Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to SoCal Leatherface. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

SoCal, appreciate you joining us today. Do you manage your own social media?

I manage my own social media, primarily because I want to be able to remain in control of what I produce. I take and obtain media from events and I hand sort them into whether it’s something I want to share or not, because not only does it help control who I want to share myself as, it also helps maintain the integrity of who I want to support. As with any industry, there are good and bad players, and having the ability to know and choose who I want to associate with and show who I’m associating with is key. There is very little money to be made in the cosplay industry, so the reputation *(or lack thereof) of each person is what drives things within the community. Because gaining a bad reputation due to your own conduct is a big red flag for many people. It’s best to have either a good reputation, or no reputation at all, because the primary goal here isn’t to make money or make a name for yourself. The primary goal is to help people experience a piece of media they cherish, whether that be in horror or anime or sci-fi, the list goes on. This is an entirely self-funded operation that occasionally gets paying jobs, but none that will ever allow you to break even unless you try to go professional, and that’s a very very tough endeavor. You have to decide what you want your goals to be: have a limited reach but remain ultimately in control, or potentially have a vast following with more people in control that could potentially alter your intended persona.

SoCal, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a cosplayer who has been active since 2018, having created the name SoCal Leatherface in honor of the character Bubba “Leatherface” Sawyer from the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974). I started with a basic mask and apron and a prop chainsaw in order to attend events and help entertain guests at these events. I gained friends over the years who help creatively inspire me and encourage me to continue this journey. I attend events to entertain guests, particularly at horror events, as well as work as a scare actor in haunts during the Halloween and Christmas season. I have created alternate personas of Leatherface to reflect certain holidays and events in order to further entertain people. I also post photos and videos on social media of the events I go to as well as creative videos I am either a part of or create myself to provide scary or humorous content. I set myself apart by sticking with that character primarily as well as having an identifiable look and demeanor in which I carry myself at events. Some people have even used my tattoos as a way to identify me. I am most proud of the creative endeavors I have undertaken on my own as well as in cooperation with other creative types who are on social media as well. Working together creates amazing videos and photos that can really wow people and help expand your reach in social media. One of the things that should be firmly understood is the concept of licensing. If you are promoting a character that is an established IP, it cannot become a commercial venture on your part. It is better to maintain a non-profit type of pursuit of the established IP, or to create your own character if you are wanting to commercialize your actions. Being a cosplayer first and foremost is about bringing a fictional character to life so that people can enjoy it as a more immersive experience. Cosplayers can utilize everything from purchased props and equipment to home made gear, and all are relevant. No cosplayer should ever be made to feel less-than because of the perceived quality/value of their build. Any time someone successfully creates a build according to what they want, it is in fact a success, whether they’re using thrifted materials or high-price commissioned pieces.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I have endured attempts to copy off of my name and capitalize on it. I work very hard to portray a fun and welcoming experience at events so that guests can enjoy their visit and become more drawn into the event. When this person attempted to copy off of my name, it created dissonance with the public as they did not hold the same values I did in public and private conduct, which created some uncomfortable situations where people confused me with them and insisted that I was the person who had behaved inappropriately. I attempt to reassure anyone and everyone that if I come into contact with you, I want you to enjoy the event, not to feel negatively or the like. I chose to stick with not engaging directly with the other person as they had a tendency to place themselves as the victim, and I dug deeper into my creative efforts to further enhance what I produce as a cosplayer and scare actor. I continue to strive to become my own competitor, working to improve on what I do so that it’s more fun for everyone.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I took time to learn people’s usernames at events. Because taking a picture with a guest or another cosplayer is just the first step. The next step is sharing the image or video and tagging the other person. It’s a very basic concept, but one that can start a vibrant connection. Networking is key when it comes to growth, and knowing who people are makes a big difference. As you exist in the community, you will see the regulars, the people who cosplay frequently, who uphold the ideas you want to uphold as well. Learning their social media and interacting with them builds strong relationships and can lead to collaborative efforts that are not only good for your social media, but they’re FUN. I have been able to become friends with many people who support the same mission that I do, that we want to entertain people within a horror setting and do so in a memorable and positive manner. We learn that we can be reliable with these people as it will only create a more immersive and memorable experience. Do not be discouraged if you don’t suddenly have a thousand followers. You will need to make connections with people and show the dependability you wish others to have, and with time, you will gain more visibility across your platforms.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socal_leatherface
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesocalleatherface
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/socaleatherface
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@socalleatherface

Image Credits
Rawl Paredes (http://www.instagram.com/rawlofthedead) CreepIECon (http://www.instagram.com/creepiecon) Luis Rodriguez (http://www.instagram.com/luisrodriguezlens)