It’s not hard to understand the fascination with cosplay. Enjoyable experiences, meaningful memories, and personal fulfillment are just some advantages of dressing up as your favorite character. Just think about it, you get to escape from reality and enter the realm of another world. However, cosplay isn’t the same thing as putting on a costume. If you think that that is what this is about, you’re mistaken. You become a character for the day. What’s more, you do your best to embody and represent that character, which demands you to work insanely hard.
Can Anyone Cosplay? Why, Yes
If you have your heart set on becoming a professional cosplayer, good for you. You can do what you love for a living. Not only do you get to pay tribute to your favorite character/idea, but also you to take part in the crème de la crème of cosplay. You’re invited to official events and movie openings. Who would say no to that? It won’t be easy. Actually, it’ll be a lot of hard work. And, sometimes, it requires luck.
The question now is: Who can become a cosplayer? Well, virtually anyone can get into cosplay. The point is that it doesn’t matter who you are, where you live, what you look like or what you do for a living. As long as you’re passionate and talented, you can become part of this lovely community. You can choose any character you like. It doesn’t have to be something of Japanese origin. Cosplay is a form of artistic expression and anyone can become a creative professional.
Getting Started in Professional Cosplay
Numerous cosplayers have taken their craft and transformed it into a profession. The most famous examples include Jessica Nigri, Yaya Han, and Spiral Cats. If you want to make a name for yourself in the cosplay community, follow these steps.
1. Figure Out Who You Want to Cosplay
You love dressing up and wearing accessories to represent specific characters. This is something that you do every now and then. You don’t do it for the attention. To you, it’s just another form of artistic expression. Well, if you want to become a full-time professional you must choose a cosplay character and stick to it. Needless to say, this is the most difficult tasks because there are so many options. Chances are that you’re already an avid fan of a movie or TV show. Start from there.
If you still get excited every time you see Jurassic Park, become one of your favorite characters from the dinosaur flick. You can dress up as one of the dinosaurs if that’s what you want. You’ve got the chance to be something that you’re not, not to mention that there’s no better way to stand out. The Tyrannosaurus Rex from Jurassic Park is the perfect choice if you love doing challenging projects and showing your skills. Choose a character with a unique appearance. Most importantly, choose a character that you feel comfortable portraying.
2. Buy or Make Your Own Cosplay Costume
When you start cosplaying, you don’t have too many resources at your disposal. So, you may not afford to purchase an expensive costume. Well, don’t worry too much about that. According to the experts at OnlyDinosaurs, it’s not difficult at all to make a realistic dinosaur costume. If you really want to dress up as T-rex, why don’t you make your own outfit? It would take you about an hour and a half to make a costume from start to finish.
Tyrannosaurus Rex is by far one of the most prominent figures in every game or film that features dinosaurs. It’s the king of all dinosaurs. When you have just enough money, you can invest in a realistic dinosaur costume for adults. Just so you know, from now on, all of your money will be spent on outfits and makeup. Maybe so, but if you want to be more technical, you’ll have to make a financial effort.
3. Keep in Mind That There’s No Perfect Cosplay/Cosplayer
There’s no such thing as the perfect cosplay or cosplayer. What we’re trying to say is that you can’t portray a character so well that you’ll get people thinking you were created with each other. Everyone cosplays in a different way, so don’t worry that you won’t live up to people’s expectations. Find your natural talent and don’t worry about being perfect. Art imitates life, not the other way around.
What a professional cosplayer isn’t allowed to do
When you cosplay, you tend to be very image-conscious. In other words, you’re more concerned with the general impression that you make when you present yourself to other people. This is a form of respect for the character that you’re portraying. You don’t want to make any mistakes. However, every cosplayer is bound to make a mistake at one point or another. Make sure you don’t commit these no-no’s:
Dismissing Other Cosplayers
Cosplayers are supposed to support each other. Everyone takes part in the same craft and, most importantly, nobody is superior, nobody is inferior. You shouldn't put down others who do the same thing as you. Learning what others do is incredibly valuable. Be supportive of other cosplayers. This can lead to future collaborations or just hanging out.
Making A Scene
When you become an industry-respected professional, you’re not allowed to make a scene. Even if you have a personal issue with someone, don’t make a scandal. You’ll just bring unnecessary attention to yourself. Think about your reputation. Be careful with the way you behave around others. Keeping calm is an integral part of being a pro cosplayer.
Judging Other Cosplay Costumes
Every costume is different and this is something you need to accept. Don’t judge others by the way they dress. Cosplayers invest time and effort into their appearance and you shall not judge their choices. Simply mind your own business. It’s not a good idea to be mean to someone who is doing their best.
Soon, you’ll become a leader in the cosplay community. For the time being, though, you don’t have it easy. If you work hard, you’ll surely cross over from hobbyist to professional cosplayer.
