A few weeks ago I did a post on “tips for new cosplayers” – and I was asked if I had any others.
So I thought, I’ll try to think of every tip I can, and as a result, here are my 120 Tips.
1. Do your research
Find & save as many photos of the costumes you’d like to do as possible. The bigger the better. Find other people who have made the costume and see what they’ve done, ask them questions if you have any.
2. Plan a budget
Start pricing materials. Figure out what’s it going to cost; figure out what you are comfortable spending. Doing this as early as possible will help you spread out your expenditure.
3. Collect your coupons
Watch for sales, sign up for coupons and mailing lists – don’t buy fabric at Joann or Hancock unless you have a coupon.
4. Exhaust your resources
I’ve spent hours googling for specific fabrics, trims, etc. You’ll learn all the places to dig and look for what you need. Costume boards, etsy, ebay, etc. Keep digging.
5. Pick a costume you’re comfortable wearing
Don’t choose a costume you’re going to want to change out of after 10 minutes. If you’re not comfortable showing your bare midriff, don’t make a costume that shows it off if you’re going to be uncomfortable. If you really want to do the costume; make alterations to make it more comfortable for you. It’s your costume, do what makes you happy, whether it’s accurate or not.
That being said, sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone can be very empowering. It depends on the person. Just do what works for you and don’t worry about what other people will say.
(I was originally uncomfortable with Emma’s corset costume, so I did a dress version instead.)
6. Don’t let others discourage you from picking a costume you like
Mention you want to make a Wonder Woman costume and get told you’re too short? See another girl in a Wonder Woman costume and realize you’ll never look as good as her?
Don’t let it discourage you. If you love that costume and want to wear it, you wear it.
7. There is nothing wrong with buying a costume
There is no shame in not having the skills to build the armor for your costume and commissioning someone to do it. There’s no shame in not having access to a sewing machine and buying a costume on ebay. There’s no shame in not having the time it takes to make a costume. Just be honest and don’t lie and say you made it, especially if you’re entering a costume contest.
8. There is nothing wrong with being a beginner
We all start somewhere. Everyone has a first costume, and you should be proud for trying something new.
9. Pick a costume that works for the event
I’m not one of those people who gets their jimmies rustled by Star Wars costumes to an anime con. But in some cases, wearing the wrong costume to the wrong event can mean a lot of people won’t know what you’re dressed as. You have cons like DragonCon or SDCC – the pop culture cons – where you can literally wear anything, but I probably wouldn’t wear something like Donna Noble to a small comic-specific convention – I’d pick something more obviously comic related. (Although, Donna might come along in my bag for wearing during my downtime… !)
Really, wear what you want! But keep in mind Batgirl is going to be more popular at a con like that than a character in “street clothes,” so that’s something you have to mentally prepare for.
10. Don’t let the over-popularity of a character stop you from doing it
So you’ve seen about 100 different Elsa costumes and seen people complaining about how many Elsas there are… and you’re in the middle of making one? Don’t let it get to you, if you love the costume go for it.
11. Don’t let the obscurity of a character stop you from doing it
If you REALLY love a character, even if it’s from a book nobody else has read and you had to kinda make up the costume and not a single person a the con knew who you were dressed as? If you liked doing it, it was worth it. And somewhere down the line, you’re going to get that ONE person, maybe just commenting on your photo a year after the convention, who appreciates your costume. That’s the best feeling.
12. Break in your shoes
Wear your new costume shoes around the house. Wear them to work if you can. Get them broken in before you’re wearing them for 12 hours straight at the con.
13. Iron everything
Iron as you sew. Iron after you’ve got it made. Iron when you get to the hotel. Iron before you put it on. IRON!
I’m bad about this because I get excited to put a costume on – I try to find time to iron it well before I’m going to put it on so I don’t run out the door in a wrinkled costume.
14. Have a Plan B
If absolutely nothing goes wrong during your costume build and everything goes perfectly to plan… then I don’t believe you. I think you’re some kind of cyborg.
Be prepared for stuff not to work right. Be prepared to screw something up. Have a back-up plan, have extra materials, etc.
You also may not always have time or money to make your costume the way you want before your deadline. You may have to make decisions about what corners to cut if you want to make your deadline, or look at not having your costume for the con. You should always have a backup plan in case money or time becomes an issue.
15. “Mise en place”
Have all your tools set out and ready to go as you start working on something. Try to plan ahead on what you’re going to need to buy so you can pick it up beforehand.
16. But be prepared to run out of something
More than likely you’re still going to forget something you need, or you can’t find it, or you ran out. If you’re like me, you’re going to end up at the fabric/craft store at least 3-4 more times before you’re done.
17. Plan your time/create a work schedule
Build in times during the week where you are going to work on your costume. Try to set goals – ie, “by this Saturday I want to have the hem finished.” This is especially helpful if working on multiple costumes at once.
