OtaGonzo: Otaku Taiki 2009
by otaking on Aug.24, 2009, under Otagonzo
Vigilant artist Shuu's wares! Visit her deviantart page!
I admit it: I didn’t have high hopes for Otaku Taiki.
Otaku Taiki was postponed from July to August, eliciting doubts from the community whether the organizers could pull this off. Compared to Metro Comic Con, Otaku Taiki had less than half the space, and was held on only one day — Sunday — instead of the entire weekend.
But when I arrived at Megamall, I noticed immediately that the vibe was very different. Cosplayers filled the corridors, shopped around, ate at the restaurants and food courts. This little con that could was making its mark all over the mall.
Outside Megatrade Hall 3 the crowds were so thick that I could barely make my way to the ticket booth. The Thailand Convention next door at Megatrade Hall 2 went largely unnoticed. Cosplayers leaned on the rails, sat on the floor, bought flavored fries and mango desserts. Roving costumed gangs posed for pictures with delighted onlookers. There was a definite festive atmosphere around the entire event.
But… why?
Inside the convention hall, I pushed and elbowed my way around to check out the layout. There was an entire section devoted to the 1st Philippine Anniversary of Highstreet 5, the online dancing game, complete with mesmerizing laser light display.
The usual stalls of merchandise were given an entire quarter of the hall, and I found Shuu, the artist for my upcoming webcomic Vigilant, at her own stall, selling cute keychains, stickers, and other cool doodads.
Say hi Shuu!
Another entire corner was dedicated to row upon row of Gunpla enthusiasts, taking part in an on-the-spot model kit paint and line contest, concentration evident upon their faces. The products of the time and labor of true enthusiasts graced shelves and tables.
I mean, take a good look at this thing. Wow.
It takes a good eye to distinguish the great works from the mediocre ones. I sure can't.
Wandering the aisles some more, I soon ran into the cosplay equivalent of Afternoon Teatime from K-On!, and realized that Mugi-chan was actually Taiga in disguise.
Mugi-chan looks like she wants to smack her bandmates around with a wooden sword.
Alodia and Ashley Gosiengfiao arrived and the crowd got even thicker. I wanted to have a word with them but the gaggle of photographers and fans prevented me from even approaching the very earnest looking bouncers around them, let alone the sisters themselves. Their mom sat at one of the tables at the Cosplay Circle booth, proud of the attention showered upon her daughters, as usual.
I decided to wait before talking to them.
Soon after the cosplay contest proper began, with the Gosiengfiao sisters as judges. I only had a spot next to the sound guys, but it was good enough a vantage point to take a few pictures.
The never-ending battle between insane bishie and amnesiac bishie.
Don't let the pigtails fool you.
Maylene should really get better glasses. She tripped on her way off the stage. Again.
Megatron menaces the sisters with his pointy talons
Jeff Hardy about to give his brother Matt a hard dropkick to the crotch. The crowd groaned in sympathetic pain.
KILL IT WITH FIRE
I have no idea where this maid is from. But more maids = good.
This guy had a hard time standing straight. His entire right side was too heavy.
Get over here!
As the cosplay competition ended, the crowd began to thin out. I took the opportunity to make my way to Alodia and Ashley, who were chatting up Megatron.
“Hi!” I greeted them as a scrawny bouncer started to push me aside. “I’m Cliff, from–”
“I remember, from Cosplay Fusion!” Alodia replied. “How are you?”
I gave the bouncer a smug look. He let me through. “I’m fine thanks. Listen, I just wanted to ask you about something.”
“What is it?”
“Well,” I said, “I was at Cosplay Mini-Summit and I wanted your opinion on something. Robert Wong from Cosplay.ph unequivocally stated that if you dressed up in costume for money, it isn’t cosplay, it’s modelling. What do you think about that?”
Alodia raised her eyebrows but kept smiling. “Well, we’re not getting paid.”
“I know that. But I think he meant any sort of commercial gain from cosplay. And since you endorse stuff, I was wondering–”
Ashley interrupted me, smirking. “Excuse me, can I take this question?”
“By all means.”
“As long as you’re wearing a costume to play a certain character from a game or anime or whatever,” Ashley replied, “then it’s cosplay. That’s all there is to it.”
“Well, I think Robert was coming from a purist standpoint,” I said, “and from the opinion that any sort of commercial involvement taints the hobby, which his group claims to represent.”
