So, we've already covered make-up, but what else should you bring to the con? On top of your costumes, clothing, toiletries, etc., here are some critical pieces of equipment to have at hand when you're conning it up.
1. Food and water. This is crucial. If at all possible, get some food and take it with you. Get doggie bags. Even eating out of the hotel snack machine may be cheaper than buying food on the floor at some cons. ::cough::SDCC::cough:: Even more important than food is water, especially if you're in a hot costume. Don't bring your best Nalgene; be advised that your water may be taken at the door at some events, particularly music festivals. If this happens, fork out the four bucks at concessions for a new bottle. Trust me, you'll thank me for it later. If you're not flying, you may also want to bring your own booze; as previously discussed, cons vary a lot on this, but you might bring your flask as well (check local liquor laws first).
2. Bobby pins. These things are amazing. They solve all kinds of hair emergencies (including just general bad hair when you're not in costume), and in a pinch they can be used to repair clothing, especially fallen hems.
3. A sewing kit. If possible, pack your own; don't rely on one of those little prefab kits. Cannibalize the package and the scissors, cause it's hard to find scissors that small. And for the love of god, put it in the bag you carry with you. A good sewing kit should include:
-dressmaker's pins
-bobbins of thread in appropriate colors to match your costume(s)
-small scissors
-needles appropriate to the materials of your costume(s) (if you're running around in a leather catsuit, little bitty needles are going to do you no damn good if you pop a seam)
-safety pins
-extra buttons/snaps/hooks and eyes, as appropriate
If you're not experienced with sewing, have bad eyes, or prick yourself a lot, you may want to add a needle threader and thimble.You may want to bring more than this if you're, for example, going to a con like Dragon*Con with its own sewing circle events, but this is the bare minimum that you need for common repairs.
4. A bag to carry with you. You HAVE to have something to put your cell phone and wallet in. Do NOT rely on someone else to carry your stuff, unless you're in a costume so elaborate that it requires a handler anyway. You WILL get separated, and without your cell phone, how will you find them?
"But Sabine!" I hear you say. "I am cosplaying a naked alien! How will I match a bag to my costume?" Well, make it out of nude-colored spandex. Make it out of fucking banana leaves if you have to. Get creative with that shit! If you're wearing something with a belt, make a little pouch. If you're wearing a corset, hide it amongst the boys (you know what I mean). If you're wearing socks, you can even buy little sock garters with pockets (see Sock Dreams).
5. Double-sided tape. There's no limit to the things you can do with this stuff. Signs, costume emergencies, keeping that one clumsy friend from wandering off.
6. A spare one of everything. If you have a costume piece and you have a spare of it, bring it. I don't advocate carrying around a whole extra copy of your costume in your bag to the panels, but it wouldn't hurt to have it in your suitcase. This is crucial if your costume contains small, easily lost components, like pins or buttons. And if you're anything like me, you'll probably forget the original and pack the spare.
6a: Spare shoes. No matter how hot your shoes are, if you're not wearing flats, you will eventually want to take them off. It's easy to kick them off during a panel, but if you're planning on walking around, there's nothing worse than walking or standing on tired, achy feet. Bring shoes that you can pack; flipflops are an option, but for a better look, collapsible ballet flats are also an option. Dr. Scholl's makes a nice pair of fold-up flats with their own carry-case, but you could just as easily pick up some Isotoners in a color befitting your costume (don't waste your time on cheap knock-offs).
7. Paper and markers. Hear me out on this one. The uses for paper should be self-evident- you might want to get autographs or take notes at a panel or pass out your contact information to people. The markers, however, are for making signs. There are a LOT of people at con. Like, really a lot of them. The best way to find your friends is to have a sign. This is another way to get creative- we've used location devices from fabric banners to life-sized cardboard cutouts of David Duchovny- but a good old fashioned sign will take you far. It's also great for last minute half-assed costumes- all you have to do to be an Inception cosplayer to hold up a sign with an arrow pointing to yourself that reads "Eames" (think about it).
8. First aid. At the bare minimum, you should include bandaids, Neosporin, painkillers, tissues, gauze, and an Ace bandage. Trust me, you'll need them, particularly if you're wearing heels. It's probably fine to have one first aid kit per group, but you may want to stick bandaids and tissues in your bag for the floor.
9. Baby wipes and hand sanitizer. You're going to be touching a lot of people and a lot of stuff a lot of people have touched, and you're not always going to have time to wait out the line for the bathroom. My preference for portable hand wash is Lifelogic No-Rinse Go! Soap, which is available at CVS or REI. It got me through a field season in Guatemala with ease, though if you like antibacterial gel, you can bring that too (just don't get it on your costume!).
10. Cash. Don't rely on your credit card to get you through the dealers' room. Most smaller vendors don't take credit cards, and having cash also helps you track your spending a little better than a credit card. If you're with a larger group, it's also essential for splitting bills at restaurants.
11. A good attitude. Cheesy, I know, but I'm serious. If you don't have your game face on, why even bother going? You also drag everybody else down if you really don't want to be there. Don't be that guy.
Bonus Round:
-Sock Glue. If you're doing anything involving low-cut or super revealing costumes, knee socks or thigh highs, roll-on body adhesive will save your life. Nothing is more annoying than having to constantly readjust your costume, and sometimes all the pins and tape in the world just won't work. It runs $10 on Sock Dreams, and it is worth every penny. If you wear long socks in general, it's a good thing to just have around for daily use too.
-Things you want autographed. Make sure these things are portable or learn to pack around them. Getting David Hewlett to autograph your SGA S1 DVDs is easy; getting James Robinson to autograph your Starman Omnibus editions is a little more difficult. Remember that you can also buy something on the fly, which may be more convenient.
-A collapsible bag. This depends on how much you want to bring back with you, but if you're flying and planning on buying more things than you can get into your suitcase, the best plan is to bring a packable bag. These are relatively inexpensive; I got mine at REI for maybe $15, but they should be available anywhere that sells luggage. Remember that at some cons, you can also mail packages home; check your options.
Got other tips? Feel free to share them in the comments!
-Sabine
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Saturday, April 2, 2011
In response to "There is no good Firefly Cosplay"
"There's no such thing as good Firefly cosplay."
This link made the rounds among Whedon fans not too long ago, and I would like to take a moment, if I may, to respectfully refute a few points.
The writer claims that “good” Firefly cosplay is difficult for two reasons. First, he says, the costumes are “somewhat normal clothes” and “ the looks aren’t always that distinctive”. Now, unless you know people who regularly wear coveralls, embroidered silk, and gun belts, I’d argue that there’s really nothing “normal” about the Firefly look.
