Remember: not placing in a cosplay contest doesn't mean you lost. You didn't place. Framing it as winners and losers is not a healthy mindset to have in this kind of competition.
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Same! I love showing off my work and crafting a performance to showcase it. Awards are such an afterthought for me, they're simply a nice surprise. I just enjoy talking shop with everyone backstage so much more.
If you're upset about not placing and dwell on it for long after the contest, competition might not be for you and that's fine! You don't have to compete. It doesn't make you any less of a craftsperson.
The constant of contests is you have no idea what anyone else is bringing. You have no idea what the slate of judges is going to focus on for awards. Every contest is different.
I love our Touken Ranbu costumes, but they never placed in any of the 3 contests we entered. It's not a mark against the craftsmanship or the performances, it just means someone else brought something better.
Hell, I've been entering judged contests since 2005 and didn't place anywhere until 2013. Part of that was the contests (no skill divisions in Texas until 2007), part of it was people bringing better stuff than me. It's just the nature of contests.
Also judging is fucking hard. There are so many times where you want to give someone an award but you don't have one left. Not everyone can be recognized and that sucks, but it's just part of the process.
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Always been delighted and surprised when I placed or won.