Alodia smiled, almost a colon-three. “Well, that’s Robert.”
Picture courtesy of Seedsop of the dot hacker review. Visit his blog for more Otaku Taiki reviews!
Soon after, I said goodbye to my friends and left the convention. I had enjoyed Otaku Taiki despite the fact that I hadn’t expected much out of it. Why was that? What did this convention have that others didn’t? It certainly felt like a rougher production than previous events I’d attended. The venue was cramped, there was less merchandise this time around (something Marielle complained about), but there was a real festival mood to the event. Why was that?
Maybe it was the tight focus of the event. There was only one day to get everything done, and space was a scarce commodity. Maybe the organizers realized that they had to pack as much awesome as they could in as little time and space as possible. Or maybe it was the feeling that this was an enthusiasts’ event instead of a platform for advertising. Or maybe I was just in a good mood and wasn’t as picky about anime as I am about comics.
Well, whatever it was, I actually had fun. Even packed in with other people like sardines. Even in the heat. Maybe the success or failure of a convention isn’t measured in tangibles like spacious venues or good sound systems or effective marketing. Maybe fun is just fun. And maybe it isn’t something you can construct, or calculate.
Or maybe I don’t know what the hell I’m talking about. 
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August 24th, 2009 on 9:55 am
All right, very nice, you actually manage to get Alodia and not just Alodia but Ashely’s point of view too.
Using ONLY megatrade hall 3 in anime conventions is no longer appropriate since the crowd is getting bigger and bigger. I had bad experiences in megatrade hall 3 when it comes to conventions like that.
Heat + in costume = not good for someone who has asthma
Heat + TOO MANY people + in costume = can be irritating
August 24th, 2009 on 2:47 pm
I know, but it’s nice to see that it’s the intangibles that make a fun con!
August 25th, 2009 on 3:21 pm
^^
August 24th, 2009 on 10:50 am
Ang cute ni Shuu. :3
August 24th, 2009 on 2:49 pm
I knoes! Maybe we can get her to cosplay!
August 24th, 2009 on 12:11 pm
Always count on Ashley to dish out the straight dope. Great report, Cliff.
August 24th, 2009 on 2:47 pm
Well, not all cosplayers share Robert Wong/CPH’s point of view. In fact, he’s also cosplayed for commercial gain.
Personally, I don’t see anything wrong if cosplaying opens a lot of opportunities for an individual or group.
August 25th, 2009 on 10:20 am
Hi Cheryl. Im intrigued. From what instance did I model for a company that dictated what costume i should wear and/or provided the costume for me to wear, and promote their products with exchange for money in mind, to include contracts? I’d appreciate if you can explain your claim on the matter, assuming its based on my explanation of what a cosplayer is and what a model should be.
It is about the difference between models and cosplayers, right?
Whenever I volunteer to help someone promote their cause or company, its because I want to help promote my love of the character and the series. Whatever “commercial gain” i received from it is treated as a bonus because it was never my main goal. Its like volunteering to help promote a fandom and I got food, a T-Shirt and help to maintain my costumes (transpo & expenses). Does gaining those perks equal “commercial gain”?
And I do agree with Ashley when she said “As long as you’re wearing a costume to play a certain character from a game or anime or whatever then it’s cosplay.” But it does lack one important aspect of cosplaying: Is it the character you love and want to pay homage to? If she added that to her statement then i would have agreed with her 100%.
August 25th, 2009 on 12:41 pm
Whatever “commercial gain” i received from it is treated as a bonus because it was never my main goal.
Nice backpedaling, Rob.
August 25th, 2009 on 11:51 pm
Yeah, nice one Robert!
“Whatever “commercial gain” i received from it is treated as a bonus because it was never my main goal.”
I guess, according to “Holy Robert” if you your “commercial gain” is a bonus, then its all right
Nice try to take your foot out of your mouth…
August 25th, 2009 on 12:56 pm
From what instance did I model for a company that dictated what costume i should wear and/or provided the costume for me to wear, and promote their products with exchange for money in mind, to include contracts?
What a long, entrapping question. All she says is that you’ve cosplayed for commercial gain. She didn’t say some company “dictated” or “provided” a costume for you to “promote their products”.
Your question creates a very narrow definition of cosplay for commercial gain. For instance, appearing in a costume of your own making and choice to spice up some event or presentation is still cosplay for commercial gain.