Like any good cosplay, the key is to find those few iconic elements of the character and make them work for you. If you’re a Firefly fan, you can probably think of a few things, right off the bat: Mal’s coat, Kaylee’s parasol, Jayne’s hat, just to name a few. Besides which, there’s a plus side to doing a costume with “somewhat normal” pieces, and that is that you don’t have to make everything by hand. A quick trip to a good thrift store, a few alterations, and you’ve got the foundation for your costume. As much as we at Frenemy Cosplay encourage the endless labor of costume tailoring, there’s something to be said for the creativity required to assemble a decent, recognizable costume out of stuff you can find.
Second, the writer asserts that, “Fans of Firefly that are devoted enough to dress up in full regalia are on average, dorkier than most” and that, as a result of this, “Firefly cosplay is mainly nerdy looking people dressing in ill-fitting clothes”. Let’s just take a second to unpack these statements, shall we?
I might agree with the first part if we were talking about, say, Harvey Birdman, but Firefly? Being a fan of Firefly and a devoted Whedonite, I’ll admit that I may be a little too close to the source for an accurate assesment, but I have trouble believing that someone who dresses as Mal Reynolds is any dorkier than someone who dresses as The Doctor. The writer acknowledges that cosplayers in general tend to be “dorkier than most”, which is true enough, but he goes on to say that you can usually “find a few male and female hotties to do excellent work on some of the more mainstream characters”. Honestly, there’s so much wrong with this statement, I don’t even know where to start. He seems to be suggesting that “dorkiness” is inversely proportionate to attractiveness, which is an assumption that draws on fifty years of negative stereotyping and simply is not - in any way, shape, or form - true. There is no measurable correlation between fandom and physical appearance, and anyone who claims there is, frankly, is either not a fan or is projecting her or his own insecurities on the rest of fandom. I don’t presume to know which category our writer falls into, and I won’t speculate.
In response to the second part of his point, that “Firefly cosplay is mainly nerdy looking people dressing in ill-fitting clothes”, I would say simply: So? The measure of good cosplay is not how hot you look, or even how recognizable you are. The measure of good cosplay is the costume itself, the quality of the outfit and the work and passion that went into putting it together. The measure of good cosplay is the joy of the fan wearing it and the excitement of other fans at seeing it. Look at the pictures in that post, and tell me that any of those people are not absolutely thrilled to be wearing those clothes. They are paying homage to their big damn heroes, and they are rocking it.
In conclusion, Mr Writer, there is a point to cosplay, and you seem to have missed it. For that, you have my sympathy, but I request that you take your negativity and keep it the hell away from my con.
-shadowen
This link made the rounds among Whedon fans not too long ago, and I would like to take a moment, if I may, to respectfully refute a few points.
The writer claims that “good” Firefly cosplay is difficult for two reasons. First, he says, the costumes are “somewhat normal clothes” and “ the looks aren’t always that distinctive”. Now, unless you know people who regularly wear coveralls, embroidered silk, and gun belts, I’d argue that there’s really nothing “normal” about the Firefly look.
Like any good cosplay, the key is to find those few iconic elements of the character and make them work for you. If you’re a Firefly fan, you can probably think of a few things, right off the bat: Mal’s coat, Kaylee’s parasol, Jayne’s hat, just to name a few. Besides which, there’s a plus side to doing a costume with “somewhat normal” pieces, and that is that you don’t have to make everything by hand. A quick trip to a good thrift store, a few alterations, and you’ve got the foundation for your costume. As much as we at Frenemy Cosplay encourage the endless labor of costume tailoring, there’s something to be said for the creativity required to assemble a decent, recognizable costume out of stuff you can find.
Second, the writer asserts that, “Fans of Firefly that are devoted enough to dress up in full regalia are on average, dorkier than most” and that, as a result of this, “Firefly cosplay is mainly nerdy looking people dressing in ill-fitting clothes”. Let’s just take a second to unpack these statements, shall we?
I might agree with the first part if we were talking about, say, Harvey Birdman, but Firefly? Being a fan of Firefly and a devoted Whedonite, I’ll admit that I may be a little too close to the source for an accurate assesment, but I have trouble believing that someone who dresses as Mal Reynolds is any dorkier than someone who dresses as The Doctor. The writer acknowledges that cosplayers in general tend to be “dorkier than most”, which is true enough, but he goes on to say that you can usually “find a few male and female hotties to do excellent work on some of the more mainstream characters”. Honestly, there’s so much wrong with this statement, I don’t even know where to start. He seems to be suggesting that “dorkiness” is inversely proportionate to attractiveness, which is an assumption that draws on fifty years of negative stereotyping and simply is not - in any way, shape, or form - true. There is no measurable correlation between fandom and physical appearance, and anyone who claims there is, frankly, is either not a fan or is projecting her or his own insecurities on the rest of fandom. I don’t presume to know which category our writer falls into, and I won’t speculate.
In response to the second part of his point, that “Firefly cosplay is mainly nerdy looking people dressing in ill-fitting clothes”, I would say simply: So? The measure of good cosplay is not how hot you look, or even how recognizable you are. The measure of good cosplay is the costume itself, the quality of the outfit and the work and passion that went into putting it together. The measure of good cosplay is the joy of the fan wearing it and the excitement of other fans at seeing it. Look at the pictures in that post, and tell me that any of those people are not absolutely thrilled to be wearing those clothes. They are paying homage to their big damn heroes, and they are rocking it.
In conclusion, Mr Writer, there is a point to cosplay, and you seem to have missed it. For that, you have my sympathy, but I request that you take your negativity and keep it the hell away from my con.
-shadowen
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Cosmetics and the Con
I want to take a second to talk about make-up.
Now, those of you who wear make-up on a daily basis, don’t shake your heads and run off just yet, because this one’s for you, too. And to those who don’t wear a lot of make-up but plan to slap some on for con, well, this is really for you.
Because I’m, y’know, me, I’ve once again organized this post into a series of simple, crucial questions.
What kind of make-up does my character wear?
If the answer is “none”, then my work here is done. Seriously, if you’re going as, like, an SGA gate team (thanks to Sabine for the example) then dust on some powder and call it a day. If your character is a generally normal person in the “real” world, it’s probably best to just go with your regular look (plus special provisions for con). If, on the other hand, your character wears distinctive or complicated make-up, you’ll want to plan ahead.
Do I need to buy new stuff?
That depends largely on whether you’re a hardcore style nerd, like me, or a slightly more reasonable person. Regardless, there are a few things you definitely want to have.
