A special feature REPOSTED from fellow cosplayer and a friend of mine, Patricia Sy (with her permission). THIS IS NOT MY ARTICLE. Read on:
I started cosplaying around 2008. And although that isn’t as long as my other friends, I am proud to say that I still got to experience the ‘ideal’ cosplay community. Today however, the community is full of kpop, attention-seekers (“Look at me, I show boobs and panties”), Alodia-wanna-bes (Q: Bakit ka nagcocosplay? A: Nakita ko nagcosplay si Alodia sa LOL gusto ko maging ganun). I blame cosplay going mainstream. Although its quite good because people don’t give us weird looks anymore, it’s sad because we have plenty of those who only cosplay to become a model or the next Alodia.
Anu yung ‘ideal’ (what is the Ideal)? Let me describe my first con experience:
- Con-goers and cosplayers alike fan-girl/boy over their favorite characters whether or not they are good-looking or not.
- Everyone (generalizing here) appreciates your effort to cosplay even if your costume isn’t as accurate.
- People ask for the names of cosplayers and befriend them, leading to real friendships outside cosplay.
- People ask for the names of the characters they find interesting but do not know about. This leads to a small talk about the anime and later the person who asked will watch it online upon the recommendation of the cosplayer.
- People ask for permission before taking pictures.
- People who take photos with cosplayers keep personal distance and seek permission before touching the cosplayer or his/her props.
- Event area is not crowded with non-related stuff like endorsements of random foods, gadgets, and etc.
- Event area has minimal human traffic.
I became an active cosplayer in 2009 and went into hiatus because of school. When I returned to the cosplay scene for Ozine 2011, I noticed a huge change. In fact you don’t have to observe to find what’s wrong because it’s already thrown at you. What do I mean?
- Walang paki. While it is the responsibility of the cosplayer to say “excuse me” and watch out before moving backwards or turning in order to make that the parts of his/her costume won’t hit someone on the face, it should also be part of the con-goers’ intiative to walk properly and not run into a cosplayer and ruining parts of his/her costume.
- Tactless. My friend and I were seating on the floor by a column while we waited for our cosplay catwalk numbers to be called. While my friend dozed off, I covered my face with my helmet which was a part of my costume. People were still taking photos of us and we didn’t mind. A group of girls came by and each took turns posing on the floor with us. They were talking so loud when one of them said sarcastically, “Bakit sila natutulog? Anung drama nila?”
- Pedo. Manyak. Bastos. While we were resting seated on the floor, a group of guys came and took photos with us. One of the grabbed the legs of my partner in an attempt to lie down on her legs. Of course, being my usual motherly protective self, I reprimanded him.
- Demanding photographers. Many photographers in cons today are not otakus. Some photographers exploit the cosplay community because they’ll find ‘free’ models who are already in make-up and costume. To them, it’s not enough that they get to shoot for free, they even demand a variety of poses. If you tell them that you are being in character and your character does not do ‘poses’, they twist their faces in disgust and walk away.
- Too many scantily-clad underage girls. No matter what you say about being in character and doning accurate costumes, scantiliy-clas characters are not for underage girls to cosplay.
- Too many kpop cosplays. The fact that the kpop dance competition has been scheduled on a different day from the cosplays means you should keep the kpop cosplay for Day 1 and not loiter around in KPOP get-up.
- Too many original cosplays. You have the funds to design your own outfits, why not cosplay a REAL character. If you’re here to showcase how awesome you are in designing and sewing, why don’t you go to design expos or work hard and register yourself for the Philippine Fashion Week?
So…. A lot of people already blogged about the proper cosplay con etiquette. Let me add and reiterate a few…
For Cosplayers:
- Mind your costume/props/parts. Make sure you don’t hit anyone while you move.
- The place isn’t all yours, do not leave your bags lying around (including the CR, the mirror isn’t all yours too).
- Change in restrooms as quick as possible. Don other props and do your make-up outside the cubicle. Some people need to pee right away and unfortunately, girls can’t pee while facing the wall.
- Girls, please don’t choose sexy characters if you’re underage. It’s just wrong. And later you complain about pervs.
- Guys with huge weapons. We know how you’re so into your character but please watch out where you’re swinging that sword. Even if it’s made of rubber/foam sheets, a jab to the stomach or any body part still hurts.
