Twice the Randomness!

Convention tips with Alex!

Hello again! After writing a part of my little story time (which I'll post later), I thought it would be cool to do a little 'guide' thing for anyone who wants to go to a convention but is nervous/has never been to one, etc! I wouldn't call myself an expert at this stuff, but trust me I've been to enough cons to know the basics!

First things first, what to bring:
Now most cons will have to search your bag, so just be aware of that. Some things that you will always need (I suggest bringing a drawstring bag to any con you go to) are:
- money for merch, but also food. Make sure you do not spend money designated for food!!
- snacks and water. It's a lot of walking and you will need to take a break every now and again. Stay hydrated!!! That is a threat!!
- a charger and possibly a portable charger: you'll be using your phone a lot for pictures, vlogging, etc. most cons have many outlets where you can charge your phone, but it's always good to bring a portable one just in case!
- deodorant. Even if you aren't a cosplayer, please bring this! Convention centers get hot and you do a lot of walking, it's always nice to freshen up slightly in a bathroom before continuing. I have been to so many cons where people have asked for pics and they smell like BO, both cosplayers and regular con goers. Please don't be one of those people! If you have enough money to buy a ticket, you have enough money to pay for a stick of deodorant!
- lipstick/makeup: this is geared more towards cosplayers like myself. You're going to want to touch up on your makeup occasionally, so it's best to bring it with ya!
- Bobby pins: this is a big one, especially if you wear a wig! After a few hours your wig will start to shift around. It's always good to have extra Bobby pins to pin everything in place!
- comfortable shoes! This is a big one! If your cosplay has heels, do not wear them all day! They will blister and kill your feet! Always bring an extra pair of shoes and just leave them in the car!
- a hot glue gun and extra glue sticks. This is a weird one. But trust me, it's a life saver! I've had many experiences where either a prop breaks or a piece of my costume and I was able to glue it back together with this! Besides, this is also a good way to make some cosplay friends! If someone's prop breaks and you have a hot glue gun, boom! Instant friendship!
- a coat: while some cons are warm, others are very cold! Like the shoes, keep this in the car if you don't wanna wear it, but it's always good to have just in case!
- shorts! For any cosplayer that wears a skirt for any reason, PLEASE wear a pair of booty shorts under it!! One of the first cons I went to, I forgot to do this and was upskirted by the wind! Please do not make the same mistake as me!!
- a group of friends/a trusted adult. Going to cons alone isn't fun, but it can also be dangerous. There are always a few creeps at every con and it's best to have a group of people with you at all times. This lowers the chances of being followed by one of those creeps. If you don't have anyone to go with, find a group. It's honestly easier than it sounds! If you're a cosplayer, find someone from your show and ask to hang out with them! If not, most people at cons are very friendly, so if you just go up to them and casually ask if you can hang out with them because you don't wanna explore alone, you should be good to go!

Cosplayers:

Woah where do I begin with this one, let's start with asking cosplayers for pics! Whenever a cosplayer is up and wandering around, that's usually a green light to ask them for a photo (btw make sure to ask and not demand!). Do not go up to a cosplayer while they're sitting down and eating or doing something else. It's really rude and inconsiderate. Remember, cosplayers are people too and they need to take breaks.

What to do if you come into contact with a feral cosplayer. Now I've met some...interesting people at conventions to say the least. I've met so many people that get way too into their characters and trust me, it's kinda scary when they think they own said character and whatnot. From what I've experienced, if they approach you, it's best to just kinda smile and nod and do your best to walk off. As long as they aren't hurting anyone, it's best to just leave them be, security will ask them to leave if they get too disruptive. If this turns into harassment in any way, tell a staff member immediately!!

Everybody say it with me! COSPLAY IS NOT CONSENT!!
I've seen many stories where male and female cosplayers get sexually harassed because they are in cosplay and I am telling y'all now, I don't care if they're wearing only a bikini to a convention, that does not give you any sort of right to touch them or take a picture without their consent!

Lovely Segway into my next part, pictures with cosplayers!
Most cosplayers are totally willing to take pictures with you as long as you ask them! But you must ask for a picture before you just take one (besides, it'll look better too since they'll be looking at your phone and posing for it!)! And if you do take a picture with a cosplayer, it's always best not to put your hands on them, mainly because you don't want to accidentally break a part of their outfit. From my experience, if you want a certain pose, they'll do it with you as long as you ask and it isn't weird! If you do want a pose where you are touching a cosplayer ALWAYS ASK!! Some may not be comfortable with you touching them and others are fine with it, but need you to place your hand in a certain place to avoid damaging their costume, so it's always just best to ask!

This shouldn't have to be said, but I've seen it happen to people, so I'll say it anyway, don't just run up to a cosplayer and tackle them or anything else like that. This seems to happen with younger fans mainly, but just don't do it for obvious reasons.

Food!
A fair warning, most con food is expensive and sucks, so it's always good to know of a restaurant close by to get food from! And honestly, don't be embarrassed to walk in in full get up, since they're right near a convention center, they're probably used to it ^^. And I've also been to restaurants super far from convention centers and it's like a nice little surprise for them! I've gotten a lot of compliments and seeing little kids' faces when I walk in with full gear is fun!

Lastly, ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO!! Most cons have panels, photo shoots, voice actor meet ups and more, always look at the con schedule and see what times everything is and plan accordingly. The first thing you should do when you get to the convention center is to find where each thing is taking place before you go shopping, trust me it's best to go in with a plan!!

That's all I can think of right now, so enjoy!!