๐ {31/01/22} โฆ (*ใะท`*) My first Convention after 4 years - "๐๐๐๐ค ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ณ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐" [DAY 2] โฆ ๐ช๐ธ โ ๐บ๐ธ
ยซ The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire; the size of your dream; and how you handle disappointment along the way ยป
๐ช๐ธ ~ Ok, maรฑana es aรฑo nuevo Chino y no puedo creer lo mucho que he tardado en completar este (full condescendiente) simple resumen de lo que fue asistir a una convenciรณn y hacer Cosplay despuรฉs de algunos aรฑos ausente.
En un principio esto no serรญan 2 post, serรญa un video en modo mini documental, pero por motivos que describo al final de esta nota sabrรกn porquรฉ anรญmicamente no me siento en condiciones de materializar esa idea. Asรญ que esto serรกn solo algunas fotos, gifยดs extraรญdos de muchos videos (que todavรญa no he decidido quรฉ hare con ellos) y escritura libre (a lo mejor esto quedarรญa mejor en la comunidad de โCatharsisโ, pero no quiero romper el lazo con la primera parte de esta historia) (ใ๏ฟฃโฝ๏ฟฃใ)_ใป)
๐บ๐ธ ~ Ok, tomorrow is Chinese New Year and I can't believe how long it has taken me to complete this (full condescending) simple summary of what it was like to attend a convention and do Cosplay after some years of absence.
At first this would not be 2 posts, it would be a video in mini documentary mode, but for reasons that I describe at the end of this note you will know why I don't feel able to materialize that idea. So this will be just some pictures, gif's extracted from many videos (that I haven't decided yet what I'll do with them) and free writing (maybe this would be better in the "Catharsis" community, but I don't want to break the link with the first part of this story) (ใ๏ฟฃโฝ๏ฟฃใ)_ใป)
โข ๐พ ๐ผ ๐ผ ๐ โข ๐ฝ ๐ผ ๐ ๐ โข ๐ ๐ผ โ ๐ผ โค ๐ ๐ผ ๐ ๐ธ โข
ยซ DAY 2 ยป
โฆ This day my brother was able to join us and that made me very happy. When I started this Cosplay thing (many moons ago) I wanted my family to be involved and I included them in all my projects, but almost 100% of my attempts to invite them to join me or support me ended badly (last year I found out why they were so reluctant about Cosplay, but that's a dense topic for another time) โฆ
El segundo dรญa los planes fueron diferentes, porque a razรณn de la distancia y la hora del concurso de Cosplay (aproximadamente 2 o 3pm) tenรญamos que salir mucho mรกs temprano para llegar a tiempo. Esta vez sรญ alcance a maquillarme completamente en casa ๐ โ๏ธ
The second day the plans were different, because due to the distance and the time of the Cosplay contest (about 2 or 3pm) we had to leave much earlier to be on time. This time I did manage to do my makeup at home ๐ โ๏ธ
โฆ Before entering the event hall @Vanuzza proposed to take some pictures. Something very nice that happened while I was getting ready is that we were able to talk with other cosplayers who were also preparing for the contest โฆ
Pero igual que el dรญa anterior, repetimos el proceso de correr a los baรฑos del hotel, abrir la sรบper maleta y comenzar el proceso de vestirme. Arturia es mรกs rรกpido de colocar que Kirika porque su traje es mucho mรกs resistente.
But just like the day before, we repeat the process of running to the hotel bathrooms, opening the super suitcase and starting the process of getting dressed. Arturia is faster to put on than Kirika because her suit is much sturdier.
En ese momento estaba absurdamente orgullosa y feliz de que @Vanuzza y @Pigritia aprobaran las botas que tanto trabajo (y dolor en las manos + trasnochos) me tomo hacer. No solo por el aspecto, que era importante, sino mรกs bien por su resistencia (porque se supone tenรญan que soportar mucho giros y saltos por el tipo de presentaciรณn que prepare) ๐ฅฒ
At that moment I was absurdly proud and happy that @Vanuzza and @Pigritia approved of the boots that took me so much work (and pain in my hands + late nights) to make. Not just for the look, which was important, but rather for their endurance (because they were supposed to withstand a lot of twisting and jumping for the kind of presentation I prepared) ๐ฅฒ
Ok, si, ellas son mis amigas, pero precisamente por eso sรฉ que su opiniรณn siempre es sincera y NO condescendiente, ellas siempre me dicen la verdad, especialmente si algo estรก mal hecho (han sido una ayuda inmensa que siempre me empuja a mejorar y no ser conformista); el proceso de prepararnos para un concurso siempre es muy รญntimo, porque tienes contigo a personas que vieron el proceso que implicรณ la construcciรณn de tu traje, y que te acompaรฑen hasta el final es infinitamente significativo.
