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Dear The Magic Rain,
I got a confession, I sometimes dislike cosplayers who don’t make their own costumes/props/weapons.
I don’t hate them and yes, everyone can cosplay but I find cosplayers who put more effort in finding materials and learning to make them more respectable in my opinion.
I admire those who build crafts and/or sew their own costumes. True, many don’t have the time for this, but we are all humans with 24 hours per day – why can one person do it but not the other? Why do they say ‘I don’t know how to sew or cut or saw or glue’- all these are just excuses!
I know a girl who literally buys her costumes from Taobao and she’s making money by selling photobook and getting famous over just a year (yes, probably I’m jealous). However, I believe back in the days, cosplayers try so hard to make their characters come to life from scratch and they don’t get any recognition!
Anyway, I just want to get this off my chest that I don’t appreciate ‘cosplayers’ who buy everything online or commission them. Yes, it is good money for those who earn the commission but learning/building them yourself is a self-achievement.
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
Have a great one, peace out!
Love,
The Confesser
Dear The Confesser,
I know that this is just a confession but I am just going to share some of my thoughts with you. It’s great that you have an appreciation for the craft of cosplaying. I agree with some of the things you said but at the same time, I think you shouldn’t be too quick to judge someone. Yes, if someone else can do it, why can’t you? That’s very true.
However, many things are often easier said than done. There are people who have to deal with issues in their life which other people don’t have to. Take for instance, people with monetary issues, crazy schedules (e.g., tuition/after school activities/clubs/work). Everything boils down to their priorities. Many people cosplay to just past time and relax, so making props/costumes may not be beneficial to them. If they have to put work/study first, they may not see the importance of having to make their own props/costumes.
Also, not everyone is gifted and creative. So, they may not find joy or satisfaction in making their own costumes/props. However, they may appreciate the work of others (tailors/prop-makers) by supporting their businesses. Yes, it’s true. Many cosplayers who make their craft from scratch are not as appreciated as they should be. But hey, that’s life. Take for instance employees who are underappreciated by their bosses. It happens all the time… but we can change that. If you look up to cosplayers who do their own craft, then support them. Give them encouragement and even support their businesses (e.g., buying their photobooks etc).
I’d say don’t look down on cosplayers who buy cosplays instead of making them because we don’t know their whole life story. Also, everyone prioritizes different things. If they don’t make their own costumes/props then maybe look at their makeup. You’d never know how long they spent on it. How long it took for them to do/learn that makeup because like I said, not everyone is talented in this sector. But if you are, then good for you!
To add on, those who are famous from selling photobooks are probably famous because of numerous reasons. Yes, on the surface it may be because they are good looking or because they show a lot of skin. However, I believe you’d also need a good personality/good interpersonal skills to get that far within a short period of time. Spend less time being bitter about these small things because at the end of the day, if we’re too caught up worrying/complaining about others, we’d have less time to improve and grow ourselves.
See you around dear cosplayer!
Sincerely,
Ms. Scrumptious
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