Kumoricon

Convention Events and Programming => Cosplay => Topic started by: Tanuki19 on April 06, 2010, 04:09:20 pm

Title: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Tanuki19 on April 06, 2010, 04:09:20 pm
Cosplays can be very expensive, buying them or making them yourself. How do you come up with the money to help pay for the rising cost of cosplays?
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: ~boogiepop~ on April 06, 2010, 04:12:36 pm
I work 3 jobs :\ I quit them all this quarter though so I could have relaxing fun times, some which will be making cosplay. I will start them again next quarter though.
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Kallika on April 06, 2010, 04:30:36 pm
I save up birthday/Christmas money and do odd jobs for the rest (once I'm legally old enough to work I'll get a job though)

But so far my cosplays haven't cost very much since my Grandma is so creative and we used a sheet and a curtain to sew my Kim cosplay :P
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Tanuki19 on April 06, 2010, 04:38:44 pm
yeah, i never get any money for my birthday or christmas, i dont have a job [but i desperately need one], and i dont have any family members with amazing sewing skills. i need to learn to sew though.
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: tas110 on April 06, 2010, 04:43:38 pm
I get my mom and dads hep t and if its a TON of money (jack sparrow) they i have to use it for years and years to get my use out of it
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: meep on April 06, 2010, 05:08:53 pm
working, mooching, saving, watching your money and smart shopping.
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: chelseahavoc on April 06, 2010, 05:10:21 pm
yardsales, and my job... but now i have to start slowing down... (which many know is way past due) and saveing money is a must....
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Konan-ChanX3 on April 06, 2010, 05:16:18 pm
I sell my manga and Doujinshi at cons and the like.
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: MiriaRose on April 06, 2010, 06:34:44 pm
I do well in school- I get paid for my grades.

I also do chores sometimes, if I'm desperate.
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Man of the Public on April 06, 2010, 06:46:43 pm
I have my sources. That's all I will say.
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Saberchan on April 06, 2010, 06:55:22 pm
I work two jobs...Try buying second hand stuff at Good Will and piece your costume together! Modify what you find. That's what my aunt and I did when she made my costume for me xD Depending on what you're able to find, it can keep the price down somewhat... (I need to find armor for my costume...massively expensive on ebay...so my aunt suggested I find old Halloween costume armor and modify it!)
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: NARUNIK on April 06, 2010, 07:11:07 pm
I mow THIS HUGE lawn for like 50 bucks...About 4 times during the summer.
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Tanuki19 on April 06, 2010, 07:11:47 pm
i used to watch my next door neighbor's dogs for 20 bucks but then he moved and my money went away. XD
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Vexenification on April 06, 2010, 07:15:10 pm
What I do for money:
• Beg for birthday money instead of that button maker you really wanted.
• Wash your mom's car... every other two weeks.
• Vacuum your neighbor's house, for an hour.
• Lemonade and Blackberry stand with your fellow cosplayers.
• Dig into the couch cushions, your family members pockets while doing laundry, and steam clean the house's carpet.
I don't have a job yet, (I wouldn't trust me at this age either.) and so I'm stuck doing the weirdest jobs around my house. Everything from steam cleaning to scrubbing the bathroom tiles. (My house hasn't looked this good is years. ^^)
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Felix on April 06, 2010, 07:40:32 pm
Be a miser.
I rarely buy anything, and my mother gives me money for food so I can save my personal money. I can't remember how I accumulated it over the years, but it's there because I think before I buy. Is it something I really need, or can I do without it? A lot of times you can talk yourself out of buying things you don't need by taking a moment to really think about it.
Specifically relating to costuming, save scraps from previous projects. You never know when they will be useful.
I sold artwork at the con, which covered the expenses of going and it was probably enough to cover the cost of my costume as well, since I ended up only making one.