-Good foundation. You want something with good coverage, because those flurescent lights are unforgiving, and something that’s going to stay on well throughout the day. Remember that you’ll be walking, sweating, and laughing til you cry, and you need a foundation that can keep up.
-Eye lid primer. What this does is: you apply a light coating on your eyelid, and it brightens the color of your eyeshadow and helps your eye make-up last longer. You should be able to find this at your local supermarket/pharmacy, as well as at a general cosmetics store. My roommate uses Maybelline Cooling Eyeshadow and Liner, I use e.l.f. Essentials Eyelid Primer, and I know N.Y.X also makes one. So you’re looking at $5 or less for this, and it’s worth having in your regular bag of tricks, anyway.
Now, those of you who wear make-up on a daily basis, don’t shake your heads and run off just yet, because this one’s for you, too. And to those who don’t wear a lot of make-up but plan to slap some on for con, well, this is really for you.
Because I’m, y’know, me, I’ve once again organized this post into a series of simple, crucial questions.
What kind of make-up does my character wear?
If the answer is “none”, then my work here is done. Seriously, if you’re going as, like, an SGA gate team (thanks to Sabine for the example) then dust on some powder and call it a day. If your character is a generally normal person in the “real” world, it’s probably best to just go with your regular look (plus special provisions for con). If, on the other hand, your character wears distinctive or complicated make-up, you’ll want to plan ahead.
Do I need to buy new stuff?
That depends largely on whether you’re a hardcore style nerd, like me, or a slightly more reasonable person. Regardless, there are a few things you definitely want to have.
-Good foundation. You want something with good coverage, because those flurescent lights are unforgiving, and something that’s going to stay on well throughout the day. Remember that you’ll be walking, sweating, and laughing til you cry, and you need a foundation that can keep up.
-Eye lid primer. What this does is: you apply a light coating on your eyelid, and it brightens the color of your eyeshadow and helps your eye make-up last longer. You should be able to find this at your local supermarket/pharmacy, as well as at a general cosmetics store. My roommate uses Maybelline Cooling Eyeshadow and Liner, I use e.l.f. Essentials Eyelid Primer, and I know N.Y.X also makes one. So you’re looking at $5 or less for this, and it’s worth having in your regular bag of tricks, anyway.
-Lipliner and lip brush. I realize this might seem a little obvious, but hear me out. If you apply your lipstick in a three-step process (lip liner. blot. apply lipstick with brush. blot. apply lipstick directly. blot.) it’ll last about five times longer than it would normally. And, for the love of Brian Molko, use chapstick and creme lip liner.
What if I need to do something complicated?
First of all, don’t get in over your head. Unless you or someone you know has professional or theatre make-up experience, it’s probably best to avoid things like full-body paint or prosthetics. If you do have access to those skills, then have it, and you can probably disregard this post entirely. Otherwise, it’s best to work with the skills you have. If you need to do complicated eye make-up and aren’t comfortable with (or have never used) liquid eyeliner, Palladio Eye Inks are felt-tip liner pens that are easy to use and great for precision work. I first used them when I cosplayed Death at SDCC, and it worked great. You should be able to find them at the supermarket, but Sally’s also carries them.
...Just a tiny bit smudged.
Should I practice my make-up before the con?
YES. You should always do at least one dry run of your costume before you leave for the con, including hair and make-up, just to iron out any unexpected kinks.
Should I carry some make-up with me at the con?
Definitely. Even the best make-up is going to wear a little as the day goes on, especially lipstick, so you definitely want to keep some things on hand for emergency touch-ups. Keep a tube of lipstick or lip gloss in your bag, and, if you’re worried about your eyeliner smudging or your foundation getting shiny, you’d be well advised to bring those, too. You don’t want to be toting around your entire make-up bag, though, so use your best judgment.
Obviously, these are just basic tips to help your con experience run a little more smoothly. Because when you run into Joe Flannigan on the floor and ask for a picture, you don’t want to be worrying about lipstick on your teeth.
As always, if you have any questions, email us at frenemycosplay@gmail.com, and we will happily share our wisdom.
-shadowen
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Costumes I Have Known: The Question
On this lazy Sunday afternoon, I thought I would regale you with a story of my greatest, easiest, most unexpected cosplay triumph: Renee Montoya as The Question (II).
The whole crux of this costume, for obvious reasons, is the mask. Now, there are lots of different ways to make the mask. One of the most successful techniques involves cheesecloth, as you can see here. The advantage of this technique is that it gives a really smooth look from far away, though the illusion breaks down as you get closer.
But, my children, living as I was in a tiny apartment in the woods on the edge of nowhere, I did not have the requisite supplies. I also wanted something that would look good from close up and from far away. What I found was bathing suit lining. It's available from any good fabric store, it's relatively cheap, it's super stretchy, it's breathable and translucent, all of which make it a perfect material for this kind of application.
But, my children, living as I was in a tiny apartment in the woods on the edge of nowhere, I did not have the requisite supplies. I also wanted something that would look good from close up and from far away. What I found was bathing suit lining. It's available from any good fabric store, it's relatively cheap, it's super stretchy, it's breathable and translucent, all of which make it a perfect material for this kind of application.
I tried a number of different techniques, including piecing the mask on, applying makeup over it, etc.
They all had one glaring design flaw: I couldn't eat while wearing them. And, my children, if you learn only one thing from me, learn that you cannot get through a whole day of con without eating unless you want to pass out.
So in the end, what I did was cut out a piece of fabric roughly the same size and shape as my face, with enough to go around to the back of my neck, like so.
As you can see, I attached it around my hairline and around my ears, but left the bottom hanging. Because I had long enough hair to cover it, I stretched the fabric to the back of my neck and fastened it with a hair tie. I used eyelash glue to attach it to my face; if I had it to do again, I'd do it with spirit gum, but, again, I was in the middle of nowhere, and there was none to be had (and no time to order it by the time I decided to make this costume).
Since I took this shot at the end of the day, you can also see in this picture where I got mustard on it while trying to eat a hot dog. Whoops.
This method was not without its problems. Since the tie holding the bottom of the mask had to be undone and redone every time I wanted to eat or drink anything, it led to some problems of gapping and stretching.
Fortunately these were easily fixed, and I learned quickly not to adjust my mask without looking in the mirror. The mask also became easier to wear throughout the day, as the material became stretchier and more transparent.
At the time, Renee had just become The Question, so there was nothing particularly iconic about the rest of her costume. Accordingly, I wore what I had at hand (including the tie from my work uniform). I actually screwed up and forgot gloves, but the Rorschach who was travelling with us saved me.
