Cosplayer Auction is an event where ‘used,’ unwanted, worn out, or old cosplay gets resold to new owners. It can be your own cosplay which you no longer want, or it could be a cosplay worn by someone else.
Cosplayer Auction is very popular in Asia and some western countries like France and Italy. Recently our community has seen an increase in people wanting to auction off their old cosplays on the Facebook groups dedicated to Dragon Ball cosplay.
In order to help everyone out, we have decided to write a guide on how the auction system works. We hope that you will read through this guide and get answers to all your questions.
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How Does It Work?
A cosplayer auction is a process in which someone who creates and wears costumes to portray characters from anime, manga, comics, video games, and other pop culture media, puts their work up for sale to the highest bidder.
Oftentimes these auctions are used to help cosplayers pay for the materials needed to create new costumes and props. The bidding can start as low as a few dollars and go up into the hundreds or even thousands.
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Cosplayers put a lot of time, money, and effort into making their outfits accurate to the finest detail. This includes everything from buying the correct materials, having them sewn together correctly, accessorizing with priceless gems or limited-edition action figures, to perfecting facial expressions.
It’s because of this many cosplayers are willing to sell their costumes to help fund their personal projects. Cosplayers are also willing to sell due to being overworked trying to keep up with the many characters they have, at least one of each.
Rather than continue spending money on materials for new costumes, they would rather let someone else take it off their hands so that cosplayer can use their time and money on another character.
Cosplay is a self-funded community with no backing from any studio, so many cosplayers rely on their fans to keep them afloat by funding photoshoots and travel expenses for conventions.
This is why auctions are so popular among the fan base of anime, manga, comics, video games, etc.. No matter how big or small, every dollar helps and is greatly appreciated by the cosplayer.
Where are the Cosplayer Auctions Held?
The auctions can be held online via a website such as eBay or on social media sites such as Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook, etc.. Most times, they are held on auction sites such as these to help spread the word of the auction and to reach a larger fan base of people interested in bidding.
Some auctions can reach millions of views and likes. This is due to cosplayers acquiring fans from all over the world who are willing to help fund their craft.
There are also several websites dedicated to hosting cosplay auctions. These sites offer the ability to place several different types of auctions all on one page so that bidders can choose what type of costume they want or which person they want to bid on.
This saves time on having to search for different cosplayers, each individually or through an outside site.
The auction process is not always smooth sailing. Some cosplayers are forced to cancel their auctions due to receiving backlash from fans who disapprove of the sale, while others end early due to lack of participation. This can cause some frustration among bidders who are not willing to start over with another cosplayer.
How to Participate
Cosplayer auction is a great opportunity for cosplayers and fans alike to get their hands on some amazing costumes and props, as well as meet some of their favorite cosplayers. Here are the steps you need to take to participate in the auction:
Submit your application via email to [email protected]. You must include a picture of yourself in costume and the title, cosplayer name (if different from your own), and any additional information you would like to provide (such as props, background information about the character, etc.).
Successful participants must attend the Cosplayer registration at Anime Expo to receive their cosplay badge sticker. Cosplayers who register for a bidder badge will need to pick up their auction paddle from the Exhibits booth during scheduled times throughout the convention weekend, which is where you put in your bid as well.
Cosplayer A bids $25 for the costume, and Cosplayer B bids $80. When Cosplayer A puts in her bid, she goes to the Exhibits booth and receives a paddle with 2 stickers representing the numbers 25 and 80 on it.
This is so they know which number corresponds to who when they go to judge the costumes one day to decide the winner. She will need to display this paddle when bidding so that people know who she is representing.
Cosplay A shows up at the judging location and displays her paddle with 25 on it. Cosplay B gets eliminated because Cosplayer A has a high bid of $25. If nobody bids higher, then Cosplayer A wins the costume.
What to Expect on Auction Day
The first thing you should know about cosplayer auctions is that they are held mostly on weekends. This is so that members of the cosplay community can attend without missing out on too much work or school. Some auctions are open to the public via invitations through online forums, while others are kept private.
Furthermore, cosplayer auctions are held for different reasons. Often, people hold them as fundraisers for charities like hospitals or animal shelters. They can also be held to raise money for conventions, help cosplayers afford their costumes, or as a way to raise funds for other community groups.
Some auctions are run by individuals who want to give back to the community by helping cosplayers achieve their goals of attending conventions and creating bigger and better costumes. The best cosplayer auctions will include a variety of items for sale at different price points.
Some auctions offer everything from posters and autographs to custom-made costumes, props, wigs, shoes, jewelry, and other accessories. Auctions should be well advertised through websites that the cosplay community visits or through social media groups.
Side Note: For any upcoming cosplay conventions or events, you can book SnowDragon through Instagram as your model.
