Joining the ranks of Cosplayers can seem quite intimidating to a first timer. You should not be nervous. Cosplay accepts all comers, from the Naruto kids who are wearing street clothes and the headband that they bought at last years con, to the girl who spent six months making her elaborate and detailed Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon costume – complete with musical toy harp imported from Japan. This article will take you through the steps necessary to give you a solid head start at your next local Con. Pre-Register
Almost every con offers significant discounts for registering early. If you register early enough you can easily pay less than one day’s admission for the entire weekend. This is also the time that you will get the best deal on a hotel room. If you don’t live within walking distance of the Convention Center this is the best option, especially as the cost to park near convention centers can upwards of $15 per day, and riding the bus dressed as Felicia from Darkstalkers is less than ideal. All con associated hotels will list a maximum occupancy per room.
The more people you split the cost of a room with, the more money you will have for food and exhibitors. Pick a character. The number one key to successful Cosplay is being a fan. Pick a character you love and identify with. If you throw on a wig from “that Dragon Ball Z guy” people will expect you to at least know who the character is, and be able to perform a convincing “Ka-me ha-me ha.” The more elaborate the costume the higher the expectations of your performance.
Be Realistic:
There are certain traps in Cosplay. Jet Black and Fay Valentine from Cowboy Bebop both appear, to the untrained eye, as easy costumes. Until technology advances, you will never see someone with a convincing version of Jet’s mechanical arm, and the relative ease of the rest of his outfit will be far eclipsed by the effort you’ll have to spend making an arm that looks halfway decent. Faye Valentine is a whole different issue. In the show, her fabrics defy gravity, and provide support that current fabrics just can not match. You will also find that her suspenders are impossible to get “just right.”
The Costume.
If you are good with a sewing machine, and know what a pattern is, you can probably make your own costume and don’t need any help. If you have never sewn a button in your life you may need some outside help. There are a lot of Cosplayers who will make costumes on commission. The best way to find one is at a convention. There will usually be booths in the exhibitor area where costume makers will be showing off their past costumes, and consulting on what they can make and what it will cost you.
If you don’t find someone in the exhibitor area, chat up other Cosplayers with costumes that you like – as they love to talk about their costumes. Always be polite and complimentary. Ask them how they made the wig, that impressive prop, etc. If they made the costume themselves, ask if they do commissions (some will, especially if they like you).
If they bought their costume from someone else they will happily refer you to them. Be aware, having a costume made is very time consuming and very expensive. The day of the convention: Show up, have fun! A convention is not just a place to show off your costume making skills, but a place to party and meet new people with interests like yours. If you are Cosplaying Ash from Pokemon, and there is a Pokemon event at the con, attend! Be prepared to be on your feet all day, and bring money for food, water, and items for next year’s costume from the exhibitors.