User Guide

Just follow this step by step guide, which will take you through most of the key features of Theatrical Exchange.

How do I register?

Simply click either ‘register’ beneath the main search box, or the ‘register’ tab at the top of the homepage.
Enter the required details.
You will then be sent an email to the email address you entered, click on the link in the email and this will take you back to the Theatrical Exchange homepage.
Click ‘login’ either beneath the main search box, or the tab at the top of the homepage.
Your account details will then be shown, click ‘continue’ to complete payment of your annual membership fee.
Click ‘checkout’ and you will be taken to our approved payment system at PayPal.
Enter the required details and click ‘continue’.

Congratulations, you are now a member of Theatrical Exchange for 12 months!

Just joined Theatrical Exchange? Here’s what to do now...

Once you’ve registered, you need to enter your details so that anyone who is interested in any items you may have to offer will know who they are contacting.

Information required includes: Name / Address / Telephone number .

To do this, go to the ‘my exchange’ tab at the top of the homepage and enter the required information (you can change this later).

This profile information will be visible to anyone who clicks on any items you may be offering.

N.B. Theatrical Exchange will under no circumstances pass your details on to any third party. Details are solely for transactional use on Theatricalexchange.com.

How do I search for items on offer?

You can view all the items on offer by clicking on the ‘all items’ tab at the top of the home page.
You can view all the items on offer in each category (costumes / props / accessories / sets & scenery) by clicking on the relevant tag towards the bottom of the home page.
You can search for specific items by entering relevant words in the ‘search’ box under the logo on the homepage. You do not need to enter the complete description of what you’re looking for, certain ‘keywords’ will work (eg ‘gown’, ‘1970s’). The more specific the description, the more relevant the items will be that appear.
You can vary the way ads are displayed by clicking on the arrows to the right of the three boxes at the top of the ‘ads’ page. You can alter the number of items displayed on a page (‘display num’), the style of the list (‘list view’) and choose whether to just view items currently on offer (‘show – active’), or see all items that were on offer, but are no longer available (‘show – archive’).

How do I contact someone about an item I am interested in?

Once you have found an item(s) you are interested in, click on either the main description or the image. This will show a full description of the item, along with details of who is offering it.
If you click on ‘User’, you will be able to see the location and details of the person who is offering the item.
To contact the person to either make an offer or to ask a question, click on the ‘send message’ tab towards the bottom of the description. Type in your offer / query and then click ‘send message’.

How do I submit an ad?

To submit an ad, you need to have registered at Theatrical Exchange. Once you’ve done this, you need to login.

Click the ‘submit ad’ tab at the top of the homepage.
Enter a brief description in the ‘title’ box – remember to give an accurate description, as the words contained in this will be what people may enter in their search.
You can put more details in the ‘short description’ box (eg the condition of the article). These may be words that are not in the title and will also help people who are searching (words could be ‘pantomime’, ‘period drama’) you can enter more than one word, but separate them with a comma.
Should you need to add a longer description of the article (eg its history or any interesting facts) type them in the ‘description’ box.
It is advisable to click ‘show’ in the ‘description show/hide’ line in order to give people the maximum information about your item.
Choose a category that is most suitable for the item by clicking on the arrow at the right of the ‘category’ line. If you are unsure which category to choose, leave the line as the default which is ‘all categories’.
Click the arrow at the right of the ‘list type’ line to indicate the type of transaction you wish to undertake (hire, sale, offers or giveaway)..
If the item is for sale or hire you can enter a price in the ‘ask price’ box.
You can set a time limit on how long you want the item to be displayed by entering a ‘start date’ and an ‘end date’ in the respective boxes. Click on the purple box to the right of each to reveal a calendar from which you can easily choose a date.
If there are more details (word documents, spreadsheets) you can upload these by clicking on the ‘browse’ box next to ‘attachment. You will then need to find the relevant file on your computer to upload.
You can add a main picture (the picture that will be seen next to the description) by browsing your computer using the ‘browse’ box next to ‘main picture’.
Add further pictures of the item by browsing your computer using the ‘browse’ box next to ‘pictures.
Once you have completed entering details and uploading pictures, click the ‘I agree to the terms & conditions’ line to read the terms and conditions of Theatrical Exchange. If you are happy with these, click on the box to the left.
Click ‘save’ and your item and its description / pictures will be added to the list of items on offer at Theatrical Exchange.

How do I upload an image?

Once you have taken pictures of the item(s) you want to post on Theatrical Exchange, you will need to transfer them to your computer.
Make sure you make a note of where the images are stored (‘my pictures’ is usually a good place).
Uploading pictures is part of the ‘submit ad’ process that is started by clicking on ‘submit ad’ at the top of the homepage.
Clicking on the ‘browse’ box next to ‘main picture’ and ‘pictures’ will open your computer’s desktop.
You will then be able to go to the area of your computer where the images are saved and click on them to upload (it is advisable to upload images one at a time).

Is there a limit to the file size of the image I upload to Theatrical Exchange?

Currently, the image file size limit is 1MB (this is a very large image).
Large images are automatically resized to fit the Theatrical Exchange website.
It is advisable to keep your images at a manageable size (50kB to 250kB is optimum for showing intricate detail).

Tips on photographing your item(s)

When photographing single items, try to ensure that they are against a plain background and are not surrounded by other items.
Try to get as close as possible to the item so that the image fills the frame on the camera.
If taking the photograph indoors, make sure the image is well-lit or use a flash, taking care that the flash doesn’t ‘white out’ and obliterate any detail from the picture.
If taking pictures of sets, scenery, props or large items, try to ensure they are as well-lit as possible. If they are in a theatrical setting, it is advisable to use the theatre lighting as this will best show any detail.
For costumes or intricate items, it is advisable to take several pictures – from different angles, and also showing any closeup details.

How can I change any details / images of any items I have posted?

Once you have submitted an ad, you can edit any details of your ads in ‘my exchange’. Simply click on the ‘my exchange’ tab at the top of the homepage and then the ‘my ads’ tab on the left.
You can now edit your ad by clicking on the pencil icon. You can now change the title, short description and long description. You can also delete or add pictures and attachments
Once you have edited your ad, click the ‘I agree to the terms and conditions’ wording to read the terms and conditions. If you are happy with these, click the box and then click ‘save’.

How do I remove an ad?

It is advisable to remove an ad after someone has made an offer on the item. Only do this if you are sure that the person is genuinely interested.

Once you have logged in, go to ‘my exchange’ and click on ‘my ads’.

Click on the item description of the item you want to remove.

Click ‘end listing’ in the top right corner of the box.

A box will appear asking if you are sure you want to cancel. Click ‘OK’.

Your item will then appear with ‘Ad cancelled’ next to it.

If you want to extend the life of an ad after you have cancelled, click ‘republish. You can now alter any of the description, price or dates.

What is ‘My Exchange’?

My Exchange is the place where all your details are stored. Only you can access this area once you have logged in. My Exchange contains your profile details and a list of all the items you have posted on the site.

Further information may be found in the ‘FAQ’ tab at the bottom of this page.