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| Dreamhack Witer 2016 win photo: eSuba |
It's a post about my experience from taking part in cosplay contests and how long it took for me to be now where I am.
And I've written this article as a summary for me (because it's normal to write summaries at the end of the year), as something, that could help other people overcome crisis (because I had to overcome it too), or get better in what they do (I've written steps, that can actually help).
All it needs is:
1) Never give up on what you like to do
- don't make stuff you don't like and don't use materials, that don't suit you. Always go your way, because doing what you like brings the best results.
2) Work hard
- pay attention to detail, try to improve with each and every new project you do, think of new ways and new use of materials.
3) Promote yourself
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| First contest - Pragoffest 2015 photo: Pragoffest |
4) Give back
- give back to people who support you, make tutorials, giveaways, communicate, learn to say thanks, try to meet their wishes.
So, I'll now start wiht my summary:
When I first started to make cosplays it was something new for me and I never expected to take part in any contests, I actually didn't even know, that contests in cosplay existed. I was just a gamer making her chosen character come to live.
First cosplay, first contest
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| First cosplay - Vayne from League of Legends photo: Petr Liška |
Second cosplay, bigger contests
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| Second cosplay - Demon Hunter photo: private archive |
And when I finished it, I was really proud of myself, because it didn't look bad, it was kinda really good and I got a lot of positive feedback from people around me.
I decided I would like to try bigger contests like czech qualificating contests for Eurocosplay and World Cosplay Masters. And I have to admit after discovering the czech cosplay community, I realised the big importance of Eurocosplay contest in my country - every czech cosplayer rooted for the contestans in that contest and every winner of the qualification became instantly a big name on the cosplay scene. I instantly realised, that my next dream is to qualificate and take a good placement on Eurocosplay contest.
Unfortunately I had my state exam on university and I wasn't able to take part that year. I was really sad, but school and work go always first, that's the reality.
The next chance for me was the qualification for World Cosplay Master - pretty new contest for czech cosplayers, but a chance to represent my country in what I love to do. I took part, made a pretty good work as my first time making a real performace and ended second. It wasn't bad, but it was somewhat disappointing. Only the first one gets to represent the country.
Next try
My next chance to take part in a bigger contest was Road to Blizzcon in Prague. I had high hopes for this contest, because just the name "Blizzcon" sounds just great, doesn't it? The first prize was a 3D printer - something, that can push a cosplay project to another level. So I entered. |
| Interview with Marcella de Bie as Demon Hunter on RtB Prague 2015 photo: RtB |
But I have to admit, second prize was also very good and I gave the stuff I got to my friends to cheer them up and I'm still using some of the material for cosplay I got. But the problem is, history asks only about winners.
And next try
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| Headhunter Caitlyn in Katowice photo: Jeroen Weimar |
In Katowice, I found out, that there were A LOT of contests. I entered three, two with qualification. First one was something, that I really don't want to speak about. Just plain using cosplayers for prodcut promotion. I entered the second and third, tried to be as awesome as I could, made a roleplay on the stage and I didn't even place in any of them. I didn't mind the first one, but the second had proper and well known judges, that understand cosplaye really well, so the disappointment was really big...
Last try?
After so many contests with placement dropping tendency, I was really wondering, if competing is for me, if I really should invest so much time and effort and I thought to myself, that I don't really have skill and talent to be so good, that I could accomplish my dream to be successful at such a contest like Eurocosplay. I was really having a bad time of my life struggling to finish my Master thesis in time, get a decent job and I had a lot of problems in personal life too. And when you are feeling, that you're failing in most of the part of your life, the mood isn't just good. |
| Paladin on Animefest 2016 photo: Radek Vebr |
Eurocosplay qualification
But I'm a fighter and I really wanted to try if I can make something epic to compete against a new strong generation of czech cosplayers, that defeated me so many times before. I worked really hard to make my dream cosplay - Valkyria like armor with golden details, I finished it in time just to invest more time in my performance and props. The cosplay I made really made an impact, when I entered the event, everyone was blown away by my work and I was really surprised it got so much attention. I entered the Animefest contest and I actually won it. I couldn't believe, that my trip to Eurocosplay is real.. It was the best feeling in the world. Suddenly my work made much more sense.But it was not the win, but the things people said to me, that counted. Win was a dream come true, but appreciation of my work counted more.
Eurocosplay, Dreamhack, now
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| Anubis Pharah on MCM London 2016 photo: private archive |
And what my next plans are, you ask? The things I want to do in my career are attending and competing on Blizzcon, Gamescom and representing my country in Cosplay World Masters. I hope I can accomplish some of my next dreams.
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| Paladin on Dreamhack Winter 2016 photo: Dreamhack |
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