Cosplay FAQ

[Izumi Ishtar]

Because the old forum used to have this... and it's kind of annoying to have to answer the same questions over and over and OVER again.

Feel free to post up questions AND/OR answers regarding cosplay and it's related stuffs over here (AKA general cosplay question. If you wanna ask about how to make stuffs or where to find stuffs PLEASE OPEN A NEW THREAD). Requote the questions posted if you would like to answer the question or if you are the one asking and had acquired the answer already, just EDIT your post with the answer. Like this, it wouldn't be messy and you didn't need to scroll up and down to relocate the questions. Keep discussions to a minimum (aka not consisting of one liners and you post your discussion in ONE post) and chat nonsense/spam on the thread. That's what IMs and PMs for. And no, this thread is NOT for you to brag about yourself.

And no, there are ABSOLUTELY NO NEED to post one liners to tell how GRATEFUL you are that someone started this thread.

I repeat. POST GENERAL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ONLY. If you want to ask about how to do/make stuff there are other threads that can help and yes, open a new thread please.

[Izumi Ishtar]

I'll start.

1. What is cosplay?
Go read here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosplay

Regardless, it's just a hobby that involved COStumes and rolePLAY. Do the rest of the math.

2. I want to cosplay, what are the things that I should consider/do before I start?
First thing first, money. Cosplay COST money. But then again... most hobbies are not free anyway, unless you had a hobby of collecting free random things. Second, do a lot of research on what you wanted to do/make.

Aside from that, any other of the cosplay etiquettes shouldn't differ much from any normal social etiquettes stuffs.

See also: Beginner's guide
http://www.trsrockin.com/cosplay_howto.html

3. Where do I get my cosplay costumes/props/shoes/boots/accessories/etc?
There's a lot of ways here. I put in point form.
- Make/Sew yourself - If you're good at sewing/handicraft, feel free to use the skills to make the costumes/props that you want to make.
- Commission a tailor/propmaker to help you sew/make your costume/prop - If you're NOT that good in sewing/propmaking, much less to make clothes/props; then this is the way to go.
- Buy from local costume/anime merchandise stores - if you really desperate, but do not want to go to the hassle of making the things yourself. Pay in mind that the choice will be limited and the size would be questionable. If you're lucky to get the costume that was the right size for you, then good for you.
- Buy from local shopping mall - If it happens that the cloths that you want to get are as normal as our everyday clothes, well... looking around stores around you might just prove to be enough.
- Alter your clothes - Pretty much self-explanatory.
- Order online - There's a lot of places that sells costumes online, I'm sure you can find it without me telling you.

4. Where do I get wigs/color lens/etc?
- Local stores - limited
- Online shops

Supporting threads for question 3 and 4.
- Cosplay tutorials list
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=177
- Cosplay Material Sourcelist
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=48

Note on online orders: Do so with the people that you TRUST. And please check if the seller is a credible one before making purchase. The people in the forum can do nothing to help you if anything goes wrong. No amount of complaining in this forum do anyone any good.
Note 2: Please be realistic. If you are making any costumes from scratch, TIME is needed in order to make the things that you wanted made. Plan your time wisely. And if you needed help, be realistic as well and not asking the help when the event that you wanna debut your cosplay is like TOMORROW or the very week you posting the request for help. We are NOT miracle workers. And people here have no obligation to help you make your own project.

[silvennia]

5. I've finally found what character I want to cosplay! But where do I start? How do I get my references? Can you help me please?
-Look back at the answers stated above this post. In light of searching for references, Google is your friend; or rather, Google Image. If you have any friends who have artbooks that has the character that you want to cosplay, borrow the book and take down notes from it.
-Always start by researching more of the character i.e. what is the personality, how is the costume like, is it doable, will it breach the acceptance in this country, etc. If there are additional props that goes along with the costume, get your research done extensively on the dimensions of the prop, and what materials would suit the props best (some work well with PVC pipes, others with simple cardboard. you decide)
- As for us helping you, we can help in suggestions only. Remember that this is your project, not ours. By the end of the day, you should want to feel the deep satisfaction of finishing a project all by yourself, and not being told of what to do from scratch from any of us

6. I'm really bad at applying makeup. Help!
Not everyone is good at this. Take some time off and go through several trial and error before you achieve the look that you want. If not, scout around the cosmetics section for some advice when you are buying their products. Mostly they will help

There was a thread in the old forum on makeup tutorials. Perhaps it will be restarted again one day.

Or if you don't mind spending more money, head over to viewtopic.php?f=17&t=150 where she offers her makeup services for a price

[Izumi Ishtar]

Hopefully this thread can be pinned like last time. Thanks mod.

