DEBUNKING COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT COSPLAY

Here are some common misconceptions about cosplay which are just false assumptions:

THERE IS AN AGE LIMIT OR RESTRICTION ON BECOMING A COSPLAYER

You can never be too young or too old to start cosplaying. There is absolutely no age limit on becoming a cosplayer but if you are a cosplayer who is underage you do have to be with a parent or guardian with you who is over 18. You can start cosplaying at any time. Cosplay is a hobby, it is for fun and anybody can do it.

IT ONLY COUNTS AS COSPLAY IF YOU ARE COSPLAYING FROM ANIME

This is completely false. You can really cosplay from anything. Some people cosplay characters from movies, tv shows, animations, books or even video games. You can also cosplay a character you have made or your friend's fictional character. As long as it is a cosplay you want to do, go for it.

YOU ARE NOT A REAL COSPLAYER IF YOU BUY YOUR COSPLAY

This is also completely false. What makes you a real cosplayer is if you take your costume and wear it. Doesn't matter if you make it, commission it or buy it. So don't be afraid to buy costumes that are pre-made and don't be afraid to have somebody make your cosplay for you. That doesn't make you any less of a cosplayer. There is absolutely nothing wrong with going to a convention in a cosplay that you bought and having a great time. You can totally buy your costume and that doesn't make you any less of a cosplayer.

COSPLAY IS A CAREER FOR MOST PEOPLE

Cosplay as a career has definitely changed over the past few years and now there are a lot of people who are making a substantial amount of money off doing cosplay. Regardless, for the vast majority of cosplayers, it is not a full-time career. The percentage of people who make 100% of their income from cosplay is extremely small. For the absolute vast majority of people it is a hobby and they have their own normal day jobs that are usually completely different from cosplay. Cosplay is not necessarily a full-time career.

COSPLAY IS INHERENTLY PROVOCATIVE IN NATURE

Many people assume that cosplay in provocative in nature and most cosplays are sexy cosplays but this is not true. Sometimes parents who have children who want to start cosplaying do their research online and the first ones that come up are usually sexy cosplays,. because they are usually more popular, and so parents usually see this, they get concerned, and they don't want their kids partaking in cosplay.

Cosplay, like any other art form, can be provocative, but it as a whole is not. If you look at for example movies, there are movies that have a more provocative nature to them, but at the same time there are kids movies, family films and documentaries which are not provocative. Cosplay involves a wide range of genres. While there are cosplayers out there who like doing more revealing or provocative outfits, some do not. It really comes down to what the individual is comfortable doing and what makes them happiest. Therefore, cosplay is not provocative as a whole.

I hope this has helped you get more familiar with the cosplay industry both as a cosplayer, cosplay designer or as a cosplay spectator.