Convention Tips - Blog Posts

Convention Tips~

Day Before

Pack a bag with: water-bottle, snacks, money, phone, phone charger, anything you want signed, headphones, jacket

 What to wear:

If you are cosplaying: cosplay, comfy shoes (bring extra make up and change of comfy clothes)

If you are not cosplaying: geeky/anime/nerd t-shirts and appropriate bottoms, comfy shoes for lots of walking (sneakers are good), jacket if cold

Before you sleep: charge phone to full battery, check prepacked bag, check finalized meeting times and place, check how long it will take to get there

Day Of

-Wake up at least an hour before you plan to leave the house

-Pack phone and charger and get dressed in attire

-Have a full stomach and empty bladder before leaving the house

-Get in car with directions to convention

(when driving, send update text to friends you are meeting around every 20 describing weather, traffic, and how excited you are)

-When at destination, do not enter convention without entire group

(if there before other, stay in an area with good signal and/or in site of arriving cars for meet up)

-Enter convention as a group

-Register your tickets (only have to do this on first day)

-Register props (if cosplaying. NO WEAPONS)

-Enter convention floor

Convention Hours

*-Stick together with group at all times (some have a group call to find each other in crowds)

***-Take a partner to bathroom, booth, etc.

-Do not take an item away from a booth unless already purchased

*-Use your manners in the crowds (“excuse me” “pardon me” “sumimasen”)

-Refrain from Otaku Talk (“omg! That cosplay is super kawaii-desu!” “I love you character name!!!1! :3”)

-Set up emergency meeting spot if someone gets lost

***-Always check phone for messages from group

-Take lots of pictures~

-Try not to offend anyone

-Do not point out every set of boobies, be it hentai poster or cosplayer

-Do not shame the other fandoms (bronies, furries,etc)

-It is okay to ask someone in cosplay for a picture (they really appreciate it)

-It is okay to decline a booth vender’s offer

-It is okay to fan over the voice actors and guests (in moderation)

-It is not okay to make the guests uncomfortable (dirty jokes, etc)

-It is not okay to interview people unless you have a convention registered badge

-It is okay to cry (if for some reason you have to)

-It is okay to geek out with other convention goers

*-It is okay to make new friends at conventions (please beware the stalker crazy people)

*-If you are tired or hungry, tell the group, they probably are too

*-If you want to purchase something tell someone in the group so they don’t accidentally ditch you

-Before purchasing something, walk around more and see if you actually want it (also check prices for deals at other booths)(also check online for deals)

-If you purchase something, it is your responsibility to carry it

*-We suggest that you buy your big purchases (posters, wigs, figurines, etc) toward the end of the con

-Often check on your things, do not leave them unattended

***-Watch the clock

*-Keep hydrated

***-Con food is overpriced and usually not so good, try to bring your own or wait till dinner (lunch is usually skipped, just all snacking)

-Try and participate, it’s an annual and exciting event, have fun!

Cosplay Tips: Repair Kits!

Let’s face it, at one point in time you’ve experienced a wardrobe malfunction and needed a quick fix. When you’re at a con, your cosplay is subject to lots of abuse at times! Heat, pushy crowds, drunkeness (lol), food accidents, etc. Stuff happens. So here is one way to be one step ahead!

Bring a repair kit with things you may need to permanently or temporarily fix your cosplay. Here are some ideas on what to bring:

A small sewing kit containing thread that matches each of your costumes and a needle or two.

Safety pins are great to have with you when you aren’t in the hotel room in case something pops that needs to be temporarily held!

A small first aid kit with some form of pain killer, band-aids, and hand sanitizer. (Band-aids come in really handy for blisters on your feet!)

Try to bring extra supplies. Hair nets, bobby pins, clips, things of that sort. Small things are easy to lose! This also goes for pieces of your costume that could potentially fall off, like rhinestones or small pieces of trim. Bring extra and the tools you need to reapply those!

Super glue. Just bring it, you’ll use it. Haha. Or a hot glue gun!

Scissors are handy too

Addition: I forgot to add bring a bleach pen or wipes for your clothes in case you spill food or something! 

These are just a few things that can make a really big difference when something goes awry! Keep this kit in your hotel room or nearby in your car and everything should be a-okay!

Happy cosplaying! 

Con-going Cosplay Hacks

- Check out of your hotel early Most hotels accept cash payment at any point during your stay. If you are splitting up the payment of your room, head down to the front desk as soon as you have everyone’s share of the money. They will still hold the credit card for any extra incidentals, but this way you don’t have to wait in a long line at the end of your con stay to check out.

- Put bandaids on the back of your uncomfortable shoes You’re wearing a shoe that cuts into your heel, something you only notice after walking around the con for two hours. If you happen to be wearing tights, you can place a fabric bandaid into the heel of the shoe itself and have it be just as effective. This way you won’t have to remove your tights to get the bandaid on your skin!

- BRING FABREEZE AND SHOUT WIPES/TIDE PENS Someone in your group is going to stain their costume. It’s 100% guaranteed to happen. Whether it’s from food, drink, or smudged makeup, Shout Wipes or Tide Pens will save you from the stress of now having a stained costume.

Also, Fabreeze. It will make you feel better about wearing the same clothes multiple days in a row (not just cosplay!), AND it is a good idea to spray your cosplay down before packing it back up for the trip back home.

- Bag up what you can of your cosplays Buy the galleon storage bags for your trip and squeeze what you can of each cosplay into the bag. Label the bags as needed (ex: McCree 1 of 2). This way you have everything you need for that cosplay together in one place, thus saving yourself from tearing apart your entire suitcase every time you want to change cosplays. If parts of your costume don’t fit into bags, that’s okay! At least they’re big enough not to lose track of. Or you can upgrade from a storage bag to trash bags!

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