The 5 S's of Cosplay: Intro

5 S: so not weebo!

Omg you're not getting all business into my fun time cosplaying are you!? Well no...but we have learned from much fail that maybe some business skills in our costuming and builds would help things go better. In the next 5 posts I'll go over what we did at House Needles to tighten up our production and make it less angst inducing. Because yes, part of the cosplay game is losing half your pattern pieces, having to do it again, having to go out in the middle of the night to buy more supplies because you can't find 'em or the dog ate it, and then having to pull a "drag race duct tape couture" moment....but dammit I'm 30. I ain't got the energy for that! Sure, Murphy's law will ALWAYS happen so plan ahead!

Reason for this quest?

1. ) We are broke. Costuming is freaking expensive! By going LEAN we can save our cash, get more out of what we have in the Stash and hopefully be able to get more done with less tears.
2. ) A couple of us are gimpy. When you never know when you might get a migraine, lose sensation in your hands, or be overcome with fatigue for a week, you have to do the most work possible in the least set of time with the least amount of dicking around.
3. ) With many hobbies comes a need to streamline and be efficient.
4. ) Because dammit it may be a fun time goofball hobby but lets be adults here! And stepping on needles in the carpet sucks. 
5. ) Lets teach our next generation of sewers and crafters good habits. I teach sewing to three students right now and I see how my 'eh just get it done" and "eh it'll do" attitude can get a little out of hand when teaching them. If I want them to do better I have to do better. 

So lets put on our tsuke cords, roll up them kimono sleeves and go full KAIZEN!