Montreal Comiccon Highlights: 2014

by Jordan Danger

Photos by Chris Patten

MONTREAL COMICCON 2014: HIGHLIGHTS

A stunning Bishop cosplay, and moi.

This year I attended the Montreal ComicCon once again. It’s my third time at this con, and it shows no sign of slowing down. With record-setting crowds this year, the con was packed—almost overwhelmingly so—and the entire building was a-buzz with con goers. The Palais de Congres is such a great venue because it offers extensive room to chill out, so the con floor itself isn’t packed with people dragging their feet; indeed, the main mezzanine is a great place to grab some amazing cosplay shots.

COSPLAY FUN

And the cosplay was really the star of the show this con. I estimate that 1 in 4 people seem to be dressed up in some fashion; certainly I could turn in any direction at any point, and find somebody in a glorious costume. I myself attended as Jet Girl (my cosplay that debuted at Ottawa ComicCon this year) and enjoyed the thumbs-up and photo op requests from attendees.

Click Here to see our full album of Montreal Comic Con Photos. 

Cosplay really is becoming a major part of conventions, and I think this is wonderful. One can only attend so many cons before you’ve bought all the merch you really need, attended all the panels you wanted to hear, and gotten all the celebrity photos you can afford. After that, the cons can get a little stale—take it from me, who has attended every con in the area for a year straight. What doesn’t get old is the fans and the cosplay.

HIDDEN GEMS IN ARTIST’S ALLEY

Also infinitely enjoyable is Artist’s Alley. This often-overlooked part of a con’s offerings was a busy place at MTL this year. Many of the artists are repeats; for instance, I see Ron + Indy regularly, and Dr Kyla’s Emporium who makes the most wonderful crocheted characters, like my Gorn who I glued to my hula girl legs on my dash and is now the famous HulaGorn.

What’s great about Artist’s Alley is that, even when you chat with an artist you’ve already met, you get an update on their world and their work. Of course, it’s also great fun to see people having custom sketches done by industry giants like Geof Isherwood and Nick Bradshaw, two highly approachable and awesome comic book artist greats. Over the course of many cons, Nick and I have become well acquainted (and I have a sketch of Rogue on roller skates to prove it), and it can be a real treat to chat with some of the men and women who bring our favourite characters to life.

me with Nick Bradshaw, Marvel's go-to guy

It’s also great fun to discover younger talent and support them with the purchase of a print or postcard. This year, Amy Spaulding and Deena Pagliarello get my vote for ‘best in show’ with their very clever takes on iconic super women.

A GOOD GEEKY TIME

We departed the con after a giant feast of sushi from the Palais’ sushi place, then headed out, full of that bright happy geek energy you can only find at a con. It’s such a joy to live in the ‘golden triangle’ and have such easy access to everything Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto; if you haven’t made the short trip down to Montreal for the con before, I heartily recommend you hit it up next year!

Jordan Danger is a veteran blogger, writer, and marketing consultant based in Ottawa, Ontario. She is also President and Editor in Chief of CapitalGeekGirls.com. Jordan blogs at GirlCrafted.com, a lifestyle blog about crafting life both literally and figuratively. She loves DIY projects, her dog, and Oxford comma

Bikinis and Balancing Acts

BIKINIS AND BALANCING ACTS
By Jordan Danger

When I was a kid, I loved Hallowe’en. I grew up in a super geeky household, and costumes were a big deal. Mom made most of our costumes from scratch; later, when my brother and I got into specific genres, this task became a family effort. My brother was Mr Fantastic one year, complete with elongated arms that required an assistant for candy-carrying; I was Rogue one year, and hand-painted my own white streak into my wig; my favourite was probably the year I went as a Bjorn priestess, when my mom sewed my robes and Dad carefully constructed my nose ridges from theatre putty. 

What I’m saying is, back in my day, cosplay was about accuracy. It was about painstaking work. It was about authenticity. It wasn’t about skin and sucking on my fingers for the camera.

WHERE DO BIKINIS COME IN?

So when I look at a lineup of special guests for a comic convention, I feel really frustrated when I see some of the female cosplay guests of honour. I keep wondering how it is that a bikini with an Ark Reactor in the cleavage can be considered a cosplay—nay, a cosplay worthy of being featured as a guest speaker. 

I have friends who slave over their costumes. They spend hours and big money building a costume that is screen- or book-accurate. Yet somehow, these aren’t the girls featured as guests of honour at the cons. 

