Confessions of a Mermaid Researcher...

[SeaChange]

I thought I'd better come clean right off the bat! I'm entirely new to mermaiding (unless we are counting hopping around the basement with both feet down one leg of a pair of green spandex pants. In my defense, I was six and Ariel was eeeeverywhere). In fact, I actually found my way here while doing research for a project I'm hoping to pitch this fall, and I wanted to get a better idea of the concerns and challenges faced by mermaid hobbyists and performers.

That said, I'm not just here to lurk -- I'm absolutely taking the plunge! My city pools don't seem like an option, but I live near a lake and my first monofin is on its way -- What better way to learn then through experience?

The forums seem friendly and very thorough! I hope no one will mind me popping up here and there with questions!

[malinghi]

Welcome to the forum! I doubt anyone will mind you doing research if you're respectful. Also, that's cool that you've got a natural body of water near you.

So what's your project on? Are you documenting the merfolk costuming community, or is there a theory you're trying to prove?

[SeaChange]

Hi Malinghi!
The lake was a bit of a stroke of luck --we'd lived there almost two years before we realized we had a way across the highway to the water. What a waste!

I'm a cartoonist, actually! I was doing some background reading for a mermaid-related television project and wound up just fascinated by the Weeki Wachi mermaids, which led me here, to the modern mermaid community. I love professions and passtimes that require a really finely honed dedication to craft, so the specifics of mermaiding (little things like haircare, styles of monofin, safe materials for home-made tails etc.) are really appealing to me. The project I'm researching here would be a graphic novel focused on a group of mermaid performers...think something along the lines of that old 70s manga, Swan, but with professional mermaids instead of ballerinas!

At any rate, both the show and the potential book are only project pitches in their infancy. We'll see if they go anywhere! Thank you for your kind welcome!

[Aquos Savar]

Welcome. If you have any doubts or questions, ask me, or somebody, or write it in the forums

[Chrissy]

Hello and Welcome!!! Everyone here will absolutely be able to help you with any question you may have!!!

[Mermaid Galene]

Welcome, SeaChange! Your project sounds really fun. Love your screen name, too!

[Lostariel Telrunya]

Haha, here is the perfect place to do research! Welcome :) You can probably look in any thread you like, and you'll hear something about the 'challenges of mermaid hobbyists and performers'. Are you planning on making a tail with your monofin, or just zoomin' around the lake?

[SeaChange]

Hello everyone!

I think I'll stick with the monofin to start, Lostariel, -- The beach near my place is a busy public one, and I'm a bit shy. A lot of folks in my field cosplay, though, so I could see potentially putting together a fabric tail for cosplay pool parties when I'm travelling to conventions. I do know a number of semi-pro prop makers and costumers who may find this an interesting venue they hadn't considered, though...

[Aquarianne]

Hi SeaChange! Welcome to the forums!! <3

Your project sounds awesome! What other books have you worked on? I'm a graphic novelist too! :D

[SeaChange]

Ooh, I'd love to see your stuff, Aquarianne! Because studios and networks are involved in my current project, I'm afraid I'd rather keep who I am IRL quiet for now -- But I swear I'm no one of consequence. ^^;