18. Practice first
If you’re sewing something you’re not familiar with, or you need to make sure the fit is right and your alterations work, practice it all on some junky fabric first. Especially if your actual costume fabric is expensive.
19. Be prepared to be ok with just being “ok”
Things don’t always go as planned. You may have to end up with your costume just being “ok” in your eyes. We are all our own worst critics, so know most people won’t see a lot of the nitpicky issues you’re seeing. You can always remake or update pieces later.
20. Protect from sweat
If you’re going to a summer con and it’s a costume you’re definitely going to sweat in, build sweat-shields into your costume, or if possible, wear a t-shirt or something underneath it — they also sell disposable sweat guards.
21. Test paint and dye before using it on your final product
If you’re trying out a new paint or need to dye something, test it on a scrap first. See how dark it dries, how well it takes to the material. You don’t want to dye your entire length of fabric and it turn out the wrong colour.
(And on that note, I always keep a box of RIT dye remover on hand just in case I over-dye something.)
22. Keep your work area clean
When I’m in my DragonCon crunch, once a week I will go through and clean my sewing room completely. It’s easier to work and find things I need when my sewing room is clean.
23. Investing in a good piece is worth it
Sometimes investing in good materials, or a more expensive pair of shoes can be useful in the long run – especially if makes your costume more comfortable, more durable or more accurate. Splurging here and there is worth it when you can.
24. Have a selection of quality glues
Having multiple types of glue is a must.
25. If you want constructive crit or help, ask for it during your build
There are numerous places you can go for help or opinions, places like the RPF or SCF, or just on facebook. Make sure you ask before or during your construction, because often by the time you’re done, changes are impossible to make without starting over.
26. Build your costume so you can get in and out of it yourself
It’s not always possible, but try to make your costume so you can get in and out of it by yourself. You’ll never know when you’re suddenly on your own struggling to get out of something without tearing or breaking it.
27. Print your references
Print your best references to keep in your sewing or work space, so you don’t have to lug a laptop or tablet into a possibly unsafe area. I also use these for writing notes on, on what needs to be done/ideas/etc.
28. Have your references on your phone
Save your best references to your phone, so you can easily pull them up and look at them while out shopping.
29. Make sure you can breathe, see, and walk
If you are making something that covers your face, make sure you can see and breathe without too much difficulty. Make sure you can walk without too much trouble, if it’s something large or long.
30. Weather
If you’re making something that needs to look old, worn, dirty or damaged, make sure you weather it, it will lend a realism to the costume.
31. Do at least one full test run before leaving home
Back when I first started, I was always finishing stuff up to right before I left for the con, so I rarely had the entire costume on all together beforehand. Now I try to make sure I put it all on at least once before I leave, have a test run, take test photos, make sure everything is working and problems can be sorted out BEFORE I get to the con.
32. Use garment bags
If any of your costumes are easily wrinkled, carry them in a hanger in a garment bags. Garment bags come real cheap at places like target and walmart, and I can usually fit 2-3 items in one bag. Garbage bags are also a viable option – poke a hole through the bottom for the hanger to go through, and tie up the bottom.
33. Use padding for delicate armor pieces
When packing for the con, make sure anything delicate is padded. I do this even if I’m the only one handling my bags/boxes, but it’s especially important if you’re flying. I’ll use items like capes or slips, or my pajamas as padding, if I don’t want to carry anything extra. If I have the room, I’ll use foam blocks or leftover fabric scraps.
I’ll also wrap anything that I’ve painted in either a garbage bag or fabric, to keep it from getting chipped, or the paint rubbing off on anything else.
34. Bring a repair kit
Imagine every single thing that could go wrong with your costume. Now bring everything you can to fix that problem if it happens. Sewing kit, hot glue gun, different kinds of tape, safety pins, touch-up paint, velcro, elastic, etc.
35. Make a packing list
Before you start packing, write up a list of every piece of your costume, and every other little thing you’ll need (wig caps, bobbie pins, tights, makeup, etc). I cross things off as they go in the box, so I’m sure I have everything.
36. Find out a con’s rules on weapons/costume size/props beforehand
Before you start building that 8ft long buster sword, or buy that really realistic looking airsoft gun, make sure you know the con’s weapons policy, and that some cons also have costume size policies (usually due to being a smaller venue, large costumes can be fire hazards). Some weapons policies are more strict than others, so make sure you know before you build or take something that could be considered dangerous.
37. Don’t use your real hair if you can help it
If you can’t afford a wig, or your hair looks perfect as it is – that’s fine, you go for it! I personally prefer to NOT deal with my own hair for costumes, because it’s easier and faster to throw a wig or hairpiece on. Even though my hair was “close enough” for Donna, I still had to go through curling it overnight, straightening it, teasing it and hairspraying it – only for it to generally look like I hadn’t done any of that an hour later. It’s just a pain in the butt. Wigs are easier, faster, and generally look fuller and brighter than using your real hair.
