if they squeak. They provide you with some level of protection. With that said, opt for some of the other solutions above in case your shoes wreak squeaks.

What Would You Do?

If you have any other ideas for reconciling a pair of noisy stand-in shoes, let us know. It can happen to the best of us, and it can be quite embarrassing and annoying when it does!

What ideas do you have for addressing squeaky shoes on set when you’re standing in? Post your ideas in the comments below!