Many people and some cosplay newbies mistake wealth, fame and glory
as the point of cosplaying.

They see certain cosplayers who often win contests as the ideals of
wealth fame and glory in cosplaying and assume
that the cosplayer is a "professional" because these winning cosplayers
act out their characters convincingly and wear costumes that are very well-made
and are awarded large sums of cash and material prizes for their efforts.

but this is a potentially disastrous assumption to make
in the enjoyment of a hobby such as cosplay.

Cosplaying, as ive mentioned in many previous enties, is paying tribute to your
favorite character/design concept/idea by dressing up and acting out this character
as accurately as possible.

some cosplayers are quite devoted to this idea that they take great lengths to
produce the best cosplay of their chosen character.
They may employ their own knowledge or hire professionals
to help them make their cosplay come true.

these fan-made efforts are sometimes so well-done that the untrained eye
may mistake this effort as something done on the professional level
akin to hollywood or theatrical levels in dressing and acting.

but in the case of cosplayers, this really isnt the point,
because they were just doing their best to give tribute to their favorite character.


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Parents often ask kids who want to cosplay:
aren you just wasting you money by cosplaying?
(nagtatapon ka lang ba ng pera sa pagko-cosplay?)
and
will you earn any money by cosplaying?
(may pera ka bang mapapala sa pagko cosplay mo?)


The answer is YES

but the it takes a huge effort to make any financial returns specially in cosplay.

There is money to gain in cosplay, but none by being just a cosplayer
(May pera sa cosplay, pero walang pera sa pagiging cosplayer lang.)


if you want to be involved in cosplaying "professionally"
you should become more than just a cosplayer who cosplays.

because there are no professional cosplayers
only professionals who are involved in cosplaying.


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if you want to earn while doing something cosplay related there are ways:

You can be a professional costume maker -
aside from clients who are cosplayers
there are commercial production groups who are in need
of clothes and costumes for their actors and models
for theater, TV commercials, TV shows and etc.

(real world example: "The Anime Seamstress" from the early years of decade 2000,
Mang Poli, Cargin's Dancewear,
and your local tailor who is skilled enough to make fantastical cosplay clothes)

You can be a professional props maker -
for exactly the same clients as above

(real world example: Guy Singson of pagawanaman.multiply.com,
Lyron of burikiboy.multiply.com )

You may also become a professional wig/hair and make-up artist -
there are many characters who require extensive facial or prosthetic make-up
and the make-up skills you honed in cosplay
are going to be really useful in related occupations

You can also transition from cosplayer into model -
but mostly if you're physically attractive and appropriate enough for the particular role.

(real world example: Alodia Gosiengfiao of blackmage9.deviantart.com,
Shoko "shotocan" Nakagawa)

You may also transition from cosplayer to mascot -
there are many companies who need people who can
wear full-body costumes while being able to dance and/or act
and not every standard actor can accomplish such a feat

(real world examples: various cosplayers who are hired by companies for
Halloween, XMas and other seasonal commercial events)

You can also be a professional photographer / videographer
-if you began as a hobbyist you may expand your skills
in photography by taking shots of cosplayers!
take it a step further by practicing portraiture, fashion and event photography,
videography or even journalism.

(real world examples: Erving of huzafan.deviantart.com/)

you may also organize cosplay-related events -
if you have a background in public relations, marketing and other related roles
and if you have enough manpower and resources to assemble a quality event
which people (cosplayers, enthusiasts, and the curious) will  annually attend

(real world example: Cosplay Mania by www.cosplay.ph)


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there are many talents and skills involved to make a successful cosplay.
some of the basics are honed through practice, some are learned in school
or in apprenticeships and higher education.

if one were so inclined,
and when you've learned and experienced enough
to be confident in your skills
you may be able pursue a career which is related to cosplaying

but remember there is no single educational course to take for it
and it isnt necessary that one stop being a cosplayer
when one takes up a professional career.

but there is just no such thing as a Professional Cosplayer.