Cosplay Manifesto Thinggy
The Sakuracon09 report is coming, but first, a little humorous something that is nonetheless, quite important. I saw a lot of decent and some really great cosplay at this year's event, I also saw a lot of annoying dimwits without the sense God gave the common dog. Let me preface now with the story of just such a dimwit....
While walking into the very crowded dealer's room on Saturday, I glanced down to check that my conbadge was facing out and looked up just in time to catch some girl's wingtip in my left eye.... the girl was standing four feet away.
So without further ado...
Dev's Cosplay Checklist (or "Are You REALLY Sure You Want to Do THAT?")
As a long-time con goer and very occasional cosplayer, I have assembled something I wish the entire netsphere to read and consider carefully. It represents the culmination of nigh on two decades of patient and careful research into the phenomenon of cosplay, and the study of hotel/convention center architecture. Please review this carefully and take its lessons to heart, so you wont also lose an eye...
If your costume...
...has a big prop, you should reconsider.
...has a REALLY big prop, you should definitely reconsider.
...has a prop so big that it will affect how you and others must negotiate doorways, you should not wear the costume in the hallways and save it for the Contest/Masquerade.
If your costume...
...is wider than your shoulders/hips, you should reconsider.
...has wings that stick out sideways from your shoulders for more than the length of your hand, you should DEFFINTELY reconsider.
...Has wings that project from your back which are measured in FEET, you should not wear the costume in the hallways and save it for the Contest/Masquerade.
If you are female...
...remember, gentlemen are pigs. Otaku are not usually so dignified. It's not our fault, womenfolk confuse us.
...kindly remember that Yuna, in addition to being a summoner and pop sensation, also wore a bra.
If you are male...
...try not to drool at least. Its both unsightly and embarrassing.
...I don't care, I just flat out don't care... DO NOT GO AS A FEMALE CHARACTER. It's not cute, and it was only funny for about thirty seconds. If you DO decide that your "Man-Faye" just needs to be unleashed on the world, understand that I will mock you. Publicly.
Kindly remember...
...tops and bottoms of escalators, are not good photo shoot locales. For that matter, Anbu Black Ops dance numbers should not be performed in front of main entrances either.
...that while your really big sword/keyblade/wings/thigamabob-attached-to-your-costume is really neat, I don't need to have it jammed in my eye. Be aware of increased costume-related girth in tight hallways.
...anyone (including myself) who mocks you for cosplaying, is only jealous of the fact that you are braver and better than they are. (Unless you're doing Man-Faye. That is the ONE exception...)
While walking into the very crowded dealer's room on Saturday, I glanced down to check that my conbadge was facing out and looked up just in time to catch some girl's wingtip in my left eye.... the girl was standing four feet away.
So without further ado...
Dev's Cosplay Checklist (or "Are You REALLY Sure You Want to Do THAT?")
As a long-time con goer and very occasional cosplayer, I have assembled something I wish the entire netsphere to read and consider carefully. It represents the culmination of nigh on two decades of patient and careful research into the phenomenon of cosplay, and the study of hotel/convention center architecture. Please review this carefully and take its lessons to heart, so you wont also lose an eye...
If your costume...
...has a big prop, you should reconsider.
...has a REALLY big prop, you should definitely reconsider.
...has a prop so big that it will affect how you and others must negotiate doorways, you should not wear the costume in the hallways and save it for the Contest/Masquerade.
If your costume...
...is wider than your shoulders/hips, you should reconsider.
...has wings that stick out sideways from your shoulders for more than the length of your hand, you should DEFFINTELY reconsider.
...Has wings that project from your back which are measured in FEET, you should not wear the costume in the hallways and save it for the Contest/Masquerade.
If you are female...
...remember, gentlemen are pigs. Otaku are not usually so dignified. It's not our fault, womenfolk confuse us.
...kindly remember that Yuna, in addition to being a summoner and pop sensation, also wore a bra.
If you are male...
...try not to drool at least. Its both unsightly and embarrassing.
...I don't care, I just flat out don't care... DO NOT GO AS A FEMALE CHARACTER. It's not cute, and it was only funny for about thirty seconds. If you DO decide that your "Man-Faye" just needs to be unleashed on the world, understand that I will mock you. Publicly.
Kindly remember...
...tops and bottoms of escalators, are not good photo shoot locales. For that matter, Anbu Black Ops dance numbers should not be performed in front of main entrances either.
...that while your really big sword/keyblade/wings/thigamabob-attached-to-your-costume is really neat, I don't need to have it jammed in my eye. Be aware of increased costume-related girth in tight hallways.
...anyone (including myself) who mocks you for cosplaying, is only jealous of the fact that you are braver and better than they are. (Unless you're doing Man-Faye. That is the ONE exception...)