Ok, yes, they are my friends, but precisely because of that I know that their opinion is always sincere and NOT condescending, they always tell me the truth, especially if something is badly done (they have been an immense help that always pushes me to improve and not to be conformist); the process of preparing for a contest is always very intimate, because you have with you people who saw the process that involved the construction of your costume, and that they accompany you until the end is infinitely significant.
ยกEn la nota anterior olvide colocar estas fotos!, no exageraba cuando les decรญa que la decoraciรณn fue realmente bonita.
Otra cosa que ocurriรณ muy bonita y que no esperaba, fue que recibรญ muchos halagos por el traje desde la fila para entrar al evento (sinceramente yo estaba mentalizada de que pasarรญa sรบper desapercibida) ๐ญ ๐
In the previous note I forgot to put these pictures, I wasn't exaggerating when I told you that the decoration was really nice.
Another thing that happened really nice and that I didn't expect, was that I received a lot of compliments for my Cosplay from the line to enter the event (honestly I was psyched that I would go super unnoticed) ๐ญ ๐
โฆ I met many beautiful cosplayers, but special mention to Rengoku who was bursting with personality. He was one of my favorite cosplayer of the event along with a little Nezuko (her mom made her whole costume and she was so, so proud), but I didn't manage to take pictures of her โฆ
Ese dรญa conseguรญ conocer y apreciar el trabajo de muchas personas. Ya no me lamento tanto por el tiempo que estuve ausente de las redes, al contrario. Las cosas han evolucionado y comprobรฉ que lejos de โconocerโ lo que โhay de nuevoโ, mรกs bien debo ponerme al dรญa y estudiar cรณmo funcionan las cosas ahora (เนรฯรเน)
That day I got to know and appreciate the work of many people. I no longer regret so much for the time I was absent from the networks, on the contrary. Things have evolved and I found that far from "knowing" what "is new", I should rather catch up and study how things work now (เนรฯรเน)
La verdad la pasamos muy bien, tal cual el dรญa anterior habรญa mucho por ver, muchas atracciones, y muchรญsimas gente con quien hablar; el tiempo paso volando y sinceramente, yo estaba muy nerviosa por el concursoโฆ
Desde que llegamos, preguntamos por informaciรณn, ยฟdรณnde habรญa que inscribirse?, ยฟtodavรญa habรญa cupos disponibles?, ยฟa quรฉ hora y donde habรญa que estar?...
We had a great time, just like the day before, there was so much to see, so many attractions, and so many people to talk to; the time flew by and honestly, I was very nervous about the contest...
As soon as we arrived, we asked for information, where to register, were there still places available, what time and where to be...?
Mis amigos ya sabรญan que algo iba muy mal, pero no quisieron preocuparme o ponerme nerviosa: Hubo muchas โbanderas rojasโ que yo no quise ver, o mejor dicho, las vi pero las ignore porque estaba tan, pero TAN ILUSIONADA con pisar un escenario de nuevoโฆ que mi optimismo y confianza en el trabajo de esta nueva organizaciรณn, estaba por las nubes.
Banderas rojas como que no habรญa una hora clara para el concurso, el escenario estaba atiborrado de cosas que podรญan ser peligrosas, y no habรญa un sistema de inscripciones claro, solo el rumor de una persona anotando en un papel a los participantesโฆ
En otro tiempo, solo con confirmar que las inscripciones estaban haciรฉndose a mano a menos de 1 hora del concurso, hubiera sido suficiente para retirarme o desistir de participar, porque es seรฑal inequรญvoca de que no existe protocolo ni logรญstica, y eso, se traduce en un potencial (casi seguro) desastre.
