How to Turn Your Love for Cosplay into a Viable Business

If there is any advice most successful business people usually give, it is that you should never invest in a business you do not understand. 

Even as a side hustle, business requires considerable time to ensure its success. 

Venturing into a business that aligns with your passion and interest gives a sense of satisfaction that makes work fun.

Cosplay is a fun hobby that can be turned into a viable business. A market research report valued the global cosplay costume market at $4.6 billion. Another research firm expects it to hold a value of $4.78 billion in 2023, while it is projected to surpass $23 billion by 2023.

To start a successful cosplay business, you must understand cosplay and why people are interested in this hobby.

What is cosplay?

Cosplay is derived from two English words, Costume and Play. A costume is an outfit worn to create the appearance characteristics of a person, place, or period. Conversely, play means performing or participating in a fun activity such as a game.

Costume Play, shortened as cosplay, is a performance art where participants wear costumes and accessories to mimic a unique character from fiction, such as a comic book or animated movie.

Cosplay has been around for over three decades. One notable cosplay movement was in 1984 when a group called Studio Hard dressed up as anime characters at comic conventions in Japan.

Since then, numerous cosplay conventions have been organized across the world. The number of attendees at these conventions has also increased year-on-year, indicating that more people are interested in cosplay.

Even though it is difficult to estimate the exact number of cosplayers globally, about five million are estimated to reside in the United States.

Why cosplay is more than a hobby for its followers

For many cosplayers, wearing a costume is beyond just mimicking a character. They also take up the mental role of the character. This is why cosplay conventions can be an emotional event for many cosplayers. Winning the best costume tops most attendees’ goals.

Aside from the fun of being a cosplayer, it is a vibrant community for geeks to socialize. It offers a safe avenue for self-expression.

Cosplay-related business ideas

Now that you understand why a lot of people are interested in cosplay, below are some cosplay-related business ideas you can explore;

Blogging

If you are a cosplayer who likes writing, start blogging. It is easier than you think. You can write about anything that interests you.

There are many things to blog about, from discussing your favorite cosplay convention venue to writing guides about tips to win the best dress. 

If you have experience designing your costume, it can be a great topic to write about for others who may want to do the same.

You may not start making money immediately after launching your blog, but as more people visit your site over time, you can start monetizing your content.

Another way to earn through blogging is by creating exclusive content, such as behind-the-scenes material, while requesting readers to subscribe for a fee.

Design cosplay outfits

Authenticity and uniqueness are values cherished in the cosplay society. If you are good at designing your costume, it is time to start making money doing the same for others.

You can also include special features like glowing gems to make your costume stand out. However, this might require some engineering skills. Fortunately, you can watch online tutorials to get started.

There is also no need to fret about where to get the required electrical materials, as you can easily contact Electronics Manufacturing companies to handle the design for you while you focus on expanding your new business. 

For people interested in cosplay but need more skill and budget for a costume, your can rent out your outfit to them at a fee.

Modeling

To start as a cosplay model, you must first find a character you are interested in. Be as detailed as possible when designing your costume to appear like the character. Ensure your hairstyle, make-up, and shoes correspond with what the original character wears.

Perfectly mimicking your chosen character’s pose might be challenging, but with enough practice, you should be able to achieve this. 

Cosplay models generally get paid to attend theme events and movie openings.

Social media influencer

There are still a lot of niches untapped in the cosplay social media influencing industry. The secret to becoming a successful influencer is offering content cosplayers will likely be interested in.

If you are a model, upload your photographs online for cosplayers to follow your account. You may also specialize in sharing details about conventions, encouraging cosplayers to always visit your page for updates about the latest conventions. 

With enough online followers, it is only a matter of time before you start getting offers to promote products and services.