38. Find groups/photoshoots online beforehand
If you want to be a part of a groups or photoshoots, find them online beforehand. Look around on facebook, the con’s forums, etc. There are always meet-ups of some kind happening, and they’re great photo ops, and opportunities for meeting other costumers interested in the same thing.
39. Consider how your costume looks in all aspects standing vs moving, far away vs up close, dark light vs bright light
Your costume looks great standing still with your skirts perfectly arranged – how does it look after walking through a sweaty crowd and then getting stopped for a photo? How does it look in low light? In direct sunlight? How does it read from far away? Does it stand up to up-close scrutiny? This is all stuff I think about when I’m doing the next tip…
40. Take photos of your costume before you leave in various lightings and various angles
It helps you to practice how you want to pose in the costume as well. It helps you see things you couldn’t normally see – and to see if your costume becomes see-through when a flash hits it.
41. If your costume is see through, make sure you have something on underneath it
Lining a costume can help this, but sometimes you have to resort to matching underwear, bodysuit, or slips. Be prepared!
42. Plan for the weather
Check the weather for the con’s city beforehand, so you can see if there’s rain, snow, or anything else crazy that might be happening. Make sure you pack whatever you’ll need – fans, deodorant, sweat protectors for hot weather; coats, capes for cold weather and umbrellas and ponchos for rain.
43. Keep safety pins on your person
If there’s a place you can stick a couple of safety pins without them being seen, do it. You’ll never know when you need them, or when somebody else might need them.
44. Always bring moleskin and bandaids
Even after breaking in your costume shoes, you still never know how badly your feet might react. And you might have some other costume piece rubbing blisters somewhere else.
45. Eat
It’s easy to get carried away and skimp on eating. If you can’t manage to sit down to 3 meals, make sure you eat at least one full meal, and try to eat other stuff throughout the day.
46. Drink
Drink lots of water. Most cons/hotels have free water stations set up, and they will help keep you cool if you’re wearing a hot costume.
47. Don’t rush getting into costume
I’m still really bad about this. Take your time getting into costume, don’t rush through it. Take the time you need on your make up and on getting your wig on. Otherwise you’re going to end up with a lot of pictures with a big ole clump of your real hair sticking out from under your wig, or lipstick on your teeth. This is from the voice of experience 🙁
48. Take a nap
If you’re wanting to go all day and stay up late, find time in the afternoon to take a nap. Even if you’re not a napper, take the costume off, get into comfy clothes and just decompress for a while. Usually cons have a “dead period” in the afternoon – there’s still things going on, obviously, but it’s a good time to catch a little cat nap.
49. Carry stain remover
I like Grandma’s Stain Remover, it works great, smells good and is small enough to carry in my repair bag. You can also carry something like a tide pen – just be sure to test it somewhere not noticeable first to make sure it’s not going to stain or remove dye.
50. Changing in a public bathroom sucks
Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do, but I try to avoid it at all costs. Public bathrooms aren’t the best place to try to get into costume, there isn’t room to set stuff down, you’re banging into the walls, and who knows what your costume is touching. Try to have a friend help you who can hold stuff off the floor if you have to do it.
51. Have a setting-up period if possible – iron, steam, organize before the con
If possible, try to plan in a time to do this. It usually works best if you’ve arrived the day before the con. I unpack all my costumes, iron or steam them (hang them in the bathroom while someone is taking a hot shower!) and hang them up, double check everything made it in one piece, do any needed repairs, and lay stuff out in order I’ll need it. It makes getting ready or changing much easier throughout the rest of the weekend.
52. Always have wig spray
If you’ve got wigs, bring wig spray. I always spray down my wigs with it before brushing them and putting them on. My fav is the one that smells like coconut. You can also make your own de-tangler with fabric softener and water! (Check out youtube for tutorials!)
53. Cover your wig if you’re going to have to walk outside in the wind
If you’ve got to walk outside to get to the convention, and it’s the slightest bit breezy, cover up your wig, especially if it’s a long wig. Get one of those plastic headcovers they sell at drug stores and tuck it up underneath, otherwise you’ll have a tangled mess by the time you get to the convention center.
54. Always pin your wig on
Even if you think your wig fits great and it’s not going anywhere, put one or two bobbie pins along the front to help hold it in place. You never know when it might slip back without you realizing, or worse, come off completely at the wrong moment.
55. Wear tights
Usually, if your legs are showing in a costume, it’s a good idea to wear some dance tights. Even if you have great looking legs, they make everything look smooth and nice and, sometimes if you’re feeling a little bare in general, can help you feel a little more covered up.
