People about Cosplay...

There’s a few things – one is that you you’re going to get asked for pictures, especially if you cosplay a popular character.

For conventions, make sure that you have a way of carrying essentials on you, even if your costume doesn’t have pockets. Perhaps make a simple bag to match your costume (same color as your outfit, or decorated with a suitable design, an example being a Jedi costume with the Jedi order symbol).

Wear your costume around before the convention, to make sure that you can move around in it, or that things don’t start slipping/pinching/falling apart after a little while. At home, there’s lots of time to make adjustments and fixes.

Don’t worry if you’re not as good as some of the veteran or professional cosplayers out there. Those cosplayers started somewhere too, and with practice, you too will eventually get good.

I have a rather complicated attitude towards cosplay and cosplayers.

Part of me think of them as rather silly. I mean, grown adult dress up in game/amine/comic book characters with homemade costume, and act like they’re actually the character? Com’on…

But at the same time, I admire their creativity and bravery. Some of the costumes are really ingenious and of high quality! I mean, let’s face it, game/anime/comic book characters often have the most unrealistic physic defying clothing. It takes some real creativity and talent to create it in 3 dimensional reality and to have the killer body to wear it.

Cosplayers are very passionate about their craft, which is something I can relate to and appreciate. If one of those days I can loose 30 lbs, I’ll go dress up too.

I would recommend starting out with something simple.

At my very first anime convention, I only had about a month to prepare and didn’t watch a lot of anime. I did Android 18 from Dragon Ball Z as I had most of her outfit already and had the right hairstyle for it. I only had to do a bit of alteration and get some extra items from eBay.

Each time I have cosplayed since then, I have expanded my range. I discovered I have a knack for props and makeup but am not very good at sewing. Therefore most of my best cosplays have involved some sort of prop or latex bloodwork. I am still practicing my sewing so I can incorporate that as well.

Play to your strengths and you’ll soon discover which areas you prefer to work in.