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If only I were con staff somewhere...
Feb. 14th, 2008 01:57 amI've had an idea. It is an extention of an idea I've been beatting down for about two years now. This afternoon I finished up the dress that I started last night. I might add more, but really. It didn't even take me 24 hours to finish. No fun. Megan and Mai watched me most of the time I was constructing the thing. They were shocked at my speed, skill, and the inexpensiveness of it all (around 1,500円). This... is a common theme. I make no claim to be good, but I have managed to make some very precise and consistant projects in a very short amount of time before. I mean I have anything with a sailor collar or pleated skirt down to an exact science!
I try to document everything I do so I can recreate anything and everything easily and teach others how to make the same things as well. And, while I've made use many times of my own documentation for recreations of past projects and pieces, I've never done more than one or two sewing tutorials or walkthroughs. The amount of photos required and the amount of text needed to explain to a newbie how to do all sorts of little things required in the construction of, say, the girl's school uniform from Fruits Basket, is just too much. So, about a year ago I started to think about making YouTube published instructional videos to get my message across easier. But, I didn't think I'd be able to edit and film something like that myself. At this point, though, I probably could. It wouldn't be amazing, but if I were in the states I'd probably have already secretly started. This brings me to the idea that won't let me sleep tonight....
People have told me before that I have enough expirence and skill to be on a cosplay panel at a con somewhere. I consider this a compliment but am not really sure how accurate it is. I'm terrible at evaluating my own skill. Really, the costuming world is so full of mature and skilled sewers (gender neutral of seamstress y/n?) that I'm probably bottom rung these days. Still, I do think I have some skills worth sharing. But, why try to compile tidbits into an hour rambling session? I'd much prefer to show what I do to people. So, here's my thought: Why not have a room off in the corner of a con hotel open to the public with a few tables set out and, though out the course of the con, have different cosplayers sit down and from beginning to end make an entire cosplay piece or an entire cosplay outfit right there where anyone can walk in at any time for as long as they like and see every step.
It must have been done before! Why is this not done at EVERY con? I can just imagine how I'd set up the room. There would be about two tables. One would have all the supplies and pieces not being worked on set out so people walking in could see all that goes into the construction. I'd set my dress form up in the middle of the room and hang pieces at they take form from the form. I'd have a big picture of the goal outfit and any patterns that can be used as bases for others to recreate the piece at home on the wall or taped to the front table. The second table would have the sewing machine and iron/mini ironing board set up on it. Of course, the area I was in would be cordoned off a little to keep people from messing with the supplies too much. Perhaps there could be one person on one side of the room and another on the other side.
The pieces made could be simple things. For instance, I know the Naruto jacket takes me less than 4 hours from start to finish. The above mentioned Fruits Basket uniform top takes maybe 6 hours. Though, I usually go slow only because I'm watching TV and making more than one at the same time. Almost any school uniform, if I had a chance to prepare and make a sample for timing a week or two before hand, could be rendered easily in under 8 hours. How about the Haruhi uniform? Or the Lucky Star uniform? The Bleach robes? Anything from Naruto? Almost anything from an anime, and not from a game, I could, with proper preparation, render in a day if I started in the actual morning. How fun would it be to be able to watch other cosplayers work?? Good ones? From start to finish?
I also had the thought that the cost could be easily recouped by having a raffle. Have a list of the pieces that are to be completed by the end of the con by whoever is in the Cosplay Construction Demonstration room and have it cost a dollar to enter to win which ever piece you'd like. Maybe some of the money could pay for supplies, but most or all of it could go to whatever charitable organization the con is sponsoring (and they always do these days).
I would absolutly LOVE to do something like this at a con, but I'm wondering if I'm the only one. I probably am. I'm not on any con staff anywhere so... I don't know how I'd even begin to beg the ear of someone important about this idea. I'm also in Japan until July. Hm. Certainly, it would be a bother to have a valuble room at a con devoted entirly to a group of cosplayers just demonstrating how to sew but... Damnit, it would be fun! So much more fun than a masquerade! I mean, have a bunch of cosplayers put their money where their mouth is? Yes!
I supposed I only thinking of this because of the Naka-Kon cosplay thing they did. That was a beautiful sentance. No, really. Naruto mentioned a cosplay challenge of some sort a few times. I have no idea how it went or what they did, but... it got me thinking. And that is a dangerous thing.