- Stop doing asian poses if your character is not cutie cute. Seeing Enma Ai or Saya doing hearts and kyon-kyon is blasphemy!
For Photographers (Amateur and Professional and Wanna-be):
- Do not demand poses from cosplayers and walk with a snarl if you don’t get another angle. Some characters are really shy.
- No low angle shots for those in skirts please.
- Do not ask cosplayers to pose while they are fixing their costumes or talking to someone or eating. If you really want a photo of the character, wait patiently.
- Do ask permission to take photos.
- Do say thanks even if cosplayers don’t reply “welcome”.
- They say that a photo tells a story. So it doesn’t hurt to ask the name of the character, anime, and role in the series. This will help in your photo’s angle.
- Always show the cosplayer the photo you took and see if they are okay with it. They can notice details like closed eyes, weird anatomy, or wigs askew. Respect their decision if they want the photos to be deleted. You wouldn’t want to be photographed while yawning either.
For Con-goers:
- Ask for permission before taking photos. Many cosplayers don’t mind their photos being taken but a good “Please and thank you” makes us believe that mankind hasn’t lost its morals.
- Before having a photo WITH a cosplayer, make sure you don’t smell. As if we aren’t dizzy enough with the contact lens and tight wigs. Don’t make us faint with your body odor.
- Do not lean too close to the cosplayer or tilt or turn your face too close to the cosplayer’s face. You are taking a photo with a character you (supposedly) idolize not your girlfriend or boyfriend.
- Do not put your arms around our waists or on our shoulders. Armor is heavy enough without your heavy hands and again, we are not your bestfriend/girlfriend/boyfriend for you to touch our love handles.
- Do not grab cosplayers’ props without permission. It’s the same feeling when random people start browsing your inbox or playing with your iPad.
- Do not mock cosplayers within their earshot. You truly can’t please everyone. And not all cosplayers are gifted with pleasing aesthetics or crafting skills. So if you don’t find us or our characters appealing, please express your opinions discretely. It hurts enough that people think we are weird because we cosplay. And it hurts more if people express dislike about how we look while doing our hobby. (Credit to: Devian Grey)
I admit I once hugged an Akatsuki without permission and forced a cosplayer for a photo while she was eating. Being on the other end made me realize how wrong I was. So this is posted to inform those who haven’t experience being the receiving end of don’ts and for those who are just unethical.
Patricia Sy
Have something to add? Comment below. I will edit. This note is open to all. Please share to cosplayers and photographers and con-goers.
Katz – Seriously, I coudn’t agree with you more Ms. Patricia. I started out almost the same year as her and the longer it grows, you will discover the difference from that year till today. It’s not all pretty anymore. This hobby has been featured in the media recently last year and I seriously want to tell them to feature the veterans & professionals other than the random cosplayers who can’t really give an example to those who need it. Because what they describe on TV, is not “always” what you see in reality now.
Penny for your thoughts? Do share.
Also the issue about how some people call it cosplay when the outfit is obviously just picked out of their closet. Something you could buy in shops. I think it’s an insult to cosplayers who’ve truly put their efforts into their costumes. ):
TRUE THAT! if they are not portraying anything from anime/manga/game/movie/idea.. then it’s not cosplay. it’s simply a different kind of fashion (either JPop/JRock or KPop/KRock, etc).
SUGOIII!!! :3
on facebook >> BAF_luvsallanime@yahoo.com
i sound a bit greedy and selfish (onegai, pls dun punish meeh DX) but i wished that cosplay was maintained as an “underground” (not so UNDER the ground XD) activity of otakus only > 3>
that’s what i really think….i just wished that cosplay was never introduced to the public, non-otakus, and a group of fantards of Alodia = 3=
anyways…pls add me
or u could type Freakstelia Anti-Straights..hehehe ^-^v
P.S. i dun hate Alodia…she’s amazingly cute, i mean it >3< but her title as the queen and her cuteness wasn't supposed to given to her….i mean…it's not natural, orginal, etc (if ya know what i mean ;D)
I still have a lot to know about cosplay and con-going since I’ve just been exposed (I ‘debuted’ at MCC 2011) but still, I kinda experienced a few things here. I have to admit, even if I do this for both the art and fun, it’s not really fun if you have to pose the whole day.
Although I’m grateful that some con-goers are quite polite to say ‘thank you’ or just gives a simple gesture of bowing.
