Cospaly cards are a great way to connect with cosplayers, photographers, and con goers alike. There are so many times I've been stopped in a hallway for a photo and I've forgotten to give them a card. When this happens, I don't ever see the photo and I'm not credited by the photographer. By having business cards handy, you can be sure to be credited by everyone. The first step in the card process is picking where you get your cards from. In the past I have used Moo. Moo.com is great because you can choose different backing for your cards and your business cards come in a great box for transporting. I ordered my most recent set through Canva. I really like this set because it has all the same features of making posts in Canva. There are a variety of grids, stickers, and text options to make your cards show off your personality. Once you choose where to get your cards through, it's time to think of a design. A lot of cards I have received have a picture and/or a logo on the front with contact information on the back. I would recommend having at least a picture on the front so people will have an idea about who handed them the card. Remember to ask the photographer if it's okay to use the photo on your cosplay card! If you have a logo, I would add it to the front to make it more personalized. On the back, you can add contact information and a picture or logo. What you can do depends on what site you go through. There are many great templates so you can choose something that represents you. This is my current cosplay card. They have some of my contact information, and some of it is outdated, including the pictures.Contact information is a must. You don't want to add too much information, I would recommend listing five top. I would recommend adding your email and at least your Facebook and Instagram. If you have some sort of funding site such as a Paetron, KoFi or Twitch, I would include it to help gain funds. If you are active on twitter, tumblr, or TikTok you can add that as well, but I would recommend doing it only if you are active on those sites. A website or blog would be a great addition as well, as long as it still focuses on your cosplay. If you have other noncosplay related ventures, I would recommend creating a second card since the audience might not be the same.
If you have more information than you can fit, you'll need to evaluate what you include on the card. Consider the purpose of your card. If you're trying to get your name out there, list what sites are best to reach out to you. If you're trying to make a profit, list the sites where you make money. If you still can't decide, put on the ones that you like the most. You can always create links to different sites on Facebook and Instagram to help your audience reach you in different places. If you use the same handles for some sites, it might be beneficial to put the logos of the sites next to the handles. This can help save you space, especially if most your handles are the same on each site. This is also good for branding since it will be easier for people to find you on different sites. Once you have what information you're going to include, you will need to put them in an order. The order will depend on your goals and the importance you assign to each one. Whatever you want people to see first should be towards the top. You might need to get new cards before your old ones run out because it has outdated information. People can't find you if they don't have the correct sites to find you. I would recommend reviewing your cards annually to make sure they have all the information you want them to. Even if you still have a lot of outdated cards you should get rid of them. Outdated information is going to get you nowhere. Cosplay cards are a great networking tool! By applying these tips, you'll have fantastic looking cards. Originally posted on NerdFest
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Picking a cosplay name can be so intimidating. There are so many fantastic names out there, it might seem hard to find one that fits you. Plus, with so many social media accounts, you don't want to take someone else's identity. It's hard to find something that captures your essence and your craft, the way you want it to. It's going to take time, but I know you can do it. I chose my name back in August of 2016. I was signing up for the cosplay contest at Fort Collins Comic Con and they asked what I should be called on stage. I had to think for a bit. I wasn't immersed in to the con scene, so I wasn't sure how to pick a name. I wanted to include my first name since I wanted to remember to respond. Having such a common name (who doesn't know at least five people named Ashley), I wasn't worried about random people being able to find me online. After thinking for a bit, I knew I wanted something with fire in my name. I thought of different words related to fire and settled on Sparks. I chose it because it paired well with my first name, and there was word play I could use. After 24 hours, I was finally able to submit my application. *Not that the application mattered, since the MC skipped over me and got in a verbal disagreement with the judges when they told him he skipped someone. ![]() The first decision you should make is if you want to use or include any other alias you go by. I know some cosplayers use gamer tags, pen names, or part of their names/nicknames. If you are planning to be multi-faceted (stream games on Twtich, cosplay, write, etc), you're going to want one consistent name to brand yourself with. If you want to keep these identities separate, I would not recommend using the exact same name. Secondly, decide on what you want your brand to be. I wish I had taken more time to stop and think about my cosplay name. Think about who you are as a person and as a cosplayer. What words would you use to describe yourself? Are there any characters you relate to, or cosplay a lot? What is something you're interested in outside of cosplay? Take some time to think about your answers to these questions and try out different names. Your first idea is probably not going to be your best, so don't feel bad if you don't like any of the names. Keep writing down different ideas and changing them until you find one that you think fits perfectly. Once you decided on a name (or narrowed down your options) you're going to want to make sure the name is not in use. There is no database of cosplay names (wouldn't that be cool), so you're going to have to do some digging. My recommendation is to search the name you want on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Even if the name is just taken on one site, I would not recommend using that name. Chances are that person has created that identity already, and you don't want to steal it from them. If your name is available, great! It's time to set up your accounts. I would recommend setting up at least a Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook so no one can take your handle. You probably won't use all accounts up front, but it's better to lock in all usernames now so they can all be consistent. Coming up with a cosplay name can seem tricky, but with some time and thought, you can create the perfect cosplay alias. Orginally posted on NerdFest |
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Gamora: Get Geekish Blake: Yuki Cat Captures Nui: Ham Sandwich What's this?These post are different cosplay advice topics that I think people would find useful. Categories vary, so they can help beginners as well as veterans. Archives
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