A distinct style, and a wonder to the industry, we're talking with Gem Beauty in this special Christmas Episode! Gem came prepared and shares some of her insights into makeup as a professional effects and makeup artist. Her creations are one of a kind, and we get into a lot of tips, tricks, and her insight into creating a look for any Cosplay.  You'll learn about her process, the steps she takes, and her positive approach to just using what you have, where you are, and getting started. With over a dozen years of experience, Gem knows that everyone starts at zero, and that you can't compa ..read more

Cosplay has its dark side - believe me. And if you don't, then in today's episode, you can hear it from Anthony Cosjitsu, as he returns to chat with me all about the depths that some go to inside of the community.  Cosplay is and should be a positive space, but we know that with anything there can excess, anxiety, competition, cancel culture, and poor behavior. We talk through the ups and downs that we have experienced ourselves and the best approach to navigating the sometimes murky characters you can encounter. Don't get us wrong - it's a small percentage of everyone out in the space ..read more

There are steps you can take in Cosplay, or anywhere.  I'll take the time in this season ending episode (at least, standard episodes coming out regularly), to tell you what my process is. -          Decide on the thing in one of the areas you’re working to fix, my 5 are Environment, Physical and Mental well-being, Finance, and Relationships. -          Write down the thin you want changed most and just write about it – what frustrates you, what do you believe you’ll get when you’re done chasing the thing – what do you have to gain or want ..read more

Follow One Course Until Success. Stay the course – small corrections as you learn, but you do learn, and you can see results – giving up is the only issue – but if you agreed to the ‘what is it going to take’ part, then you’re in charge of when you quit. Find us online: https://www.heroesofcosplaysanctuary.com/ Find the Sanctuary on Social: With Co-Host @astravoidcosplay Follow Her On Instagram & Join Her TikTok Community! https://linktr.ee/AstraVoidCosplay​​​... Like, Comment, and SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZst...... Of course you can s ..read more

The hard things we do – belief, consistency, skill building, failing, improving, and having a very solid goal will always pay off in some way.   Difficulties do not need to be avoided in order to have a happy Cosplay life. Find us online: https://www.heroesofcosplaysanctuary.com/ Find the Sanctuary on Social: With Co-Host @astravoidcosplay Follow Her On Instagram & Join Her TikTok Community! https://linktr.ee/AstraVoidCosplay​​​... Like, Comment, and SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZst...... Of course you can share the video and follow u ..read more

Selling yourself as the product to a fan is unsustainable and only works short term – you create more anti-fans in the process – focus on what’s sustainable – keep your distance if this is what you want. It doesn’t scale like a product or service would – make the thing – video series, book, mass produce patterns, entertain, but don’t sell friendship. Find the product or value-add service that you can provide to your audience.  There are many inside of cosplay. Find us online: https://www.heroesofcosplaysanctuary.com/ Find the Sanctuary on Social: With Co-Host @astravoidcosplay Follow Her ..read more

Just because you exist, doesn’t mean anyone owes you and it really isn’t a good reason to pay you – skills, knowledge, experience, expertise – sell that and use your personality to sell it. Chose ethical money making – coning people, pandering to likes, feigning interest and leaning into obsession – all dangerous.  There is inside the community a slippery slope.  Make sure you want to jump in to this when you do, and understand what it will lead to. Find us online: https://www.heroesofcosplaysanctuary.com/ Find the Sanctuary on Social: With Co-Host @astravoidcosplay Follow Her On In ..read more

Remember, you started this because you wanted to be with the people, not high above them – celebrities never interact, and when they do we go crazy – but this isn’t how it should be for us in Cosplay – we’re not Hollywood Actors... Non-response, never interacting – it’s not social – if it’s just to talk about the next thing you’re doing and you ignore your best people because you’re always busy chasing more new people – see what you’ve become, know it's not the right course to take. Find us online: https://www.heroesofcosplaysanctuary.com/ Find the Sanctuary on Social: With Co-Host @astravoid ..read more

There are a few Cosplay traps that we haven't talked about yet - more to do with cosplayers supporting cosplayers or those outside of the community who think they're doing the right thing by over-extending themselves to buy other people Cosplays.  Do not become a “Fan” and carry a torch – have friends, collabs, but do not de-value yourself into having someone be above you because they can model, or act, or are designers.  There are many skills – you need to put yourself first in your own life and believe you have value – being a fan and interacting as a fan will devalue you.  F ..read more

Do not go to Cons just to con people.  Do not hustle to see what you can get for free. Diminishing the community, your value, and only seeing others for what they make and how many followers they have reduces you.  Avoid being the gatekeeper, or the cosplayer that bait and switches everyone for some personal issue that isn't being addressed within yourself. Find us online: https://www.heroesofcosplaysanctuary.com/ Find the Sanctuary on Social: With Co-Host @astravoidcosplay Follow Her On Instagram & Join Her TikTok Community! https://linktr.ee/AstraVoidCosplay​​​... Like, Comme ..read more