There’s been a lot of talk in recent months about ‘booth babes’ at cons, and the general exploitation of women’s bodies as marketing tools for conventions. How can we be mad at con vendors for bringing hot ladies to their booths if we encourage and condone the organizers bringing in bikini-versions of Wolverine or Harley Quinn?

HYPOCRISY AND DOUBLE STANDARDS?

So one side of the equation is this: a lot of people have been up in arms about the way women are portrayed in comic books. The recent debacle with the Spiderwoman alternate cover is a great example. Not only were people furious that this heroine was posed in a way that was perceived to be sexual, they also freaked out about anatomical impossibilities in the pose. If we hold a drawing to these incredibly high standards—“Don’t show me women being overly sexualized and be accurate with your proportions, too!”—then why do we not speak up more about the bikini cosplayers that convention organizers spotlight? Bikinis aside, even the posing that female cosplayers often do reflect the comic book drawings that are most offensive: arched backs, winking eyes, and very little fist-punching. It’s like the real-life ‘opposite day’ of the Hawkeye Initiative

A FINE LINE: THE OTHER SIDE OF THE EQUATION

After San Diego Comiccon, a post by the Associated Press really got my goat. The article ranted about women walking around in belly shirts, and demanded that some modicum of modesty be expected at cons. The thing about this article that really peeved me off was that it seemed to imply that the only place you’d see scantily-clad women was at a comiccon…as if the con culture itself promoted attendees wearing belly shirts. As a woman who has attended many cons, I can tell you that I personally have never ever felt like I was being pressured to dress ‘sexy’ for a day of lineups and impulse purchases. 

But aside from this, there’s another issue here: a woman’s right to wear whatever the Hell she wants. Big or small, black or white, human or cylon, I have always supported a woman’s right to wear whatever insanely revealing clothing she desires—provided of course that she has made this choice consciously, for her own reasons, and with an awareness of the cultural context in which she lives. So I do support a girl’s right to wear a belly shirt, or an Iron Man bikini, or sweat pants and a Pokemon hoodie. 

BRINGING THESE TWO SIDES TOGETHER?

Is there any way to find a balance here? Can I love supporting a woman’s right to wear something skimpy, while also refusing to support the VIP’ing of female ‘cosplayers’ who just wear a colourful bikini? I don’t know. We want to hear your thoughts, though, in the comments below. Do you think there’s something intrinsically hypocritical about demanding less sexualized comic books while prioritizing skimpy versions of cosplay as con guests of honor? Where is the line between a woman’s right to wear what she likes, and a woman’s responsibility to stop feeding into the hyper-sexualization of the geek girl world?

I’ve got no answers for you here. Maybe you’ve got some for me.

Jordan Danger is a veteran blogger, writer, and marketing consultant based in Ottawa, Ontario. She is also President and Editor in Chief of CapitalGeekGirls.com. Jordan blogs at GirlCrafted.com, a lifestyle blog about crafting life both literally and figuratively. She loves DIY projects, her dog, and Oxford comma

Cosplay at Anime North 2014

ANIME NORTH 2014By Thea Nikolic

I have been going to Anime North as a vendor for nine years, and it's always a great time. The largest Anime convention this side of the border and one of the largest in North America, AN is a convention ripe with very talented and fabulous cosplayers. So if you want to see some insane creations, this is convention you want to try to attend at least once.

Now being behind the table for the whole weekend usually means I won't see some of the crazy huge costumes that are not able to come into the dealer room but we get our fair share of great costumes. So between selling plushies and pillows and My Little Pony bags, I was able to snap a few pics of some of the costumes I enjoyed this year. 

Thea Nikolic aka Critical Miss has been cosplaying for several years and has just recently started hosting panels at various conventions about cosplay. She is also an actor, so she loves to play and act like her various characters that she loves. You can follow her cosplay shenanigans with her costuming husband at their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/criticalmissandretrojoad. You can also follow her on Twitter @HarleyQuinnBabe as well as on Instagram harleyquinnbabe. 

Courtney’s Cosplay Confessions: 25 Days Later

WRAPPING UP: POST CON CONCLUSIONS
by Courtney Lockhart

I haven’t fielded the question “So how did it go?” this many times since I got married. To be honest, my answers to both  were very similar: It was awesome, and I was exhausted after it was over.