It’s as if you’re trying to weasel out of the definition.
August 25th, 2009 on 1:06 pm
I mean, “For instance, appearing in a costume of your own making and choice to spice up some event or presentation for pay is still cosplay for commercial gain.”
August 25th, 2009 on 1:47 pm
Which the keyword to all of it was “for pay”.
Which was not and never was. Feel free to interpret whatever suits you. But it was never “for pay”. Thanks for replying though.
Nice try.
August 25th, 2009 on 2:10 pm
“Which the keyword to all of it was “for pay”. Which was not and never was.“
According to Polence’s comment below, you’re a liar.
August 25th, 2009 on 1:44 pm
Bravo Mike! Thank you! If you were paid to cosplay, it’s commercial — regardless of conditions.
August 25th, 2009 on 1:53 pm
Hello Cheryl, its been a while. Im surprised you still keep in contact with Mike, although its nice to hear you speaking your thoughts again on the issue which seems pretty close to your heart. Although im disappointed you didnt answer my question regarding what instances did i “cosplayed” for money. You seem very convinced of it. And i wouldnt be surprised if Mike would answer for you, or type for you, whatever comes first. But ill give you the benefit of the doubt.
August 25th, 2009 on 2:07 pm
Okay, if you want me to be specific: your alien costume appearance in Parokya ni Edgar’s Laklak music video, and your appearance for Level Up in an MTV skit. You can deny it all you want; a lot of people know that you were paid.
August 25th, 2009 on 2:57 pm
In both instances I never said i was a cosplayer. Parokya ni Edgar MTV happened in 1999, way before Anime Explosion 2000, the first cosplay event where i finally was able to identify myself as a cosplayer. The same with Level UP MTV. The costume was not even mine to begin with, and they wanted a busy body who can act. In both cases, I was an ACTOR.
Yup, there you go. I never said or claimed I was a cosplayer, and if anyone else described me otherwise, then too bad. Check your sources again.
August 26th, 2009 on 12:02 am
In his desperate attempt to take his huge foot out of his even bigger mouth, he tries to divert the issue… why not just do what most people do – try to find some satisfaction in your own life and stop spreading hate.
You say Ashley missed a point – doing it for “love” BRAVO! Who are you to say others don’t do it for love? Just because others are paid REAL MONEY and you aren’t doesn’t mean others don’t do this for love… You dont have a monopoly on loving this hobby…
August 25th, 2009 on 1:53 pm
But it does lack one important aspect of cosplaying: Is it the character you love and want to pay homage to?
There are people in Davao sweatshops who write nothing but word salad spam blogs on topics they care nothing about. Are they still bloggers? Yes. Lousy bloggers, perhaps, but bloggers nevertheless.
Similarly, there are cosplayers who know nothing about the characters they cosplay. Are they still cosplayers? Yes. Lousy cosplayers, perhaps, but cosplayers nevertheless.
August 26th, 2009 on 12:05 am
Mike! Its useless debating with this guy… i believe he used to be somebody back then… he is like those old pros who think he deserves some kind of recognition… well, Mister, honor and recognition is given – never asked.
August 24th, 2009 on 2:50 pm
Alodia looked like she was trying to be diplomatic, which a person in her position needs to be I’m sure. Ashley doesn’t seem to care about that sort of thing. Which I find totally refreshing, btw
August 24th, 2009 on 3:39 pm
And boy, do they complement each other.
August 24th, 2009 on 3:43 pm
LMAO! This one’s too funny.
August 24th, 2009 on 4:30 pm
Well, that’s what it looked like. :3
August 25th, 2009 on 8:27 am
I feel the model/cosplayer/costripper issue has been a bit blown out of proportion. First of all, it’s not similar to amateurism where there is no going back once you hit pro. It’s not like a cosplayer can’t go into modeling then come back and cosplay (there are some cosplayers who do have modeling careers and still cosplay, in fact.)
I feel these terms aren’t absolute categories where people are placed, but rather a definition of your role inside an event. I could be a cosplayer in one event, registered to take the catwalk, or a costripper in another event, just dressed up for fun, or a host in another event or a mascot in yet another.
I don’t feel that the role defines me, just as someone’s job or hobby doesn’t absolutely define him or her. To categorize a person from just one role is to reject the rest of what that person is. To make matters worse, it’s an open door to stereotyping them.