NB: I don't know who this dude was, but isn't his expression priceless?
So that's pretty much how I did it. I think I paid less than 20 USD for the entire costume, because most of it came straight from my closet.
It was, I discovered, an easy costume to mistake, apparently. During the course of the day, I was mistaken for both the Invisible Man (several times) and Anonymous. Also, I learned that when you wear a full face mask, people assume that you can't see them, and they will gawk at you openly. I did freak a person or two out by waving at them as they stared intently at my face.
Would I do it again? Probably not, especially not for Comic-Con. Was it totally badass? Yes, it was.
-Sabine
They all had one glaring design flaw: I couldn't eat while wearing them. And, my children, if you learn only one thing from me, learn that you cannot get through a whole day of con without eating unless you want to pass out.
So in the end, what I did was cut out a piece of fabric roughly the same size and shape as my face, with enough to go around to the back of my neck, like so.
As you can see, I attached it around my hairline and around my ears, but left the bottom hanging. Because I had long enough hair to cover it, I stretched the fabric to the back of my neck and fastened it with a hair tie. I used eyelash glue to attach it to my face; if I had it to do again, I'd do it with spirit gum, but, again, I was in the middle of nowhere, and there was none to be had (and no time to order it by the time I decided to make this costume).
Since I took this shot at the end of the day, you can also see in this picture where I got mustard on it while trying to eat a hot dog. Whoops.
This method was not without its problems. Since the tie holding the bottom of the mask had to be undone and redone every time I wanted to eat or drink anything, it led to some problems of gapping and stretching.
Fortunately these were easily fixed, and I learned quickly not to adjust my mask without looking in the mirror. The mask also became easier to wear throughout the day, as the material became stretchier and more transparent.
At the time, Renee had just become The Question, so there was nothing particularly iconic about the rest of her costume. Accordingly, I wore what I had at hand (including the tie from my work uniform). I actually screwed up and forgot gloves, but the Rorschach who was travelling with us saved me.
NB: I don't know who this dude was, but isn't his expression priceless?
So that's pretty much how I did it. I think I paid less than 20 USD for the entire costume, because most of it came straight from my closet.
It was, I discovered, an easy costume to mistake, apparently. During the course of the day, I was mistaken for both the Invisible Man (several times) and Anonymous. Also, I learned that when you wear a full face mask, people assume that you can't see them, and they will gawk at you openly. I did freak a person or two out by waving at them as they stared intently at my face.
Would I do it again? Probably not, especially not for Comic-Con. Was it totally badass? Yes, it was.
-Sabine
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Step 2: Who Are You?
Once you know where you’re going, you’re ready for the most crucial step in preparing for your con experience: Figuring out who the hell you’re going to be. This is not a decision to be undertaken lightly, so here are some questions to consider when finding the character that’s right for you.
Who do you love?
First and foremost, know your fandoms and stick to them. A Federation uniform is a quick, easy, and highly recognizable costume that most people can assemble and wear without too many problems, but if you don’t know a tribble from a tricorder, then it’s probably not the costume you want. This is not to say that you should only do characters from fandoms that you know everything about ever, but you’ll have more fun with characters that you love. Also, you want to avoid the awkward moment when you are inevitably waylaid by fans of your character and must confess that you just thought the costume looked cool.
So think about your favorite characters. If you’re as much of a media whore as I am, this should give you a good long list to choose from.
How badass are your skills?
It is a sad and inescapable fact that, unless you are a professional tailor or have years of costuming experience, some costumes will be beyond the reach of your skill set. I consider myself a reasonably accomplished seamstress, and there are many projects that I simply don’t have the means to undertake. Now, I’m of the opinion that a challenge is always good for the soul, and the only way to get better is to push yourself a little. Knowing your limitations is just a way to keep yourself from getting unnecessarily frustrated with your costume and to make sure that you actually end up with something wearable.
If this is the first garment you’ve ever made, you probably don’t want to go for full-on Victoriana steampunk. I’m just sayin’.
Where are you going and what are you doing?
At this point, you probably know what con you’re going to, so you can factor that into your costuming decisions. Big cons are likely to have a greater variety of costumes, but also a lot of the same thing. If you go to a big con dressed as, say, Wonder Woman, you’ll be one of about 80. While this might feel like going to the prom and seeing someone else in the same dress, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. If you picked the same costume as someone else, chances are you have something in common and, at the very least, have something to talk about. While recognizable, oft-repeated costumes can be a great way to make friends at big cons, it’s just as likely to get you scornful looks from people who’ve already seen 57 Wonder Womans by 10am, and there’s the fact that, no matter how great you look, someone else looks better. In general, repetition is less of an issue at smaller cons, but really obscure characters are less likely to be recognized.
The size of the con can also be an important factor when it comes to the size and mobility of your costume, but this is mostly a concern for showpiece costumes and those with large props, both of which will be discussed in detail in later entries. Just in case you’re considering something really massive, remember that big costumes can be highly rewarding, but they come with a price. For an example, watch this epic Gundam cosplayer wipe out.
Another thing to think about is what you want to do at the con. If you plan on spending a lot of time on the floor or just walking around, you want a costume that you’ll be okay to walk in, which means something that’s not overly complex and has reasonable shoes. If, on the other hand, you’re like me and live for the panels, you want something you can sit comfortably in for long periods of time. This may not seem like a concern, but sitting can become a problem if you’re wearing something like a corset or stiff belt or a very short skirt or shorts. For panels, you’ll also want to avoid super tall costumes or those that take up a lot of room. There are, of course, ways of coping if you’ve just got your heart set on dressing as Galactus and hitting that slash writers panel, but it’s generally easier to just find something else.
What can you pull off?
Some people are fortunate enough to be super hot and look exactly like So-and-so from their favorite show. If you’re one of those people, you can go away now. The rest of us are going to talk about looks and body type.
Hair and coloring are things that can be altered and adjusted with relative ease, but, honestly, you don’t want to give yourself more work than you have to. If you want to actually look like your character, choose someone who already has a similar look or one that’s easily imitable. It’s also totally fine to say ‘Fuck it’ and just not look like them at all, especially if you’re of a different ethnicity. Because, let’s face it, there’s a whole lot of white people in SF, and, if you’re a person of color, finding a recognizable character who looks like you is all but impossible. Whatever you choose to do, do it and rock it hard.
You can be flexible when it comes to actually looking like your character, but costuming to fit your body type can be a little trickier.