FINISHING TOUCHES

I had taken the week before Comiccon off work to get things done around the house and deal with any last minute issues that arose. I also had hair and spa appointments to put the last few touches on my whole look. A lot of the other cosplayers here have stressed the importance of a good wig to complete your look. I didn’t feel that was really necessary in this case as my hair was already pretty close to Gwen’s, however that did mean I have committed to a summer of 35 degree weather  with bangs and layered hair.  I don’t regret it, yet.  It also lead to some interesting conversations with stylists and aestheticians. Everyone has a story as to why they want to look a certain way, I like to think mine was one of the more unique ones.

I SHIP IT

Every Gwen needs a Jack

About a month before the con fellow CGG editor Jordan  had told me  she had a surprise for me that would be revealed at Comiccon. I was very curious to see what she came up with. Usually I’m pretty good at guessing these things, but in this case I was completely stumped.  The answer came on the Friday when I was waiting for Jordan in the lobby of the CBC building downtown, and Captain Jack Harkness walked up instead.

As we walked around my understanding of the appeal of group cosplay grew. Having someone there with you to be supportive, check when you have to tuck in the wires on your earpiece, provide another clue to your identity or just have fun with is a huge de-stressor.  It was a great way to start the weekend and I don’t think I have said thank you quite enough yet. 

THOSE WHO MIND DON’T MATTER, AND THOSE 
THAT MATTER DON’T MIND

Feeling Cheeky at the Doctor Who Society of Canada Booth

My biggest anxiety going into this was  the potential reactions I would get.  I braced myself to get a bit of flack.  But that didn’t happen.

In fact I didn’t get much attention at all.  I was completely and utterly accepted to the point that people just carried on and didn’t bat an eye at the bigger lady in faux-leather. Which was really cool in a different way than I had been expecting.

So will I cosplay again? Possibly. If I have the time, money and a burning inspiration. But if I don’t, It won’t be because I’m scared. That part of it  has ended and to borrow a phrase from the show that started it all:

The end is where we start from. 





Courtney Lockhart lives in the west end of Ottawa with her husband and step-cat.  She is polishing her skills to pursue one of her dream careers as either a costume drama character, Torchwood operative or executive assistant to a billionaire vigilante. You can follow her daily mission to DFTBA on Twitter @corastacy.

Cosplay Double Trouble: Tank Girl and Jet Girl at Ottawa Comiccon '14

by Jordan Danger
COSPLAY DOUBLE TROUBLE: JORDAN AND MJ DO TANK GIRL AND JET GIRL

For Ottawa Comiccon 2014, CGG contributor MJ Baker and I did a very special cosplay. Special, because in all our years as besties, and all our years as Tank Girl fans, we have never done a Tank Girl duo cosplay. So, after a lot of planning and hard work, we did the con this year as Tank (MJ) and Jet (me)...and it rocked. Oh yes, it rocked.

MJ spent hours on her helmet, and for a point of reference for other DIY cosplayers, about $60 in materials. It was a huge undertaking and it was worth every penny and every minute.

We both agreed, it was a) almost too easy to put together our outfits from existing clothing we owned, and b) we felt way more ass-kicky dressed up this way than on a regular day. I proposed we just dress like this all the time. It could be our new signature looks in our day jobs. No? Yes, I say.

Anyway, it was a ton of fun and a great bonding experience. It gave a special pageantry to the entire weekend, and it was a wonderful conversation starter. If you haven't cosplayed, girls, I suggest you get out there and try it. Every time I do, I find more things to love about it.

Ottawa Comiccon Media Launch

GEEKS TAKE OVER BYWARD MARKET IN ADVANCE OF COMICCON WEEKEND
by Emily Plunkett

It was all about Daleks, Degrassi and Delorians in the streets of the Byward Market on Thursday as Ottawa got ready to celebrate the return of Comiccon.

On hand to welcome the highly successful event was a who’s who of characters.  Cosplayers portraying Harley Quinn, Darth Maul and Black Widow shook hands with interested passers-by who were also treated with a good look at the featured Back to the Future Delorian and Ghostbusters Ecto-1 vehicles.  Pat Mastroianni, who is best known for portraying Joey Jeremiah on Degrassi Junior High, helped event organizers kick-off the celebration.

“I'm so pleased and so excited to be here,” said Mastroianni during a press conference held at Brothers Beer Bistro on Dalhousie St.

“Ottawa Comiccon is not only a celebration of something we grew up with [and] fandom of superheroes and characters from comic books, but it's also about pop culture. I think it's terrific that we can celebrate something as iconic as Degrassi, which is part of Canadian pop culture.  It's wonderful to be able to celebrate that.”

