Hello and welcome to LarpLikeRae's Breakdown of how to connect with the cosplay community. Let's begin:
Connecting with the cosplay community can be an exciting way to share your passion for creative freedom, getting inspiration and meeting like-minded individuals. Here are some ways to get involved:
Online Platforms:
- Social Media: Join cosplay groups on Facebook, Discord, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.
- Reddit: r/cosplay and subreddits dedicated to specific fandoms or conventions. This can help you with questions you may have on how to create a new cosplay or how to get started.
- Discord: Servers for cosplay communities, conventions, and fandoms. Servers are an amazing way to plan out meet ups, conventions and content making with likeminded cosplayers and content creators.
- Cosplay forums: Websites like LarpLikeRae.com and Cosplay.com .
Conventions and Events:
- Attend local comic-cons, anime conventions, and fan expos. This may include art fairs, renaissance fairs/festivals, carnivals or small events hosted by companies or stores around you.
- Volunteer or participate in cosplay contests and competitions. Competing can be a great way to see how other creators and cosplayers make their craft and see their passions.
- Find local cosplay groups and events! This may be from a friend, online or in newspapers.
Local Cosplay Groups:
- Search online for groups in your area (e.g., "Cosplayers in _____").
- Join local Facebook groups or convention groups, some people may live near you that also cosplay. DO NOT EXCLOSE WHERE YOU LIVE!
- Attend meetups, photoshoots, and workshops. Most companies that are art related may host workshops or photoshoots, so do your research or ask a company/small business if they would ever be willing to do one!
Cosplay Communities:
- Global community with forums, events, and resources can be found on nearly every social media platform. Look up what series you are looking at meeting fans from and interact with others via your cosplay, experience or love for the fandom.
- Cosplay Culture Magazine: Online publication featuring cosplay articles and photos. There are several Magazines and articles that feature cosplayers from all different series, fandoms and styles! Viewing magazines are an amazing way to see how someone views a character to form their own cosplay.
- Cosplay Society: Non-profit organization promoting cosplay education and community.
Participate and Engage:
- Share your cosplay work and progress on social media. Use hashtags to promote your cosplay and creation. Note what audios you are using for music or lip-syncing, use ones that go along with the character, so if another cosplayer looks at the audio, they will find your cosplay!
- Offer constructive feedback and support to fellow cosplayers. Cosplay is NOT a competition!!! If someone asks how you have made a specific part of your cosplay, maybe make a video to help them! This is a great way to interact with other people on the same series and fandoms by creating and influencing your own creation of a character!
- Collaborate with others on group cosplay projects. There are sometimes groups online that do collaborations for holidays or events. This can include several different creators and cosplays that bring you into a small community of the same fandoms.
- Host or participate in photoshoots, workshops, or panels. If you and a couple others are needing to concrunch for a cosplay convention, inviting them over to do a concrunch party is an amazing idea! Have everyone bring food, and supplies to work on their cosplays together!
Respect and Etiquette:
- Follow community guidelines and rules. By following cosplay community rules, you'll be able to meet more people that have the same interests as you without overcrossing boundaries!
- Be respectful of others' work, time, and personal space. Every cosplayer is unique and beautiful in their own way, so please respect the time and energy that everyone puts into their cosplays. No one is the perfect cosplayer!
- Credit photographers and fellow cosplayers when sharing collaborative work. By sharing others usernames that help you, you can create your own community of fellow cosplayers and likeminded people!
By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to connecting with the vibrant cosplay community!
What specific aspect of cosplay are you interested in (e.g., costuming, prop-making, photography)? Email LarpLikeRaeWebsite@gmail.com to cover any video topics and collab!