Cosplay Don'ts

I made this list because it disappoints me to see some cosplayers having jealous fits and making a big deal about not being noticed or appreciated. This is not your typical list of cosplay don'ts where you see reminders like "don't scrimp on the eyeliner" or "don't use shiny fabric". Instead, this list is aimed at certain attitudes to cosplay that may cause some feelings of self-doubt, bitterness, hatred, and anger, as well as some of the reasons why you cosplay. I hope these can inspire you to have a better attitude towards the hobby and to your fellow cosplayers.

1. Don't cosplay to impress someone - Especially if they're strangers, you don't know them, and they're not your friends. Chances are, none of them would care, and you'll only be disappointed and miserable. If you're going to cosplay, do it for yourself. (or perhaps, maybe even for the people who genuinely care, love, respect, and support you).

2. Don't cosplay to spite someone - It takes the fun, enjoyment, and meaning out of the hobby. If you successfully spite someone, you are just making them hate you. Unless you're Kirei Kotomine and people's anguish and hatred sustain you, then stop doing this. (But seriously, Kirei jokes aside, just don't. :p)

Even Kirei is judging you.

3. Don't cosplay to make someone jealous - You are corrupting the hobby and inducing hate. Chances are, the person you're targeting doesn't even care, or if they do, it will just encourage more hatred and fights. So, please stop that. It's probably asking too much to want everyone to get along, but I believe small efforts to be a better and nicer person can make a big difference and may start a positive chain reaction.

4. Don't cosplay to become popular or famous - It's a hobby. Do it to have fun and because you love it and it helps you grow or improve as a person. Fame and popularity are just a bonus. 

5. Don't cosplay a character just because you think you're better at it than anyone else who already cosplayed it and those who are planning to cosplay it - Seriously, you are not the character. You are just portraying it through cosplay. Good for you if strangers and friends praise or acknowledge your cosplay, portrayal, and your craft. If not, don't let it get to you. Either way, don't let it get to your head.

Final thoughts: 
I've been cosplaying for years now and I know I have gone through some of these feelings before, but I realized that all they have done to me is make me feel bad about myself and treat people badly. They add to the drama, too. But I believe it is never too late to change oneself if you are willing to become a better person. If you are guilty of one or all of these things, I hope I have somehow opened your eyes to the reality. Now, I am encouraging you to become a better and happier person. ^_^'

Review: Nendoroid Sleeping Bags

Good Smile Company Nendoroid Sleeping Bags

I pre-ordered these Nendoroid Sleeping Bags last year and I got them today. I thought they looked cute and that I could use them for my favorite Nendoroids, Saber and Gilgamesh. I initially ordered a pair (red and blue), then added another red for a friend.

Here's how the sleeping bag looks like without the block of foam inside:

Nendoroid Sleeping Bag in red

I love how the sleeping bag was made. The fabric provided the look and feel of an actual sleeping bag. The zipper glides smoothly, so it is easy to close the sleeping bag once the figure is inside.

Back of the sleeping bag

Every aspect of the Nendoroid sleeping bag was well-made, including the interior as you can see here:

It looks comfy in there

Here's a first attempt at placing a Nendoroid inside:

*muffled crying*

You might be thinking that it does not look like anything from the promotional material. The figure's face must be exposed, right? However, the figure just keeps slipping down, causing the lower half of the face to be hidden.

There's a solution though, and you can find it in the back of the packaging:

Comes with instructions!

You might be saying, "Boo-hoo I can't read Japanese desu~" but when you observe the pictures, you might be able to understand what they are trying to say. Remember the block foam that came with the sleeping bag?

DON'T THROW THIS AWAY!

It's still useful! Follow the instructions and cut it into a certain shape. Then place the Nendoroid figure on the piece of foam that you cut from block of foam.

Something like this. Even Rin is unsure
what this shape is called. :p

After that, you can now insert the foam and the figure inside the Nendoroid sleeping bag, or you can put the foam in first then fit the figure inside.

It should probably look like this, haha. :p

And then you're now ready to zip it up and adore the cuteness of your Nendoroid figure.

Saber doesn't seem too pleased

The sleeping bag fits snugly around the Nendoroid. Hence, you do not have to  worry about the figure slipping out or falling off, even if you swing the sleeping bag around or dangle it upside-down.

Aww, babies.

