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

Anita, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I am happy as an creative! I have so many different avenues I can tap into and in doing so learn even more varied skills along with the process. Being a Makeup Artist, Cosplayer and Creator of Spaces gives me the freedom to move as I desire, and doing things I love to do. There is always times where a regular jobs innate security and lack of company level decision making is comforting, but I’ve never been someone who enjoyed being micro managed or working on others deadlines. So its been a freeing experience learning how to move through this life creatively. The hardest thing as a creative is learning the business acumen to accompany the craft.

Anita, 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?

Most folks call me by my moniker Tranquil Ashes. I am a Baltimore Native with my hands in all things artistic. I’ve been cosplaying and doing makeup artistry for eight years + and have had the chance to work with or be featured on Disney, Nickelodeon, Afropunk, Oprah Daily, Mehron Cosmetics and more. During those years I’ve hosted, judged, paneled and brought programming to pop-culture conventions across the nation such as New York ComicCon, Momocon, Cabbagecon, and Holiday Matsuri to name a few. All of these skills and opportunities turned into Tranquil Ashes creating her own space known as The CosGala.

The CosGala is an exciting and innovative met-styled Gala event that celebrates Art, fashion, Cosplay, Entertainment, nerd culture, and social connection. The creation of The CosGala first started with an idea which extended from my time living in Italy and traveling to the Venetian Carnival. The display of art, revelry and culture on display burned into my memory and the experience was always something I wanted to recreate in my own way, in spaces that mattered to me here in the US. The first Gala was hosted in 2018 and had a masquerade ball theme. The masquerade theme was very intentional as it set the tone and intention of all future CosGala’s. Outside of the beauty and individual expression masks have, in Venice one of the meanings behind the mask is to remove any social differences or the idea of superiority. Every Guest and individual helping or attending is welcomed and The CosGala also focuses on the inclusion/platforming of Black, Brown, LGBTQIA+ and disabled voices in all areas of the organization.

The CosGala is an opportunity for likeminded creators to get together, share in ideas, network, collaborate and most of all have fun while creating out of the box Couture Pop-Culture looks based on the theme of the year. This year we are doing a Monster Ball themed Gala on September 23rd 2023 and can’t wait for folks to come and the night with us.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

If as a creator you want to start a business, sale your products or even promote yourself; take a business class or two, or even some form of online training to help prevent some of the pitfalls that come with starting your own entrepreneurial journey. I wish I had a more solid base on how to be economically successful and competent. As creatives, the last thing on our minds is how to move the product or service we are providing because we are so busy creating and getting lost in that wonderful process. I’ve learned a lot through trial and error, and as they say “experience is the best teacher”. Even with that being the case, coming into your ventures with a small plan can save you from unnecessary “trials” and inconvenience in the future.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

The best thing society can do is acknowledge how creatives fuel the success of their brands and products and pay them accordingly. Visual and auditory art is what makes or breaks a business or brand. It’s the face. Regardless if its a musician for a label, a model for a clothing brand, cosplayer for a Videogame company etc. Whatever the creative does needs to be provided visibility and opportunity or to be hired for their often free sponsoring and advertisement of a companies values or products. Art and those who create make the world move, and it’s high-time the rest of society gives creatives what they are due in terms for respect of their craft and economically.

Contact Info:

• Website: cosgala.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/tranquil_ashes ( founder instagram) —- instagram.com/thecosgala (business instagram)
• Facebook: facebook.com/tranquilashess (founder facebook) —- facebook.com/thecosgala (business facebook)
• Twitter: twitter.com/thecosgala

Image Credits
ShotbyRyanDee – first image of me PhotosbyPhelps – all other photos