Survey Says: Your Cosplay Debut
Do you remember your first cosplay experience? We asked out SLC (Super Layers Club) to take a trip down memory lane and share their own beginners' stories.
Q. Why did you first decide to cosplay?
-I just got it into my head one day (laughs).
-I used to look at cosplay magazines and started to want to do it myself.
-My friend was participating in a doujinshi event and I went along. Seeing so many awesome layers made me want to try it too.
-I was so impressed by the cosplayers at the first event I went to.
-It was the result of loving a certain character way too much...
-Because I love mascot costumes.
-I went to see the "Sailor Moon" musical and left thinking, "
I want to be Sailor Moon!"
-My friend invited me along.
Q2. Where did you first cosplay?
-Neoromance Festa
-At a manga dance party in Nagoya.
-Mydome Osaka. I'm so sad we can't use it as a venue anymore.
-Odekake Live in Dome Sapporo.
-Spring Super Comi. It was 17 years ago and I still remember how awesome it felt. Am I too old for this now?!?!
-I debuted in my own bedroom!
-It was so long ago (laughs). I don't remember well, but I think it was Comiket or Game Show.
-It was at a small, local doujinshi event.
-Overseas! The schedule was amazing.
Q3. What mistakes did you make with your first costume?
-I screwed up cutting the wig more than I'd thought. Even now I sometimes look back in embarassment on that wig...
-I didn't know how to wear a wig-net.
-I went to events with props without checking first if they were allowed or not.
-I made a great male costume, then finished it with girly buttons...(crying)
-I got too into my cosplay and started talking and acting too freely with strangers cosplaying the same series. I know better now, so I think I must have annoyed those people a lot (laughs).
-I hadn't thought of a cosplay name.
-The costume I made wasn't fitted properly. When I got the event, the sleeves ripped right off. I cried and cried, then attented the event in my street clothes.
-I took an hour to do my makeup and inconvenienced my friends! orz
-I forgot my props.
-I didn't prepare any poses -- I just flashed peace signs. I look back on it as a mistake.
-I didn't know about namecards, so I hadn't made any.
-I went out in my costume without taking my glasses off.
Q4. What was the biggest problem you faced when you were just starting out?
-Lying to my mom about going to the event. Hiding cosplay is always a challenge (laugh).
-I was too embarassed to get into character, so I refused to pose at all (laugh).
-How expensive wigs are! 8 years ago, wigs were even more expensive than they are now, but I think for anyone without a fulltime job, wigs are a fulltime pain (laughs).
-It took too much time to change. By the time I got to the coin lockers, they were always full.
-I couldn't do my own makeup, so I always had to rely on my friend.
-I didn't know cosplay manners or rules, so I learned a lot of things the hard way.
-The money! (laughs) If you're going to start cosplaying, you really need it. I had to get a part-time job jsut to support my cosplay habit!
-I wasn't used to binding for cosplay, so it hurt and I felt sick at the end of events.
-I had trouble getting my color contacts in.
-I didn't have a budget for wigs, so I had to torture my real hair into manga-esque styles.
Q5. How do you feel looking back on your first time cosplaying?
-I'm so embarassed looking at old pictures now, I can hardly stand to see them.
-I think I'm still pretty low-level, but I can see how much I've improved in costume construction.
-I think I did a pretty crap job. I ended up shredding the magazine that took my picture.
-I'm amused at how excited I was just to be in costume.
-I still have the costume around and want to wear it again, but I feel like no experience could possibly top the first.
-I think it was great fun! Just looking at photos and talking with friends makes me feel a little shy... but really nostalgic.
-I refuse to look back. LOL
-I'd rather forget that dark chapter of my past (laugh).
(continued in the next post)