56. Wear extra socks
If you’re wearing something that allows for it, always wear socks! Wear two pairs of you can, or extra thick ones. It’s just a little extra padding for your feet.
57. Have someone take photos with your own camera
Hand your camera or phone off to a friend and ask them to take a few photos of you. If you haven’t got someone with you, you can usually ask someone else to as well. It sucks to come home and not be able to find any photos of your costume anyone else took, so yours can always be back up.
58. Try to have easily removable shoes/wings/armor
If you’ve still got a long walk back to the hotel room and your shoes are hurting so bad you don’t think you can take another step, you don’t want to take half of your costume off to be able to get your shoes off. And think about needing to be able to sit in a full armor costume, or giant wings. Try to make sure things can come off an on easily so you can have downtime without having to go back to your room and take the whole thing off.
59. Have a handler
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, having a friend with you to help with costume malfunctions, hold your stuff, take pictures for you, help get you dressed, help you move through crowds is the best way to wear a costume at a con. Plus it’s more fun with a friend.
60. Carry only the bare necessities
Keep your basics on you all the time, whether in a hidden pocket, tucked in a boot, or in a matching bag. License, badge, phone, a little cash, keys. Don’t carry more than you need, but don’t leave out anything you might need in an emergency.
61. Hide your badge
Conventions like you to have that badge front and center, but for photos, try to take it off and put it somewhere where it can’t be seen. I don’t recommend taking it off completely, but hooking it around or under something on your back is what I’ve found works best. Or even at your side, the side away from the cameras.
62. Change into normal clothes for shopping/long panels
Always have a change of clothes! If you want to go really enjoy the dealer’s room, or to stake out a spot in a long line for a popular panel, go put some “normal” clothes on. You’ll be more comfortable and won’t have people stopping you for photos (which is frustrating in a crowded dealer’s room). I’ll usually throw on regular clothes for dinner, too.
63. Carry a fan
If you’re at a summer con, and if it fits with your costume, carry a handheld fan. You can get an old-fashioned one if it fits your costume better, or just a cardboard one. Lately I’ve seen more dealers selling fans, or vendors giving away cardboard versions, and you can always hand them off if you don’t want it in your costume photos.)
If it’s REALLY hot, or if you’re at an outside event, get one of those battery powered “mister” fans (though be careful using the mister on your makeup).
64. Carry a cape
If it’s cold out, wear a cape! Capes are easy to make, or you can buy a cheap one. They “go” with almost any costume, as opposed to a regular jacket.
65. Wear shorts underneath skirts
If you’re wearing a skirt and it works, wear a pair of shorts with pockets underneath it. That way you have a place to carry all of your stuff without having to build in pockets, carry a bag or imposing on your friends.
If you’re going to be on stage and wearing any kind of skirt that is shorter than floor length, make sure you’re wearing something under it, otherwise the first few rows will get a view up your skirt.
66. Make sure you’re covered in case of costume malfunctions
If you’re wearing something even remotely skimpy (and often even if it’s not!), make sure your bra, corset or whatever you are wearing underneath matches or blends in, or at least have some pasties on just in case. Same goes for your underwear, if for some reason your skirt gets hitched up or your pants slide down, make sure you’re not wearing, like, Elmo underwear or something.
67. Take off what you can of your costume while eating/have a cover-up
Take off what you can of your costume while eating a meal, or a snack – just to make things easier on you and prevent food from getting on it. If you have a cape or something, you can use it like a drape if need be, or if you have a jacket, throw it on over your costume and zip it up. Or do the old-fashioned “tucking the napkin into your collar” move!
Plus, having parts of your costume off or covered up is usually a signal to other people that you are “on break” and to not ask for photos.
68. Be prepared to not be able to use your phone
If you have a costume with gloves you can’t take off and a touch screen… you’re going to have some trouble working your phone.
Besides that, reception at conventions is always terrible. For instance, at DragonCon, the lower you get in the Marriott, the less likely any calls or texts will go through. So be prepared.
69. Take your makeup off before bed
At the end of the day, you may be completely exhausted and once you’ve taken that costume off, you just want to fall into bed. I sometimes do that, but I try to have a little ritual every night of taking all my make-up off, washing my face, and taking a hot bath. It’s a nice way to wind down from the day and be ready for the next.
Also, if I don’t get ALL of my eye makeup off, my eyes will run like CRAZY overnight and I’ll wake up with red eyes. Not the best way to start day 2 of your con.
70. Toupee tape
Toupee tape is my go-to emergency repair item. I always carry a roll. I use it in place of fashion tape (I don’t think fashion tape holds well enough) to hold fabric parts of costume in place (ie, like the lowcut necklines of Urd or Starfire), and to hold tiaras in place on my forehead. I’ve also used it as quick repairs on other items when I didn’t have time for a glue gun to heat up. It’s super strong and pretty reliable (although don’t expect it to hold up anything “load bearing”) – but it does hurt to take off so prepare yourself for that!!
