He argued that creators should be compensated accordingly with the time and resources they put into their work.
“Know your worth” and “set boundaries” are often pieces of advice associated with personal relationships, but for Filipino cosplayer Prince De Guzman, the same principles apply to creative work.
De Guzman, who is also a content creator, shared that a European convention is willing to pay him ₱500,000 for one costume, excluding appearance fees.
“So NO, I am not lowering my rates knowing I am valued like that somewhere ,” he wrote. “I also care about the starting creators and cosplayers because if I lower my rate, the younger generation of creators will suffer against more low ballers.”
Without naming anyone, De Guzman also pointed to differences in the amount of preparation and craftsmanship involved in cosplay, arguing that creators who invest more time and resources into their work should be compensated accordingly.
“If you can pay someone who wears a small piece of clothing or even someone who doesn’t even wear a wig during your cons,” he said, “then I guess you can pay better for someone like us who put effort and heart on what we do. I did not build my global market in a day.”
In a follow-up comment, however, De Guzman clarified that he was not expecting Philippine conventions to match international rates. Instead, he said his concern was with offers that undervalue the work involved.
“I do understand and I am not expecting my services to be paid like that in PH. But to go EXTREME that you are offering for something worth like a 2-way grab ride?” he said, adding he’s thankful for regular clients who value him.
Many of his followers expressed their support in the comments.
“This is what we really need,” a user said. “Setting the Standard and not [t]he other way around.”
“Your posts like this always push me to work harder. Sobrang goals and hoping I reach the same level of success in the future. So happy for your achievements! You deserve it!” another user said.
De Guzman rose to popularity in 2017 for his highly detailed cosplay of Pennywise from the “It” franchise. In a 2022 interview with ABS-CBN News, he said it was his first cosplay and that it “opened many doors” for him, including his content creation career.
In a 2022 feature from Philstar.com, he and fellow cosplayer and partner Awie said it took “years of blood, sweat, and tears” to get where they are, and that “almost everything they know is self-learned.”
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