Basically, find something you're good at that people are willing to pay for. Everyone has some talents and skills they can use. If you're good at playing an instrument, stand on a street corner in a shopping district and play. Offer to do odd jobs for your neighbours. Be sure to be realistic about your abilities, though.
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Cyprus on April 06, 2010, 08:15:33 pm
I work a ton of hours at my job...really not much more than that honestly. My job pays very well so it's not too hard to aim for 1 new cosplay per con.
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: TideWalker on April 06, 2010, 08:19:26 pm
I am getting a job over the summer. I need monies to fuel my new found addiction... it's so much fun. I needed a hobby other than pokemon... dressing up and cosplaying sound like fun with great expense. No one wants to let me borrow their expensive props though... lol...
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: superjaz on April 06, 2010, 08:42:32 pm
I Work at a 24 hour group home for adults with developmental disabilities , the clients love to go to uwajimaiyas so i am literally paid to shop there some times :) I do the grocery shopping so i do my best to clip coupons and sales to save as much as I can I usually save around 25$ a trip and that helps to be able to buy my fabric needs
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Trumby on April 06, 2010, 11:49:10 pm
I work 40+ hours every week and my job pays well :)
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Chibiorochimaru on April 07, 2010, 12:07:02 am
I see disgusting fating fast food to equally fat people who should look over a salad now and then >>;;;; ugh
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Kurohime on April 07, 2010, 02:54:05 pm
Does that pay well? 

Really it's just about working enough hours to make up for the cost of materials/commissions. 
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Kimiski on April 07, 2010, 03:00:33 pm
I save and save and save seriously all year
Christmas money/birthday money/other holidays, etc
Sometimes babysitting or selling a bit of artwork here and there

I haven't bought anime in years and I only buy manga for cheap at the con cause I save spending money, but even last year I decided since I knew my cosplay this coming year was going to be expensive, I would buy one thing and then save the rest for my cosplay, which turned out to be a good thing. I had $100 to spend at the con this year but if I didn't save it back then I wouldn't be able to afford the cosplay I wanted this year.

Hopefully this will change when I get a job. I can just devote a paycheck to Kumoricon and then not have to save up everything for an entire year just to go to the con and my cosplay
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Chibiorochimaru on April 07, 2010, 03:18:14 pm
Gotta Agree a job does help waaaaaaaay alot. freakin expensive hobby....
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: hieis_girl1 on April 07, 2010, 03:42:02 pm
Working during school breaks (and hopefully during school soon) and selling homemade crafts.
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: nekovamp13 on April 07, 2010, 04:22:00 pm
I babysit as much as possible. And will hopefully be getting a part time job this summer, which will help!
And also selling my clay charms.
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Tanuki19 on April 07, 2010, 04:35:41 pm
i would get a job this summer but then what if you had to end up working during Kcon? and you couldnt get the days off?
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: nekovamp13 on April 07, 2010, 04:49:01 pm
^ suddenly quit.....
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Tanuki19 on April 07, 2010, 04:56:43 pm
makes sense! XD
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Vexenification on April 07, 2010, 05:55:19 pm
^ suddenly quit.....

Words of someone wiser than their years ^^  ;D
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Man of the Public on April 07, 2010, 06:05:29 pm
i would get a job this summer but then what if you had to end up working during Kcon? and you couldnt get the days off?
Call in sick, have someone trade shifts with you, there's plenty that can be done without just quitting.
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Kimiski on April 07, 2010, 08:06:51 pm
I worked the state fair once and then during the last three days I "got sick"  lol
Right off the bat they ask you if you can make sure to work labor day weekend since it's the busiest fair time, and I was like, "Of course!"
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Tanuki19 on April 07, 2010, 08:07:49 pm
did they actually fall for it? XD
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Kimiski on April 07, 2010, 08:15:29 pm
did they actually fall for it? XD