Still, in my honest opinion, I didn’t like cosplay going mainstream. It’s like, people see you as a wannabe model rather than a otaku. I prefer being an otaku than being called ‘wannabe model like Alodia’. Also when cosplay went mainstream, it’s like it’s become the lolita found in department stores and sometimes, people would just buy a Naruto headband and jacket and say, “Yeah I’m Naruto!” and they don’t even know what the series it.
tama ka.. ^^
Good read. Thanks to Patsy for writing. Thanks to you for reblogging. Here’s my seven cents on this matter. I’m not a cosplayer, nor a photographer, just another random anime fan who happens to have enough money to order a costume online, and a sister who has an SLR camera I can borrow.
The photographer issue isn’t so new. Mas talamak lang ngayon yung walang modo due to sheer volume.
I can’t fully agree with the Kpop thing. K-pop thing: ok. Too much K-pop: yeah, maybe not ok. I think K-pop cosplay is ok if the costume is so darn obvious and uncommon, yet uniform (e.g. SNSD’s Oh! costumes; SNSD’s Genie uniforms), but isn’t really ok if the costume isn’t really cosplayable or something that you can actually wear casually (e.g. SNSD’s Gee apparel). Yeah, I only used 1 group, but you get the picture.
Asking the name of the character, anime, and role in the series maybe ok, but isn’t recommended. It might be to detailed for the short time that cosplayers can give to photographers. Ideal siguro kung hindi ganun ka-busy yung cosplayer. Showing the photographer’s shots to the cosplayer might take time as well, so kung may time lang siguro, but not recommended. I guess I’m saying this in my perspective as a random guy who’s holding an SLR, and might be worried that he’s half-wasting the time of the cosplayer he’s shooting.
In terms of “demanding poses”, I guess demanding IS a strong term. Maybe “ask nicely”, perhaps? I think it’s ok if you’re (nicely) asking a cosplayer to do an “in-character” pose (e.g. Lee doing a thumbs up; Son Goku in Kamehameha pose), but I agree that if that person can’t do that pose at the moment, wag magmukmok.
I was never really a fan of lolitas, j-pop/rock fashion, k-pop/rock fashion (except the ones I cited above), and original cosplays. Ok lang minsan yung “random” stuff (i.e. random akatsuki member, random Dark Order member). But mostly my TOs are out-of-character poses (e.g. Gaara na biglang mag ccaramel dance).
Me and my GF are guilty of the “pintas-cosplayer” thing. Minsan hindi talaga bagay. Minsan hindi bagay due to sloppy-ness. Minsan, masabi lang na naka costume, go na. We are not perfectionists: we can’t expect cosplayers to copy every minute detail of the character they are cosplaying. But I guess we’re just expecting something no less than “ok na”. Cosplay smartly, just like dressing smartly. At wag naman sanang ang favorite na suot ay white long-sleeved t-shirt, blue jeans, at magulong buhok, unless gusto mong ikaw na yung 25th L’ sa convention…
I agree with one of the comments here. This surge of popularity was bound to happen. This change was expected. Emo used to be a sacred art of being excessively emotional…until sumulpot yung mga nag eemo-emohan. Ayun, naging baduy. Asan na sila? Ayun wala pang 2 years, naging jejemon na. Ang kawawang sacred art of hip-hop naman ang nababoy…
thank you so much for sharing~ i’m glad at least people are observant enough to point these out. but i guess we’re all hoping something.. or someone can make the BIG change to retrieve what was once FUN in Cosplay. *sigh*
I think you’re right! I’m not a veteran cosplayer.. I just started last year….
But.. “Although” I’m a “beginner” .. I always wanted to cosplay and find cosplaying extremely fun.. yet~ there are things I find a bit discouraging.. or nakakawalang gana… when it comes to cosplaying in cons…
Experiences:
1. Cosplay mania…
- a group of people were taking photos of me.. untill this “sikat” na cosplayer dumaan,…. they completely forgot about me.. and people were pushing me aside… and even blocked the place na pinagtatambayan namin… we had to leave… and find a new place.. :p
2. Photographers
I’m extremely shy.. and I pose whatever my character is recommended to pose… after posing.. this photographer told me.. yun lang?? wala ka na bang ibang pose?? NAKAKAINSULTO
3. Annoying bypasers … I cosplayed rei ayanami (maid cat version) when every guy that passes me says.. “MEOW”!!! once this girl told me… Wah!! yan yung cosplay ni Alodia!! :p
4. Perverts
I was wearing this.. maid outfit.. when buying ice cream in MOA during a con.. the dude said.. “PARE!! diba yan suot ni Maria Ozawa!” I looked at the guy in a real mean way and even gave him the bad finger! I told him… tama ba yan sabihin sa customer mo!!