I feel like I shouldn’t have to say this, but I’ve seen enough to know that I do: Spandex is a privilege, not a right. If you have a measurable percentage of body fat, you cannot wear spandex. And no, sticking those fake foam muscles under it will not help you. Those are NEVER okay.
Tight, sexy costumes can be fantastic, but know how tight and how revealing you can go. As a curvy woman, I fully appreciate the trials and tribulations of loving your body and learning to be comfortable showing it off, but no one wants to see your back fat rolling over the edge of a leotard that’s three sizes too small.
Everyone has their own unique sexiness, and, in my opinion, where a lot of costumes go wrong is when people try to put on someone else’s sexiness. This is your costume. Make it work for you.
Or you could just put on a cardboard box and call yourself a Gundam, which is universally sexy.
Now, these are just the most basic questions to address when you’re deciding on a costume, and you probably have tons more. What if I want to dress with a group? What if my character wears generic clothes? What if the costume I want defies the laws of physics? These questions and more will be addressed in subsequent posts, but, for now, you have a foundation from which to start your diabolical plotting.
In the end, your costume is about you and what you want to be. What makes a great costume, though, is knowing who you are and going from there. Your costume is as much about showing off yourself as it is about showing off your fandom, so pick something that will let you have fun, be creative, and be yourself (even if you’re someone else).
-shadowen
Who do you love?
First and foremost, know your fandoms and stick to them. A Federation uniform is a quick, easy, and highly recognizable costume that most people can assemble and wear without too many problems, but if you don’t know a tribble from a tricorder, then it’s probably not the costume you want. This is not to say that you should only do characters from fandoms that you know everything about ever, but you’ll have more fun with characters that you love. Also, you want to avoid the awkward moment when you are inevitably waylaid by fans of your character and must confess that you just thought the costume looked cool.
So think about your favorite characters. If you’re as much of a media whore as I am, this should give you a good long list to choose from.
How badass are your skills?
It is a sad and inescapable fact that, unless you are a professional tailor or have years of costuming experience, some costumes will be beyond the reach of your skill set. I consider myself a reasonably accomplished seamstress, and there are many projects that I simply don’t have the means to undertake. Now, I’m of the opinion that a challenge is always good for the soul, and the only way to get better is to push yourself a little. Knowing your limitations is just a way to keep yourself from getting unnecessarily frustrated with your costume and to make sure that you actually end up with something wearable.
If this is the first garment you’ve ever made, you probably don’t want to go for full-on Victoriana steampunk. I’m just sayin’.
Where are you going and what are you doing?
At this point, you probably know what con you’re going to, so you can factor that into your costuming decisions. Big cons are likely to have a greater variety of costumes, but also a lot of the same thing. If you go to a big con dressed as, say, Wonder Woman, you’ll be one of about 80. While this might feel like going to the prom and seeing someone else in the same dress, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. If you picked the same costume as someone else, chances are you have something in common and, at the very least, have something to talk about. While recognizable, oft-repeated costumes can be a great way to make friends at big cons, it’s just as likely to get you scornful looks from people who’ve already seen 57 Wonder Womans by 10am, and there’s the fact that, no matter how great you look, someone else looks better. In general, repetition is less of an issue at smaller cons, but really obscure characters are less likely to be recognized.
The size of the con can also be an important factor when it comes to the size and mobility of your costume, but this is mostly a concern for showpiece costumes and those with large props, both of which will be discussed in detail in later entries. Just in case you’re considering something really massive, remember that big costumes can be highly rewarding, but they come with a price. For an example, watch this epic Gundam cosplayer wipe out.
Another thing to think about is what you want to do at the con. If you plan on spending a lot of time on the floor or just walking around, you want a costume that you’ll be okay to walk in, which means something that’s not overly complex and has reasonable shoes. If, on the other hand, you’re like me and live for the panels, you want something you can sit comfortably in for long periods of time. This may not seem like a concern, but sitting can become a problem if you’re wearing something like a corset or stiff belt or a very short skirt or shorts. For panels, you’ll also want to avoid super tall costumes or those that take up a lot of room. There are, of course, ways of coping if you’ve just got your heart set on dressing as Galactus and hitting that slash writers panel, but it’s generally easier to just find something else.
What can you pull off?
Some people are fortunate enough to be super hot and look exactly like So-and-so from their favorite show. If you’re one of those people, you can go away now. The rest of us are going to talk about looks and body type.
Hair and coloring are things that can be altered and adjusted with relative ease, but, honestly, you don’t want to give yourself more work than you have to. If you want to actually look like your character, choose someone who already has a similar look or one that’s easily imitable. It’s also totally fine to say ‘Fuck it’ and just not look like them at all, especially if you’re of a different ethnicity. Because, let’s face it, there’s a whole lot of white people in SF, and, if you’re a person of color, finding a recognizable character who looks like you is all but impossible. Whatever you choose to do, do it and rock it hard.
You can be flexible when it comes to actually looking like your character, but costuming to fit your body type can be a little trickier.
I feel like I shouldn’t have to say this, but I’ve seen enough to know that I do: Spandex is a privilege, not a right. If you have a measurable percentage of body fat, you cannot wear spandex. And no, sticking those fake foam muscles under it will not help you. Those are NEVER okay.
Tight, sexy costumes can be fantastic, but know how tight and how revealing you can go. As a curvy woman, I fully appreciate the trials and tribulations of loving your body and learning to be comfortable showing it off, but no one wants to see your back fat rolling over the edge of a leotard that’s three sizes too small.
Everyone has their own unique sexiness, and, in my opinion, where a lot of costumes go wrong is when people try to put on someone else’s sexiness. This is your costume. Make it work for you.
Or you could just put on a cardboard box and call yourself a Gundam, which is universally sexy.
Now, these are just the most basic questions to address when you’re deciding on a costume, and you probably have tons more. What if I want to dress with a group? What if my character wears generic clothes? What if the costume I want defies the laws of physics? These questions and more will be addressed in subsequent posts, but, for now, you have a foundation from which to start your diabolical plotting.
In the end, your costume is about you and what you want to be. What makes a great costume, though, is knowing who you are and going from there. Your costume is as much about showing off yourself as it is about showing off your fandom, so pick something that will let you have fun, be creative, and be yourself (even if you’re someone else).
-shadowen
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Step 1A: Comic-Con vs. Dragon*Con
Hello, internet. It is I, Sabine. If you're anything like me, you have just enough money and time in your budget for one big con every year. If you're also like me, you're a generalist, looking to go to a con where there's a mix of sci-fi, comics, movies, and TV. Let's take a look at two of the most popular cons that fit this particular bill: Dragon*Con and Comic-Con.
