KodiakAK

After months of aquiring different parts and pieces, I finally finished my costume builds for the 501st Legion.    My GML approved three of five (need to address small issue with Navy Trooper helmet) and even though we are waiting for my Legion TKID, I was allowed to go to my first event in costume.    I have been to other events, but as a Spotter/Handler/Photographer (that mantle has been passed to my girlfriend).   The event was to raise awareness for the Foster Children program in Several counties in NJ.   I wore my Imperial Warrant Officer,  which went over well. 

Yes! That's a lot better.
 
If you can post a new face on picture, showing the rank bar in situ and your belt nice and tidy we should be good to go.

I didn't intend to get into the 'Officer as Handler' territory with this topic, but it's still a good conversation.  On my very first troop over a year ago, it was me in my Officer's uniform and about 6 other troopers.  Right off the bat, another trooper hands me a camera and tells me to take pictures while we're trooping.  I'm new, I don't know the other troopers, and I don't want to make a bad impression so I go along with it.  I spend the first 30-45 minutes of my first troop taking pictures of other people trooping until an actual handler arrives.  I'll admit that it was a bit disappointing and I wish I wouldn't have been put in that position.
 
I know that Officers have to watch out for the characters with limited visibility and I am perfectly fine with that.  Now that I have armor as well I know how important that is.  I also don't mind being the character that gets to talk and interact more with folks, that's all part of the character and the troop, plus it's fun.  I don't think it's appropriate though for us to be asked to stay 'behind the scenes' taking the pictures, that's not why we come out.  If that was a need, I could have just put on my squad shirt and been a full time handler (which I've done before and I don't mind doing).  An Officer is not a 'lesser trooper' and should get the same level of respect as everyone else.
 
Thoughts, comments?
 

Absolutely! As an officer I can function as an Imperial Support Crew but in costume. I can manage crowds to protect my armored companions, I can assist them to navigate areas because I understand what their vision is like, and I can interact with the crowds freely. But like Kris said, I am an Officer of the Empire when I wear it. I'm not a stage hand. I can maneuver and crouch to talk to kids on their level and get them excited about flying Star Destroyers, deploying hundreds of troopers, deploying TIEs, bearing dozens of walkers, and commanding the fleet to travel the Galaxy, as well as meeting members of my crew. In fact, in many of our Children's Hospital visits, I'm the preferred member the kids want to interact with because I'm not in armor or a bucket. They can warm up to me and allow me to introduce them to the visitors I brought with me. But if they get scared they want me to stand by their side.

So embrace the Officer!!


Thanks!
KodiakAK (Brian "Kodiak" Peterson)

"If once you start down the droid path, forever it will dominate your destiny, consume you it will..."

Absolutely! As an officer I can function as an Imperial Support Crew but in costume. I can manage crowds to protect my armored companions, I can assist them to navigate areas because I understand what their vision is like, and I can interact with the crowds freely. But like Kris said, I am an Officer of the Empire when I wear it. I'm not a stage hand. I can maneuver and crouch to talk to kids on their level and get them excited about flying Star Destroyers, deploying hundreds of troopers, deploying TIEs, bearing dozens of walkers, and commanding the fleet to travel the Galaxy, as well as meeting members of my crew. In fact, in many of our Children's Hospital visits, I'm the preferred member the kids want to interact with because I'm not in armor or a bucket. They can warm up to me and allow me to introduce them to the visitors I brought with me. But if they get scared they want me to stand by their side.

So embrace the Officer!!


Thanks!
KodiakAK (Brian "Kodiak" Peterson)

"If once you start down the droid path, forever it will dominate your destiny, consume you it will..."

I like it

That's a good line to use.  "No, sir, these uniforms were modeled after WW1 flying corp uniforms, not Nazi uniforms, although you're not the first to make that mistake.  And there's your Imperial history lesson for the day!  May the force be with you..."

Don't worry about that. There's always one idiot in the crowd that has something stupid to say weather it's the "Aren't you a little short for a stormtrooper?" line, or "blah blah blah Nazi blah blah". Kids, our fellow costumers, and most people with a brain usually know better anyway.  

