18/03/2025
As someone who actually have strict parents and have a full time job, my advice is this:
1. Have a separate cosplay account, you don't know how accepting ppl at work or your relatives will be, it's better to just separate them. It will lessen the chances of busybody uncle aunties sharing what you doing to your parents too
2. If you are a student with no income, if you really want to cosplay then you need to save your money, regardless how long it will take. Try making your own to save money. Best motto: if you can't afford it don't force yourself.
3. Cosplay should not be your priority. If you need rest due to health reasons, don't do it. If you are broke till you have no money for food, it's time to take a break. If you have exams or work that you really take cannot finish and it affects your future/ bank account, then obviously that takes precedence.
4. Regardless of how much scolding you get from parents, in the end they are just worried about you and don't understand. I was lucky enough to move out as soon as I went to uni, so I got a lot more freedom. If you want less nagging from parents, the only way is to move out. I'm working now using my own money and I still get nagged when I go home.... AND they only found out I cosplayed because I won competitions.
Context:
I often see posts of my younger cosplayer friends sharing their daily struggles while trying hard to maintaining or even enjoy the hobby of cosplay.
Therefore I think this community needs more older adults sharing on their innate experience of navigating through these.
These are a few mentioned struggles:
-Parent’s views
Most started cosing while living with their parents, and I’ve seen an extreme spectrum of parent’s views.
On one end there is the supportive group, even bringing the kid to cos events and hanging out with their friends, the if you can’t beat them join them mindset.
The other extreme are the anti ones. They question the value of cosplay and see no benefits from this hobby. Too many times I’ve heard of young friends needing to hide from their parents and cosplay in secret.
I have a quote to shared “玩cosplay 的小孩不会坏到哪里去的。” Loosely translated as kids who cosplay cannot be that bad. And if you think deeper, you will understand why.
-The Harsh Realities of Living-hood
Let’s face it, bread and butter issues. We can’t keep a hobby when we can’t even sustain our living-hood.
The constant struggles of balancing work vs hobby diminishes through the erosion of time. With lesser energy, limited resources and a change of priorities as we age, I’ve seen too many friends washed away their joys of cosplay through time. Most started while under the care of our parents, but as responsibility rises, our hobbies(like all hobbies) takes a back seat.
-The Value of Cosplay
This gets challenged the most. Mostly by our immediate environment, from parents, friends, work peers(some of us need to keep separate accounts in fear of work implications) I get many surprised responses when ppl discover I do this hobby (cosplay photog) without a fee.
Not everything needs have a direct ROI, IMHO. Sometimes a safe haven to have a creative outlet, to maintain passion to create the best works of my own life, that’s enough reason.
In short, you are not alone. I came to this hobby in 2006 without even the expectation of having friends but through cosplay I ended up having a family nucleus through our love for cosplay & I get to use my creativity in a fortune 100 company for work.
I dare not claim I’m a senpai in cosplay but I like to think I’m older than most of you here. If you ever need on the balance of hobby vs life, reach out. People with rich life experiences can share with your their struggles, so that it gives you more insights hopefully without you struggling with the un-necessary detours.
Take care, keep cosplaying.