Bottom Up vs. Top Down
Like many cons, the content at Dragon*Con is organized into tracks. These tracks are organized around a theme, whether that be Stargate, dark fantasy, or skepticism. What makes it different than other large cons and similar to smaller cons is that these tracks are primarily fan-run. When you go to most panels at Dragon*Con, the panelists you're going to see will be other fans. This is not always the case; the thing to remember is that some of these tracks are able to organize really freaking huge (or not so huge- Adam Savage and Doc Hammer both sat on small panels last year, in addition to huge ones) panels featuring the people you paid your seventy bucks to see.
While Comic-Con is also run by fans, it's got a whole different sensibility. Don't get me wrong, you're going to go to small panels and see lots of nerds talk, but those nerds won't just be people off the street who happen to like Star Wars and volunteered. You're going to see writers, artists, actors, costumers, you name it. You're also going to see bigger panels than those offered at Dragon*Con, with bigger stars, many of whom are not nerds. The trade off here is like most of those between Dragon*Con and Comic-Con: do you want to hang out with nerds, or do you want to see celebrities? Do you want to gossip about the new season, or do you want to see first-run trailers?
This top down/bottom up phenomenon also impacts the merch available. If you're really super into action figures and collectibles of that type, Comic-Con is the place for you, with its large exhibitors and con exclusives. Comic-Con is also the place for, you guessed it, comics. While Dragon*Con also hosts many comic book artists, both new and established, there are just way, way more at Comic*Con. Also, if you're looking to make your break into comics, there are more industry types who are more accessible at Comic-Con.
As a general rule, Dragon*Con just has less stuff to buy in general. The dealer rooms are smaller and spaces available for much cheaper, so the stuff you can buy is more eclectic, but there's just less of it. This is a double edged sword- you won't spend as much money there, but that one thing you really want may not be available for you.
Food and Drink
If you go to Comic-Con and don't plan wisely, food will end up being one of your biggest expenses. It is seriously hard to get yourself fed without spending a lot of money if you don't bring your own food. The food sold at the convention center is very expensive for what it is (think baseball stadium food), and the cheaper restaurants near the convention center are constantly slammed during the con. Luckily, I've never experienced a problem bringing in outside food to the convention center; I'm not sure it's a real rule, but nobody seems to care about bringing in food or beverages.
At Dragon*Con, however, it is much, much easier to eat on the cheap. In the complex that encases the Marriott, Hyatt, and Hilton, there is a small mall with a food court; this means cheap food without ever leaving the building. Seating has always been a problem there, but they seem pretty chill about people sitting on the floor. It's also a great place to people/costume-watch. Also, if you managed to get a room in a con hotel, you can easily bring your own food and eat in the room without having to carry your food around with you.
Drinking, of the alcoholic variety, is another huge concern (for me, at least). In my experience, nobody drinks at Comic-Con. It's just not part of the culture. The convention center doesn't sell booze. The panels end (relatively) early at night and start early in the morning. It's just a more sober con.
Dragon*Con, on the other hand, is where the booze flows freely. All the hotels serve alcohol pretty much all the time, and there seems too be a very high tolerance for tipsy behavior. The hotels also clearly don't care about outside alcohol (or else that bellhop wouldn't have carted that case of Bud to the room for me). The panels start late and end very late, so there's plenty of time to drink yourself stupid and still feel refreshed in the morning. I've never encountered a problem with drunk people doing stupid things there, possibly because I often have been one, but you'll want to keep this in mind, especially if you have small children and intend to bring them. And, hey, if you don't drink and find yourself tempted, there are meetings for friends of Bill W at Dragon*Con too.
Accessibility Concerns
Both Comic-Con and Dragon*Con do their best to keep their guests comfortable and to accommodate guests with disabilities. However, because of the locations these cons are held in, there are different health and safety concerns.
At both of these cons, expect to have to wait outside for registration and larger panels; this is a little nicer at Comic-Con, because it's not held in Atlanta in the summer. Both cons allow guests with disabilities to skip lines and wait indoors or in shaded areas; from what I've seen, Dragon*Con seems to be a little better about providing these waiting areas with chairs. Both the convention center and the hotels in Atlanta feature a lot of escalators, but the elevators are way more accessible at Dragon*Con; last year, some hotels actually blocked off elevators specifically for the use of disabled guests.
It's going to be harder to walk on a cane or push a wheelchair around at Comic-Con (ask Shadowen, she's done it) simply because there are more people there. However, the dealer rooms at Dragon*Con are much smaller and much more tightly packed than the floor at Comic-Con, which is its own problem. This is also important to remember if you're prone to panic attacks. If you do have problems with large crowds, also remember that it is easier to get outside at Dragon*Con and reenter the building without having to check out and in. In the end, though, you're going to be dealing with huge groups of people either way. Both cons will offer you solutions, but that only goes so far.
Feel
Comic-Con, whether you love or hate it, is starting to feel more like a trade show than ever. Tickets are getting harder to get, more programming is becoming more and more mainstream, and the atmosphere has an overall tension that wasn't there several years ago. For a fan of Dragon*Con, Comic-Con can feel uptight. Despite all this, it remains a really awesome experience.
The primary objective of Dragon*Con is to let your freak flag fly. Overall, it's a funkier con with funkier people. Expect to get gawked at by locals, and resolve yourself to not care (because, really, you're having so much more fun). Like Comic-Con, it's experiencing growing pains, but in my experience, it's not handling them as well, which can lead fans of Comic-Con to think it feels sloppy.
In the end, it's up to you which con sounds better. I won't tell you my favorite, if it's not already clear; only you can decide what kind of experience you want to have.
Bottom Up vs. Top Down
Like many cons, the content at Dragon*Con is organized into tracks. These tracks are organized around a theme, whether that be Stargate, dark fantasy, or skepticism. What makes it different than other large cons and similar to smaller cons is that these tracks are primarily fan-run. When you go to most panels at Dragon*Con, the panelists you're going to see will be other fans. This is not always the case; the thing to remember is that some of these tracks are able to organize really freaking huge (or not so huge- Adam Savage and Doc Hammer both sat on small panels last year, in addition to huge ones) panels featuring the people you paid your seventy bucks to see.
While Comic-Con is also run by fans, it's got a whole different sensibility. Don't get me wrong, you're going to go to small panels and see lots of nerds talk, but those nerds won't just be people off the street who happen to like Star Wars and volunteered. You're going to see writers, artists, actors, costumers, you name it. You're also going to see bigger panels than those offered at Dragon*Con, with bigger stars, many of whom are not nerds. The trade off here is like most of those between Dragon*Con and Comic-Con: do you want to hang out with nerds, or do you want to see celebrities? Do you want to gossip about the new season, or do you want to see first-run trailers?
