#FeatureFriday with Kruser Creations

Today we have an excellent interview with a talented male cosplayer! I always love highlighting talent of all genders and I'm excited to welcome Josh to the blog. Read his full interview below!

My name is Josh Kruse. I'm a single father of 2 boys and have been in the communications industry for the last 12 years.  When I'm not busy adulting you can find me in my garage making magic or hanging out with my boys. 

​How and when did you get into cosplay?
I've always been a big fan of going all out for Halloween and making sure the costumes I wore were as good as I could make them.  But as far as cosplay goes, it was about 4 years ago when I started getting into the hobby.  Being a child of the 80's there was a high probability that you went to school with a dozen other boys named, "Josh.". There were no less than a handful in the school I grew up in, so going by Kruse or Kruser has been a staple for as long as I can remember. It was only natural. 

What do you do when you're not in cosplay or geeking out?
I work in the communications industry for commercial clients.  Kinda vague, I know, but it has to be.  Outside of Cosplay, I collect retro games.  My Nintendo Entertainment System library is my favorite and largest single system game collection.  It just surpassed 450 games!  I know I'll never be able to collect the entire library of games due to rarity and price, but I hope to be able to make it close.  I also dabble in making furniture and goodies out of wood in my shop.  I've made my son's a pair of bed frames, shelves, computer desks, entertainment centers, workbenches, etc. 

What is your proudest cosplay accomplishment?
Competing in the Wester Regional Championships of Cosplay at Emerald City Comic Con was definitely a highlight, but my proudest accomplishment is being a part of the Mandalorian Mercs Costume Club.  The ability to dress in plastic spaceman armor, make people smile, raise money for children's charities, and make a difference in someone's life is a feeling that is indescribable.

What cosplay(s) are you working on right now?
Repairs and upgrades for my Mandalorian are always on the table, but Skurge from Thor: Ragnarok has started to take shape.

Who is your cosplay idol/inspiration?
So many to choose from.  5 years ago Steven K Smith inspired me to make my Isaac Clarke from Dead Space.  We met a year later and have remained friends since.  He's been a good friend and mentor.

With all the negativity in the cosplay community these days, what's a positive message you would like to enforce and encourage others with?
When it comes to costuming or cosplay, don't compete against anyone but yourself.  If you constantly compare your work to someone else's you'll never be proud or satisfied with what you've made, how much you've learned, or how much you've improved.  There is ALWAYS someone out there that is better and if you constantly compare yourself to others, you'll never be satisfied.  I'm not saying don't enter competitions, but go into each one with the mindset that you are competing against yourself.  You're pushing yourself and sharing what you've made.

​What is your dream cosplay?
Oh man... Thats tough.  I always joked that it would be anything without a helmet or wig since everything but my jedi has had one or the other.  My dream cosplay is definately one that includes my boys.  It will be all three of us as Gears of War characters.  I will be old man Marcus from Gears 4, my oldest boy will be Baird, and my youngest boy will be J.D.  We are planning this for Rose City Comic Con in 2019

What is your favorite convention to attend and why?
Rose City Comic Con is my favorite semi-local con.  Its big enough to have a draw and great vendors, yet small enough to be able to hang out with friends without a hundred thousand people in the crowd.  Its where I met most of my friends in the costuming community.

Do you have any cosplay or convention pet peeves?
Poor personal hygiene and strangers who don't respect your personal space.  Worse yet, strangers who don't respect your personal space with poor personal hygiene!  

Do you have any horror stories or mistakes you've made that others can learn from?
Cut away from your body and always keep your fingers, thumbs, and palms away from extremely sharp blades.  Cutting yourself with razor knives is never fun.

Do you have any tips or words of encouragement for other cosplayers?
Have fun and make what makes you happy.  Do it for yourself first. Chances are that it will make others happy as well.

Where can we find you on all things social?
Facebook
Instagram: @krusercreations

Photos for this interview by: Huntress Creations, David Ngo, and Bill Meyenberg Photography.

What an amazing interview! If you know an awesome male cosplayer who deserves his chance in the spotlight, reach out and submit him as a feature! Thanks for reading!