Alodia is Alodia, Ashley is Ashley, Robert is Robert. You can’t define them simply as cosplayers, costrippers, models or anything else although they may have, on occasion, taken those roles.
It is, however, important to define those roles in the context of an event. It creates limits and defines responsibilities. For instance, if you’re a registered cosplayer, it is your responsibility to be ready for the catwalk at a specific time. If you are a costripper, you don’t have this responsibility and can, in fact, simply leave the event at any time you choose.
August 25th, 2009 on 12:43 pm
“Costripper”. I now laugh in your general direction.
August 25th, 2009 on 1:48 pm
Like it or not, the local cosplay community uses the term. Yes, others may disagree and protest against it’s use but it doesn’t mean it’s not there. When the term “Cosplay”, “Anime” or “Otaku” first appeared, it was probably not viewed with much enthusiasm either (and in some parts, Otaku is still viewed negatively.)
To be honest, there’s no harm to word “Costrip” or “Cosplay Tripping” although I personally don’t like the innuendo in the conjunction. It’s just had a bad rap because a minority have used it to promote elitism.
August 25th, 2009 on 8:15 pm
Hi Chunkybutt.
I’m afraid I’ve to disagree with you.
There’s much distinction between cosplaying and costripping. Same is true, if you compare anime with other cartoons and otaku with other forms of fandom. The term costripping cannot be deemed important by most since it doesn’t hold any difference with cosplaying. And besides, cosplaying is a general term for what we know as dressing up as someone or something.
August 25th, 2009 on 11:48 am
Definition of Modelling:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/modelling
http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861630702/model.html
Cosplay definition:
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/cosplay
August 25th, 2009 on 8:07 pm
Thanks! I found the cosplay entry especially informative!
August 25th, 2009 on 1:51 pm
I follow these threads and I really have to wonder about the point of all this labeling. I always get the impression that tagging names on things is the world of scientists or something, and making “categories” for a hobby which involves individual people (as opposed to, say, their toys or books or whatever) does more harm than lulz.
Personally, I think it’s pointless, and while I do understand that some people want to express passion for their hobby, I can’t help but think that somehow it’s just insecurities manifesting. Some people look better in costumes than others — good enough that they get the chance to be compensated for it. I don’t see how any of this relates to having cosplayer phyla, and if there is any, I’d like to know and I apologize in advance for my ignorance.
I really can’t disagree with Ashley here. While loving the character you cosplay is ideal, I don’t see why it’s a prerequisite for cosplayerness. I have a video of myself in a dress on youtube and I received my share of comments of all flavors, but I distinctly remember that I did it for the lulz, and lulz is what I got, by the truckloads.
I think my point here is that this whole thing is making the hobby less fun for everyone, and that’s sad because I really can’t think of any other purpose for a hobby than to provide happiness.
August 25th, 2009 on 2:14 pm
Agreed! It’s so sad that some people just want to be prejudiced.
August 25th, 2009 on 2:45 pm
“Cosplayer phyla”. I like that.
August 25th, 2009 on 2:56 pm
I think it’s a Filipino thing really and it isn’t necessarily restricted to cosplay. I don’t see it as a necessarily negative thing. After all pinoy, noypi, jologs, etc. are all made-up terms that we use. Heck, Cosplay is a made-up term – just a term coined by the Japanese. My favorite term is “bentables” which I find amusing.
As a sub-culture, I just feel Philippine Cosplay is just developing it’s own jargon. It’s like certain barkadas who eventually start to use their own terms or certain hobby groups who use terms that eventually become known in the hobby (such as Gunpla.)
I doubt there is anything particularly sinister that drives the local cosplay community. It’s just that, for the most part, Cosplayers are often misunderstood and people tend to generalize the few to represent the many.
August 25th, 2009 on 3:29 pm
If there was nothing wrong going on, this topic won’t even exist. Granted, it’s a mess of generalizations and overreactions but I’d have to point out that it’s not just a “Filipino thing”. The problem with labels is that they’re usually only fun for the people on the receiving end.
If anyone thinks that a person who minds should just “roll with the punches” should consider “nigger”. In itself, there’s not really anything malicious about it anyhow — it’s what people make of it.
August 25th, 2009 on 4:48 pm
Words are just as powerful as we allow them to be. In fact, when I was in the US, African American people called each other “Nigga” which I assume is in reference to “Nigger” in a kidding manner – perhaps simply to depower the word.