71. Be nice to other cosplayers
I’ve said this before, too – but I think it’s important to say nice things to other cosplayers, and to build people up. It makes for a much more enjoyable enviroment.
72. Try not to run late
Give yourself plenty of time to get where you need to go. If you know you have to put a brand new costume on and get through two hotels worth of crowds to get to a photoshoot, give yourself LOTS of time to do that. I usually tell myself that the “start time” is 20 minutes before it really is, and oftentimes give myself 2 hours to get ready and get there – and sometimes it’s still pushing it. You just never know what’s going to happen while getting into costume, how many times you’re going to get stopped in the way there, etc.
Plus, for a big group photoshoot, it drives everybody else and the organizers crazy when people keep showing up and having to start over/reorganize.
73. Be cognizant of the space you take up
If you’ve got wings, weapons, spikes, long trains or hoopskirts, be aware of how much space you’re taking up and try to minimize. Stay out of very crowded areas like dealers halls or very skinny aisles. Try to stay along a wall or in a less crowded area if you have mobility issues. Pick up your trains to keep them from getting stepped on or caught in escalators, and try not to bowl people over in your hoopskirt or poke out eyes with your wings. Just be very aware of where all your “extra pieces” are at all times.
74. Be respectful of others
Don’t say things that could be taken the wrong way. Don’t turn your nose up at someone’s costume. Try to say please and thank you as much as possible. Don’t be loud outside of panel rooms or in the hotel room areas. Be nice to hotel & con staff.
75. Don’t touch others without permission
Always ask before hugging someone, and also ask if it’s ok to have a photo with them. If you want to do some kind of silly pose make sure the other person is ok with it first. Don’t touch people’s props or weapons without asking first.
76. Having a meeting-spot
As I said before, cell phone reception at cons can be awful. So if you’re with a group, set up a meeting spot. If people get separated by mistake, or want to run go do something you don’t, this gives you all a spot to find each other again without too much trouble.
77. Some people may not recognize your character
Be prepared for some people to not know who you are dressed as. Generally if it’s flashy enough, people won’t care if they don’t know what it is – they’ll take pictures anyway. But if you’re in some street clothes from Doctor Who – pretty much only Doctor Who fans are going to recognize you, unless it’s one of the more popular costumes. As long as you’ve enjoyed wearing your costume, it really doesn’t matter — but…
78. It’s ok to be disappointed
It’s ok to walk away from a con or event and feel disappointed in the reception your costume got. It’s ok to feel disappointed you didn’t win anything in the costume contest and it’s ok to be disappointed about your costume in general.
The important thing is to not turn that disappointment into resentment towards someone else. You can’t blame someone with a flashier, more extravagant costume for the reception your own costume got. You can’t blame the fact that there were 50 other people dressed as the same character as you. You can’t always gauge what a crowd is going to respond to, and things that are popular are always going to be oversaturated, and there will almost always be someone with a better costume than yours – because taste is subjective. Live and learn, update your old costume or make a new one, keep moving forward.
79. It’s also ok to feel proud of your work
It’s also COMPLETELY GREAT to feel proud of what you’ve done. There are times to be humble, but there are also times when you look at something and think, “wow, I made that and it’s awesome.”
I still look back at old costumes – costumes I would have made very differently now – and I’m proud of them, because they were the best I could do then.
80. Don’t get frustrated if you don’t get the attention you think you will
Going back to #78, jealousy gets you nowhere. Getting upset because the girl in the bikini is getting more photos taken than you in your historically accurate costume you worked on for 3 months is pointless. Getting frustrated because some person on the internet has more “likes” than you is silly.
You can’t let your enjoyment of this hobby hinge on popularity. It’s nice & great to get nice comments, lots of photos taken, etc, but even if no one comments, if you enjoyed making and wearing your costume, that was the important part. Keep doing what you love.
81. Rehearse your skit beforehand
If you’re in the costume contest, and you’re going to do a skit – rehearse as many times as you can! The audiences at a lot of these contests can turn into heckling contests, so you want to be able to do your best to avoid it.
82. Wear costume-appropriate shoes
If you’re just wearing your costume around the hall, wear whatever shoes you want. But for competition, make sure you trade in those flip-flops for the heels you’ll need.
83. Pre-record skit dialogue
If you’re doing a skit, and it’s possible to use pre-recorded dialogue, please do! Most venus won’t provide a microphone for contestants to use (or only one, if you’re lucky) and shouted dialogue will only frustrated the audience. If recording dialogue isn’t an option, opt for a skit that doesn’t require you to speak. (That’s why dancing skits got so popular for a while.)
