A cosplayers' life

By **Tamoo**. 11/03/09, 02:39 pm

Isn't it funny how with other cosplayers we're more relaxed/hyper/friendly towards each other than with 'normal' people (i.e people who don't cosplay and/or have no interest in anime/manga/games etc.)

I've been reading alot of psychology books and the way how humans interact has held my interest for a long time. I reckon why people are so friendly with each other while in cosplay is because we can pretend to be the character we are cosplaying as - giving us more confidence to talk to others. I've heard alot of stories where people have become more confident in 'real life' because of cosplay. I must admit, I think this is true~ Ahaha.

I, myself, pretty much introduce ~~INYOURFACE~~ confidently when I meet someone in cosplay, whether I know who they're cosplaying as or not. But thats 'cause I succeed at annoying/scaring people 8Db

ITT; Discuss the behaviour of cosplayers while cosplaying, your personality outside of cosplaying, do you feel more confident while cosplaying, has cosplay changed your life? etc~~~

I really wanna know >D

By Keyaral. 11/03/09, 02:54 pm

Its alot easier to be HI HI INYOURFACE when in cosplay, because you dont feel as connected to your shy feelings. You feel less stupid talking to complete strangers about your random little obsessions when in a costume ^_^

Guess (kinda morbidly) its quite like the uniform affect in the army etc, they can do what ever is required because the "uniform" protects them from taking responsibility.

By Icarus. 11/03/09, 02:57 pm

I have to admit, I use to be really REALLY quiet and stay hidden as much as possible. But now I'm loads more open.

And when I'm in costume I'm CRAZY and waaaaaay more, eh, hyper.
Being in costume is probably the only time I feel really proud of myself and strutting mai stuf XD

But cosplay has changed tons on me, like:
- how to sew
- to persevere through the hard times
- how to use make up(wouldn't have touched that stuff, ever)
- photography
- and how to ~~camera whore~~ pose

Not to mention the competitions, standing in front of a HUGE audience in a crazy-suit.
Definitely something everyone should get a pat on the back for~~~

By Keyaral. 11/03/09, 03:03 pm

Cosplay gave me friends,

it made me feel it was okay not be a drunken Otaki whore and that i was allowed to have my own interests, because there were other people out there with them too.

Thats why i spent one year trying to transfer to wellington girls college then when they didn't want me finished school a year early so i could move down to Welly sooner ^__^, All because of cosplay.

**Guest** Guest

In cosplay, or with cosplay buddies in general, I'm a loud happy hyper dork.
Out of it?
LOL I'M THAT WEIRD QUIET KID IN THE CORNER DOODLING/GIGGLING TO SELF OVER TEXTS.
Even with people I'm relatively comfortable with who aren't cosplayers or not into cosplaying, I'm not as outgoing as I am with other cosplayers.
All of my closest friends are all cosplayers or related to AMG in some way or another anyway, heh. (My first few don't count, but then again at age four we were still watching Barney.)

Cosplay pretty much helped me become a little more outgoing and more like the friendly toddler I was :'D
... even if it's only with a select crowd. Haha.

Without cosplay, I wouldn't have tried to learn to sew, and I wouldn't have touched makeup with a ten-foot pole. My sister is thrilled that I can fix her broken bracelets and necklaces now >>;;;;

By Cassiel. 11/03/09, 03:15 pm

It seems that in our "subculture" as such, there is a large degree of familiarity and cameradie (Gawd. PLEASE tell me how you spell this!), characterised by things like "glomping" people you hardly know, or going right up to another cosplayer of your fandom, and striking up a conversation.

I do believe the internet has a large influence on this type of behaviour, as it allows people to be a bit sillier than they would be in a strictly IRL setting, and I believe that the internet allows for emotional intimacy to be acheived far quicker than if you met a person in a real life setting.

People can jump right into our not-so-little community from the safety of their living rooms, and when we meet in person for the first time in costume, its still different and far removed from the hum-drum reality, that I feel it's almost an extension of the internet. Later of course, you sometimes find out that you have a great deal in common with another cosplayer, and thus are lasting friendships born, and the icebreaker of costumes are no longer needed... You feel comfotable talking with that person even if you're both in a "normal" situation.

Also, cosplaying is a big game of "let's pretend" although I do think we're a bit more sophisticated than little children running around with blanket-capes ~~cosplaying~~ pretending to be superman ;D. By pretending you're someone else, you can leave your inhibitions behind, and -become- that person for a little while. When many people get together and do this, it makes for much easier interacting.