If we started banning words because some of us felt them offensive, we wouldn’t end up with much of a vocabulary. Otaku, for instance, has negative connotations in Japan, yet is used elsewhere as a badge of pride.
In the end, I prefer to have power over words rather than allowing them to have power over me. For instance, Chunkybutt isn’t the most flattering of nicknames ^_~
August 25th, 2009 on 5:05 pm
At the price of fractured a following? Then again I guess it’s natural for the members of a community to seek conflict where there shouldn’t be any.
August 25th, 2009 on 9:53 pm
I’m not really aware of the word “Costrip” fracturing the whole cosplay community. In fact, a lot of Cosplayers use the word to describe their friends or even themselves.
“Gusto mo Costrip nalang tayo?” or “Costrip lang ako sa event, ok? Ayaw ko kasi mag-compete.” or “Pumunta lang ako sa event para mag-costrip.”
If it was such a loaded word, I doubt cosplayers would use it in such a manner. I personally have yet to witness it being used in a derogatory manner so I really don’t understand all the hoopla.
I’ve heard the question, “Costrip ka ba?” being used often during events and the reaction has never been hostile. Compare this to a loaded word and I bet you would get a negative reaction almost instantaneously.
My point is these are just words. Let’s not appropriate extraneous meaning to them unnecessarily. By the accepted definition in the Cosplay community, Costrip is simply to go to an event without registering for a contest. Cosplay is going to an event to register and compete. Plain and simple. Valuation judgments do not necessarily need to follow.
A person who Costrips can have a much better costume or may be able to act in character better than a Cosplayer or vice versa. The only difference could simply be that one goes on-stage while the other chooses not to.
If you have had bad experiences with the word, I understand that it colors the word for you, but it doesn’t necessarily do so for everyone. Let’s not demonize the word because of bad experiences. There are already enough loaded words in virtually every language.
August 25th, 2009 on 10:34 pm
Okay. I could not survey the cosplay scene as well as you have. I suppose you’re right.
I don’t have bad experiences with the word. I just think it’s uncomfortably close to “stripping”. Close enough to make people misunderstand it at first, as I have. I actually thought it was the sort of this people called cosplayers who wear as little as possible and I went like “WHAT’S WRONG WITH THAT?”
August 25th, 2009 on 11:00 pm
In response to “what’s wrong with that?” I direct you to do image searches for Man-Faye and Sailor Bubba and that should neatly answer the question.
August 25th, 2009 on 11:46 pm
LOL. I have to agree with you there. First time someone asked me if I was Costripping, I was surprised to say the least. My first response was, “Who would want to see me strip in the first place? Do they want to go blind?”
It sounds better in person though than when it’s spelled out. People usually pronounce it “Cos-trip” instead of “Cos-strip” although I’ve heard it mispronounced on occasion. Then again, I’ve heard people pronounce and even spell “Cosplay” as “Costplay.” It makes it sound expensive.
There was once a movement to have it spelled “CosTrip” to avoid confusion, but generally most people just spelled it how ever they wanted anyways. I guess it would be sort of like spelling Cosplay as CosPlay or Anime as Animé – it would really boil down to preference.
Personally, I can see your POV on the matter and I agree that to some people it could be perceived as being derogatory. Perhaps it’s just more important to explain what the word means rather than to try to ban its use outright.
It’s just that I don’t want it to get to the point where some cosplay committee starts dictating what terms you can or cannot use. Perhaps it’s just a fad that will go away in the first place or perhaps some other word will take its place in the future – only time will tell.
August 26th, 2009 on 12:40 am
Let’s hurry it along. To Cosplay Nirvana! \o\
August 26th, 2009 on 12:20 pm
labels provide hooks for factionalization. which provides an entry point for the frickin’ dramu which seems to plague any event where more than ten people congregate nowadays.
you wear costumes, you play a character, you have fun. it’s all good.
can’t everything just be as simple as that?
August 25th, 2009 on 3:39 pm
Costripper? Even Alodia uses the term herself.
August 25th, 2009 on 3:55 pm
Regardless of who uses it, this whole thing wouldn’t exist if nobody found the term objectionable.
August 25th, 2009 on 9:14 pm
Sorry to crash the party, but my popcorn was stale and this thread is proving to be more interesting than i thought.
Personally, i don’t get all the fuss about arguing again and again which is cosplay and which isn’t. Its like defining what qualifies something to be called art.
