If you've been on any commissioning forums or groups, then you might have seen some version of the graphic below, which is for any cosplay commission, choose two of the following: good, cheap, fast.
Good + Cheap - Not fast
A friend of mine was able to get a very high quality commission (full armor, large staff weapon, helmet) from a famous cosmaker in the Philippines for less than $400. However, it took her ~1.5 year to get in touch with the commissioner and wait in line until his slot opened up, then waited another year while he worked on this project for her. She flew to the Philippines twice while visiting family and was able to do two in person fittings for the cosplay. She absolutely loved her costume when it was finally ready to be worn after roughly three years of preparation and waiting.
That story might be on an extreme end, but is still very relevant for all cosplay commissions. Commissioners will often browse materials and then wait until they find the most suitable pieces or until they go on sale. If you don't give your commissioner enough time, chances are you will end up with a costume that was made from materials that was available at that time, and not for the best price.
In addition, good commissioners usually have slots filled for the next several months. So giving yourself and your commissioners enough time to work on your project is the best way to get quality costumes at an affordable price.
Good + Fast - Not cheap
For those who need good costumes fast, some commissioners may offer a rush service. The fee for this service can be up to several hundred dollars on top of of the original commission price to allow the commissioners to find additional help, put in weekend hours, or to negotiate deadlines with other clients.
Many commissioners don't offer rush service and generally recommend at least 3-6 months lead time in advance.
Fast + Cheap - Be understanding
Lastly, if you need a costume very soon and don't have a large budget, consider working with a commissioner who is just starting out. The commissioner will likely have less projects concurrently and can dedicate more time to work with your deadline. These cosmakers may have been making costumes for themselves for several years but may not have professional training. They may not be used to working with body sizes and shapes that are very different from their own, and may not be used to creating costumes with professional finishes and linings. If you go this route, please be understanding and accommodating towards your commissioner and the final product. More communication may also be needed so that your commissioner can help create your costume quickly and cheaply.
Want to learn more about commissions? Check out our other Commissions 101 posts!
Mengshu is a co-founder of Coscove. Growing up in Canada, Mengshu loved theatre, dance, and all things photography. She did photoshoots in costume before even learning what cosplay was! Find her on Coscove: coscove.com/mengshus