Which leads me to my next point. Cosplayers tend do have a lot in common with each other! We all enjoy cosplaying (obviously) and cosplaying seems to be one facet of "otaku" subculture (I am sorry if that offends, but I really can't think of a better word). People who are interested in one facet are often interested in others... Jrock, Anime, Fanfiction... There is a lot of common ground there. As I mentioned before, costumes are a great icebreaker!
"So how did you manage to get that dress to poof out like that?" And of course, in a convention setting like Armageddon, there's always the chance to drag your newfound friends to a panel or a stall, or to go gawk at that really awesome costume!

My life has definately changed because of cosplay. Apart from the obvious of learning how to balance costume time with schoolwork, I've met many people that I wouldn't have, I've shared some great experiences, and I very much enjoy going to large gatherings in a safe environment, where all I have to worry about is fanfiction crack, not the other kind ;D

In conclusion, cosplay is a very good way to meet likeminded people that share your interests, and have a lot of fun in the process!

Please forgive the essay length post. I got carried away DDD:

By Wishe. 11/03/09, 03:54 pm

For me, cosplay hasn't really changed my life (yet)... But then again, I have had little experience in cosplaying.

I'm pretty low on confidence both in and out of cosplay. In costume, at first I'll feel giddy and happy, but then around others I'll start to feel quite inferior as my costume is far from being as awesome as others. >w>'' -feels very n00b-

I'm not brave enough to glomp other cosplayers either, but instead I'd be the weird girl staring at all of you from afar, starry-eyed. o.o'' (The only people I'm UBERHYPER with are my closest friends... Elsewise, I'm the shy geeky/nerdy girl in class/etc.. D:)

But at the same time, cosplay has helped me open up slightly (little by little) and encourages me to learn to sew and such - something I would never bother with if not for cosplay. xP

-goes back to lurking-

By Rocky. 12/03/09, 12:46 am

Cosplay made me more confident Very Happy

I've always been the sort of, quiet and terrified of new people sort of person, useless at making conversation and scared of people I hought were more awesome then me.
But I used to be able to be utterly hyper and outgoing with friends.... Though I was always quiet when it was just me and friends, no others, cos I was the one who was picked on by them.
And I couldnt pose for photos.
And I had no social life, because nobody ever wanted to hang out with me.

Now, since cosplaying, I have the biggest social life of all my non-cosplay friends. I stand up for myself (at least a little bit more), I talk to people easier, especially cosplayers (considering at the first few meetings, I was scared of everyone), and I talk to people outside my group of friends at school. I used to think I hated attention, now I realise I'm an attention whore.
And I still cant pose for photos Very Happy

YAY COSPLAY.

By Static. 12/03/09, 01:01 am

Cosplay made me much less judgy :) When I first stated cosplaying, I thought otakus were the COOLEST PEOPLE EVARR...then I thought they were annoying. Like, REALLY annoying. Then I started hanging out with cosplayers, and gosh darnit, they are the friendliest bunch of people I know. So yeah, that attitude kind of blew up in my face - now, I don't judge sugar honey iced tea, because I'm usually quickly proven wrong :3

I'm fairly sure that just made me sound like a bit of a rooster, but there you go - at least I'm honest. And besides, I've grown up a bit since then. HONEST!

**Guest** Guest

I was already loud and completely weird before I started cosplaying but that was because of years of drama. But when I'm in cosplay I become even more outrageous (but I still know when someone's had enough of me)

When out of cosplay I still dress pretty out there (not slutty though) but I'm still a few rungs down the hyper ladder. That's only on a bad day though...

By kyokyogirl. 12/03/09, 10:45 am

B.C. (before cosplay) I was the shy girl, who never said anything, hated being the centre of attention and would go out of my way to avoid social situations.

The first time I dressed up all those inhibitions kinda went out the window. I still wasn't the best at socialising but I wasn't anxious about talking to strangers. Probably because of the security of being in a costume. And I suppose that security and confidence I got from cosplaying translated into my 'normal' life.

Now I go out of my way to socialise with people I don't know, I'm way more relaxed, and I don't care so much about what people think of me ^^

Big thumbs up to cosplay thumbsup

By Winds-Of-Despair. 13/03/09, 01:31 pm

Well cosplaying really has helped me meet a lot of really cool people and if I wasn't in costume I think I would feel really uncomfortable. Such as I don't like photos but when I'm in costume it's different because they don't want a photo of 'me'....if that makes sense

By kelseyketchum. 13/03/09, 01:34 pm

I find that it's easier to be wacky and hyper in costume because you can pretend people are thinking you're just being in character ^^

Hide behind the wig!

x)

By Rocky. 13/03/09, 01:44 pm

Also cosplay has given me a whole new set of worries...

A year ago I would have laughed if someone told me that I would now be stressed that I dont look right in a wig....

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