Its funny how everyone in the community seems to be attached to one common thing and manage to strangle each others’ opinions when it comes to the technical aspect of cosplay. From a non-cosplayer’s POV, we look like Christianity divided into different sectors, constantly bickering about who goes into heaven–no offense meant to religion. Sure, an exchange of opinions is by all means necessary–but if these prejudices and limitations didn’t exist, the debate about the issue of who commercialized it and who didn’t, wouldn’t arise.
Whatever happened to “If you cannot see things through other people’s eyes then respect it at the very least because surely there’s someone out there who can’t see through yours.”
But hey, i’m but an amateur. What do i know about these things anyway?
August 25th, 2009 on 9:31 pm
I’m an amateur too
I just want to show up at a con as Mr. Hanekoma or Kaji one of these days, you know?
August 25th, 2009 on 9:32 pm
/nods. Hands down to you girl!
August 25th, 2009 on 10:18 pm
I feel everyone in this thread honestly has a point simply because everyone has their own point-of-view. In Cosplay, as is in most things in life, there is no absolute truth, just may ways of seeing things.
Personally, I feel if everyone thought the same way, life would be really boring. It’s just important to try to empathize with other people as much as possible while raising your own points intelligently.
Part of the problem is that the scope of Cosplay has broadened quite a bit. It started as just anime and manga but now it has encroached into the realm of video games, motion pictures, television, comic books and the like (heck, there were even a couple of people who Cosplayed as Manny Pacquaio.) Pretty soon, we’ll be calling the store-side Santa or the Elvis-impersonator a Cosplayer.
I feel that’s partly responsible for the need to try to define Cosplay or at least set boundaries for it. Personally, I feel it’s just a state of mind, but that’s just my own point-of-view.
August 25th, 2009 on 11:15 pm
The definition of cosplay is in the name itself. “Costume- roleplay”.
Cosplay existed even before anyone became aware of it; may it be masquerade, Halloween or simply attending a party in a costume and the like. It was just a matter of a lack of a better term to define costumed people who portray certain characters that we didn’t call it such, until the term was coined.
So is store-side Santa and the Elvis impersonators, cosplayers? Costume– check. Roleplaying– check.
Certainement.
August 26th, 2009 on 12:12 am
Here’s the problem though: almost everyone wears a costume of some sort and plays a role. A uniform, for instance, can be defined as a costume. In fact, some Cosplayers use a school uniform as a costume. Does that mean that all students are Cosplayers?
Just think about it. A student “role-plays” in some way, shape or form: be it a bully, teacher’s pet, class clown or just the obedient student. If uniforms are considered a costume, then the waiter, stewardess, nurse, doctor and all sorts of jobs are can be considered Cosplaying. After all, the two terms are satisfied in all those cases.
In fact, by that definition, everyone would be a Cosplayer because we all wear “costumes” and we all play a role even if that role is simply to take up space in the world. That role could be the caring mother, devoted son, avid blogger, or a multitude of other roles.
As Shakespeare once put it, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” Perhaps it should be amended to “cosplayers?”
August 26th, 2009 on 12:30 am
But wouldn’t a world of cosplayers be WONDERFUL?
August 26th, 2009 on 1:55 am
If you take the word waaay to LITERALLY then I guess you could be right. But roleplaying as defined, is used more in a make believe situation. ^_^;;
So unless you live a life where everything is make believe, no, I wont consider your examples cosplaying.
Ah, but wouldn’t that be wonderful should Shakespeare’s quote be implemented? Everyone won’t be having discussions as to what a real cosplayer should be, non?
August 25th, 2009 on 10:03 pm
Wow, kudos to Bryan of Ozine, who sent me this link, and the Otaku Taiki team for a successful event. I’m so excited to finally read about the conventions there. I just wished there were more photos. =9
Since when did cosplaying carry out any rule like “if you dressed up in costume for money, it isn’t cosplay, it’s modelling.”? Commercial involvement or not, you’re still in costume. Regardless of your motives, you’re still portraying a character. Then that IS still cosplaying. Really, it’s no black and white. Don’t tell me cosplayers there have become elitists who shun other cosplayers just because they get more praise and attention. I smell green-eyed monsters.
Clearly, Edj and Ash are just being bullied by some pretentious, self-righteous beliefs, eh? Just my two centimes.
