Hello everybody and welcome to my DeviantArt site. This is my main cosplay account where I put up my latest cosplay works and blog about events and convention happening around in Singapore or wherever I attend. Feel free to browse around.

Cure Account:
Twitter: Raistlin03 Twitter




When I first heard of a cosplay event for seniors, I did not think too much of it. Probably a once-off event just for the fun of it. Nice. Short. Sweet and to a certain extent, unique from the bunch of "another" cosplay event you see in the mall. However, when they decided to take it to another level, it draws to my attention the image of a ticking bomb waiting to explode.

Background of Singapore Silver Cosplay Club

Not to be confused and with zero affiliation with Singapore Cosplay Club that brought us the annual Cosfest, World Cosplay Summit and Asia Cosplay Meet. The Singapore Silver Cosplay Club is apparently a non-profit organization for "active agers" (a term we like to use here in Singapore to refer to the senior citizens) cosplayers in partnership with Fei Yue Community Centre and supported by various government bodies. As far as I know, there isn't seemed to be an official webpage nor info on who is in charge of it. The only information that we know of can be obtained from their page on Facebook.

Where the problem starts…

I was brought to the attention of this event when my Facebook friends were sharing around the following poster (accompanied by many negative comments, needless to say) and I could not help but find many false representation and questions on if this is really a scam.



I guess the first thing that people will question is the high course fees of S$600 (Approximately USD475) that is inclusive of 6 sessions of training, provision of costume and wig, a studio shoot and the hiring of a professional make-up artist.

As much as it seemed that the words that is going to come out of my mouth next is going to be negative, I got to say this. Based on my mental calculation, this seemed to be a good deal.

However if I would to take into consideration prudence in spending, this is definitely a bad deal for a single cosplay. If I have to try and dissect this course contents and what they are spending on, I wonder if it is value for money.

Firstly, the course content, according to the poster, they will be learning about stuffs like the origin of cosplay, choosing character, poses et cetera for… *gulp* 6 sessions of 2 hours each from… *double gulp!* … a professional cosplayer (Sorry I laugh every time I hear the term "professional cosplayer")! That is a total of 12 hours. Will they be taught useful skills like sewing and prop-making as well or just theories?

Secondly, is there really a need to hire a professional make-up artist or for the matter anyone professional to conduct the courses? Most of the cosplayers are self-taught or learn through mistakes. Further more, cosplay is quite established in Singapore with a couple of them having cosplayed for more than half a decade. It would not be that difficult to find someone to conduct the lessons right? One can even attempt to go to the make-up schools to source for students there looking to complete their community service hours.

A bigger problem?

To me, the bigger problem is not about the cost as it seemed like a fair deal but rather the people behind this project. Although names are mentioned in the poster, there is no face behind the person who is replying to the response on behalf of the club. Many netizens has commented and inquired about the legality of this course but are responded with snide and sarcastic remarks.  Take a look at some of the replies below.



I am quite appalled at how the situation is being handled taking into consideration this organization claimed to be supported by one of the ministries (MCYS). Surely there is a better way to reply to such enquires and comments.

What caught my attention even more were the link pages that are affiliated to this club and the first trainer who happen to be the boss of a cosplay shop. You do not have to obtain a Masters in Rocket Science to draw the link that despite that it seems that $600 sounds like a good deal, it will eventually goes into someone's pocket / bank account to pay off for the product or services provided right? Guess whose?

No one can be too sure on how the arrangement might be like. I could be wrong or mistaken but as a business entity, the commercial sense is to clear inventory as fast as possible especially so if it is not moving. Maybe the organizers will get a taking in this as well? No one will know for sure unless an audit is being carried out.

What if I was wrong? Why don't I help out instead?

Yes. I spoke too much and without a doubt there will be people out there fuming mad and assuming that I am "inhumane" and "heartless". Why don't I help out instead to spread the love of cosplay?

First and foremost, as much as I must admit that I find the first cosplay event for seniors unique and special. I never felt that this should go on for the long run. Cosplay has always been to me as something that society will always misunderstand. If you are a teenager, you should grow up and stop pretending to be something that is not real. If you are a guy serving National Service, slapping on make-up might brand you as bring "Ah Gua" or gay. If you are a working adult, why the hell are you still involve in something youngster do.

My question is that, is there a point in trying hard to educate people that cosplayers are normal people as well? I regard myself as a normal person and when I make new acquaintance, I never tell people that I cosplay until they eventually find out one day. Even so, they will be surprise and curious because I always appear to them as a normal person. I take the time slowly to explain what cosplay is about and they will understand without ostracizing you or thinking that you are a weirdo.  That is the proper way of educating people on cosplay and not to convince them the first time you see them right smack in the face that you are a cosplayer and that it is a perfectly healthy hobby.

I recall sometime earlier this year, there was a video going around where this Chinese girl said on television that "people who dress up are mad / crazy" that got many cosplayers raging. I kept silent as I could empathize with her. To be honest, before I was a cosplayer myself, I thought that cosplay was stupid.

The "active agers" are a vulnerable group of people. I have worked with them before and despite the fact that the organizer says that they "are not threatening them with a weapon", I can tell you that you do not have to. It is relatively easy to sell them a "magic rock" for $600. Ethically, I cannot convince or bring myself to teach them how to cosplay when I feel that it is not the right thing to do.

Many of us will never dare to say it knowing that it is ethically wrong but there will be some out there who are not so nice and scrutinizing these "active agers" cosplayers and nip-picking on them. Yes, they only do it all in the name of fun but if it is your grandparents over there, will YOU be laughing? Or for the matter will YOU let your grandparents there be laughed at by others? It will be a tough question to answer for all of us here.

So what should they be doing instead?

The promise of training cosplayers (not just referring to just seniors) to take part in international competition and the lure of providing employment as a cosplayer seem like a huge joke to me. I had taken up cosplay-related jobs before and these are purely on an ad-hoc basis that could hardly fund my expenses on a weekend. Are there even enough job assignments in a month for cosplayer?

If you are talking about sustainability in income and employment, I rather have these "active agers" upgrading on their current skill sets in cosplay-related areas such as sewing, prop-making or wig-styling or cutting. Think of it, many of us local cosplayers still go to tailors who are probably old enough to be our mother who fit nicely in these age range. We praise them and god knows how much they had been earning because of our inability to sew. Heck, if they would to conduct a tailoring class for 6 sessions at $600, I'm sure many nimwits like me who can't hold a needle without shivering too much might consider taking up their courses. The same might go to craftsman and hairstylist. If you think about it in a way, the making of Cosplay props and costumes is not too different from making furniture or normal clothing, you definitely still need the foundation and tweak up your skill a bit. In my opinion, they would still have retain their dignity and earn a good income.

Knight in Shiny Armor? Think again…

In recent times, I notice a rise in the number of heroes who like to pretend to be knights in shiny armor fighting for a righteous cause. They claim to love cosplay. They claim to want to spread the joy of cosplay. They fight to educate the society in bringing cosplay to a better light and of course they pull the wool over your eyes into believing they are such.

Think again. As they say, nothing in this world comes free. And if it's free or if the deal is too good to be true, you better think twice.