Cosplay Questions

[weesh 690]

Its about 6 months before my next con, and last time I asked for estimates, the costume makers all had LONG waiting lists, so I'm thinking about getting a commission started.  

 

But I'm pretty lost and I have questions:

1)

does anyone have any idea what these guys charge?
no one will tell me, but they all want my budget!

At least one person stopped answering my emails after I took a wild guess and said "$150", and it feels so unfair that I have to guess what a sewing project costs when they know and I haven't a clue.  My finances are in good shape for an expensive project, but I don't want to pay twice what it is worth out of ignorance.  

Is there any nice way to say "I'm not going to tell you my budget, I just want to hear your estimate"?

 

2)

I've been approaching people on cosplay.com, but is there a site you guys like better for pony commissions?  

 

3)
I've been thinking of Gala Discord, but suddenly Magic Cape Sunburst is striking my fancy.

any thoughts on those designs?
how much of the costume do I need to describe, and how much is designed by the artist?
Is it better to be specific, or to leave them space to work?

Should I contract an artist to help me put together some good ideas to show to the outfit maker (if so, any thoughts on how I find a good pony artist for commission?)

Ideally, the outfits would look as classy as possible, even if creative liberties need to be made to avoid inelegant pony to human transitions.

 

Thanks guys!

[Idris 241]

700 to 1500 dollars would be about right. You can cut back costs if your OC wears a jacket. Then the fur sews to the inside of the arm holes. Fur will be 50 dollars a yard up.

There is a lot of foam sub structure needed and like any foundation it needs to be right to stay in place while you jump about

 

40 hours work doesn't go far on a cosplay. A day is nothing to the construction time. So 100 dollars a day is a good price. The response for 150 dollars as a start point would unfortunately cause a poor response. You weren't to know, don't sweat it

[weesh 690]

700 to 1500 dollars would be about right. You can cut back costs if your OC wears a jacket. Then the fur sews to the inside of the arm holes. Fur will be 50 dollars a yard up.

There is a lot of foam sub structure needed and like any foundation it needs to be right to stay in place while you jump about

 

40 hours work doesn't go far on a cosplay. A day is nothing to the construction time. So 100 dollars a day is a good price. The response for 150 dollars as a start point would unfortunately cause a poor response. You weren't to know, don't sweat it

 

oh wow, thank you!

i had no idea I'd low balled it so badly!