6. I'm planning to cosplay a certain character but I don't wanna do it alone. How do I join a cosplay group?
Basic point, a cosplay group IS NOT like entering a cosplay competition. If you wanna join, you join. End of story. You don't need to ask permission to join any cosplay group. You just need to tell the group leader what character that you wanted to cosplay and when. Simple as that.

7. I wanna make a cosplay group, is it okay to make a new one?
Of course it is! But before you click that Submit button, please check in the Cosplay Group section to see if there is any other similar group as to the one you wanted to make in the section. If there is, just join that thread discussion. You don't need to make a new thread.

8. Is it okay to do any repeated cosplays (even if in that cosplay group already have another person doing that same character that I wanted to do)?
Regardless in the past that a lot of people saying that they don't want to see any repeated characters, IT IS OKAY if you wanted to do the cosplay even if someone else already decided to do it. It's YOUR OWN CHOICE. If you wanted to do the cosplay, why do you need to pay attention to what other people say about it?

Extra note: Usually when a group leader makes a cosplay group, the details of the group and the list of people doing the characters are usually posted in the first post in the thread. Usually this post is updated every time a new member joins in. Please if you are new, check the first post before inquiring anything.

Extra note no. 2: Most of the people here are very blunt in making their post. Most of them here also are not that good at explaining stuff so sometimes they just explain things as simple as possible to avoid unnecessary confusion. Just because someone pointed out a fact at you bluntly, doesn't mean we had anything against you. People just tend to get straight to the point in posting what they wanted to post.

[lelouch_erika]

can i just be a cosplayer without enter any cosply competition?

[DeidaraGS]

Sure you can! There's no need for you to enter any competitions if you dont want to

[Izumi Ishtar]

In relation to lelouch_rika's post.

9. If I joined a cosplay group, does it mean that I am also joining the cosplay competition?
No. A cosplay group is just a group where you can gather together to cosplay some characters from the same series. You don't necessary have to join the competition (group, in this case) when you join any cosplay group; same as you don't necessary have to join cosplay competitions just because you wanted to cosplay/dress up as any character during the event. Unless of course, your group wanted to join the competition... that's another story.

10. What type of material (for props) are allowed into the event? (Useful for anyone who needs to have props as part of their cosplay)
Referenced from here

Materials that are allowed:
Wood, Aluminium foils (with no sharp/protruding ends), Polystyrene, Cardboards, Paper & art clays, Other non toxic/dangerous materials

Materials that are strictly not allowed:
Zinc foil, Tin foil, Any type of hard metal, Blades (or replicas of other weapons), Glass, Spray Paint cans and other aerosol related products.

Any other material not listed above, feel free to ask the related people responsible.

10-i. Why did you have all these rules about what material that are allowed or not allowed for props?
Because accidents tend to happen and metal-type materials as well as glass and other listed materials have the possibility that it might hurt/injure anyone that are in contact with it including yourself (aka sharp surfaces) so better be safe than sorry. But that doesn't mean you can be careless with your other props (even if they were allowed). Flying projectiles are still dangerous regardless of what type of materials it is.

10-ii. Why can't I use replicas as props?
Because replicas are usually made to resemble the actual thing (other than the fact that most are usually made in metal) and might be mistaken as the real thing. And some places have security guards so if they see you walking around with these replicas, you might be mistaken as robbers, terrorist or some hooligans. Not to mention as well, that these replicas can pose danger to yourself and/or other people if not handled properly.

I myself had been mistaken as some troublemaker by a security guard and my prop was wooden. See? It happens.

Note: I might add some more FAQ on this post later if it comes to mind, but feel free to pm or post your questions here. ^_^

[silvennia]

11. I want to make my own props, but I don't know how
Try googling for simple tutorials for the sort of props you need to craft out. If not, improvise and be creative about it. Check out the Cosplay Tutorial List if there are any relevant tutorials to what props that you plan to craft out. You can also ask the propmakers we have in this forum for some tips and tricks (But please, do not expect to be spoonfed about it)

12. I want to cosplay too! But I don't know what should I cosplay as! Help?
Well, this is a question you should answer on your own. Really. Cosplaying is not limited to Japanese anime, manga or games alone. If you really like those characters from a certain book that you love so much, why not give it a go? The main point is to cosplay a character you really do know, and see how well you can pull it off. If you follow up on a friend's suggestion (whereby you don't know the character well) then keep on researching more on the character's personality, the costume, etc etc. Most importantly is to know how the character acts most of the time. You wouldn't want to see a moody Naruto and a cheerful Sasuke wouldn't you? (This is the simplest example I can give, but you get my point)

13. I don't like any characters to cosplay so far. Can I just enter the cosplay competition wearing my favorite lolita/Visual-Kei/punk outfit instead?
No. Those are categorized under fashion actually, not cosplaying. Unless, of course, you are dressing up as your favorite singer/rock band/actress then it is a different story (for example, cosplaying as Miyavi). Even so, kindly check with the organizers beforehand to make sure that it is accepted.

