This topic has been on my mind a lot lately. I have few things to say about this topic!!! Going to get on my soap box here some and hope no one minds… A fellow costumer brought up this topic on a forum and I commend him for it and I wanted to give my take on it as well! He said he has a issue with the word COSPLAY and also costume Nazis who often bash “rookie” or new costumers…
Now I consider myself and few others in this community as “professional costumers”, you may be asking well what is that now? In my book if you have been PAID to make it or to wear it or to do it… then in my book you are semi or professional costumer.
The word COSPLAY also sends a shudder down my spine when used incorrectly…. Now before anyone get offended I have no issue with COSPLAY its getting big attention these days, but its often used in slang or incorrectly by those who do not see the difference between that and a costumer! I am sorry but I am not into role-playing or anime, those that are that’s fine, just not my cup of tea and that to me thats what COSPLAY or running around in character is all about…
Costumers do research and work on the details… that mean getting what matters right whether someone sees it or not, to me it’s all in the details… I was soldier and sailor and Stargate is in my blood for life. I enjoy doing Star Wars and few other things I dabble in but you all know my passion for Stargate. Now since I loved it so much I decided to turn it into a business. Now unfort it is a real business and I do have to treat it as such. I try not to be pushy about things and always offer deals when I can. Its fine line I have to walk between work and fun! My father always taught me do what you LOVE and you will never have to work a day in your life!
I loved being a Rigger in the Navy, yes it was a lot work and I dealt with a lot BS over 20 years but I am proud my service and I show that pride whenever I can. I have been lucky with the opportunities that have come my way and I am grateful for each and everyone one of them. I started back at SG-Command back in 2005 and knew nothing. Over the years of dedication, countless hours of research and study I have but my blood sweat and precious metal into this being huge part my life. I love making costumes for others and making them feel proud to wear something that to some looks perfect! Over the years I think a few have mistaken my passion for trying to be salesman and that’s not what its about for me. I much rather cut someone a deal and put them in costume that would be proud to wear than worry about making that extra $20 dollars! Those that know me well I think know that, those that do not, have to deal with me and I guess learn that in time! Even Rice and I have banged heads about how far do we have to take it, does matter what underwear the actor wore, but we do it all in fun and most I think know that!
Some of you may or may not know this… but earlier this Spring a few members of a 501st UK group started to smear my name and talk trash about me on FB over a WEP jacket issue, it got VERY BAD… This all started because a guy that was ALREADY one my customers posted on group that I was member of he was looking for a SG-1 jacket. He said he was on budget and I always try to steer people to whatever stock Dan has left to get those sold, then if they cannot find the correct size I try to help them out.
Right off the bat this guy said he wanted mine but really couldn’t afford mine so he had written that idea off totally not even asking me if there was a way. What many fail to understand due to lack of shipping experience that especially overseas there is much cost in doing costumes, we are very luck in the USA for what we often pay… yes the exchange rate at time maybe in their favor but they get screwed in other ways… For instance by the time you paid G&B for the “proper” jacket not mountain cloth, if you knew enough to ask for it to begin with, and THEN paid them shipping to the UK and then got hit the VAT tax because of the invoice they are going to enclose with it you were within about $20-30.00 of one of mine and with patches AND a few more bells and whistles than the one you would be getting from them with Velcro if you were knowledgeable enough to ask for it…
So before I even had chance to explain that to him and see what his budget was and offer to try to help him out he was going to G&B and anyway. At this point I didn’t even try and offered to order it FOR him so he would get the “correct” jacket and size, they often have people overseas order the wrong size then shipping is insane for exchanges or refunds! So someone is stuck with something they cannot wear or hate. THEN I offered to ship it to me and ship it over to him at COST, thus saving him much more than the extra $14.00 to send to me by ditching the invoice and he pay the cost to get it over to him. I have commercial pricing that can be better and maybe even getting by customs a tad bit easier than he would have from G&B! So within a day I was called scam artist and rip off because I offer to help him for FREE? :blink:
Since then G&B has now stopped making the WEP jacket all together for many of the reasons I listed above and then called me asking ME if I could take over any orders for them that were “Stargate” or custom related… So I have streamlined few things in my process and lowered my prices about as far as I dare in most cases just to keep them going. I make very little on most jacket order if anything anymore and look solely to make my money on finding the proper vests for others, the correct modifications AND and the sewing of harnesses and special orders.
Now with my payment plans and law-a-ways I have taken making this bit easier on the wallet for some! Yes most of you also know I am pretty much stickler for the details but that is the demographic that I tend to scale my work towards. No you do not want the $250.00 SUUNTO watch fine with me I offer the knock offs… but I also know where to NOT cut corners and can offer that advice… Justin and I have real passion for the patches. Yes many people are on budget but $5.00 eBay patch vs. nice screen accurate one seriously we are talking another $5.00-6.00 in 99% most cases. Why would you want the garbage other than just pure I didn’t know any better… So it’s really about the research and knowing what’s out there so that comes to sharing ones knowledge. I have done over 700 orders and have customers in 60 countries now so I feel I pretty much seen it all, but I still learn stuff every week it seems…