Convention Fans

When I started this blog, I knew who I wanted my first official interview to be with: Toby Markham. He is, in my not so humble opinion, the best Jack Sparrow impersonator out there. More than that, he’s a skilled costumer and a great person to get to know. This interview has been broken down into two parts, since it got a little long, but I just didn’t want to edit out anything.

 ————————– Part 1  ————————–

Toby, thanks for “sitting down” to an interview with the Convention Fans blog. I know many of my readers have probably already met you at a convention, or at least seen your great videos on YouTube. Do you remember what your first convention was? What convention was it, and how old were you?

Toby: That’s an easy one. That was the first Star Wars Celebration, back in ‘99. I was 24, already starting to make costumes. That was before I was online, and I was completely ignorant to any type of convention like this. To think I thought I was going to be original, by showing up dressed in a costume! Haha. I got there, and was amazed that there were quite a few in costumes as well.

How many conventions do you usually attend a year? How many countries have you visited, in your life time, as a result?

Toby: I don’t usually base my foreign travel around conventions. All of my traveling is for R&R, and the Sparrow just follows me around, as a way to have fun. Of course, to film something silly as well. But I think the only con I’ve ever gone to, overseas, would be Comiket (Komiket?) in Japan.

But hey, if someone wants to fly me to a con, as a guest, I have no problems with that. Some friends of mine have had that honor, and I keep telling them to throw a good word in there for me.

Guess they don’t want to share.

As far as how many, I usually stick with the usual large ones, [San Diego] Comic con, Dragoncon, and Wizard World Chicago, since it’s right here [in Chicago]. Comic con is always an unknown, while Dragoncon & WW are always a must. So each year can fluctuate. I’d say that there are usually at least 5 per year.

Countries traveled? Well, if you want to include Mexico & Canada, were looking at about 8 or 9. Yeah, you’d think there would be more. If only plane tickets were cheap.

What is your favorite convention to attend, and why?

Toby: You know just as well as I do, Dragoncon. No contest! And again, you know exactly why. It’s Mardi Gras, with awesome costumes. Who could ask for anything more?

Now, you’re probably most well known for your convention appearances in fantastic costumes (which has spawned an entire YouTube series). How and when did you first get into costuming?

Toby: That’s a tough question. Cause technically, I’ve always been into costuming. I remember collecting all of those old plastic Star Wars half masks, with the rubber bands on them. Even if I wasn’t going to wear it for Halloween, I had to have it. I had a couple of Vaders (I remember that the breathing holes were cut out differently, on 2 of the ones I had. One was a frown, and the other was smiling), a Chewie, a Yoda, 3-PO, Boba Fett… even an R2-D2!

I eventually thought of the half masks as “child’s play” when my parents bought me the full head latex E.T. mask. The 2 piece Vader mask shortly followed, and it made me feel like a real badass!

As far as “modern” costuming, that would’ve been ‘96. I walked into a favorite costume shop of mine, and saw the full size Vader helmet. It totally blew my old 2 part mask away. I had never seen a real sized Vader helmet before, in person. I shelled out the $$ for it, and soon found myself forced to try to make the rest of it. Cause let’s face it, you can’t just wear a mask, and not have the rest of the costume to go with. It just doesn’t work that way, unfortunately.

Do you have a “day” job? Or are you now a full time costumer?

Toby: I have been a full time costumer now, for about 3 years. Sad part though is that the economy has begun to take it’s toll, and I may be forced to put it in the back seat, and pursue a “normal” paying job, just to keep the bills at bay.  [Note: Toby has some wonderful costume pieces for sale on his website, including Sparrow and Joker pieces.]

What costume are you the most proud of, and why?

Toby:  I’m proud of each one of them. I like choosing costumes that pose a challenge to me. One costume may require working leather in a way I’ve not worked it before. Another might require me to learn how to work with metal, etc.

Sauron is a good example of that. I went into that, knowing nothing of metalworking. I had this armorer give me a crash course in metal working. Even showing me tools of his that I’d never have a chance to use anyway. Haha. Although I do believe he offered [to let] me to use his shop, if I needed. He just lived a little too far away, to make constant trips to.

What made you decide to take the Jack Sparrow personae to YouTube?

Toby: I was at a con one night, and felt like doing something. At that point, I had already done that Willy Wonka/Saturday Night Fever vid, and thought I’d have a bit of fun. All through high school, my best friend & I always made silly videos. Like most kids would, if they had a camcorder sitting around. This was years before anyone knew there would be anything like YouTube.

Click for Part 2 of the interview!

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