Dunno if they believed me or not
But alot of people don't work labor day, I didn't get in trouble though
And that was in 2006, when I re-applied in 2009 to work, they still remembered me so I must have done something right, I was hired on the spot. But I figured I'd rather have a good reference for a real job then blow what they thought about me by doing it again. So if you do, do something like that there's always a possibility of something like that.
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Cyprus on April 08, 2010, 08:48:00 am
i would get a job this summer but then what if you had to end up working during Kcon? and you couldnt get the days off?
It might not work with some employers but it has for so many here that I know of...when you apply & have your interview or get hired(situational), mention that you are available at all times for work with the exception of a few days that you already paid for(Kumoricon dates applied here :P) room & fees. This has worked for a lot of people I know...but all employers are going to be different.
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Kurohime on April 08, 2010, 03:02:18 pm
I've been on the receiving end of people flaking off their jobs, and it blows.  Don't do it.  And a lot of employers will hire you if you tell them right away that you need certain days off because of existing plans. 
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Kimiski on April 08, 2010, 06:20:56 pm
Multiple different people/groups or whatever hire for the state fair.
When I applied to work for a different group of people I just told them I couldn't work those dates. My friend did the same thing and when they hired her they let her have Kumoricon off.
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Vexenification on April 08, 2010, 06:21:14 pm
I've been on the receiving end of people flaking off their jobs, and it blows.  Don't do it.  And a lot of employers will hire you if you tell them right away that you need certain days off because of existing plans. 

Thanks for the advise for when I get my job next year ^^
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: TideWalker on April 08, 2010, 09:51:12 pm
I think I am going to try and do the whole "Play blues on the street and throw munnies in muh hat" gig. I hear it's nice this time of year.
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: lover-of-the-pepsi on April 09, 2010, 06:02:20 pm
man of the public, can i just say that i caught myself watching your transmorphing profile pic for a good 1-2 minutes?
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Vexenification on April 09, 2010, 09:27:08 pm
I think I am going to try and do the whole "Play blues on the street and throw munnies in muh hat" gig. I hear it's nice this time of year.

The weather has been rather nice ^^
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Tanuki19 on April 09, 2010, 09:35:05 pm
I think I am going to try and do the whole "Play blues on the street and throw munnies in muh hat" gig. I hear it's nice this time of year.

The weather has been rather nice ^^

that it has
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: The_Geek on April 10, 2010, 11:50:54 am
I'm going to find a lawnmower (One of those push-powered ones) and I will take care of my big brothers property all summer.
I will take care of my neighbors' pets/plants while they are away.
But most of all I will be building a garage and setting up for a wedding. Neither of which I actually get paid for.
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Vexenification on April 12, 2010, 08:13:03 pm
I think I am going to try and do the whole "Play blues on the street and throw munnies in muh hat" gig. I hear it's nice this time of year.

The weather has been rather nice ^^

that it has

Will you be playing near the max lines? Or, maybe near Saturday Market? 70 degrees on like, thursday! :D
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: beastychan on April 12, 2010, 08:24:19 pm
I sing at oldfolks homes, and I do it pretty good apparently cos I made like a hundred smackers last oldfolkshome I went to lol

I WANT TO LEARN TO PLAY THE WHATCHAMACALL
bagpipe-harmonica thing

what's it called again?

umm

italians play it and

umm
ACCORDION
that's it
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Raveen92 on April 13, 2010, 12:03:15 pm
I dive for every coin i can find. . . I have collected 50$ in two months. . . But I had to spend some on a band fine. XP
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Tanuki19 on April 13, 2010, 10:22:17 pm
I think I am going to try and do the whole "Play blues on the street and throw munnies in muh hat" gig. I hear it's nice this time of year.

The weather has been rather nice ^^

that it has

Will you be playing near the max lines? Or, maybe near Saturday Market? 70 degrees on like, thursday! :D

what?
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Vexenification on April 14, 2010, 08:10:53 pm
I think I am going to try and do the whole "Play blues on the street and throw munnies in muh hat" gig. I hear it's nice this time of year.

The weather has been rather nice ^^

that it has

Will you be playing near the max lines? Or, maybe near Saturday Market? 70 degrees on like, thursday! :D

what?

