Costuming VS Getting Your Life Together

Photo by Future Photography by M3

As of late I have observed numerous individuals that are so passionate and focused on costuming that they unknowingly disregard the responsibilities of their personal life. I want to point out that there is certainly nothing wrong with being devoted to cosplay. Costuming is healthy. It is creative and takes hard work. To many, it is a form of self expression. To others, it can be therapeutic. Its fun and delightful to research a costume and put it all together. Sewing, painting, molding worbla, everything involved in creating a costume is bad ass. However if the craft has taken over your life to the point where you can hardly put food on the table, your living situation is not where it should be or majority of your paycheck is going to costume building yet you are creating Kickstarters for "life expenses", something is very, very wrong. Its time dear friends, to make a choice between costuming and getting your life together.



Ill be the first to admit that it completely and utterly sucks when you want to put a costume together but you just dont have the funds to do so. You feel stuck; like you have reached a dead end. The only thing you can do is make a U-Turn and try to find another way. That is not only an important lesson in costuming but in life. You have to make choices and sometimes those choices mean sacrifice and compromise. You need to change your perspective. What is more important? Spending hundreds of dollars buying supplies for your next costume or paying off your past due cell phone bill?  It boggles my mind when I come across someone on social media who is posting daily updates on all the supplies they purchased for their new costume and yet that same person will create a Kickstarter to pay their rent. If you didnt fork over your hard earned cash for supplies, you would have that money to pay your landlord or roomates. Is it really worth risking getting evicted just to make a costume? Is it worth loosing your home? And furthermore you are attending the next big convention out of state, thousands of miles from where you live. Pay your bills, my friend. Granted it stinks when you cant attend a show you have your heart set on but it will still be there next year and you can always live vicariously through your friends posting on social media. In many situations, it would be better for you financially to stay home. You will  be saving money on travel, hotel, food, costume building and shopping. You can pay your bills on time and may even have some money left over.

Ive observed many people who are stuck in a rut. They are accomplishing great things in costuming but their personal life is a mess.  They dont realize if they skipped a con or two or perhaps made a little less costumes this year, they would have more money in their pockets. Maybe you can finally upgrade your busted phone. Perhaps you can finally get those repairs your car so desperately needs. And maybe, just maybe, you can change your living situation and be independent.

Stop taking costuming so seriously. Redirect your focus from time to time. Do this only when you are financially able to. Stop sacrificing improving your life to attend a convention. Pick and choose because sooner or later, 10 years from now you ll be looking around wondering what the hell happened. You will not have made any progress and I dont want to see that happen to anyone and it pains me to witness it currently.  You can do better. You can progress in the real world and grow. I believe in you :)

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How much money can you make cosplaying

"How much money can I make cosplaying?"

Within the last few years, this question has been asked by a large group of people. Many seek to get into the hobby as a job; something they can be employed at. Many feel it is an avenue to not only internet fame but fortune as well.  So how much money does the average cosplayer make? What can you expect in terms of increasing your financial status? I have complied a list for those who are seeking an answer to their question.



If you want to know how much an average cosplayer makes, you have to ask them what their day job is. Yes, I said day job.

FACT: COSPLAY COSTS MONEY. If you are making your own costumes and props or if you are hiring someone to commission it for you, its going to cost money. You have to pay for it. Wigs costs money. Makeup and body paint costs money. Shoes, boots, the list goes on.

FACT: TRAVELING AND ATTENDING CONVENTIONS COSTS MONEY. Food, gas, hotel, round trip plane ticket, luggage, round trip train ticket, you get the idea. If you want to attend conventions in your area or across the country, get ready to save up. Its not cheap.

FACT: YOU CAN MAKE MONEY COMMISSIONING COSTUMES AND PROPS. I know many talented individuals who have a side business and make incredible pieces of art for paying costumers. Many of them do have day jobs. Others are so successful that it has become their primary job. These gifted men and women are costume and prop makers.

FACT: YOU CAN SELL PRINTS AND CALENDARS AND MAKE MONEY but dont expect to quit your job. Its side money at best.

FACT: YOU DONT GET HEALTH INSURANCE OR A 401K BY COSPLAYING.

FACT: SOME SHOWS WILL COMPENSATE YOU FOR BEING A GUEST BUT OTHERS WONT. I know a number of people who have attended a comic-con as a cosplay guest or judge but they paid out of pocket to be there. Not every show is going to pick up all of your expenses (hotel, plane ticket and food) however some of them will. It really depends on the convention organizers.

FACT: MAJORITY OF COSPLAYERS HAVE DAY JOBS.


FACT: SOME COSPLAYERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TURN THEMSELVES INTO A BRAND. This means that they not only sell prints, but items such as warbla and all ready made props and accessories you can purchase. They thought outside the box therefore their sales are higher compared to someone who only sells prints. They are more of a Cosplay warehouse. Can you quit your job and rely on online sales? Only if you turn yourself and your online store into a brand. Many women bill themselves as "full time cosplayer" however it is difficult to say if they are paying the rent/mortgage or if their significant other/spouse is. If they have a partner who brings in a forty hour per week paycheck, that explains why they can cosplay "full time" but realistically you cannot dress up and expect money to pour in.

Everything I have listed here is based on experience, observation and Intel.  

Hopefully this gives everyone a realistic perspective on how much money you can make cosplaying. 

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