Why I’ve Been Cosplaying For 24 Years, and How I Get Paid To Do It

Elizabethheartz first began cosplaying at age 15 for Speech Day at her secondary school. At 26, she began getting paid to do it. Now that she has 24 years of cosplaying under her belt and is the organiser of many cosplay events in Singapore, we decided to find out what keeps her at it.

Q: Hi Elizabeth! Nice to have you with us today! Tell us a little about yourself—who are you when not cosplaying and who are you when you cosplay?

A: I tend to be more image-cautious when I’m cosplaying, as a form of respect to the character I’m cosplaying. Especially when the public eye tends to fall on you more, I’ll take extra note of my actions, etc.

How did you start cosplaying? When was the very first time you ever cosplayed and what about it made you want to do it again… and again? 

I first started cosplaying during 1996? Then, as I started a store, catering to the needs of local cosplayers, I felt it important to get into the action to bond with my customers too. From there, I learned to understand them better and how to operate the business smoother. Slowly, I started enjoying it as [the extent to which I could] transform myself into character seemed quite fun.

When you first became an active cosplayer, how did you figure out where to get your costumes and accessories from and how did you know where there would be events you could go to dressed in cosplay get-up?

Back in 1996, there weren’t any stores catering to such. It was for a musical play with my teacher’s help. After I started the store, I slowly created more events to cater to the needs of more cosplayers joining the community. 

How did you choose which character you wanted to be? Did you have to watch the anime of that particular character over and over like an actor to learn how to behave as her?

Usually it’s from an anime that I enjoyed, which makes me want to cosplay the character. Having a store has its pressures—people expect much from you especially [when you’re] being a judge for cosplay competitions in Singapore and regional countries. It is the basic [requirement] for each cosplayer to do homework on their character inside and out, to check the suitability and weigh the possibilities.

How did your family and friends react when they first saw you dressed that way, behaving like an anime character?

As it wasn’t common back then, people tended to be so curious, but perhaps it also depends on what character you started off as, etc. Thus for me, it was a pleasant experience. 

I know you’re also a professional cosplay artist and rather well-known in the cosplay scene in Singapore, so please share—when and how did you start getting paid to cosplay and what did your very first paid gig require you to do? 

Honestly, most clients have a budget allocated for marketing. When I am engaged for work, it is natural for the client to pay. If it’s for a local gig, transportation and meal allowances are to be considered as well. If it’s an overseas gig, transportation, accommodation, meal allowances, helpers/translators should be provided too.

Cosplay is a form of art—it should be respected as well. However, there tend to be some who try to underpay or, sadly, don’t pay cosplayers for their work. This should not be encouraged. I’ve always [told] the community that, since we also put so much effort into outfits, makeup, time, effort, etc, for any form of engaged work. In fact, we should be paid higher because we usually come with our costume/makeup/styling done before starting any form of work. 

Is being a professional cosplay artist a sustainable career, in your opinion? Or do you have to do anything else to supplement your income when trying to be one?

From time to time, yes I do get offers to make appearances for events, etc. However the market demand in Singapore isn’t that big compared to overseas [markets]. Unless you have connections and know your rights, it is quite hard to sustain [yourself with cosplay as a career]. However, if you have your own merchandise, depending on your popularity, it is also possible to bring in extra income.

Also, to be respected on a professional level, you should know how to do your own costumes/wigs/props. Others will tend to respect you for your talent more [if you can do so].

What is the routine of a professional cosplayer like? How often do you get gigs and what do you have to do on a regular basis to promote yourself as a cosplayer for hire?

Every professional cosplayer should have their list of rate cards and profiles available when approached. Our costumes/wigs/props/etc are usually kept in mint condition, with slight repairs/touch up [done to them] after every use. So they will be either busy at gigs, with costume/prop-making, photoshoots, interviews, meet & greets, appearances online/offline or handling collaborations, etc.

[Gigs come] about a few times a month (it is up to the individual whether to accept or not) and can come in many different forms. I will usually share my work proofs on my social media platforms.

Do you still cosplay simply for the fun of it? When and how often do you do so if so?

Yes I still do but not as often as before as I’m usually tied up with other events. It has been quite busy for me in the recent years especially now that I’m more active in my collaborations.

