Fascination cosplay

A convention (meeting of like-minded people) is generally understood to be a major supraregional event, usually lasting several days, at which members of a particular fan scene meet and exchange ideas. Among the largest and best-known German "cosplay" events are the video game fairs “gamescom” and “DreamHack”, the anime convention “DoKomi” in Düsseldorf and the "Comic Con Germany". At these conventions, the cosplayers themselves become the attraction and the organizers usually organize a costume contest. Furthermore, there are workshops and lectures on the topic of costume making or similar.

There are now many ways to turn a cosplay hobby into a profession. Many companies, mainly from the film and games industry, rely on cosplayers as promotion. For example, they are used as booth personnel at trade fairs or similar. Many talented cosplayers earn their living by making high-quality costumes for companies or private individuals. For example, they work with game publishers and produce exclusive costumes for them. Cosplayers also act as brand ambassadors and develop their own products. Furthermore, cosplayers with large followings on social networks act as influencers and earn their money through advertising revenue, monetization or crowdfunding.

The beginnings of cosplay date back to the middle of the last century. In the meantime, the market of and for cosplayers is a globally growing industry that owes its success, among other things, to the advancing social acceptance of video games.