This top down/bottom up phenomenon also impacts the merch available. If you're really super into action figures and collectibles of that type, Comic-Con is the place for you, with its large exhibitors and con exclusives. Comic-Con is also the place for, you guessed it, comics. While Dragon*Con also hosts many comic book artists, both new and established, there are just way, way more at Comic*Con. Also, if you're looking to make your break into comics, there are more industry types who are more accessible at Comic-Con.
As a general rule, Dragon*Con just has less stuff to buy in general. The dealer rooms are smaller and spaces available for much cheaper, so the stuff you can buy is more eclectic, but there's just less of it. This is a double edged sword- you won't spend as much money there, but that one thing you really want may not be available for you.
Food and Drink
If you go to Comic-Con and don't plan wisely, food will end up being one of your biggest expenses. It is seriously hard to get yourself fed without spending a lot of money if you don't bring your own food. The food sold at the convention center is very expensive for what it is (think baseball stadium food), and the cheaper restaurants near the convention center are constantly slammed during the con. Luckily, I've never experienced a problem bringing in outside food to the convention center; I'm not sure it's a real rule, but nobody seems to care about bringing in food or beverages.
At Dragon*Con, however, it is much, much easier to eat on the cheap. In the complex that encases the Marriott, Hyatt, and Hilton, there is a small mall with a food court; this means cheap food without ever leaving the building. Seating has always been a problem there, but they seem pretty chill about people sitting on the floor. It's also a great place to people/costume-watch. Also, if you managed to get a room in a con hotel, you can easily bring your own food and eat in the room without having to carry your food around with you.
Drinking, of the alcoholic variety, is another huge concern (for me, at least). In my experience, nobody drinks at Comic-Con. It's just not part of the culture. The convention center doesn't sell booze. The panels end (relatively) early at night and start early in the morning. It's just a more sober con.
Dragon*Con, on the other hand, is where the booze flows freely. All the hotels serve alcohol pretty much all the time, and there seems too be a very high tolerance for tipsy behavior. The hotels also clearly don't care about outside alcohol (or else that bellhop wouldn't have carted that case of Bud to the room for me). The panels start late and end very late, so there's plenty of time to drink yourself stupid and still feel refreshed in the morning. I've never encountered a problem with drunk people doing stupid things there, possibly because I often have been one, but you'll want to keep this in mind, especially if you have small children and intend to bring them. And, hey, if you don't drink and find yourself tempted, there are meetings for friends of Bill W at Dragon*Con too.
Accessibility Concerns
Both Comic-Con and Dragon*Con do their best to keep their guests comfortable and to accommodate guests with disabilities. However, because of the locations these cons are held in, there are different health and safety concerns.
At both of these cons, expect to have to wait outside for registration and larger panels; this is a little nicer at Comic-Con, because it's not held in Atlanta in the summer. Both cons allow guests with disabilities to skip lines and wait indoors or in shaded areas; from what I've seen, Dragon*Con seems to be a little better about providing these waiting areas with chairs. Both the convention center and the hotels in Atlanta feature a lot of escalators, but the elevators are way more accessible at Dragon*Con; last year, some hotels actually blocked off elevators specifically for the use of disabled guests.
It's going to be harder to walk on a cane or push a wheelchair around at Comic-Con (ask Shadowen, she's done it) simply because there are more people there. However, the dealer rooms at Dragon*Con are much smaller and much more tightly packed than the floor at Comic-Con, which is its own problem. This is also important to remember if you're prone to panic attacks. If you do have problems with large crowds, also remember that it is easier to get outside at Dragon*Con and reenter the building without having to check out and in. In the end, though, you're going to be dealing with huge groups of people either way. Both cons will offer you solutions, but that only goes so far.
Feel
Comic-Con, whether you love or hate it, is starting to feel more like a trade show than ever. Tickets are getting harder to get, more programming is becoming more and more mainstream, and the atmosphere has an overall tension that wasn't there several years ago. For a fan of Dragon*Con, Comic-Con can feel uptight. Despite all this, it remains a really awesome experience.
The primary objective of Dragon*Con is to let your freak flag fly. Overall, it's a funkier con with funkier people. Expect to get gawked at by locals, and resolve yourself to not care (because, really, you're having so much more fun). Like Comic-Con, it's experiencing growing pains, but in my experience, it's not handling them as well, which can lead fans of Comic-Con to think it feels sloppy.
In the end, it's up to you which con sounds better. I won't tell you my favorite, if it's not already clear; only you can decide what kind of experience you want to have.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Step 1: Choose Your Con Wisely
Yes, this is mostly a costuming blog, but different cons place very different demands on people in costume. So the first thing you need to figure out is: Where the hell am I going?
Now, if you've already got your four-day pass for San Diego Comic-Con (haha, just kidding) and you just need to decide on a costume, you can skip this one. If, however, you're looking for a place to bond with your geeky brethren, the three things you should consider are location, cost, and tone.
LOCATION
The most important question to keep in mind as far as location is: How far are you willing to go?
If you're fortunate enough to live in or near a major city, chances are there's at least one con happening annually in your backyard. On the other hand, if you live a little farther from civilization, some research and planning will be necessary. The good news is that, no matter where you live, the nearest urban center probably hosts a con of some kind. For instance, I live near Memphis, TN, which hosts MidSouthCon. The other news (not necessarily bad, just something to consider) is that a lot of these cons are smaller, which means fewer events, less prominent guests, and a whole lot of downtime (unless you're a gamer).
If you're not sure what's close by, the best thing to do is run a search and see what comes up. Once you've found a con that looks promising, find out what other people (on the internet or *gasp* in real life) have to say about it. A con might have a great webpage but not actually be somewhere you want to be. For another real-world example: CoastCon, in Biloxi, MS, is near by, but I've heard too many horror stories about creepers and harassment to feel comfortable going.
Establish your radius, find out what your options are, and research the hell out of them.
COST
The big question here is obvious: How much are you willing to spend?
Ultimately, your con budget is going to break down into a few basic expenses: the con badge, travel, lodging, food, and swag. We'll talk about budgeting for food and swag in a later entry, since those are generally post-registration concerns. Cost for con passes varies wildly, and you can pay anywhere from $20 to $300, depending on where you're going and how many days you sign up for. Smaller cons are usually cheaper where big cons typically cost more, which is kind of intuitive, but there you go.