If you noticed, each Nendoroid Sleeping Bag gives you the option to hang them wherever you want. Well, I tried:

The King of Heroes is not pleased

No, of course I won't go out looking like this.

But I don't think I'll be hanging them on my stuff and go out with them. I do not want them to get snatched from my purse. :p

Are Nendoroid Sleeping Bags worth your money? I'd say yes, especially if you collect Nendoroid figures and you love to play with them. The sleeping bag has ample cushioning, so I think it can somehow protect the Nendoroid if you intend to travel with it or put it inside your bag.

Common Mistakes Cosplayers Make In Photoshoots

I love cosplay photoshoots. They're quite fun to organize, too. I myself have enjoyed a share of photoshoots with friends since 2009. However, there are times when they can turn out to be a drag or a total nightmare. My friends and I have our share of horror stories in some photoshoots that we have had or attended since we started cosplaying, and due to those experiences, I was able to recognize common mistakes that some cosplayers tend to make when organizing photoshoots or during the photoshoot itself. 

I am not claiming to be an expert in cosplay or organizing shoots or anything, but I'd like to share some of the common booboos that I've observed (both on myself and other cosplayers) during photoshoots, and perhaps give some tips or suggestions on how you can prevent them.

Not applying makeup

Makeup is important in cosplay. Applying makeup is a great way to make your face look flawless on photographs and to change your facial features to make them more appropriate for the character that you're cosplaying. However, sometimes, there are cosplayers who go, “Uh I think I'll skip the makeup because I'm lazy.” and then complain later that they look bad when they see their pictures.

“I don't need these. I can just whine about how fugly I am later and then make the photographer or one of my friends photoshop my face.”
Photo from University of Makeup

Laziness is not an excuse. And while it is not wrong to ask your photographer for a little post-processing and editing, you can't expect him or her to edit your entire face just because you didn't put any makeup on. It takes a lot of effort to post-process and edit photos, and if there are too many pictures, then it will be a drag for the photographer to edit every single photo of your face.

Make an effort to put on makeup, even if it's just something to conceal your pores and your eyebags. It's also much easier to apply makeup than to photoshop a face for its flaws.

Arriving late

Some shoots are scheduled for a limited time because that's what the permit or the terms and conditions of the venue would allow. If you have a very limited time for your shoot (i.e. only around three to four hours), make an effort to arrive at least an hour before the the shoot, so you have ample time prepare.

If you have more time for the shoot (say, 5, 6, or more hours), then you're lucky. You can probably arrive on time and spend at least an hour prepping up.

"I'm on my way!" but the truth is, you just got out of bed.

Arriving late can also be inconvenient if you have a cosplay group. Certain group shots might be delayed, incomplete, or cannot be done if you are not there yet and other members of your group have already been there for hours. So try your best to make it on time and not be late, unless you have a valid excuse such as you are coming from a class or your work shift ends right before the time when the shoot would start.

Not getting a permit or failing to ask permission to shoot in a venue

Some venues require a permit and a fee before you can shoot. It is best to contact the venue in advance and ask for the terms and conditions for shooting there, rather than show up on the day of your shoot, only to find out that you're not allowed to shoot there for whatever reason. Get the necessary permits first and ask permission to shoot in a particular venue first when applicable. This way, you can avoid the hassle, embarrassment, and the frustration of not being able to shoot in the venue that you want.

Cancelling or backing out in the last minute

I hate this. I really do. Whether you're the shoot organizer or one of the cosplayers, it is such a hassle and a big drag if you suddenly cancel the shoot or back out from it, especially if you created a lot of hype for it and you got everyone very excited for the shoot.

Unless you have a really valid reason such as death in the family, you got sick, you have a contagious disease, you have sudden duty at work, there's a storm or a natural disaster, etc. (you get the idea), then just. Don't. Back. Out. Or Cancel. The. Shoot.

I've encountered some cosplayers who suddenly backed out two days or a day before the shoot or the day of the shoot itself. I've heard reasons like, “Because I don't feel like it anymore.” or “Because I am confused with a lot of things right now and I need to go and find myself.”, as well as “I'm backing out because I have other priorities.”

Those statements caused a lot of “huh?”s and “whut”s, but knew I had to let them go to avoid further conflict.

“I'm backing out because I'm a selfish prick and I don't care about your efforts in organizing this shoot. It's not you, it's me. We should see other people.”