My friends already knew that something was going very wrong, but they didn't want to worry me or make me nervous: There were many "red flags " that I didn't want to see, or rather, I saw them but ignored them because I was so, SO EXCITED to step on stage again... that my optimism and confidence in the work of this new organization, was through the roof.
Red flags like there was no clear time for the contest, the stage was crammed with things that could be dangerous, and there was no clear registration system, only the rumor of a person writing down on a piece of paper the participants...
In another time, just confirming that the inscriptions were being done by hand less than 1 hour before the contest, would have been enough to withdraw or desist from participating, because it is a clear sign that there is no protocol or logistics, and that translates into a potential (almost certain) disaster.
โข ๐ ๐ ๐ โข ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ (ใ๏นใฝ) โข
โฆ It has been many weeks now and my feelings have settled. I knew I had to let this out, even in an awkward and terse way, but I was not satisfied with the ways I could think of. I was afraid of being unfair or falling into cruelty. But in the end I chose to just be honest, with no other intention than to help myself close this chapter โฆ
Lo primero que necesito decir de esta experiencia, es que fue terrible. Fue el peor concurso de Cosplay al que he asistido.
Fue confuso e incรณmodo de principio a fin, y solo pensar en mencionar cada cosa โmal hechaโ por parte de la organizaciรณn simplemente me agota emocionalmente mรกs allรก de lo que puedo describir (yo no soy de piedra ok?).
Para comenzar, y sin hacerlo extenso, no habรญa stand de informaciรณn ni persona identificada a la que dirigirte para obtener informaciรณn clara sobre el concurso (en cualquiera de sus categorรญas). Tambiรฉn, a medida que avanzaba el tiempo, cambiaron las reglas y modalidades hasta 3 veces. Dieron indicaciones escasas, y las pocas que dieron, fueron improvisadas, y como consecuencia pusieron a todos los participantes en circunstancias muy difรญciles. El escenario era peligroso, lleno de cables y aparatos atravesados que no se molestaron el mover. Tampoco respetaron los parรกmetros que anunciaron en redes para la evaluaciรณn de los Cosplayersโฆ
Yo misma estuve en problemas 2 veces, en una me enrede con cables en el suelo en medio de la primera โpasarelaโ que nos pidieron, en la segunda, casi tropiezo con un aparato de sonido al borde del escenario (ยกsiempre estarรฉ eternamente agradecida con el organizador que me rescato, y que me sujeto tambiรฉn del brazo por seguridad!)
Esta triste y decepcionante experiencia se resume en lo siguiente:
El jurado hizo una elecciรณn (no sรฉ bajo quรฉ parรกmetros) y de entre todos los participantes escogieron un numero de finalistas por cada categorรญa (grupal, masculino y femenino).
Luego, a esos finalistas nos hicieron subir al escenario (por tercera vez), y allรญ, sin preguntarnos, sin previo aviso, nos pidieron hacer una improvisaciรณn de 20 segundos dรกndonos el micrรณfono -error garrafal- (en las reglas de los concursos decรญa que cada participante tendrรญa 3 minutos para hacer una puesta en escena, utilizando el material de audio o video que hubieras preparado. Ni siquiera nos dieron la oportunidad de entregar el material).
Esos 20 segundos fueron espantososโฆ y me dolieron profundamente porque sentรญ en carne viva el desperdicio de todo el arduo trabajo que tuve que hacer para llegar a ese momentoโฆ
Despuรฉs de eso, el presentador alentรณ al pรบblico a votar por su favoritoโฆ esta parte fue especialmente lamentable y horrible para mรญ, porque el panel de jurados es quien toma esa decisiรณn, siendo que supuestamente han sido contratados por la organizaciรณn por su buen criterio o mรฉritosโฆ al involucrar al pรบblico, estas CANCELANDO e invalidando inmediatamente el juicio del jurado. Tambiรฉn me sentรญ muy mal por ellos.
Fue espantoso presenciar el retroceso de mรกs de 10 aรฑos de cultura Cosplay en el paรญsโฆ desde el aรฑo 2007 no veรญa un concurso donde se implementara la selecciรณn por โaplausos del pรบblicoโ.
