![]() One of the most important cosplay (and really any con goer) lessons is con etiquette. With so many things to do, people to meet, and places to be, sometimes people don’t act in the appropriate manner. There are a lot of con etiquette points to touch on, so today I chose to focus on some of the main ones that focus more on cosplay. The biggest thing to remember is to ask people first. You want a picture of someone? Ask them, you’ll get a much better picture and the person could turn out to be pretty cool. You want to do a certain pose or touch someone? Ask them, people have different comfort levels, and your request might not be comfortable with them. Want to touch someone’s prop or a part of their outfit? Ask them, it might be frail and fragile, so handling it might not be the best thing. After asking, it is important to respect what someone says. Everyone has a reason for their answer and it does not have to be apparent to you. At conventions, there will be all types and all levels of cosplayers. Do not make any critiques or “helpful advice” of a cosplay without the cosplayer asking for advice. Everyone one works hard on their cosplay, and there is no need to tear someone down because their cosplay isn’t up to your standards. Even something well-meaning can be hurtful. Even worse, don’t bash a cosplay or a cosplayer because you don’t like how it’s done or yours is “better.” Cosplay is a fun hobby that is supposed to bring the community together. It is not an elitist show of who can do everything best. Find the right balance of acting in character. One of the best aspects of cosplay is acting as a favorite character, but some things might be a little overboard. If you’re at a con with children, and you’re cosplaying a character that swears or might not act in a kid-friendly way, it’s best to leave that part out. Or if your character is really touchy-feely, you can’t use that as an excuse to touch people without their permission. Speaking of kids, be on your best behavior when you’re around them, especially if you are in a character geared towards children. Some kids don’t get the opportunity to go to theme parks and meet their favorite characters, so seeing characters at cons is their only way to meet them. Don’t be the jerk who ruins a kid’s favorite character. Always treat the kids with respect, and if you cannot honor their request, try to find a way to do it later, or turn them down politely. There’s no reason to beak a kid’s spirit. Keep hallways and tight areas clear. Most cons have a lot of people, and tight areas and hallways can get cluttered when people stop for photos, or for a long conversation. If it looks like a high traffic area, it might not be the best place to hold your shoot. Another thing to keep in mind is don’t interrupt a photo shoot. A lot of cosplayers pay for their photographers and they only work with them for a set time. If you want a photo of a cosplayer, or to schedule something with the photographer, wait until the shoot is done. Whichever party you were hoping to speak with can focus on you and give their whole attention. Are there any main points I left out? Drop them in the comments so we can discuss them further! Originally posted on nerd Fest's Blog
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Gamora: Get Geekish Blake: Yuki Cat Captures Nui: Ham Sandwich What's this?These post are different cosplay advice topics that I think people would find useful. Categories vary, so they can help beginners as well as veterans. Archives
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