I've entered the cosplay contest for about two years now, and I've seen many skits and outfits that in my opinion seem to outdo anything that I could ever hope pull off, even in the novice category. My speculation is that not only did they put more time into working on them, but also had an already established group of friends to easily reach and practice with, which also leads to better resources like song and sound effects databases, and maybe a mixer to tie them all together. Very few of these I and probably other people could ever hope to achieve, if even within a year or two. And all for one little 3 minute skit, 5 minutes if they have a bigger group.
My first year I had help in saving a skit that was apparently too technical and time filling to pull off completely. Second year I had only myself and one other to rely on. Doing a decent job, bit still could have been better.
Looking down the road at this year, as one who doesn't have many contacts on the forum, or if I do they're either not doing the contest, already in a group, or too far away to do any form of rehearsing, only one solid contact outside the net, limited computer and audio resources, and probably second rate cosplays, I ask myself if the prizes at hand, material and otherwise, are worth the tiresome, back-breaking effort against all odds this year or any year after? I know I sound like I'm shooting myself in the foot before the race has even begun, but what chance do I or anyone in my position have?
