So... here's "The Epic Cosplay Survey" taken from ~jacemoore

HE IS TEH AWESOME!! Check out his art!


- What is your cosplay alias?
Dart. Plain and simple.

- How many years have you cosplayed?
Since 2002?

- How did you get into cosplaying?
My buddy Usa-chan, me, and Puppy-cat hit NYC for a convention one summer weekend. We were never the same again.

- What was your first convention and how did it go?
Big Apple Anime Fest 2002. It was fuxing fantastical!!!

- How many cons have you been to?
Not as many as I would've liked, but hopefully in the future I can find some more time to get to them. I'd estimate about 6.

- How many cosplays have you done?
Again, I wish I'd done more, but busy work schedule only permits so much. Maybe 10?

[[Your Cosplays]]

- What was your first cosplay and why did you choose it?
The year after BAAF 02, we (puppycat and I) made a list of things to be. Somehow Yura of the Demon Hair from Inuyasha made the list. No lie, starting at 2am the night before we left for BAAF 03, we started the cosplay. It was "finished" by morning. Thank god for Greyhound.

- What is your favorite cosplay you've done so far?
I loved the Yaoi Girl get-up. It was something I'd never wear in public usually, but it got a huge response!

- What is your least favorite you've cosplayed?
I wouldn't say least, but I wouldn't really wear it again without revamping it. The Sessy Moogle cosplay.

- What cosplay is the most uncomfortable?
Sango. The black lycra catsuit can get pretty itchy and the armor doesn't like to stay in place.


[[Process]]

- How do you research the cosplay before you make it?
Lots and lots of pictures and of course concept sketches. Also random trips to wal-mart to scope out fabrics and stuff.

- Do you sew your cosplays yourself?
If i can, yes, but usually puppycat sews them. She's much better than i am so i'd rather let her. odds are if i sew it, it would fall apart mid convention and i'd run screaming for a bathroom.

- If so, how did you learn to sew? If not, do you plan to learn?
I try to teach myself by getting cheap patterns and making stupid little things.

- Do you make your own props?
Yup!

- If so, how did you learn to? If not, do you plan to learn?
For the most part i taught myself. If i couldn't figure anything out, I'd ask dad since he's pretty handy with material and get some ideas from him.

- Do you style your own wigs?
Yes and no. I prefer not to use wigs unless i have to, and the wigs I do get I make sure I can get in a style that's already very close to what i'm trying to accomplish

- What other skills do you use to create your cosplays?
Umm... my uber singing skills!

- What skill has been most useful for making your cosplay?
Knowledge of the GLUE GUN! Lol, probably my stubborn-ness for accuracy. I will beat a horse until its dead to get the right look. even if it means driving to center city and ordering feathers from one specific costume shop.

- What is the hardest thing when making a cosplay?
Again, my stubbornness when trying to achieve accurate results.

- What was the biggest screw up you've had making a cosplay?
Hmm... probably trying to get my hands on the catsuit for sango. I couldn't find the right thing so i kept ordering things and returning them. lost a bit of money on it

- How often do you injure yourself while making a cosplay?
there's always needle pricks and glue gun burns. so i'm used to it lol

[[Budget]]

- On average, how much will you spend on cosplay in one year?
if i can manage one per year, i try to keep under $200. sometimes I can do great and get a dress for $20 and modify it, but then sometimes i have to order a couple things online and wigs and such.

- Do you try to stay cheap or do you splurge on materials?
Usually i keep it cheap unless its something i can re-use, in which case i might splurge a little.


[[Conventions]]

- What is your favorite convention?
BAAF. It was cheap, relatively local, and was more fun than any other because of the location!

- What conventions have you gone to?
BAAF, Otakon, Philcon, Tandokucon, and the Death Note movie lol.

- How far have you traveled for a convention?
BAAF was in NYC and Otakon was in Baltimore. Those were the two furthest.

- Do you usually stay in a hotel or stay at home when you can?
The ones in Philly I stay at home, but the long distance ones i manage a nite or 2 in a hotel

- What was your worst convention experience?
Being at BAAF as Yura and having no one know who the hell I was. T_T


[[cos-PLAY]]

- Have you ever cosplayed with a partner or group?
Never really had a group thing going on, but once in a while Dart and Puppycat will make appearances

- Do you try to act in character?
Always! What fun is cosplaying if you dont?

- Have you ever done fanservice at a con? (Yaoi, yuri, etc)
I was Sango at Otakon, I kept getting pics of me getting felt up my random Mirokus... Oo;;

- How do you react to cosplayers dressed as character from the same anime/game/etc?
Multiple glomps and pics

- Do you try to duplicate your character's expressions, walk, movements, etc?
Absolutely. My "L" wins the gold.


- When crossplaying, do you try to act as much like the gender
Haven't really done much, but I guess so?

- What was your funniest experience of acting in character?
Going to see the Death Note live movie as L and winning the award for best cosplayer. Theater full of people lined up for photos and camera phone videos of me with them, it was badass!

- What was your worst experience acting in character?
Philcon as the Sessy Moogle. It was a sci-fi convention and there were a lot of fat creepy bald guys around.


[[Competition]]

- Do you compete in cosplay contests?
Nope

- Have you won anything?
Just "Best Cosplay" at the Death Note movie.

- Do you prefer skits or walk-ons?
Haven't done either :/


[[Community]]

- How many friends have you made because of cosplay?
A few, but I don't talk to many anymore, we drifted apart

- Are you a part of any convention or cosplay forums?
Used to be with BAAF, but not much anymore.

- Do you attend photo shoots and meet-ups outside of conventions?
I'd love to, but again, not many people that I know do them and the ones I do know, I haven't spoken with in a long time.

- What is the funniest reaction you've gotten cosplaying from people outside of the community?
Sessy Moogle in the Gallery in philly... people thought i was an easter bunny lol

- What was the worst?
again, sessy moogle in the gallery... there were some creepy ass people down there!


[[Future]]

- How long do you think you'll be cosplaying for?
a while yet. i enjoy it, but lack the time and funds at this point in time.

- Name a few cosplays you're planning to do next:
some warcraft stuff probably, and definitely some hellsing cosplays and an FLCL cosplay or two. also depends on what i get into next


- What is your dream cosplay?
Valefor from FFX. It will be done some day, I swear it.



[[Misc]]

- What do you take into consideration when picking a character to cosplay?
Comfort level with the character and it's attire. Skill level. Cost. Wow factor.

- Is cosplay serious business for you?
It was a few years back, now its just for fun

- What is your favorite thing about cosplay?
Pretending to be someone or something completely out of the ordinary.

- What is your least favorite?
Coming back to reality

- What is it that makes you keep cosplaying?
The other people that keep it fun.

- How would you like cosplaying to change in the future?
Less drama. I know there always is some, but the least possible would be great

- How do you want to grow as a cosplayer?
Become more comfortable with different styles and characters. I only know a few that I'd be willing to be almost naked for, Rikku (FFX) included, so maybe in the future I'll be ok with it!


I would love if any other cosplayers I know would fill this out... consider yourselves ALL TAGGED!!! (Especially you Arctic!! :3 )