Ok but that's not what an officer is about

See now my response to that would be im an Officer of the empire I do not take photos and then id have them arrested by my troops, don't just wear the costume become the costume

The rabbit hole continues...
 
I just added up my "ultimate rank bar wish list" to create rank bars for my wife and I.  Two different rank bars, plus a third for her Daala, and I was looking at over $90 in push buttons!  Whoops!  Time to scale back the dream list, I think, and not try to do it all at once... LOL
 
Posting this to bring the topic back up, and add to my list of monitored threads.

I was very pleased with the belt boxes, these have definitely helped elevate standards. Belt boxes are now a lot more popular than they used to be.

I'm going to have to get one of those lightsaber umbrellas now. I'd never thought of carrying a theme-appropriate umbrella! Then again, I've only done one outdoor troop with nasty weather, and we were thankfully able to spend most of our time under a shelter, so it hasn't been much of a concern for me yet.
this reply was pecked out on my phone in tapatalk

A lot of people take this too seriously. Like WAY too seriously, because they play plastic spaceman WAY better than me! If it's raining, get under an umbrella. My Garrison is very relaxed with things like this, as long as the costume looks great. The point of this club is to promote Star Wars Costumes, and have fun. If you are worried, ask the EC if an umbrella is okay.

When it looks like rain, I carry my Darth Vader Lightsaber Umbrella.

In a Facebook photo from the Alaska Kids Day event, where I trooped (unofficially) with Darth Vader and a Stormtrooper, was quoted... Well read it yourself. Lol!

Thanks!
KodiakAK (Brian "Kodiak" Peterson)
"If once you start down the droid path, forever it will dominate your destiny, consume you it will..."

I read the whole topic and I'm pleased to see that I have something really new to add.
Despit the Grand Admiral uniform I have been called Tarkin a couple of times.
 
But this one, happenned a month or so ago at a con.
I was walking an alley with one of our stormtroopers talking about all and every thing and then comes out of nowhere a little girl in disney princess costume. 
And then all the sudden she says :
" Are you a prince ? Dad ! I want the picture with the prince ! "
White uniform, golden epaulets, and she had her picture with the " prince ".
 
Then I was forced to throw a stromtrooper through the airlock to supress all witness.

In a Facebook photo from the Alaska Kids Day event, where I trooped (unofficially) with Darth Vader and a Stormtrooper, was quoted... Well read it yourself. Lol!

Thanks!
KodiakAK (Brian "Kodiak" Peterson)
"If once you start down the droid path, forever it will dominate your destiny, consume you it will..."

In a Facebook photo from the Alaska Kids Day event, where I trooped (unofficially) with Darth Vader and a Stormtrooper, was quoted... Well read it yourself. Lol!

Thanks!
KodiakAK (Brian "Kodiak" Peterson)
"If once you start down the droid path, forever it will dominate your destiny, consume you it will..."

www.cosplaysky.com folks. I got a halfway decent uniform in 8 days. 2 days to re-tailor myself. Probably a week or two if you send it to a tailor to fix. Less than 200 dollars, including making a better hat. I got friends in Trek NEVER got their monster maroons from anovos. MEDIOCRE!

(Sarcasm) nuh uh!! I saw their awesome products in DL Launch Bay! like the $4k Vader that won't pass basic SL standards.Thanks!
KodiakAK (Brian "Kodiak" Peterson)
"If once you start down the droid path, forever it will dominate your destiny, consume you it will..."

I think just even showing the finished product would go a long way, as it stands many believe there is no such thing

Going back to a question in this thread about Spanish vs flat style boot tops, we see the flat-style commonly in ANH & Spanish-style commonly in ESB & ROTJ, So they are both fine for L3. 

Hessen Antiques is offering free shipping over $99 for June! Just choose free ground shipping.
Thanks!
KodiakAK (Brian "Kodiak" Peterson)
"If once you start down the droid path, forever it will dominate your destiny, consume you it will..."

Me I am too busy commanding the fleet