Ottawa mayor Jim Watson was also on hand for the opening.  He was pleased to welcome the highly successful convention back to the Nation’s Capital.

“When this weekend is over, whether you live in Ottawa or have travelled as far away as Zeta-Alpha 2, I encourage you to tour the city's other attractions to see what all the excitement is about,” said Watson before getting photos taken alongside the on hand cosplayers.

Ottawa Comiccon runs from May 9 through May 11 at the Ernst and Young Centre. 



Emily Plunkett is a recent graduate of the journalism diploma program at Algonquin College. As a freelancer, she’s written for the Ottawa Star and the Sarnia Observer. Notorious for being a Beatlemaniac, a record collector and something nobody can really put a finger on, she enjoys a good Sunday afternoon with CBC Radio chatting away, her knitting in hand and her cat, Levon, snoozing at the end of the bed.

Courtney's Cosplay Confession: Day 64

Previously, Courtney committed to cosplaying for the first time at this week's Ottawa Comic-Con.  If you missed it, Click Here for the first post and Here for the second. 

ON CONFIDENCE IN CHARACTER. 
by Courtney Lockhart

After a few last minute adjustments, my costume is ready to go.  With the checklists completed and my bags pretty much packed there is very little left to think about until the morning of con. 
Which leaves my imagination with time to run wild. 

I start with the obvious. What if my pass doesn’t work? What if I spill or rip something on my costume?  What if I miss one of the panels I’m speaking at? Then I start going a little deeper: What if no one gets who I am dressed up as? What if they do but they make some sort of comment about the costume not being done right? Or what if someone starts trying to explain all the ways Gwen as a character is the “worst ever!” complete with eye roll and patronizing smirk?   There are a lot of reasons you can come up with to convince yourself to stay home. 

I also feel guilty about this being so difficult for me. I’m not doing a big elaborate costume. In fact, a couple of pieces  have weaselled their way into my daily wardrobe.  But something about the idea of standing there, saying “ I am trying to embody this character”  is terrifying. 

The thing is, I love Gwen. There are a few episodes where I don’t like her as much as the other team members, but I do love her. She’s written complexly. She’s not a perfect hero, she makes mistakes. She’s unapologetically human. There are a lot of fans who have never forgiven her for selfish decisions she has made.  However,  she is also strong and loyal and funny. She stands up for what she thinks is the right thing to do. She doesn’t give up.  

So really, the way for me to fail at embodying the character of Gwen Cooper, is to not try. I will fail if I leave her in the box on my dresser and let the nasty voices in my head and imaginary internet trolls succeed. 

I may not be able to headbutt a CIA agent  with a battle cry of “I’m Welsh”, but I can metaphorically kick down the doors of the con and  let them all know “ I’m Cosplaying.” 

Courtney Lockhart lives in the west end of Ottawa with her husband and step-cat.  She is polishing her skills to pursue one of her dream careers as either a costume drama character, Torchwood operative or executive assistant to a billionaire vigilante. You can follow her daily mission to DFTBA on Twitter @corastacy.

Cool Cosplayers: An Interview with Retro Joad and Critical Miss

by Courtney Lockhart 

COOL COSPLAYERS: CRITICAL MISS AND RETRO JOAD

 Thea Nikolic and Jody Haucke are getting ready to be very busy very soon.  Over Comiccon weekend they will cosplay 2-3 different characters each, run 3 panels , take part in activities as members of the 501^st legion and League of Superheroes and perform at the Wondergeeks Pan-galactic showcase Saturday night.   “It’s tricky, especially for Ottawa Comiccon because it’s in our hometown.” Jody explained. “We want to work with each group while we’re here in town to showcase our town to other people who are coming in.”  But he knows in the end the stress will be worth it. “There are nights we’re sitting at that table, it’s the day before con and we’re going ‘Why did I do this? I’m never doing this again.’ And then you go to con, and everyone  is taking pictures and you’re having so much fun being the character and you’re like ‘oh yeah, that’s why.”

 The pair, known professionally as Critical Miss and Retro Joad, met when they were both cast in a summer production for Eddie May Murder Mysteries.   Soon after, at the Heroes and Villains party they debuted their  first and arguably favourite joint costume: Harley Quinn and Joker.  “I love my classic Harley, and I still wear her.” Thea commented “But We’re kind of getting into elseworld stuff where we do our own thing,  like the rockabilly Harley.”