[Rimomo-Chan]

If the cosplay scare to the camera how? What can the cosplayer do ?

[Izumi Ishtar]

Rimomo-chan> mind if you edit your post and clarify your question? I'll try to answer as best as I can. *will be editing this particular post later* Or you can pm me to clarify what you mean in that question. I'll try if can help you. Since I didn't understand the question.

[vivian]

i supposed she meant the coser has phobia towards the camera, and asking how to overcome this problem

[sky_pegasus]

JUST SAY NO to the cameraman. You have the right to NOT give permission to the photographers to take pics of you. So exercise your rights.

Or if you're to shy to speak to the cameraman....always have a friend to accompany you so she could stop the cameraman from taking pics of you...by physically blocking or verbally warn the photographers.

[mamoru_sama]

sky>>well for this

last time at C2AGE~well u can see at what people comment about it~

got some photographers that really suddenly come and take pic~

when we talking or just doing relaxing~

how should we react that??

[vivian]

sky>>well for this

last time at C2AGE~well u can see at what people comment about it~

got some photographers that really suddenly come and take pic~

when we talking or just doing relaxing~

how should we react that??

seems like you guys didnt even notice that your pics were captured..ya? yup, what shall we do since we dont even know? lolz

[mamoru_sama]

vivian>>some of them have flash with them...


we can just notice when the flash direct to our eyes

also

sudden feel u are being target(my instict somehow wild type also)

[Izumi Ishtar]

*sigh*

You know you guys could have PM-ed me or something. I merely asked clarification for the questions asked by rimomo. Since the question is TOO VAGUE.

14. What should I do if I am being harrassed by photographers who wanted to take my pictures but I do not want to have mine taken? (like you were tired and wanted rest/eat/makeup/etc)

As also been said by sky, you can just say NO to them. You have rights to SAY NO. If they do not comply.. you just move away from their sight or turn away from them, have someone block their camera, walk up towards them and ask for them to remove your picture etc. If you are still being harrassed by them, either report them towards the event commitee members or if there's officers around, tell it to them.

15. What should I do? I'm scared about posing in front of camera/people! (Because SERIOUSLY, this was my first thought of what rimomo was trying to ask)

Practice. That's all. You can either do it at home in front of a mirror or ask a friend to give pointers on how to pose. I think there's a tutorial about posing on the tutorial thread. LOOK FOR IT. If you're scared about having people you do not know take pictures of you, well you can just deny them. But if you were asked politely, be courteous as to return the favor. The photographers are humans also, they won't eat you.

16. i. What should I do if there's photographers trying to follow me to the toilet/dressing room to take upskirt/indecent pictures of me? ii. Or them trying to take pictures of me while I'm still not ready? (As in you're still trying to apply makeups, touch up wigs etc)

i. Refer to question 14 again.
ii. If you can move somewhere else, move away. If you can't, ask a friend nearby to ask the photographer to go away and/or have the pictures taken deleted. If the person is being stubborn, you don't need to feel sorry if something untoward happens to them like the breaking of their cameras.

- Some photographers feels that it was their right to take just about ANY kinds of pictures they could take of you, aside during the time when you DID pose for them. So if you're out in the open, that's the risks that you would face.
- Aside from that, the usual protocol for photography should be easily found somewhere in this forum and the main website.

Disclaimers: Aside from the fact that I am partially cranky right now, the harsh tone of this post is NOT directed to anyone in particular. Still, next time, if there's any questions you wanna know post away. Any subsequent replies to that questions or if you wanna help the poster to give clarification to me, sil, or anyone else who to give answers to said questions, please use the PM function. It starts to get confusing when the thread gets long for no reason. And EDIT function there was THERE for a reason.

[Xan]

Been seeing all this questions popping out so gonna add somethings too.

17. My powers are really high. And the contacts I have doesn't have any power (sharingan/ crazy lens). What should I do?

Find an alternative way. Either burn out more money to get those that have powers or you can just wear your specs while cosplaying. When photographers come and ask for pictures, just take them off. Sure, it tends to ruin your costume slightly, but better off being blind and running into people, walls or poles.

18. Which one goes first? Makeup or contact lenses?

Most of us prefer to put on our contact lenses first because putting on the contacts later might smudge your makeup plus some of the germs might get into the contacts too. You can choose to wear contact lenses after putting on the make up but make sure your hands are clean and dry.

19. Should I change to my costume from home or at the event itself?

It depends on one individual. Some preferred to wear the costume from home while some rather change at the event itself. So it's up to you actually.

