Welcome to Meet the Cosplayer, where I introduce you to some of the fantastic, creative talent within the Rainbow Six: Siege community. This series is meant to showcase the amazing cosplayers no matter their skill level or experience.
I sat down and spoke with cosplayer NotPulse about his history with cosplay, what got him into it, the challenges he faced and other things.
Lance, aka NotPulse, is from Georgia originally but now lives in DC and works as a federal officer.
What got you interested in cosplay?
“I grew up loving character design and always wanted to have the cool armor and look just as awesome as they did (I blame the original Power Rangers and Voltron).”
How long have you been cosplaying for?
“I started at AWA in 2007 as Gordon Freeman. So that’s 16 years now.”
What has been the most difficult part about cosplaying for you?
“Honestly, knowing how to pose. After a few pictures you feel like you’ve been doing the same thing over and over again. Next would be the physical requirements of some of these. My Alex-Hardwired is an absolute beast. Thankfully I can fill the Camelback with water, but that just adds more weight lol.”
When cosplaying, what have been three most important things for you to have with you?
“Water, water, water, water, and more water. Not enough emphasis has been put on hydrate or diedrate. Other than that, it’s the usual. Phone, wallet, etc. A lot of conventions are now implementing cosplay repair stations. I had to use one at Blerdcon when my boot fell apart for my Bane cosplay. So don’t worry. There’s usually someone walking around with a cosplay repair sign on them.”
When you started cosplaying, what was an obstacle or challenge that you encountered?
“Being nervous as all hell the first time you wear a cosplay in public. It never changes. I almost didn’t go into MAGFest the first time I wore my Saitama. I was literally shaking in my boots (red) because I was so nervous. It happens with every cosplay so get used to it happening, suck it up, and go enjoy the con.”
What advice would you give to people wanting to start cosplay for the first time?
“Research, research, research. The internet is full of people who had the exact same questions you do. That’s how I found my vest for Pulse and all of the FBI operators. Don’t be afraid to talk to other cosplayers as well. We love helping people and pointing them in the right direction. Don’t be nervous if you see us at a con. We WANT you to take interest in our characters and cosplays.
Start with what you can. I didn’t have a lot of money when I started with Pulse and I can’t craft to save my life. I found airsoft bdu’s on sale, old boots at surplus stores, someone even donated their old airsoft UMP. However, I knew the main part that would pull the whole thing off would be the vest. I made that my priority. You can always upgrade and improve your cosplay over time. I’ve been improving it over the last 6 years and now I’m basically done.”
NotPulse can be found on your favourite social media channels here:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/_notpulse
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/_notpulse