I love cosplaying… I love anime.. and dressing up acting like my favorit character… etc… but people you incounter during cons… >__< nakakaasar lang
this is why it is no longer safe when ur alone. just make sure you stick to the right ppl who can protect and stay w/u next time. Respect for this has gone down the drain.. *tsk tsk*
“Seeing Enma Ai or Saya doing hearts and kyon-kyon is blasphemy!” this statement is so true!! cosplayers nowadays doesn’t know the real essence of cosplay. they have to act like the character they are portraying..hindi yung puro lang pacute. tingin ko, ang concept nila about cosplay is wearing costumes at magpacute ng magpacute which is wrong.
isa pa yung mga kpop cosplayers…i’m not against kpop or anything pero can’t they do it on a separate event? kpop cons.. hindi sa anime cons…please? haizz.. naalala ko tuloy ang animax na dati, puro anime ang napapanuod ko pero ngayon, korean drama…nakakainis lang kasi, anong connection sa anime??? buti kung live action drama ng isang anime..or kahit man lamang japanese drama…atleast may relation sa anime kahit papano.. gusto ko ang korean drama pero wag naman sana ilagay sa animax which was supposed to be a channel solely for anime..(sorry nag deviate na ko sa topic)
anyway, sana marealize nang mga taong yun ang true essence ng pagiging otaku..and sana, wag rin nilang makalimutan ang ethics…
thanks for sharing this. yes like you, i’ve grown to face the facts that KPOP has also gone mainstream and sending all the wrong signals to the audience. *sigh* so sad..
“thank you so much for sharing~ i’m glad at least people are observant enough to point these out. but i guess we’re all hoping something.. or someone can make the BIG change to retrieve what was once FUN in Cosplay. *sigh*”
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Right now, it’s too popular, thanks to Alodia G. Once the excess popularity drains out, and the mood shifts from “too popular” to “popular”, the fun in cosplaying will come back. The bad etiquette won’t disappear completely, yes, but will at least be lessened.
I sure hope it does. *nods*
I’m glad that I was able to read this. A person who is not ashamed to point out people’s mistakes during cosplay events and such.
~~
“Today however, the community is full of kpop, attention-seekers (“Look at me, I show boobs and panties”), Alodia-wanna-bes (Q: Bakit ka nagcocosplay? A: Nakita ko nagcosplay si Alodia sa LOL gusto ko maging ganun).”
^— This is the most pathetic reason to cosplaying.
people who cosplay HAVE a reason. I just came into the cosplay community just recently and THIS IS DEFINITELY not my reason.
Real cosplayers cosplay so they can show their passion to the world and how much they love anime and the character’s personality.
No offense to the Alodia lovers but sometimes, she cosplays for the popularity and poses but not for the personality of the character.
Nice naman po etong post nyo. I totally agree! Thanks rin po sa mga tips kasi nagbabalak palang po akong magcosplay.
Seeing Enma Ai or Saya doing hearts and kyon-kyon is blasphemy!” this statement is so true!! Tama nga po. Sumikat nga ngayon ang cosplay, pero parang nawala rin po yung tunay na meaning nito. Dapat talaga kung sinong character mo ang kinosplay mo ganun ka. Kasi it’s not cosplay anymore if you don’t.
Tama ka nga po na marami nga pong bastos, hindi otakus, at mga photographers na walang modo sa mga events/conventions. Napansin ko lang po. Sana nga po ay umayos na sila kasi nakakabastos.
Pati sana po pala sinama nyo na dapat hindi gumagawa ng mga fansites yung mga cosplayers or fans nila, kasi lumalaki yung ulo. (Napansin ko lang po)
Nice po talaga itong sinulat mo.
Medyo kinabahan na akong magcosplay, pero I still wanna try and do it. Thank you. It’s a really nice article. 
thank you for sharing.
but please bear in mind, as i’ve mentioned above the article, I am not the original writer here. Credits goes to Ms. Patricia Sy for writing this. X3