“We want a Joker and Harley for anything we show up at” Jody added before they riffed on what it would be like to go to an event like an Ottawa Senators game in costume.   Because of their acting background, they believe characterization is a big part of a successful cosplay.  “The word means costume play.” said Thea. “We enjoy acting like idiots when we’re Joker and Harley.”  While their antics are usually well received, they don’t sweat it when the reactions are less than hospitable.

“Life’s a lot easier when you don’t <care> what anyone thinks.” Jody recounted one time  in Toronto where they were trying to get back into the convention centre at the same time a Blue Jays game was letting out and they encountered some judgemental sports fans.  “Everyone  has their own thing they are going to be a fan of. You’re going in to spend a lot of money to watch a baseball game very far away, eat a cold hot dog and drink a warm beer for $25.  That’s not what I want to do. If you want to go and do that, go and do that. If I want to go do this, I’ll go do this.” 

Each cosplay experience offers something different. “At a movie premiere  you see people who don’t necessarily go to comic conventions.” Thea explained.  The costumes are appreciated at a different level  and the reactions more varied at a Con.  Jody finds for example that when he wears his Lucius Malfoy cosplay, people get very quiet versus the explosive reactions some of the other outfits get.

While they definitely have  their dream ‘Money is no object’ cosplays, Worf and Jadzia’s wedding outfits from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine currently top that list,  Thea and Jody insist that anyone can cosplay at any budget.  “Most people are going to see you from three to five feet away for a minute and then move on. It doesn’t have to be perfect.” Jody said.   Their Cosplay on a Budget panel  that ran last year inspired one attendee to go out that very night and put together a cosplay to wear for the remainder of the weekend.  “It made running the panel worth it.” 

You can follow their ongoing adventures in cosplay at their facebook page or on twitter @HarleyQuinnBabe and @crystalbasement They will also be working with Browncoats Burlesque on the May 17^th show, Necronomikhann!

Courtney Lockhart lives in the west end of Ottawa with her husband and step-cat.  She is polishing her skills to pursue one of her dream careers as either a costume drama character, Torchwood operative or executive assistant to a billionaire vigilante. You can follow her daily mission to DFTBA on Twitter @corastacy.

Courtney's Cosplay Confession: Day 41

Last month, Courtney committed to the goal of cosplaying for the very first time at this May's Ottawa Comic-Con.  If you missed it, Click Here to find out the story behind this challenge. 

My bedroom dresser, Gwen's current home

DAY 41: WHAT I'VE LEARNED SO FAR

by Courtney Lockhart

I am finally done acquiring all the pieces for Gwen.  I specifically picked a costume that required no sewing  because I know my limitations are a human being and I’ve accepted them.  However, that doesn’t mean this journey hasn’t been filled with ups and downs so far. 

BE LIKE SANTA- MAKE A LIST.

One of the very first things I did once I decided to cosplay was write down everything I would need. I  started by collecting several pictures of Gwen in  the outfit I had selected. I got an action shot, a standing shot, mid level and close up. 

From this, I was able to put together a pretty straight forward shopping list complete with budget. Since I’m part of a two person household, this involved a discussion with my husband about how much we could comfortably spend on the project. Luckily for me, I married a wrestler who owns several variations of his gear. He understood. 

1. Jacket:  $100-$150
2. Boots: $80
3. T-Shirt: $25
4. Skinny Jeans: 60$
5. Earpiece (Not visible in photos): According to google it’s a Jabra BT250V or Jabra Wave  bluetooth.  Original estimates were up to $50 depending on if I want a working one or just for show.

You may think I was being unrealistic with those prices, but I’m not. Welcome to the world of plus sized shopping.  Did you know an extra 2 inches of fabric  justifies a 30% price jump? That is if you can find the style at all. Skinny Jeans were especially difficult to find.   

DON’T GIVE UP TOO SOON.

My first shopping day was a disaster. I went out to hit the thrift store circuit on Merivale road with my mom, my sister, and her fiancé who was also looking for costume supplies.  The great thing about Merivale is your have 4 second hand stores in just a few blocks: Value Village, Goodwill, Salvation Army and Bibles for Missions.

Goodwill and Bibles for Missions did not have plus clothes at all.  I was lucky if I found a single sized 18 item on their racks. Salvation Army did, but nothing that would suit my specifications.  Now this isn’t the fault of the stores. I know they can only stock what is donated to them, but it is still discouraging.  I was feeling so let down that I probably would have skipped Value Village all together had it not meant a very long walk home.  