84. If doing a walk-on, be sure to “linger”
If you’re just doing a walk-on in the a costume contest (not a skit), make sure to linger on stage. What feels like forever to you was actually like 3 seconds to the audience. Walk around, flourish your cape, toss your hair, give a view from all sides. ESPECIALLY don’t walk off the stage while the emcee is still reading your intro! Stay on stage for as long as they’re reading your entry.
85. Don’t be humble if you’re in the costume contest
If you’re talking to the judges face-to-face, or if you’re asked to write down how you made your costume – don’t skimp on the details! Now is your time to shine. Point out every detail you’re proud of, and every hard part you conquered. If you just say “costume made by me,” that really doesn’t give the audience the full picture of what you did.
86. Don’t be a sour grape
Sorry if I’m being repetitious, but going back to #78 and #80, don’t be frustrated if you don’t win. You don’t ever know what a judge is thinking, especially when it’s a contest where the judges are guests and celebrities instead of costumers. You’re allowed to be disappointed over not winning, but don’t blast the people who did win, and getting online and bitching about it in public is just bad form.
87. Be prepared to wait
If you’re entering the costume contest, be prepared for a lot of “Hurry up and wait.” You’ll probably be backstage for a very long time, certainly much longer than you will ever be on stage. There’s oftentimes prejudging, plus lining everybody up, official photos, waiting your turn to go onstage, and then waiting on the judges. It’s an evening-long commitment – and some contests will have prejudging earlier, so you’ll possibly have to get into costume twice. It’s a big time commitment, and this is where having a handler and an easy-to-take-apart costume comes in handy, so you can partially de-suit and relax when you’re done being onstage and waiting on the next segment.
88. Bring references if you’re in the costume contest
If you’re entering the costume contest, make sure you print out all of your references and bring them to judging. They may not be needed, but it will definitely help the judges if you have a chance to show them. Judges won’t know every character, so having references can help them see what you were trying to achieve.
89. Do research beforehand to find out what kind of costume contest it is
Do some research and find out exactly what kind of contest it is. Find videos or personal reports from last year’s contest, dig around forums or the facebook pages. Some contests are more laid-back, less judging, a show-up-and-walk kind of deal. Some are very involved and you need prerecorded music, a skit, and/or certain percentage of your costume had to be made from scratch, among other stipulations. I’ve shown up at a contest I didn’t realize I had to have prerecorded music for, and ended up having to slapdash pick out a song out of their book of CDs to play while I walked across the stage. It so didn’t go and was kind of a bummer.
At a con like DragonCon, there are multiple contests. There’s the serious, craftsmenship-focused costume contest, and there’s the comic book specific contest with a big cash prize, and there’s the more skit & performance based masquerade (which tends to turn into a bit of a gong show). Know what you’re jumping into and plan accordingly.
90. Big money = competition
The allure of a contest with a big cash prize is strong, but it also means stiffer competition and more hurt feelings. Missing out on first prize when the reward was just a gift basket and a $25 gift card isn’t such a big deal – it is a much bigger deal when you lose out on $1000.
People are going to bring out the big guns for a prize like that, and a lot of people will try to enter. There may even been a cap, so if you want to enter make sure you get your registration back to them ASAP.
91. Have snacks in your room/car
Always have some easy to transport snacks you can eat in your room, your bag or your car for a quick pick-me-up. Snacks and food at convention centers and hotels are always overpriced, so while you may still have to shell out $15 for a lousy slice of pizza for lunch, you can have your own snacks in between.
92. Put your Contact Info on your phone or camera
It’s easy to lose stuff at a con, especially something in constant use like a phone or camera. Change your lock-screen to an image of your contact information if your phone is lost. For instance “If lost, please return to Kell. Alternate phone number: XXX-XXXX, email: me@me.com, hotel: Marriott” (don’t put your room number, but someone could turn it into lost and found for you at the hotel.)
It’s also a good idea to do the same for your camera or camera accessories – you can either write down this info and take a picture, or if you have a label maker, print out your phone number and stick it to the underside.
93. Know your limits when drinking
There’s a lot of after parties and nightlife at cons, so if you’re going to be drinking, know your limits and be safe.
94. Bring more underwear than you think you’ll need
You never know when you throw a costume on and realize that your hot pink underwear is WAY too visible under this white dress – you need a different cut. Bring extra underwear of different shades and cuts, just in case. Also, ladies, Mother Nature can be a bit more erratic when you’ve been under the stress of getting ready for a convention and traveling, so make sure you’re prepared and bring whatever you may need if she decides to stop in for an unexpected visit.
95. Compliment others
You never know when you’ve made someone’s whole con by telling them you like their costume.
96. Don’t be afraid to say no
If someone is making you uncomfortable, you are under no obligation to smile and nod and play along.
If someone is really be an asshole, report them to con or hotel security.
