Author: Sakumoko
JFH Building Room 311, DLSU-D — The said seminar was said weeks ago. It was the first seminar for the first semester of the year. It was timed to be 12:30-3:00 pm, but due to the schedule of the speakers, it was moved to 5:00 pm onwards.
There were two speakers, a very professional talk. They were the ones who taught the audience some tips into Cosplaying. They gave examples to make them seep into the crowd’s minds. For those who re-planning to go into cosplay, or already into cosplay, This article is about to share the tips that they taught.
Buying Cloths.
Being a cosplayer, you know how making anime clothes are tough on the budget, lessening the use of your allowances and other ways you can think of. There are ways that you can buy cloths on a cheaper price, and not lessening the product’s durability. There is one of the places you can buy those cloths. Does divisoria crossed you mind? If so, then you are correct. This place can offer you the cheapest clothes you can ever find. Try to find the best cloths there.
Group Cosplays.
You should choose the character you want to portray, don’t let other people, spill the character you are thinking of. Being a cosplayer, you should have passion for what you are doing.
Maximize.
Even if your character is a tall person, you should think of ways you can pass those hurdle. It doesn’t mean that if the character is tall you should grow as well. Try to think of ideas that will make you into your character.
Choose the event.
Almost every anime convention has cosplayers in it, right? Pick the best event you can go into. DO NOT go to conventions that will be a day after a stressful day. Pick the best date that you do not have any hard obligations to do.
Take your time, do not rush it.
How can you make a good costume if your stressing yourself by doing it in midnight? You’ll not be able to get some proper sleep and you’ll look terrible on the day of the event. Making costumes is pretty tough. Mark the date of the convention on the calendar two months before the said date, in which case you can do the things you want do with no hassle.
If you don’t have the passion, DON’T DO IT.
How can you do cosplay if you don’t love it? Some people only use this kind of thing to gain popularity, but cosplaying is an art of people who wants have fun by acting as their favorite characters. Doing it means you wanted to be a person of your own style, if not like your favorite character.
Consider the cost, BE Practical.
This is also the case of some people who wanted to do cosplay,but the hurdle they can’t go over is money. It’s a fact that cosplaying is a very expensive art. There are a lot of ways to reduce over the usage of money, like what have been mentioned earlier, or if you had cosplayed, you can re-use it again. No one will notice if you are wearing the same wig or costume if you added something into it, right?
Cosplaying can be a wonderful or terrible experience. Yes, it’s true.
Wonderful: You nailed your character very well, hard work and saving allowances paid off.
Terrible: Ashamed yourself on the stage, terrible make up, etc.
It’s the way you carry yourself and the character, it doesn’t mean that if you lost, it’s the end. There are a lot of conventions out there, don’t just stick to one and pout about it.
Do it for your own happiness.
Hey, in short, why do you do cosplay? It is because you love it, it’s not because you admire other cosplayers, because it’s WHAT you want.
Be Active in Forums, clans, Etc.
Being active on those things can lead you to new friendships and new announcements on the upcoming conventions and the what’s hot and what’s not in the anime world
Socialize, Don’t be a Shrug in and out of the stage.
You might be the best cosplayer in the whole event, but if you don’t socialize, how can the audience remember your face and share to their forums how “Sugoi” you were on stage? Be a friendly person, even if your character isn’t. It’ll leave an impact on them.
You don’t own the character, be considerate.
Even if there are a lot of cosplayers that cosplayed the same character as you, don’t shrug them away. You are not the star of the show (maybe you are on stage) but treat other cosplayers fair. If not, everybody on the event will be upset on you. Anime conventions are meant to have fun and enjoy yourself. AND the manga artist is the owner of that character, you are just the same as them, a FAN.
Make the most of it.
Cosplaying on stage takes about one minute or three minutes at the most, which is the only chance you can get on the months you have been preparing for the event. Do your best, if not 120%, and don’t let your guard down. Be ready for accidents or something that might go wrong.
Take note.
When your on stage.
Stage presence - Let your soul be there. Be alive and do the best in there.
Goals - Determine your goals. On why did you choose that character and why you do cosplay.
Learn the beats - Cosplaying comes with music. Your music should be toned with your character, Learn the harmony of the song and think of it as some choreography you can add on your cosplaying.
Confidence - WITHOUT IT, your cosplaying is NOTHING.
Respect the time element - As have been said, there is only a limited time for each cosplayer, so make the most out of it.
Impress the Judges - Look into the Judges’ eyes. Make an eye contact with them frequently. Let it tell them that you want to win, leave them a positive impression on you.
There were also questions about Hair coloring, products, cuts, applying make-ups and a lot. This might be the first seminar for cosplaying of this semester and it seems like that seminars will be getting better and will help fellow cosplayers, non-cosplayers and their friends realize what they want. Stay tuned for the next part of Cosplay Seminar.