Likewise, hotels in, say, San Diego are going to be hella more expensive than hotels in, say, Memphis. Most cons have sponsored hotels that are in the immediate area and sometimes offer discounts for con-goers. The downside to this is that cons are typically held in the part of town that has the most expensive hotels to begin with. Depending on the public transit situation in the city in question, you can stay farther out an commute in, which has its own expenses and will definitely get you and your costume some strange looks.
You should also factor in travel expenses and whether you'll be flying or driving, which comes back to the question of how far you're willing to travel. Also remember that, if your income is limited, more money spent on getting to the con means less to spend on costuming.
Establish your budget, find out what your options are, and do your research.
TONE
The question: What kind of geek are you?
Though is a slightly less pressing concern than those of location and cost, it's still something you should consider and will probably have the greatest impact on your costuming choices. Even ff you're severely restricted by mobility and income and can only make it to whatever con is closest and/or cheapest, you should still keep the tone of the con in mind when choosing and designing your costume.
See, while all cons contain high levels of geekery, the kind of geekery can vary wildly. Some cons are geared specifically toward certain types of fans. Otakon in Baltimore, MD, for instance, caters to fans of anime and other Asian ephemera while Yaoi-Con in San Francisco, CA is for -you guessed it- yaoi fans (If you don't know what that means, I'm not explaining it.) and Gen Con focuses on gaming.
Other cons, while not as specific, have their own pace and feel and will certainly appeal more to certain types of fans than others. A major example of this is the difference between SDCC and Dragon*Con, which we'll get into in a later post. In any case, research is your friend. Look at the programming and guest info on the con website. If there are a lot of panels about Tolkien and fantasy fiction, there will probably be a lot of fantasy readers hanging around. If the programming seems to focus on SF television and movies, you're more likely to run into an SG-1 gate team. If Leonard Nimoy is on the guest list... well, you get the picture.
You should also think about what size con you want to go to. If you want to go to lots of panels and see celebrities, check out the bigger cons. If you want to hang out with other fans and have lots of time to chill out, stay small. If you're looking for a combination, hit somewhere in between. This isn't a hard and fast rule, but it's a decent frame of reference.
Know your geek, and do your research.
Deciding which of these three factors is the most important to you will go a long way toward helping you find the con for you. Once you've made you choice (and booked your hotel. Seriously, don't wait on this.), then the really hard part begins. Now it's time to make what is ultimately the most crucial question of your con experience: What the fuck do I wear?
Gods help you.
-shadowen
Now, if you've already got your four-day pass for San Diego Comic-Con (haha, just kidding) and you just need to decide on a costume, you can skip this one. If, however, you're looking for a place to bond with your geeky brethren, the three things you should consider are location, cost, and tone.
LOCATION
The most important question to keep in mind as far as location is: How far are you willing to go?
If you're fortunate enough to live in or near a major city, chances are there's at least one con happening annually in your backyard. On the other hand, if you live a little farther from civilization, some research and planning will be necessary. The good news is that, no matter where you live, the nearest urban center probably hosts a con of some kind. For instance, I live near Memphis, TN, which hosts MidSouthCon. The other news (not necessarily bad, just something to consider) is that a lot of these cons are smaller, which means fewer events, less prominent guests, and a whole lot of downtime (unless you're a gamer).
If you're not sure what's close by, the best thing to do is run a search and see what comes up. Once you've found a con that looks promising, find out what other people (on the internet or *gasp* in real life) have to say about it. A con might have a great webpage but not actually be somewhere you want to be. For another real-world example: CoastCon, in Biloxi, MS, is near by, but I've heard too many horror stories about creepers and harassment to feel comfortable going.
Establish your radius, find out what your options are, and research the hell out of them.
COST
The big question here is obvious: How much are you willing to spend?
Ultimately, your con budget is going to break down into a few basic expenses: the con badge, travel, lodging, food, and swag. We'll talk about budgeting for food and swag in a later entry, since those are generally post-registration concerns. Cost for con passes varies wildly, and you can pay anywhere from $20 to $300, depending on where you're going and how many days you sign up for. Smaller cons are usually cheaper where big cons typically cost more, which is kind of intuitive, but there you go.
Likewise, hotels in, say, San Diego are going to be hella more expensive than hotels in, say, Memphis. Most cons have sponsored hotels that are in the immediate area and sometimes offer discounts for con-goers. The downside to this is that cons are typically held in the part of town that has the most expensive hotels to begin with. Depending on the public transit situation in the city in question, you can stay farther out an commute in, which has its own expenses and will definitely get you and your costume some strange looks.
You should also factor in travel expenses and whether you'll be flying or driving, which comes back to the question of how far you're willing to travel. Also remember that, if your income is limited, more money spent on getting to the con means less to spend on costuming.
Establish your budget, find out what your options are, and do your research.
TONE
The question: What kind of geek are you?
Though is a slightly less pressing concern than those of location and cost, it's still something you should consider and will probably have the greatest impact on your costuming choices. Even ff you're severely restricted by mobility and income and can only make it to whatever con is closest and/or cheapest, you should still keep the tone of the con in mind when choosing and designing your costume.
See, while all cons contain high levels of geekery, the kind of geekery can vary wildly. Some cons are geared specifically toward certain types of fans. Otakon in Baltimore, MD, for instance, caters to fans of anime and other Asian ephemera while Yaoi-Con in San Francisco, CA is for -you guessed it- yaoi fans (If you don't know what that means, I'm not explaining it.) and Gen Con focuses on gaming.
Other cons, while not as specific, have their own pace and feel and will certainly appeal more to certain types of fans than others. A major example of this is the difference between SDCC and Dragon*Con, which we'll get into in a later post. In any case, research is your friend. Look at the programming and guest info on the con website. If there are a lot of panels about Tolkien and fantasy fiction, there will probably be a lot of fantasy readers hanging around. If the programming seems to focus on SF television and movies, you're more likely to run into an SG-1 gate team. If Leonard Nimoy is on the guest list... well, you get the picture.
You should also think about what size con you want to go to. If you want to go to lots of panels and see celebrities, check out the bigger cons. If you want to hang out with other fans and have lots of time to chill out, stay small. If you're looking for a combination, hit somewhere in between. This isn't a hard and fast rule, but it's a decent frame of reference.
Know your geek, and do your research.
Deciding which of these three factors is the most important to you will go a long way toward helping you find the con for you. Once you've made you choice (and booked your hotel. Seriously, don't wait on this.), then the really hard part begins. Now it's time to make what is ultimately the most crucial question of your con experience: What the fuck do I wear?
Gods help you.
-shadowen
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