20. I've seen some people wearing Jrock/ Oshare Kei/ Visual Kei/ Punk clothes and people said they're cosplaying. Why?

It depends actually. Those that are considered as cosplays are the people who wore the clothes that singers/ rock bands wore before. They imitate the idols. THAT is counted as cosplay. People who just put on some random mix match clothes and call themselves cosplay, they're talking nonsense. Refer to question number 13. IT'S CALL FASHION.

[Izumi Ishtar]

Because I was bored... and I need to type something.

This time, we'll be touching on cosplay skits and other random things~

21. I/we want to join a cosplay [solo/duo/group] competition! But usually I/we have to create a skit. What should we do (to make a good skit that they judges will like) ?
I think this thread should sum this all up.

22. I'm in a cosplay solo competition and in this part of the session I need to do a miniskit based on the items that were given by the judges/mcs! What should I do? (Applies also to cosplay chess, cosplay roulette or any other cosplay related competitions)
Part of the meaning of Cosplay is "Play". As in RolePlay. Meaning, whatever skits you might end up doing should be of the reactions of your character towards a given situation. For example last GACC08, Kurosaki Ichigo had to act as a maid in a maid cafe scenario. What you should do as Ichigo in that situation should be Ichigo's reaction to this scene. I mean... he's a BOY and a shinigami! Be a maid? Yeah right! Be in character while you play your character! Don't get Out of Character just because the situation is new for your character to be in.

23. I'm not really good at role playing. How can I get better at doing that?
Watch, rewatch, read, reread every source material you can get of your favourite character to understand how their mind/personality worked. Or look for any role-playing/RPG community out there where a lot of people create journal accounts and participating in these RPG comms in order to roleplay their favourite characters. See how they react to any scenarios while keeping their roleplay personae in character with their canons.

24. I've read before on how some people ask which is better, getting a wig or spray/colour your hair. So which is it?
Neither. Of course using a wig is better, but not all of us can afford to buy wigs, especially every time. Colouring your hair is the next best thing. But take note, for hair sprays/gels/moose/etc... these are better used for darker hair colours. Because unless your natural hair is light, the colours won't show. And considering our climate that is dry and humid, temp colours don't last long and might even react with moisture and change into another color. But this fact also might be useful as we can use it to our advantage!

Like I used my orange hair sprays last time to get my hair either orange, red, reddish brown in colour. Or yellow/blond sprays to get yellow/blond, green hair. Temp hair colour spray colour choices aren't that many and easy to get after all.

25. On the same note, which is better; wearing coloured/special contact lenses or not wearing one?
If you can afford it, they by all means buy it and use it (while taking all precautionary of safe contact lens use to protect your eyes). If you aren't, it's OKAY to not get them. Unless you're doing a photoshoot... eye colours not that important. Even Uchiha Itachi didn't activate his Sharingan AT ALL TIMES because that took energy as well.

[Joanne]

Hello, I've got a few questions regarding cosplay and hope someone can help me... Hope I'm in the right thread.

1. I've noticed a lot of people started cosplaying around the age of 14-16. I'm 14 myself, and I was wondering, how do people get the money to buy the outfits? In my case I can afford it if I skip my lunch for two months, but ordering online requires a credit card and I don't think my parents are supportive in this activity. So how do you guys do it? @_@

2. I can't find a friend who's willing to spend a bomb on cosplay like me, and I don't want to go alone. Right so there are cosplay groups, but do they only get together to take photos, or do the members of the groups hang out together all the time and make friends or something? Or if I were to join a group without anyone I know, am I going to end up walking around sad and alone? :X

Thanks in advance if anyone notices this.

[Xan]

Hello, I've got a few questions regarding cosplay and hope someone can help me... Hope I'm in the right thread.

1. I've noticed a lot of people started cosplaying around the age of 14-16. I'm 14 myself, and I was wondering, how do people get the money to buy the outfits? In my case I can afford it if I skip my lunch for two months, but ordering online requires a credit card and I don't think my parents are supportive in this activity. So how do you guys do it? @_@

2. I can't find a friend who's willing to spend a bomb on cosplay like me, and I don't want to go alone. Right so there are cosplay groups, but do they only get together to take photos, or do the members of the groups hang out together all the time and make friends or something? Or if I were to join a group without anyone I know, am I going to end up walking around sad and alone? :X

Thanks in advance if anyone notices this.

Well. I'l help you answer this. Based on your questions. Izu, correct me if I'm wrong X_X

1. Some of the cosplayers had their parents to support them all the way. While some, starve themselves and save up. And from what I know, most of the ordering can be done through agent. And the agents all have bank in system. So yeah, unless you decided to direct order from Ebay and such. Then yes, you would need a Credit Card.

2. Some people met their group members ON THE SPOT. While some met them through outings or online. Mostly online first, then outing or just plainly event. Depends of course. And if you join a group, you won't feel lonely. Cause most people I know here are friendly. Just start a conversation by saying the normal Hi there would be fine. :]

Hope that solves the question X_X