August 26th, 2009 on 12:33 am
You might have missed it… Eva-Guy says his compensation was only a bonus
I guess he has different standards – and chooses to apply whatever makes him right (and others wrong)…
August 26th, 2009 on 2:51 am
Ah~ Bonus. But of course. XD
Was it their so-called passion that started all this? Mon Dieu, what passion they have that compelled them to start a vendetta against someone who’s minding her own business– that is scary. Bitter much? Somebody’s chugging too much on the hate-orade.
It’s just so wrong no matter how you look at it. Who are they to play (cosplay) God and dictate what should and should not be done in the (cosplay) world.
Trolls! Trolls are taking over I tell you. O_o jajaja
August 26th, 2009 on 12:31 am
Eva Guy says:
“Whatever “commercial gain” i received from it is treated as a bonus because it was never my main goal. Its like volunteering to help promote a fandom and I got food, a T-Shirt and help to maintain my costumes (transpo & expenses). Does gaining those perks equal “commercial gain”?
And I do agree with Ashley when she said “As long as you’re wearing a costume to play a certain character from a game or anime or whatever then it’s cosplay.” But it does lack one important aspect of cosplaying: Is it the character you love and want to pay homage to? If she added that to her statement then i would have agreed with her 100%.”
Its so OBVIOUS that this Eva-Guy is filled with bitterness and hate…quite ironic from the guy who professes he does all this because of “love.”
Most of us work for a living…don’t we dream that we find something we love doing? aren’t we always looking for the “dream job” – not the job which gives us the highest paycheck, but the job that makes us do what we love and compensates us well too (Bonus daw ito sabi ni Rev Robert)… using Rev Robert’s argument= if we earn something “as a bonus” then its all right, but otherwise – you aint no cosplayer! hahaha…not only is his foot stuck in his mouth, his logic is also flawed too…
Then he tells Ashley she’s gotta love what she’s cosplaying… that could be true… but what about the times i would cosplay a character bec i took it as a challenge? – the challenge to prepare the costume, to project the aura of this particular character? Just like an actor playing a role…the challenge… Are you saying i have to love Jabba the Hutt? or Hanibal Leckner?
I love cosplaying, i love dressing up, i love being “one with my character” – am i a cosplayer or not? i dont really care what others brand me, but i will always stand by my fellow cosplayers, when a so-called veteran like EVA-GUY tries to uplift himself and trash those he doesn’t like…
Stop the Hate Guy! Let go of it…believe me, you will sleep better at night…
August 26th, 2009 on 1:20 am
“Well,” I said, “I was at Cosplay Mini-Summit and I wanted your opinion on something. Robert Wong from Cosplay.ph unequivocally stated that if you dressed up in costume for money, it isn’t cosplay, it’s modelling. What do you think about that?”
Before I speak i would like to get a few things straight. Here are some things that I get from the arguments here.
-Robert Wong believes that Modelling is getting paid for what you do and automatically it shows less “PASSION” for your chosen art.
-Robert Wong believes that Cosplaying is a hobby that should be run on pure passion alone and if you accept any monetary compensation from it. It simply isnt cosplaying.
Ive read this thread and Ive also read his thread in Multiply and this is the way I understood his argument to be.
For Arguments sake we will agree that Models get Paid.
Therefore the only question we have in front of us is this.
“If a Cosplayer recieves monetary compensation to Cosplay. Does it really show less passion than someone who does it purely for the hobby itself?”
That is the center of this argument in my humble opinion.
Allow me to answer it with another question.
The greatest golfer Tiger Woods makes the most money playing the game that started as his hobby, does it then follow that he has the least passion of any golfer because he makes the most money.
As you see money has nothing to do with “Passion”. Those are two different arguments. In fact i would even argue the opposite way. The person who is the most passionate about their chosen field, usually makes the most money in it. Not always but a lot of the time.
Thanks
August 26th, 2009 on 1:37 am
Mr Eva-Guy: You dont have a monopoly on “PASSION” i read your multiply, now i know who you are referring to, well let me tell you this,
That “SHE (or Her)” you have been referring to has DEFINITELY MUCH MUCH MORE PASSION that you.
But SHE refuses to use this passion to bash or criticize others. You go ahead and use your bitterness, er i mean passion in whatever way you see fit.
The more you show or write about this bitterness, er passion (sorry typo) of yours, the more you are exposing your bitterness…er passion, er sorry uli, typo nanaman.
