With lots of new people trying to be a cosplayer, I was really itchy seeing them, And so, I decided to write this. And I think they should know this.
What people should know before they started cosplaying:
- It's Not Cheap: Being a cosplayer makes you spent lots of money.
- COSTUME: The most expensive thing in cosplaying is the costumes. If you want to buy a cheap costume, don’t ask for a great quality or a costume with hard details. Even the cheapest one is more than Rp.100.000 ($10). So when you ask a costume maker to make your costume with a “student” price… please put it at least Rp.200.000 ($20). But with 200k, you can only ask for a simple costume. How to count? Let me tell you. Some of the fabric costs minimum Rp10.000/m (low quality and thin), but most of the fabric costs minimum 15k/m (low quality). And if you use lots of color in your costume, you have to buy every color minimum 1 meter, and some fabric or some store told you to buy minimum of 1kg (approx. 3-5m). If it’s only 1 color, in 1 costume for my type of body, uses about 3-5 m (depends whether it’s a tshirt, or a coat or etc). So give or take Rp.75.000 only for the fabric. And sewing fee is approx. 50k-150k/type of clothing. It depends on the style, so if it’s only a basic t-shirt, you get 50k. If you sew T-shirt, short pants, and vest, maybe it’s going to cost you about 150k.. 150k + 75k = 225k…. This calculation does not include, printing, accessories, and any other things than fabric…. So, respect your costume maker! Costume making is art, and art is priceless!
- WIG : Wig! The rarer your character’s hair is, the more expensive your wig is! There are people who sell their used wig for a cheap price, but be careful, not all users are a neat user! Sometimes the used wig will have a defective areas. Wig price is depends on the quality of the wig! The more expensive the price is, the nicer and thicker your wig will be! But also be careful of the scammers! Some of them put a high price for a low quality wig! You should ask for their brand first! Even though, like we all know, if it’s from taobao, it’s going to be good. But be careful! Some of the scammer will pretend they bought it from taobao, but in reality they bought a cheap Chinese fake-taobao ebay’s wig! Which is sometimes really bad! For wig, we’re going to spend give or take Rp.200.000 ($20)
- SHOES: Shoes is part of the costume, but sometimes we bought it separately! Custom shoes will cost you about 150-400k! Depends on what your shoes looks like!
- MAKE UP: Everyone is different in this one. Some of you might think less make up is better, and some of you will think more make-up is better! For me, it depends on your character, your skin tone, your skin sensitivity, etc. If you have a tan skin tone like me, you have to use lots of make up to make your skin white and doll-like. And if you have a sensitive skin like mine, you have to be careful of using make up! And sometimes it will cost you more! For me….. I think I spent about more than 600k for only the make-up. And because I love to buy make-up. Maybe my make up now costs more than 1000k ($100)
- CONTACT LENSES: IS A MUST!!!! Because, to be honest, nobody has the same eyes like the characters in the anime. Except of course, if you’re cosplaying as a boy who has a small pupil in the anime. Big diameter contact lenses costs about 100-200k.
- So, let’s recap… 225k + 200k + 150k + x + 150k = 725k (make up not included). See… It’s not cheap…
- It's Not Easy: So, you don’t have money and you’re going to make it yourself…. I’m going to tell you, it’s not easy…. Even the costume makers need trials and errors at first to have an experience on making a perfect costumes. Well, if you have money for all of that, good for you!! But once again, mastering the make up for anime characters is not easy. It’s not as easy as doing an everyday make up or a Korean natural make up…. No! You also have to do trial and error before you can master one.
- It's Not About Popularity: If you want to enter cosplay community because you want to be popular……. It’s not that kinda wrong, but it’s not that right either. Being popular is not as easy as it sounds. You have to master costume making, and any other else before you became popular. But!!! If you want a shortcut, it’s also easy, especially girls with a beautiful face and a beautiful body!!! (You know what I mean). For me, cosplay is not about popularity! It’s about having fun cosplaying the characters you love surrounded by those who has the same passion!
- It's Not All Hugs And Rainbows: Yea... We all have the same passion all right... So people will not judge me! They will all respect and support me!!! BZZZTTT!!! I'm sorry to say... But, You're wrong! Cosplay community is really HUGE right now! Lots of people are cosplaying. And with that lots of people, there will be lots of personalities. And as you already knew~ Not everybody has a good personality. Some will judge, some will talk behind your back, some will hate you. So, you have to be prepared for that kind of thing.
This is all for today... This is only my opinion though.... So, feel free to share and comment~~
Sorry for the hard truth~~ I love you all~ I hope I can help all of the cosplayers out there~ <3
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