What are weekends like for a cosplayer?

For most cosplayers, it could be a private photoshoot indoor (with studio booking) or outdoor. Other than that, they still hang out together but on a budget basis, to save up for materials/costumes.

What advice do you have for people hoping to become cosplayers too?

Be humble and be hardworking. Check out Haru House’s monthly gathering for rookies/seniors where we chill and hang out, and are more than willing to share tips and information about cosplay! Do research, lots of it before jumping into the community. Last but not least, have fun, lots of it while at it!

Can you map out a suggested path for people who want to make a living from cosplaying to follow?

Always be humble and polite. Strive to be better each time and observe/ask the seniors how they do it. It is never the same path for everyone.

What key things/people/situations enabled you to cosplay throughout your adult life, in your opinion?

Effort and determination. Having a supportive family also helps a lot. 

How did cosplay change you as a person? Or did it not change you? Why?

Having been the one many new cosplayers come to [when needing to] share their concerns or even family issues, I’ve become like a sisterly character to hundreds or even thousands. Somehow a lot of them look up to me, thus it pushes me to stay strong even during down times, just to be around for them! 

If you could go back and replay all the occasions you’ve cosplayed at all over again, what would you do differently?

To date, I’m satisfied with all my cosplay plans so far, and have enjoyed the growing process too!

What were you like as a child? What about as a teenager and young adult? How did you change at every decade? Or did you not change?

 I’ve become more experienced with life for sure! Seeing a lot of different types of people & situations has helped me grow to who I am today!

Which major event in your life has made you who you are, in your opinion? Why do you think so?

I would like to thank [those who] invited [me] overseas as a cosplay guest and judge back then in Jakarta because it allowed me to make friends with so many awesome guests as well! It also kick-started my blogging career!

Which 3 objects/people in your life can you presently not live without and why?

1.My phone. Due to my job nature, it is hard for me to be away offline for long, so I definitely need it! I can connect me to my love ones, take pics (for memories/work) and connect to my work online!

2.My parents. I am grateful for them always letting me be who I want to be, and often checking on me [to see] if I’ve eaten, etc. I really appreciate them and want to bring smiles on their faces whenever I can.

3.My daughter. As a single parent, I want nothing more than to be supportive and provide as much as I can so she can spread her wings as much as she wants as she blooms.

Of all the objects you bought/received for cosplay purposes, which was most useful? Why?

Cos Cos Face Glue! It sticks the wig to my face so I don’t get those fly-ends and it helps to frame my face smaller!

What’s the worst advice you’ve been given, or have heard people giving? And what’s the best?

People who just jump into cosplay just for the fun/fame of it. It takes more than that sweetie~

And finally, at what age do you think you will finally stop cosplaying?

I will still do it, for as long as I want! 

Elizabethheartz is presently a content creator busy with managing her social media platforms and running Haru House online at this page (“Left segment for all my blogging content, right segment for Haru House!”). She does appearances and filming and modelling gigs as and when they arise and will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have if you drop them into the comment box below.

She is also presently running a Haru Pop Up Store at Scape #02-17D from now till 14 Sep 2019 so you may hop on down to catch her there or get yourself some cosplay merchandise!

Other interviews with Elizabethheartz:
COVID-19 Diaries: The Coronavirus Situation In Singapore, 73 Days In

Interviewer Note:
I first met Elizabethheartz almost a decade ago when I went to interview her for an NHK documentary on cosplay in Singapore. She had Haru House as a physical store at Scape then and there were always these youths and students in there, sitting at the tables deep within her shop, working on their own cosplay props or simply having a take-out or hanging out. It was like their ‘place to be’; their community; where they went after school and hung at till late. Because of them, I came to understand the appeal of cosplay and the full magic of what Elizabethheartz had created for the youth of Singapore. Because of her shop, they had some place to go to where they could feel welcome and like they belonged. Because of her big sisterly presence and community-building efforts, they found a tribe which accepted and supported their desires to move beyond their circumstances and set free their inherent personalities. Because of that, I have always thought Elizabethheartz an awesome person. 🙂

You can watch the documentary we filmed at Haru House all those years ago on Haru House’s YouTube page:

Photographs courtesy and copyright of Elizabethheartz. Interviewer: Sy
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