Backing out in the last minute can be very inconvenient for the organizers who already did a headcount of the number of cosplayers who are part of the group shoot. It can also be inconvenient for the division of payments, in case everyone in the group intends to contribute money to pay for the venue.

I also find it distasteful if you suddenly can't attend the shoot and you did not even inform the organizers or at least one of the other cosplayers who are part of that shoot. Find time to send a message. There's no excuse for not showing up without any warning. It can also be worrisome, like what if we start thinking that you got mugged, killed, or kidnapped on your way to the venue or something. :p

Inviting too many photographers

Whenever my friends and I organize group shoots, we always make it a point to count the number of cosplayers before deciding on which and how many photographers to invite. We used to think that the more photographers we have, the faster we can accomplish things. Apparently not.

In my experience, I found that having a lot of photographers does not necessarily mean that:

a. You can have more pictures taken of you - because chances are, you'll only have the same poses taken from different angles in different lighting situations and places, and from different cameras.

b. You can finish the shoot faster

c. The shoot can go as efficiently as possible – not exactly, because there might come a time when it would be difficult to keep track of who took photos of who.

This doesn't make sense. Unless maybe you're in a cosplay event or a convention.

Eventually, I learned that we are able to accomplish more with only one or a few photographers. Here are some examples:

• 1 photographer for a one subject or for two cosplayers (i.e. in a tandem or couple shoot) or for 3 cosplayers.
• A maximum of 2 photographers for 2 cosplayers in a tandem or couple shoot, or for 3 cosplayers.
• A maximum of 3 to 4 photographers for group cosplay shoots with at least 7 to 10 cosplayers.

But wait, what exactly is having “too many photographers”? I think it depends on you. But for me, these are examples of having too many photographers:

• 1 cosplayer and 5 photographers
• 10 cosplayers and 10 photographers
• 2 cosplayers and more than 5 photographers

You get the picture.

There was one group shoot that we had with 14 cosplayers and only two photographers, and it was one of the most fun and productive shoots that we have ever had.

But then again, it's up to you. If you have organized a cosplay shoot before with a large number of photographers and only a few cosplayers and it was so successful and you had plenty of pictures, then good for you. Though I'd still say “quality over quantity.”

Using another cosplayer's photo as your reference picture

It is totally okay to be inspired by another cosplayer's photo, but to copy the exact picture, pose, and composition is a huge no-no for me. I don't recommend asking the photographer to copy the picture either. That's as good as plagiarism.

I understand that you probably want to have a picture that is as awesome as the photo that you want to copy, but if you truly want to produce outstanding photos with your photographer, then I believe it would be better if you could think outside of the box and be as creative as you can.

Acting like a prima donna

Whether you're in a group shoot or a couple shoot, you DON'T act like you're the center of the universe. Be a team player and cooperate with your cosplay group. Also, if you're an organizer, don't just spit out orders for other organizers and other cosplayers to do, such as reserving the venue or following up on the payments and cosplayers, etc., especially if you have the time to do those things by yourself.

Boss be like, “Do this and do that for me because I'm a lazy bum, I'm afraid of negotiations, and I am actually shy to ask the owners of the venue if we can shoot there.”
Image from ModernServantLeader.Com

On the day of the shoot, avoid hogging the spotlight unless you're the only subject. Stop with the “me, me, me” attitude. Nobody likes that. The cosplayers who are with you are not just there to make you look good and stand out, whether you're cosplaying the protagonist or not.

Hesitating and being too shy

If you do not ask, the answer will always be, “no”. Some photographers may give suggestions on poses and things that you can do for the photos, but others won't. Bottom line is: you'll never get anywhere or accomplish anything if you are hesitant or shy to speak up on what you want to do in the photoshoot.

"Boo-hoo! I wasn't able to do Jojo poses with my friends!"
Image from here

Be open and talk to your partner or group and the photographer about shots or poses that you want to do with them, and do not hesitate to give suggestions. Be a bit more assertive instead of wallowing later in regret because you weren't able to have a certain type of picture taken.

Making new members of your group feel left out

Sometimes, you can get so excited about forming a cosplay group that you end up inviting cosplayers who you don't really know or you are not not familiar with into your circle for the sake of completing the characters. In this case, do not ignore them or make them feel like they are complete strangers. Try your best not to make them feel left out. Get to know them, make small talk, ask if they are okay, etc. Don't treat them like decorative elements or your props in the cosplay shoot.

Now you have many friends.
Image from My Anime List