The beginning of March marked the end of my last cosplay project: the queen xenomorph. I wore the costume on the convention floor, I made it across the competition stage and all-in-all, survived the experience.
Photo credit: Staci Williams
And the best part: now I get to choose my next cosplay.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the convention experience. I can confidently declare that I am a Comic Con addict. But now that the convention is over and I’m still riding the high of the moment, I’m eager to dive into my next project.
Over the past couple of years, I developed an informal system to select my cosplay projects. It’s nothing set in stone, nor is it the process by which I live or die. But my system has served me well and I believe is worth sharing with the greater cosplay community. Here’s the process summed up in a couple of bite-size steps:
- Make a list.
- Make another list.
- Cross reference the lists.
- Ask your mom for input.
- Let your gut make the final decision.
I’m a listy type Kristy – just ask my work colleagues; I always carry around a “To-Do” list or a list of “Next Steps.” So, I start my brainstorming with a list of all the characters I love, admire or simply just enjoy their costume. I’m always on the lookout for a new character to fall in love with, so my list has become…comprehensive.
That is to say, it’s over two pages long. It certainly doesn’t help that I tend to bounce between a lot of different medias. Characters on my list come from anime, television, movies, cartoons and games. Some of them are original characters from fan art. I’d even like to do a series of cosplays inspired by my favorite novels. In any case, I’m an equal opportunity cosplayer.
So, my next step is to make another list. My second list is all about what I want to do or learn. Am I interested in challenging my sewing skills? Do I want to make armor? How about some props? Or special effects? This second list serves two purposes:
- It helps me set a larger goal.
- I narrow in on the skills I’m really interested in using.
Let’s face it – no matter how cool a cosplay is, if you aren’t interested in the skill set involved in the fabrication process then you won’t be motivated to finish the costume. For me, this is especially true if the skill set is slightly beyond what I’ve done before. If the cosplay is gonna be a challenge then I better be interested in the techniques I’ll be using to finish it.
When I have my two lists in hand (either in paper form or just in my head), I sit down and compare the two. I ask myself: what character cosplays will allow me to use the skills I’m actually interested in growing?
It sounds easy, but this part is actually pretty tough. I spend a lot of time talking/thinking around each possibility. I also try to take into consideration a couple other important parameters such as:
- Cost
- Costume modifications (i.e. how do I ensure I’m covered up?)
- Convention
- Timeline
- Weather
After several days of hemming and hawing my next step is to talk to my mom. She’s brilliant. And importantly, she understands just enough of the cosplay world to have a really really valuable outsider’s perspective.
My mom consistently gives me great advice – sometimes I take it, sometimes I don’t. No matter what, our discussion always leaves me with food for thought.
I know not everyone has my mom. It’s okay. Don’t panic. You could easily substitute any person in your life whom you value their opinion. When I started cosplaying, I spent most of my time bouncing ideas off my partner. I’d probably still be doing that, except he’s pretty busy with med school these days.
I want to quickly clarify: my mom isn’t a substitute. She’s simply another really great source of dialogue. If I could have my cake and eat it too, I’d talk to both my mom and partner. The reality is, the more you talk to people about possible projects, the more you’ll be able to focus in on a project that resonates with you personally.
It’s not until weeks later that I commit to any project. Usually, I’ll spend several days (if not longer) just thinking about possible projects. In my professional life, I’m a science teacher. I confess this not to make you cringe inwardly, but to emphasize my love of learning. Just like in teaching, before I make a decision, I’ll spend some time researching each choice.
What materials are available? What materials do I already have? Who else has done this cosplay? How will I break this project down into manageable chunks?
There are a lot of questions to consider – and that’s okay. I don’t need to be able to answer them all up front, they are just points to help me think strategically and holistically around each possible build.
For whatever reason, my final decision is usually made in the shower (where most of my best thinking is done). I’ll be standing there, washing my hair and: blamo! I’ll know which cosplay I want to make next. And if I’m lucky, I’ll also be able to articulate why I want to work on that cosplay.
Thankfully, cosplay is forgiving. If I change my mind later, who cares? The point is to have fun, make cool stuff and hang out with friends at conventions. Whether you are a listy-type-person or you just like to randomly pick your next project, my best advice for you is to go for it. Commit to something and give it a shot. 😉