Todo fue un desastre, la manera en que nos trataron, el manejo del espacio, los tiempos, los cambios abruptos, el staff corriendo por todos lados atravesรกndose, incluso la forma de expresarse y gestos del presentadorโฆ que solo hacรญa mรกs grande la dimensiรณn del desastre en el que nos arrastraron.
The first thing I need to say about this experience, it was terrible. It was the worst cosplay contest I have ever attended.
It was confusing and uncomfortable from start to finish, and just thinking about mentioning every single thing "done wrong" by the organization just emotionally drains me beyond description (I'm not made of stone ok?).
To begin with, and without making it long-winded, there was no information booth or identified person to turn to for clear information about the contest (in any of its categories). Also, as time progressed, they changed the rules and modalities up to 3 times. They gave scarce indications, and the few that they gave, were improvised, and as a consequence put all the participants in very difficult circumstances. The stage was dangerous, full of cables and crossed devices that they did not bother to move. They also did not respect the parameters that they announced on networks for the evaluation of the Cosplayers...
I myself was in trouble 2 times, once I got tangled with wires on the floor in the middle of the first "catwalk" they asked us to do, the second time, I almost tripped on a sound device at the edge of the stage (I will always be eternally grateful to the organizer who rescued me, and who also held my arm for safety! You will always have my sincere gratitude and respect.)
This sad and disappointing experience boils down to the following:
The jury made a choice (I don't know under what parameters) and from all the participants they chose a number of finalists for each category (group, male and female).
Then, those finalists were made to go on stage (for the third time), and there, without asking us, without prior notice, they asked us to do a 20 second improvisation giving us the microphone -a blunder- (in the rules of the contests it said that each participant would have 3 minutes to do a staging, using the audio or video material that you had prepared. They didn't even give us the opportunity to hand in the material).
Those 20 seconds were dreadful... and they hurt me deeply because I felt in the flesh the waste of all the hard work I had to do to get to that moment...
After that, the presenter encouraged the audience to vote for their favorite... this part was especially pitiful and horrible to me, because the jury panel is the one making that decision, being that they have supposedly been hired by the organization for their good judgment or merit... by involving the audience, you are immediately CANCELLING and invalidating the jury's judgment. I felt very bad for them as well.
It was appalling to witness the setback of more than 10 years of Cosplay culture in the country... since 2007 I haven't seen a contest where the selection by "public applause" was implemented.
Everything was a disaster, the way they treated us, the way they handled the space, the times, the abrupt changes, the staff running all over the place, even the way the presenter expressed himself and his gestures... which only made the dimension of the disaster in which we were dragged into bigger.
โฆ All this that I am telling happened very fast, too fast ๐ค โฆ
Cuando me di cuenta que no habรญa vuelta atrรกs, y que todo estaba arruinado irremediablemente, ยกe incluso antes!, hice mi mejor esfuerzo por poner buena cara y sonreรญr (el pรบblico jamรกs debe verte triste, eso dรฉjalo para tras bastidores), perdรญ interรฉs en todo cuando comprobรฉ que nunca existiรณ โun concurso de Cosplayโ planificadoโฆ
Cuando pude bajar del escenario (sin dejar de pasar mรกs momentos incomodos y desagradables que ya no quiero mencionar), mis amigos y mi hermano me esperaban, estaban muy decepcionados pero mi cerebro ya habรญa disparado al 100% el โmodo resilienciaโ en mi menteโฆ en ese instante solo les repetรญa que โTodo estรก bien! No es para tanto! Estas cosas pasan :D jajajajaโ.
Tambiรฉn experimente muchos sentimientos de vergรผenza, sentรญ que habรญa decepcionado a mis amigos y a mi hermano, sentรญ que solo habรญa hecho el ridรญculo y nada mรกs, que era injusto despuรฉs de toda la ayuda que me habรญan prestado no haber โhecho las cosas bienโ a pesar de las circunstancias.
When I realized that there was no turning back, and that everything was irremediably ruined, and even before, I did my best to put on a good face and smile (the public should never see you sad, leave that for backstage), I lost interest in everything when I checked that there was never "a Cosplay contest" planned...
When I was able to get off the stage (without leaving more uncomfortable and unpleasant moments that I don't want to mention anymore), my friends and my brother were waiting for me, they were very disappointed but my brain had already triggered 100% the "resilience mode" in my mind... at that moment I just kept telling them that "It's all right! It's not a big deal! These things happen :D hahaha".
