In light of the Jim Logan scandal, and some other things I have noticed when talking with fellow designers, I thought it might be handy to share my mini guide to commissions! I realize a lot of people who are interested in ordering costumes or props could find this useful when inquiring about a potential order! Merediths Guide to Commissions! 1. Do your research! Not every cosplay maker does it all. Some specialize in props, others in custom garments, a select few only work with spandex. Take the time to look through a designers portfolio and get a feel if they can make what you want. And then, see what people are saying about them. 2. Inquire! When you go to ask for a quote, please provide as much information as possible. Emailing someone with “Can you make me a Batgirl?” isnt very specific and you can avoid a lot of back and forth if you are upfront about what you need. 3. Include reference photos! By including photos it gives the designer an exact idea of the costume you want. So many of these characters have variants, its best to supply that information up front. And simply asking, “Can you make me a Batgirl costume?” leaves the door open for at least 14 different suit designs. 4. State your budget! Every seamstress has a different price set. If you are honest about the budget you have to work with from the get go, it will avoid any unnecessary haggling later on. And if that seamstress cant do it on your budget, they may be able to recommend someone who can. Remember, they charge based on experience, materials and time, so it can add up really quick! But someone new to commissions may be willing to sew for less just to gain the experience and get their work out there. 5. Include a due date! Be very clear when you need the costume by. Dont say the day of the convention, because you never know what can happen in transit. Its best to receive a costume at least two weeks prior to the date you want to wear it, if not earlier, in case you need adjustments made. 6. Add additional notes! If you know you want a certain type of fabric, color, changes in the costume, let the designer know. That also factors into the price. Ive agreed to designs before only to have the client message me days later wanting changes. Think of this stuff in advance! It guarantees you get the product you want. 7. Know your measurements! You dont need this for the initial inquiry, but when the time comes to supply them, make sure you have a friend around to take them accurately. Ive gotten several people who misread, or purposely disclosed false measurements and they were upset when the garment didnt fit them upon arrival. If you are planning on losing weight, toning, or going through any other body changes, let your designer know so you two can plan accordingly. 8. Be understanding! Not every commissioner is a scammer. Real life happens, and sometimes a person gets sick, or a tragedy happens, and as long as they are open and communicative about it, please try to be understanding in return. We all know how exciting it is to debut a new costume, especially one youve sunk lots of money into, but designers also sink a lot of time into making them and of course want you to be happy! But sometimes thing go awry and its best to keep a level head and open line of communication. If you feel you are being scammed, dont resort to threatening legal action (so very few people even know how it works), or being aggressive and demanding; file a claim with Paypal, or however you paid, and make note of every conversation and transaction youve had, so you can use it to prove your claim. And make sure to post (with full disclosure) on any sites that rate cosplay commissioners (there are several groups on Facebook). 9. Finally, Have Fun! Youre playing dress up after all. So enjoy it!
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 16:48:48 +0000
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