There are many reasons why someone may choose to cosplay. For some it’s entirely for fun – to enjoy dressing up as a character you love at a convention or for Halloween. For others, it’s the craft of making a costume, putting together a look and celebrating that accomplishment. Some people compete in Cosplay contests at Conventions and receive accolades for the craft. Others, like myself, do it for multiple reasons. I personally cosplay because I enjoy the research, putting together a costume, and then going out and doing charity or community service work as that character. I get absolutely giddy when I find some small piece that adds to that character I’m putting together; like acquiring the right Timex wrist watch that George Reeves wore as Clark Kent in the Adventures of Superman TV series or making the Shark Repellent Bat Spray can from the 1966 Batman movie for my Adam West Batman. Then I can take that joy and share it with kids in a children’s hospital, or for a charity event. That is what really keeps me going and being continually involved with Cosplay.
Once you decide why you want to cosplay, and what your motivation to cosplay is, that helps with the next steps. If you just want to have fun, what about it is fun for you? The actual creation process? Or just wearing costumes and being that character? If it’s just wearing costumes and being that character, then you can simply buy your costumes and customize them as much or as little as you would like. If the creation process is part of the fun for you, like it is for me, then you’re opening a very wide realm of possibilities. When it comes to Cosplay, there is no one way, or one right way. What is important is that you are having fun, without detracting fun for other people. Always remember that Cosplay stands for Costume Play! Play should always be fun.