August 26th, 2009 on 12:28 pm
There’s so much hate. Parang wala nang paglulugaran yung mga amateur na gustong mag-cosplay. Baka maging collateral damage pa sila. Sad.
August 26th, 2009 on 5:47 pm
You are right! So much hate! Eva Guy and his disciples should just take up a new hobby… maybe get some exercise and release all that frustration and bitterness…
August 26th, 2009 on 1:11 pm
Nice article you have Otaking!! Good observations.
Nice conversation on the topic.
Concern ko lang is this: Baka naman hanggang dito lang sa internet/blog kayang mag-rant ng Elmer na yan against Eva-Guy.
What I mean is this, you may have the guts to rant against a certain person on this discussion…but my question is this: Do you have the guts or “balls” to talk to Eva-Guy straight face-to-face? Baka naman hanggang dito ka lang eh matatawa lang ako sa yo.
August 26th, 2009 on 5:48 pm
Sir, who started all the ranting? all the hate? Its Eva-guy who was talking behind someones back…not me
August 27th, 2009 on 11:45 am
As I analyze his statements, I don’t see any hate or bitterness. He just being honest, and his statements are based on his own viewpoint(s)…well, all of us are entitled to our own viewpoints right? It’s all about proper analysis on statements of people. And no matter what the statement of the person is, we have to respect it.
August 26th, 2009 on 2:31 pm
((Most of us work for a living…don’t we dream that we find something we love doing? aren’t we always looking for the “dream job” – not the job which gives us the highest paycheck, but the job that makes us do what we love and compensates us well too))
You seem more like the hater here. Not only are you putting things in his mouth, but you are also misunderstanding his point while giving a poor analogy. What he means is that you have to possess a level of connection to the character you are cosplaying (which may range from “I WANT to cosplay this guy” to “This is my favorite Anime character, thus I HAVE to cosplay him”).
In my opinion:
1. Cosplayers, Costrippers, Etc are ALL still cosplayers (besides most cosplayers just use the costrip excuse to justify a lazy costumes).
2. People dressed up on Halloween and their kind are not cosplayers. They are merely people in costume.
((Are you saying i have to love Jabba the Hutt? or Hanibal Leckner?))
It’s Hannibal LECTER. Get your facts straight before posting. And you don’t have to love them. But the desire still comes from you if you want to cosplay them.
August 26th, 2009 on 3:13 pm
* to justify lazy costumes
August 26th, 2009 on 5:58 pm
Sir, thank you for the correction on Hannibal… me putting words in whose mouth? Wasnt it Eva-Guy who talked bout love….
Me, Hate? I hate people who dont have anything better to do than try to put down others… if you sensed hate in some of my statements – then bravo! if you cant sense hate, bitterness and frustration in your good friend Mr Eva-Guy then i guess im not the only one with poor analytical skills.
There are lots of newbies in this hobby we all love, if some guy demands respect from them and goes out of his way to ruin other people’s reputation then this does nothing except ruin the hobby and turn people (young kids especially) off… sigh…
Funny how all this backbiting and acting like Gods come from only one group….
This all boils down to one word…. Jealousy!
thanks for taking the time to read my posts…you guys go ahead and try to justify mr Guys’s JEALOUSY. You guys wont fool anyone here! Have a great day!
August 26th, 2009 on 7:32 pm
So what is Eva-guy really guilty of then? The charges either multiply or mutate. From liar to hater to bitter hobbyist sorely lacking in passion to iron-fisted dictator that demands respect … and now he’s a jealous god? What is the main gripe here?
Ok, by listing most of those flaws, it appears that you personally know the guy, so I concede to you there. Tell me, how is he in person? I have only heard of his exploits and he seems to have been active for a long time. I just wonder why nobody raised these concerns years earlier?
The reason why I am not so quick to judge him is because I have heard nothing but good stuff from the community members who know him (helpful, down to earth, nice, etc). And since this is the internet, I can’t really determine valid accusations by concerned&sensible people from slander propagated by his enemies.
August 27th, 2009 on 11:12 am
Hodoon: Elmer personally know Eva-Guy? I don’t think so. That person merely based his statements on what he reads over the internet.
So the question for our good friend Elmer are these:
1. How well do you know Eva-Guy?
2. Have you met him personally or talked to him personally?
And hey…the guy has a lot of friends in the community, why not try to talk to his friends personally so that you can see for yourself.
Physical is much better than virtual.