Follow these steps to survive cosplay

By: Kierston Johnson

Cosplay: the act of dressing up as character from a movie, tv show, anime or anything else you can think of. But there is something about bringing together a bunch of (slightly obsessed) geeky people that makes this environment a little volatile, so here are some vital tips for surviving your first cosplay convention.

PLAN AHEAD

It doesn’t have to be a 100 percent foolproof plan, but at least have a rough outline, like dealer’s room, consuite (free candy room, awesome), meet up spot, etc. Make sure you have enough time between, making the costume, getting to the hotel and getting signed in.

YOUR COSTUME

This is the most important part of cosplaying (obviously). Make sure you are able to wear this costume all day. You can spend hours making a full body foam armor, but it means nothing when you’re sweating like a pig and can barely fit through hotel hallway. 

SAFETY PINS, FABRIC GLUE, 

SCISSORS.

The essential first-aid kit of a cosplayer, and you’ll probably want to bring even more. Your costume is bound to get ruined when you least expect it, so having your survival kit will always come in handy.

GET SOME REAL FOOD

After a while, that Mountain Dew and pocket full of snacks will start getting to your gut, and then it’s game over. Play again? It’s important to get out and get some real food from one of the nearby restaurants.

MEDICATION

I know that many people are against medications like ibuprofen and aspirin, but when you’re walking around for hours at a time with a tight costume, high heels and pounds of foam on your shoulders, you WILL start to hurt. If not for you, bring it for someone else. 

Lastly, don’t worry about what others think of you. This is a place of fantasy and freedom. Cosplaying can help you escape to the fantasy you’ve always loved, and it doesn’t matter if someone says you’re too fat, too black, too skinny or just too weird to cosplay, it’s not about them, it’s about you.