97. Bring febreze (or similar)
Spray down your costumes if you got hot in them, and also just nice to have after coming out of the con funk 🙂
98. Don’t ruin the hotel, including your bathrooms/room
The hotel may be your home for a few days, but treat it as though you are a guest. Don’t mess with stuff in the common areas, and don’t ruin the hotel’s towels or linens. Clean up your spills, and try to put things back where you found them. Don’t keep housekeeping out of your room the entire stay and be sure to tip them. (Bellhops, too!!)
99. Bring more money than you’ll think you’ll need
Costs will add up fast. Let’s see, for us going to Dragoncon, it’s… gas, money for snacks and dinner on the road, hotel, incidental hotel charge (often the price of your room is not what you think it is at check in, they hold extra for each night and give it back at the end), parking, tips for valet, tips for bellhop, tips for room service, meals each day, snacks each day, dealers room money, paying for wi-fi… etc. So always make sure you have extra, and don’t count on the ATMs working by the end of the weekend.
100. Don’t impede traffic
At a crowded con, stay out of the flow of traffic if you need to stop, whether out of costume or in. You’ve got a ton of people all trying to get places, look at the things, etc, and the people who stop in the middle of a busy walkway to talk or take a picture are so frustrating. Move to the side out of the way. This is, of course, especially true if you’re wearing a popular or large costume, if someone asks for a photo, ask them if you can move to a spot out of the way.
101. Get in line for anything you want to do extra early
If there’s a panel or event you REALLY want to go to, do your research. Find out what time the line is starting and where, especially if you’ve got a lot of gatherings or photoshoots you also want to go to. Nothing worse than missing out because you stayed at a photoshoot thinking you had time to get to that panel.
102. Never meet your idols
They say “never meet your idols.” It isn’t always true, but sometimes, meeting that celeb isn’t all you pictured in your head. They may not gush over your costume like you expected or may be busy or distant when you get their autograph. They’re only human. Usually you’ll have a fantastic interaction with a guest, but don’t build it up in your head beforehand.
103. Always have a hotel key
If you’re staying at a hotel for the con, always have a hotel key on you. You never know when you need to run back to the room and your roommate is no where to be found. Tuck it in a boot or bra or waistband if you don’t have a bag or pockets.
104. Always bring medicine
Your own prescription medications of course, but also basics like ibuprofen or advil, allergy or upset stomach medicine. Keep a generic medicine bag in your travel items.
105. Pick up after yourself
Is your costume made totally of moss and bits and pieces fall apart as you walk? Do you leave a green handprint on anything you touch for too long? Did you move a planter so you could get a better photo? Try to pick up after yourself, put the planter back, wipe up the handprint. The cleaning crew of the con/hotel may not notice but that’s the point. There’s far too many people who just trash the place without a thought, so don’t be one of those people.
106. Don’t let issues out of your control get you down
Sometimes things happen that you have no control of. Costume pieces break and can’t be fixed. Guests cancel. Flights are delayed. Con staff can be gruff and attendees can be rude. Some of these things can honestly completely ruin a trip… but if you’ve gotten past them and you’re there in costume at the con… try to put it behind you. Enjoy what you can and focus on the good for the time being.
107. Bring real clothes
I once packed 10 costumes and 1 set of “normal” clothes for a convention. I then got snowed in and had 1 set of normal clothes for an extra 2 days (thank goodness I brought more underwear than I thought I’d need. see #94). Always bring a decent amount of clothes to change into so you have options and extras, and you’re not stuck wearing the same thing you wore on the plane the day before after you’ve gotten tired of wearing your costume.
108. Have a comfy costume for downtime
If you just can’t handle wearing normal clothes at a con, at least have a comfy costume. Something easy to throw on and wear, with comfy shoes. I’ve got several like this, they’re my “go-to” when I’m tired of heels, spandex, capes, and ballgowns.
109. Do your homework on events you’d like to do
I kinda touched on this already, with reading up on how the costume contest runs and getting in line for things extra early – but really anything you want to do at a con, make sure you find as much info as you can beforehand. My first con I went to where Stan Lee was a guest, I transported my uncle’s pristine copy of Avengers #2 with me to get Stan Lee to sign it for him. I didn’t read up on at all before, just assumed he was signing anything – turns out he was only signing posters, and you could only get the posters the day before his signing. What a disaster. If I’d done some research beforehand I could have saved myself the trouble.
Same goes with things like group photoshoots and gatherings; double check to make sure you know what you’re signing up for, is it an hour’s commitment or 3? Is it “no doubles”? Make sure you know how to get to the location, etc.
110. Wear your costume at the appropriate time
I’m all for wearing whatever you want, but at certain cons you may want to save your pasties + body paint costume for later in the evening. A lot of cons are considered family atmospheres, and while opinions differ on what kids should be/shouldn’t be seeing, it’s best to save anything skimpy for later at night.