I also experienced many feelings of shame, I felt that I had let my friends and my brother down, I felt that I had just made a fool of myself and nothing more, that it was unfair after all the help they had given me not to have "made things right" despite the circumstances.
Llegado a este punto, necesito recalcar que no se trata de "quejarse" o decir que todo estaba mal, a pesar de lo frustrante y doloroso de ver como todo el esfuerzo de semanas fue en vano; permรญtanme explicarme:
La falta de preparaciรณn en esta clase de actividades tiene un ALTO COSTO para los participantes, quienes son los que pagan los platos rotos.
Prepararte para un concurso de Cosplay amerita mรกs tiempo del que la gente imagina, tambiรฉn dinero y mucha planificaciรณn. El Cosplay no es solo โun hobbie costosoโ, ir a un concurso significa la creaciรณn de un guion original y la producciรณn de una puesta en escena, que no importa cuรกn fรกcil y breve parezca, ยกes difรญcil de hacer!.
Los concursos de Cosplay que ofrecen premios en metรกlico jamรกs suplirรกn ni siquiera el 30% del dinero invertido en una presentaciรณn Cosplay (traje, maquillaje, indumentaria y producciรณn), al decir eso quiero ser contundente en que la gente tiene que entender que el โpremioโ para los Cosplayers son EL TIEMPO y la OPORTUNIDAD que te ofrecen en un buen y bonito escenario.
Poder presentarte, indiferentemente los resultados, indiferentemente si ganas o no, ESA ES LA AUTENTICA RECOMPENZA.
Y no la tuvimos.
At this point, I need to emphasize that it is not about "complaining" or saying that everything was wrong, despite how frustrating and painful it is to see how all the effort of weeks was in vain; let me explain:
The lack of preparation in this kind of activities has a HIGH COST for the participants, who are the ones who pay the broken dishes.
Preparing for a cosplay contest takes more time than people imagine, as well as money and a lot of planning. Cosplay is not just "an expensive hobby", going to a contest means the creation of an original script and the production of a staging, which no matter how easy and brief it seems, it is hard to do!
Cosplay contests that offer cash prizes will never supply even 30% of the money invested in a Cosplay presentation (costume, makeup, and production), by saying that I want to be forceful in that people have to understand that the "prize" for Cosplayers are THE TIME and the OPPORTUNITY they offer you on a good and nice stage.
To be able to present yourself, no matter the results, no matter if you win or not, THAT IS THE REAL REWARD.
And we didn't have it.
Ahora, vamos a pasar la pรกgina.
Despuรฉs del concurso, aรบn quedaban algunas horas para que el evento terminara, y todavรญa habรญa muchas cosas por ver (tiendas que no habรญamos podido visitar correctamente y la sensacional exhibiciรณn de dioramas).
El traje de Arturia tiene muchas capas, 3 o 4 horas usรกndolo basta para sentirte agotada (y muy deshidratada), asรญ que mi hermano me ayudรณ a recuperar mi maleta, mientras @Vanuzza y @Pigritia me ayudaban a cambiarme al tercer traje que prepare para este evento.
Suigintou es muy bonito en persona, y es de los trajes mรกs cรณmodos que tengo, me permite estar arreglada, no me resta movilidad, y no es pesado ๐ ๐น
Now, let's turn the page.
After the contest, there were still a few hours left for the event to end, and there were still many things to see (stores we had not been able to visit properly and the sensational diorama exhibition).
The Arturia costume has many layers, 3 or 4 hours wearing it is enough to feel exhausted (and very dehydrated), so my brother helped me to recover my suitcase, while @Vanuzza and @Pigritia helped me to change into the third costume I prepared for this event.
Suigintou is very pretty in person, and it's one of the most comfortable outfits I have, it allows me to be dressed up, it doesn't detract from my mobility, and it's not heavy ๐ ๐น
โฆ There were some great computer and gamer product stores that would let you try out the equipment โฆ
El resto de la convenciรณn la pasamos bastante bien, mi hermano se encontrรณ con amigos de hace muchos aรฑos, tomamos muchรญsimas fotos, y @Vanuzza y yo tuvimos un lindo tiempo juntas, mรกs tranquilas que el dรญa anterior por las expectativas.