This sucks. I'm all motivated, but I still can't find any real craft stores in this sad city. The clothes I like I can't fit into or afford in this country. I do adore Japanese fashion, and Nagoya style is starting to really grow on me, but sometimes you just want to make your own thing.
I'll study next week.
I try to document everything I do so I can recreate anything and everything easily and teach others how to make the same things as well. And, while I've made use many times of my own documentation for recreations of past projects and pieces, I've never done more than one or two sewing tutorials or walkthroughs. The amount of photos required and the amount of text needed to explain to a newbie how to do all sorts of little things required in the construction of, say, the girl's school uniform from Fruits Basket, is just too much. So, about a year ago I started to think about making YouTube published instructional videos to get my message across easier. But, I didn't think I'd be able to edit and film something like that myself. At this point, though, I probably could. It wouldn't be amazing, but if I were in the states I'd probably have already secretly started. This brings me to the idea that won't let me sleep tonight....
People have told me before that I have enough expirence and skill to be on a cosplay panel at a con somewhere. I consider this a compliment but am not really sure how accurate it is. I'm terrible at evaluating my own skill. Really, the costuming world is so full of mature and skilled sewers (gender neutral of seamstress y/n?) that I'm probably bottom rung these days. Still, I do think I have some skills worth sharing. But, why try to compile tidbits into an hour rambling session? I'd much prefer to show what I do to people. So, here's my thought: Why not have a room off in the corner of a con hotel open to the public with a few tables set out and, though out the course of the con, have different cosplayers sit down and from beginning to end make an entire cosplay piece or an entire cosplay outfit right there where anyone can walk in at any time for as long as they like and see every step.
It must have been done before! Why is this not done at EVERY con? I can just imagine how I'd set up the room. There would be about two tables. One would have all the supplies and pieces not being worked on set out so people walking in could see all that goes into the construction. I'd set my dress form up in the middle of the room and hang pieces at they take form from the form. I'd have a big picture of the goal outfit and any patterns that can be used as bases for others to recreate the piece at home on the wall or taped to the front table. The second table would have the sewing machine and iron/mini ironing board set up on it. Of course, the area I was in would be cordoned off a little to keep people from messing with the supplies too much. Perhaps there could be one person on one side of the room and another on the other side.
The pieces made could be simple things. For instance, I know the Naruto jacket takes me less than 4 hours from start to finish. The above mentioned Fruits Basket uniform top takes maybe 6 hours. Though, I usually go slow only because I'm watching TV and making more than one at the same time. Almost any school uniform, if I had a chance to prepare and make a sample for timing a week or two before hand, could be rendered easily in under 8 hours. How about the Haruhi uniform? Or the Lucky Star uniform? The Bleach robes? Anything from Naruto? Almost anything from an anime, and not from a game, I could, with proper preparation, render in a day if I started in the actual morning. How fun would it be to be able to watch other cosplayers work?? Good ones? From start to finish?
I also had the thought that the cost could be easily recouped by having a raffle. Have a list of the pieces that are to be completed by the end of the con by whoever is in the Cosplay Construction Demonstration room and have it cost a dollar to enter to win which ever piece you'd like. Maybe some of the money could pay for supplies, but most or all of it could go to whatever charitable organization the con is sponsoring (and they always do these days).
I would absolutly LOVE to do something like this at a con, but I'm wondering if I'm the only one. I probably am. I'm not on any con staff anywhere so... I don't know how I'd even begin to beg the ear of someone important about this idea. I'm also in Japan until July. Hm. Certainly, it would be a bother to have a valuble room at a con devoted entirly to a group of cosplayers just demonstrating how to sew but... Damnit, it would be fun! So much more fun than a masquerade! I mean, have a bunch of cosplayers put their money where their mouth is? Yes!
I supposed I only thinking of this because of the Naka-Kon cosplay thing they did. That was a beautiful sentance. No, really. Naruto mentioned a cosplay challenge of some sort a few times. I have no idea how it went or what they did, but... it got me thinking. And that is a dangerous thing.
This sucks. I'm all motivated, but I still can't find any real craft stores in this sad city. The clothes I like I can't fit into or afford in this country. I do adore Japanese fashion, and Nagoya style is starting to really grow on me, but sometimes you just want to make your own thing.
I'll study next week.
