The global popularity for costume play, or“cosplay,” has reached its peak. People from all over the world have been dressing up as their favorite anime, comic book and video game characters.
The costume play culture is now recognized as a legitimate sport, even by the largest sports network ESPN. As of today, there have been more than three hundred and eighty individual competitions all over the world; it’s more popular than actual sports such as golf and field hockey.
Specially designed facilities have been constructed to help cosplayers hone their skills and get into the correct shape and fashion style they need to accessorize the costumes with.
People from all walks of life have been known to partake in cosplay. From construction workers and teachers to doctors and lawyers, it doesn’t really matter what you do for a living, as long as you’re willing to put on a costume, go out there and have fun.
What you Need to Know About Professional Cosplayers
Professional cosplayers are recognized by the Costume Play World Federation (CWFF) as athletes who engage in costumed performance art through multiple sessions for paying audiences, with the expressed goal to entertain.
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There are also other organizations that help promote professional cosplay events. The most notable one is probably the International Costumers’ Guild (ICG).
Professional cosplayers, just like any other sports celebrities, are pursued by manufacturers who want them to endorse their products. The more famous the professional cosplayer is, the better the paychecks they get.
There are also numerous merchandising opportunities that come with being a prestigious Professional Cosplayer.
When you start making quite an impressive sum of money, you’re going to attract a lot of attention. There are various sponsorship deals that you will get at this point, and there’s also a number of teen magazines that’d love to have an exclusive interview with the world’s most famous cosplay idol.
Professional cosplayers can become quite popular among their fans; they even do meet-and-greet sessions where they can pose for pictures together. There are also signing events, photoshoots and even question-and-answer segments through cosplay panels.
They have access to better costume paraphernalia than the average fan. They get discounts on wigs, armor parts, contact lenses and other items that professional cosplayers need to look their best in front of the camera.
Professional Cosplayer Salary
Professional cosplayers can make a good salary. There are many different ways to make money as a professional cosplayer. Some cosplayers work for conventions, some work as independent contractors and others have other full-time jobs. No matter what path you take, there are many opportunities to make a good living as a professional cosplayer.
There are people who make more than US$1 million per year as professional cosplayers. That may sound like a lot of money, and it is, but there are many things that go into this income.
Pricing Your Services as a Cosplayer
One way to make money as a professional cosplayer is to charge clients for your services. Whether you work for some other company or independently, charging actual dollars (or the local equivalent) is one of the most lucrative ways to make money.
As a professional cosplayer, you will need to decide what your services are worth. Costumes with long hours of work involved may cost more than costumes which are fairly simple.
You can charge per hour or have an overall flat rate for each costume. Some companies only pay if their costume wins a competition. The possibilities of costuming contracts are nearly endless.
As a cosplayer who is just starting out, you may want to consider small gigs such as low-paying conventions or parties before moving up to bigger and better opportunities. This will give you the opportunity to hone your skills and build your portfolio with professional-grade costumes.
There is no set rule on how much you should charge for your services, but if you are thinking of trying this method of cashing in, be sure that what you charge reflects the amount of time and work involved with making your costumes.
If it does not, then the chances are that people will think you are overpricing yourself and your costumes. Remember, you want to make money too!
Who is the Richest Professional Cosplayer of All Time?
The richest professional cosplayer of all time is probably Jessica Nigri. She has a total net worth of US$1 million, which has been accumulated since 2009. Her most popular cosplay costume would be that of Juliet Starling from the video game Lollipop Chainsaw.
Another big name in the professional cosplay industry is definitely Yaya Han. This young and beautiful lady has made a name for herself by dressing up as various anime characters. She has her own line of merchandise, and she’s also the official spokesperson for Arda wigs.
Yaya Han started cosplaying back in 2004, but her popularity took off during the 2008-2009 New York City Comic-Con. She was one of the judges (along with Stan Lee) at that year’s ComiCon, and she also had her own panel.
Major companies have started hiring professional cosplayers to represent their products. Yaya Han is the official spokesmodel for Topps trading cards, while Jessica Nigri was hired by Microsoft Xbox.
Jessica Nigri is the official spokesperson for Bioworld merchandising. This young and beautiful professional cosplayer has an extremely active fan base, and she’s also known for inviting her fans to visit her at the various events she attends.
Not all professional cosplayers enjoy such an active career, though; some of them (such as Karen Lynn) prefer doing their job in the comfort of their own home. These cosplayers either work by themselves or in collaboration with their partners.
Types of Professional Cosplayers
Professional cosplayers can be divided into two major categories: freelance and sponsored. Freelance professionals are paid for a given number of shows per year, while sponsored ones receive an annual salary from the company that hires them.
The best professional cosplayers get opportunities outside of cosplay events; they’re offered modeling gigs, sponsorship deals, and even acting roles in various TV shows or movies.
Professional cosplay is a job that’s only going to get bigger with time. But for now, if you want to become one of the world’s most famous cosplay idols, you’re going to have to work really hard.
On a separate note, to book cosplayers for cosplay shootings or events, get in touch with SnowDragon through Instagram.