The rest of the convention we had a great time, my brother met up with friends from many years ago, we took lots and lots of pictures, and @Vanuzza and I had a nice time together, quieter than the day before because of the expectations.
โฆ I would recommend anyone to attend this event in the future, it's the kind of convention you can go to with your friends to shop, and have a good time. I plan to go to the next editions, especially for the music and live shows โฆ
Como dije antes, ya han pasado muchas semanas (este evento fue a inicios de Diciembre), y han ocurrido muchas cosas desde entonces. En estos momento estoy muy, muy cansada. Diciembre fue pesado y ocupado (tambiรฉn estuve enferma, y despuรฉs tuve un accidente y me lastimรฉ un pie jajaja), y Enero comenzรณ con mucho (mucho) trabajo ๐ฅ ๐ฆ
Estoy aprovechando un pequeรฑo tiempo libre para terminar este post, esperando que escribirlo me ayude a superar las secuelas de lo que no saliรณ bien (dรญas despuรฉs de terminado el evento, me di cuenta que tenรญa mucha ansiedad ante la idea de volver a intentar participar en un concurso, lejos de ayudarme con las inseguridadesโฆ todo lo que pasรณ en ese concurso las multiplicรณ. No creo volver a intentarlo pronto).
ยกSin embargo! Esta aventura fue una muy grata experiencia. Estoy muy contenta de que exista una nueva organizaciรณn en mi ciudad, y como mencionรฉ en la primera parte de esta historia, tienen miembros en su staff que son una maravilla (personas talentosas, muy educadas, con gran personalidad y enorme potencial) โ(o๏ผพโฝ๏ผพo)ใ๏พ
As I said before, many weeks have already passed (this event was at the beginning of December), and many things have happened since then. Right now I'm very, very tired. December was heavy and busy (I was also sick, and then I had an accident and hurt my foot hahaha), and January started with a lot (a lot) of work ๐ฅ ๐ฆ
I'm taking advantage of a little free time to finish this post, hoping that writing it will help me overcome the aftermath of what didn't go well (days after the event was over, I realized that I had a lot of anxiety at the idea of trying to participate in a contest again, far from helping me with insecurities... everything that happened in that contest multiplied them. I don't think I'll be trying again any time soon).
However! This adventure was a very pleasant experience. I am very happy that there is a new organization in my city, and as I mentioned in the first part of this story, they have staff members who are a marvel (talented people, very educated, with great personality and enormous potential) โ(o๏ผพโฝ๏ผพo)ใ๏พ
Espero se encuentren bien, de donde quiera que sean; vivimos tiempos interesantes con muchas distracciones, he meditado mucho (creo que hasta el doble que antes) buscando ver las cosas como son, y no como โyo creo que sonโ. Creo que esa es la รบnica y principal meta que me propondrรฉ para este nuevo aรฑo.
Les deseo a todos un FELIZ AรO NUEVO CHINO ! ! ! ๐งง ๐ฏ ๐
I hope you are well, wherever you are from; we live in interesting times with many distractions, I have meditated a lot (I think even twice as much as before) seeking to see things as they are, and not as "I think they are." I think that is the only and main goal I will set for myself for this new year.
I wish you all a HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR ! ! ! ๐งง ๐ฏ ๐
ยกMuchas gracias por leer!
โจ ๐ โจ Happy, soft, and creative day to all โจ ๐ โจ
โจ ๐ โจ
๐ Autorรญa del texto y todas las imรกgenes: @Tesmoforia ๐
๐ท Herramientas: Lumix Panasonic DMC-FH2/Smartphone ๐ท
๐จ ยกPor favor no tomes, edites ni re-publiques mi material sin mi permiso! ๐จ
๐ ยฟDeseas ponerte en contacto conmigo? Tesmoforia ๐#8715 ๐
โจ Translation done with Deepl - Separadores : Japan โจ
โ ๐ฐ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ / ยฉ ๐๐ด๐๐ผ๐พ๐ต๐พ๐๐ธ๐ฐ - ๐ธ๐ถ๐ท๐พ/๐ธ๐ถ๐ธ๐ท โ