It's a joke =3
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: superjaz on April 14, 2010, 08:35:31 pm
starting this week my co worker went on vaction I picked up some of her shifts so starting monday at 6am and ending at thursday at 10pm I will be working 50 hours , but Ot is nice I just wish I had more then 8 hours between shifts
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: KogaRyu on April 14, 2010, 09:18:35 pm
I work 2 jobs aswell as babysitting 2-3 times a month.
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Tanuki19 on April 14, 2010, 09:56:09 pm
i need to find a job crazy quick because i'm in dire need of money and something to take up my free time.
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: kai-chan on April 22, 2010, 06:49:47 pm
i sell stuff on ebay and get a summer job. which i usually make 400-1000 the month of the con by working at the state fair.
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Tanuki19 on April 22, 2010, 09:07:39 pm
my family thinks cosplays are a waste of money DX
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Vexenification on April 23, 2010, 09:30:20 pm
my family thinks cosplays are a waste of money DX
Tell them it's an excuse to use real life math situations outside of the classroom, and that your bargain hunting, and it's experience for when your older...
The math thing worked with my parents ^^*
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Tanuki19 on April 23, 2010, 10:48:50 pm
my family thinks cosplays are a waste of money DX
Tell them it's an excuse to use real life math situations outside of the classroom, and that your bargain hunting, and it's experience for when your older...
The math thing worked with my parents ^^*

my parents know for a FACT that math is my worst subject XD
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: Killer_Tofu on April 25, 2010, 10:45:51 am
How do I make MY money you ask? Night house-keeper at the local hospital. I clean up blood and gore all night long and have the money deposited directly into my bank account (which is good because the hours I sleep are the hours the bank is open). It's the perfect job for vampires like me, and pays much better than you'd think. But I still have to be some-what miserly.

As for the BF, he works in the ware-house of a major electronics store. Not the best pay, but great employee discount and plenty of free cardboard for props and armor.
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: agpgirl on April 30, 2010, 10:27:15 pm
Well when I first found out about Kumoricon, it was already 6 months away.

What I do is babysit.
Believe it or not, you can get a lot of money from just babysitting. I mean, I
only worked twice in 1 week and I already got my pre-registration covered.

Also, I did yard work. I worked for the whole summer leading up to kumoricon.
I made over $130 and still had about $10 left over.

So really, anywhere that hires work would do! Dairy Queen hires employees at
around 15 years of age.
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: kai-chan on August 30, 2010, 02:15:52 am
T.T the new people who were in charge of hiring for temp at the fair didnt call me. i have been hired to work at the fair for the last 3 years and this is the first time i didnt get hired. So I had to scrounge around for monnies. I sold a Hot Topic Exclusive Inuyasha Vs. Sesshomaru figure MIB. on ebay for $100. which is going towards what i spent on my cosplay and spending money at the con.
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: ElVerde on September 01, 2010, 12:34:34 am
It was really hard last year when I didn't have a job. I ended up using left over monies from my Japan trip, then my parents pitched in.

This year my cosplay was bought mostly with money from Christmas/Birthday and also some Holiday Bazaars I worked at to sell my art work. But now I have a nice paying job, and work full time owo
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: nikkiolie on September 01, 2010, 07:59:57 am
I got to this place where they hold me captive for hours on end and force me to do thing I don't want to. Sometimes I have to get up really early to please the masters and sometimes I have to stay out really late. And on a very rare occasion they force me to stay 11 hours in one day *coughyesterday and todaycough*
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: ishpumalibu on September 01, 2010, 08:13:26 am
i kind of strip on the side, women pay me to keep my clothes on.  :P
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: moiramctaggart on September 01, 2010, 09:46:54 am
*Save pocket change
*Never pay full price for anything. JoAnn's constantly has 40-50% off coupons.
*Shop the clearance racks, Goodwill, etc.
*Save the leftovers
*Work odd jobs for the family
*Beg
*Once I get a job again I'll have enough money to actually make stuff again.

There is always a way.
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: soundninja12 on September 01, 2010, 09:49:49 am
working, mooching, saving, watching your money and smart shopping.
This
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: flyinvee11 on September 01, 2010, 10:24:10 am
I sell legal drugs.

And by that, I mean that I work at Starbucks :)
Title: Re: How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?
Post by: CheshireStray on September 01, 2010, 04:57:07 pm
Hopefully this year i can get my license, and a job with it, but up until now... I usually do odd jobs, save up change, do a ton of mooching, save up the small amount ($10-15 a week i scratch together) i make that i usually spend on manga during the periods im making/buying/sewing up a particular article throughout the year...
Not that i have a ton of experience, seeing as this is like, my first con, and i've only done two or so cosplays prior to this... XP