Beyond that, cons have a certain ebb and flow to them. Once you’ve been to a few, especially a few of the same con, you start to understand when is the best time to wear certain costumes. For instance, at Dragoncon, I’ll oftentimes wear anything large, like a ballgown, first thing in the morning, because there’s less of a crowd to get stepped on and jostled in.
111. Have a “drinking” costume if you need to
Just like the comfy costume, there’s also the idea of a drinking costume. If you’re planning on going to afterparties or nightlife where there will be drinking, it’s fun to stay in costume, but you really don’t want to get anything ruined. People will often put together a quick, simple costume to wear that they don’t have to worry about getting spilled on or trying to keep up with uncomfortable or bulky parts.
112. Pack carefully when it’s time to check out
I’m really bad about this. I’m usually so tired by the end of the con I just stuff everything into a bin and go home. But take the time to pack everything up correctly so you don’t come home to broken props and wrinkled dresses. It’ll save you some time and frustration later down the road.
I’ll also print a copy of my original packing list and bring it, though I rarely use it – but it’s nice to have.
Make sure you do a thorough sweep of the hotel room before check out. Check under the bed and under chairs, and in the shower.
113. Take care of yourself at the con, & rest up after
Cons are a giant petri dish. Many people come home with the con crud. While it’s not always avoidable, do your best by staying well rested, well fed and maintaining proper hygiene while at the con.
Afterwards, give yourself some time to rest if at possible! For me, the weeks leading up to the con are usually a madhouse of trying to finish projects, followed by 2-4 days of marathon costuming. So I’m completely spent by the time I get home. When I can, I try to have the day AFTER a con also off, but not always possible with vacation time, etc. But, where you can, take the time to recover and relax.
114. Even if you don’t want criticism, it’s still going to be offered
Once pictures from the con start hitting the internet, at some point you’re going to find some kind of comment that is not exactly pleasant. It could be a a perfectly nice, constructive criticism that you could remember for the future; but oftentimes it’s just someone spouting off their opinion. Which brings me to…
115. Delete rude comments, both online and in your head
If you have the power to do so, just delete any rude comments. Even if you can’t, you also need to delete them from your brain. That’s much harder to do, but it’s something you need to try to do. Negative comments on your skills and appearance can weigh you down, and that’s not what you need. Delete the bad comments from your memory and focus on the positive ones.
116. Look your costumes over after the con, do repairs
Do as I say, not as I do — after the con, don’t let your costumes sit in a box for a month. Air them out if need be, wash them if it’s possible, spot clean what needs cleaned. Iron and hang them up, and store props and wigs away. Go ahead and fix anything that might have gotten damaged, or tackle any changes you wanted to make.
I never do this. My DragonCon costumes will regularly sit in their bins until GMX in October. And then it’s a rush to pull things out and make sure they’re ok. That’s why I say, do as I say, not as as I do.
117. Store them with care
I have not been good with this, and I have paid the price. When I was younger, a lot of times stuff would just get thrown in the closet – and later on I’d find it messed up or broken. I finally came up with a system to keep everything safe once I had to move it all. I keep things in small bins and delicate stuff on shelves or hanging. It really sucks to mess something I made up just because I was too lazy to put it on a hanger or put it away in a box.
118. Do the upgrades you said you were going to
Aaaand another one I say but don’t do. A lot of times I finish a costume at the last minute and don’t really get to do everything I originally planned to do. “I’ll redo it!” I always say. But I rarely do. Try to get into the habit of upgrading what you wanted to upgrade. Otherwise you’ll be like me, pulling out an old costume to wear, completely forgetting I’d never fixed some issue with it, and then not really wanting to wear it again and picking something else. Which is lame.
119. There will always be someone better than you
There are so many amazing, talented cosplayers out there now. Sometimes looking at them all you can think is, wow, I’ll never be that good. How the heck did they do that?
I’ve been there and I’m still there. I’m freaking amazed by every single costumer I follow on facebook.
And then there you are at a convention, and across the hall is someone else in the same costume you just spent 3 months making. And they look better. And they’re getting more photos taken than you.
It’s going to happen. There’s always going to be someone YOU think is better than you. Maybe other people think it, too. I’ts just the way things are.
The thing is, a lot of times, the other person is looking at you thinking the exact same thing. It’s far more worth it to reach out in friendship, instead of ignoring the “competition” and stewing in sour grapes.
120. Have fun
This is my main advice any new costumer getting into the hobby, and for people who have been into it for years.
There are always going to be times it isn’t fun – construction frustrations, money limitations, last minute deadlines, doing commissions and trying to make a living out of cosplay – and I know it’s been said a ton – but you should be having fun at least part of the time. Cons and costuming are supposed to be fun things, hobbies and diversions. They shouldn’t cause more stress than your school grades, bills, etc. So, don’t stress yourself out too much. Have fun!