Which would have been a huge mistake. I found the first piece of my costume at the last stop of a very long day. A simple red t-shirt, George brand from Walmart, sized 22. It was perfect, and only $3.  It wasn't much, but it was enough progress to get me excited and boost my confidence. 

SHOP SMART, EARLY AND OFTEN

I gave myself as much time as possible to get these items. It took seven different shopping trips to find everything I needed.  While that seems like a lot, the fact that I started with more than two months to go meant that I never felt rushed into a bad decision. It also meant that I was able to take advantage of several loyalty programs  and sales which knocked most of my initial price estimated down greatly.  With the exception of my boots I did not pay full price for any piece of the costume. 

Addition-Elle's email coupons take some of the sting out of plus-wear prices

ASKING FOR HELP

One of the great parts of telling everyone I’m cosplaying is that I’ve gotten a lot of links, tips and offers of assistance  from my friends and family.  Which has been wonderful because, as I indicated earlier, I am overly aware of what I am and am not capable of.

Credit: Justin Tung

An example of this is make-up.  I’m not good at analyzing make-up or breaking down a look into individual products. I know what I like to wear and that’s about it. I asked my good friend Julia a.k.a Persephone Vice  to help me because I know she can pull off any level of make-up from neutral but polished to intense colours and designs. We went to Sephora, reference photos in hand and found everything we were looking for in 30 minutes. If I had gone alone, I would probably still be there. 

Now that I have all the pieces it is more a matter of waiting, confidence building and  making sure I don’t lose any of it.  

The next 26 days will just fly by, I hope.

Courtney Lockhart lives in the west end of Ottawa with her husband and step-cat.  She is polishing her skills to pursue one of her dream careers as either a costume drama character, Torchwood operative or executive assistant to a billionaire vigilante. You can follow her daily mission to DFTBA on Twitter @corastacy.

Cosplay No-No's: Three Big Tips for Con Season and Beyond

COSPLAY ADVICE: HELPFUL TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR COSPLAY EXPERIENCE MAGICAL

By Toni Weri

As a cosplayer, it’s a fun challenge trying to be as accurate to the character you are portraying as possible.  There are different things that can enhance your costume, like contact lenses or makeup for example, but there are also things that can take away from it as well.  Here are three cosplay no-no's to keep in mind.

NO-NO #1: WIGGING OUT

Your sewn or store bought costume can look amazing, but I find that details, such as the wig/hair can make a difference. To truly capture the essence of a character, you have to go that one extra step further. Either finding a great wig or style your hair to match your costume will increase your transformation into your favourite character. Try to avoid buying cheap wigs from big-box stores. If you have puffy or thick hair, taking the time to put on a wig cap to keep your hair under the wig will keep it from peeking out of your wig.

Photo taken by Megan Leduc 

               Cosplayer: Kudrel (https://www.facebook.com/KudrelCosplayer)

NO-NO #2: UNPLANNED POSING

As silly as this may sound, practice posing in front of a mirror. You’re going to get pictures taken of you in costume by event goers because, hey, you are totally rocking your costume! The depiction of your costumed character might have been captured well in-person, but a picture is worth a thousand words. Take 5 minutes to search for reference pictures of your character. Try to mimic a pose, a facial expression or a combo of both! Cosplayers need to avoid the “deer in the headlights” look. If your character is supposed be gallant warrior, then puff out that chest, lift up that head and give that camera a confident smirk.  

Photo taken by Corey Graham

             Cosplayer:  ÁLI (https://www.facebook.com/UniverseofALI)

NO-NO #3: CONTINUITY OVER SECURITY

If you are going to cosplay, do not put your wallet or anything important in the pocket of your costume, unless it is secured in some manner. Time and time again I have heard sad tales of cosplayers losing their badges, wallets, hotel key cards etc… because they stuffed it into their costume pockets. These items are lost while posing for pictures, going to the bathroom or by just getting into character and running around. Keep a bag with you, or have a trusted sidekick carry a secure bag while you are at an event.  Cosplaying is fun, but losing spending money you saved up for your convention weekend can ruin the experience for you.

Toni Weri is a freelance artist and a proud member of the Rebel Legion. She is a geek of all trades, but her forte lies with anime, costuming, video games and Sci-Fi.

You can follow her on Twitter or Instagram @ TONIGEEKGIRL