Happy Friday!
There are going to be a lot of first-time cosplayers and attendees at Saboten this year so I felt I should write up a little something about surviving your first convention. I started typing and it got hideously long. xD So...I broke it up into sections. I'm starting with convention etiquette, since I feel that's one of the most important things to know.
Read convention rules thoroughly and abide by them. This might seem like a no-brainer, but different conventions have different rules regarding cosplay props and weapons, how much skin you can show, or what you can and can't do in the hallways(Saboten, for example, prohibits the performance of skits in the hallways and has a PG-13 requirement for dress). Rules are often influenced by things like fire codes, liability concerns, policies and rules of the place where the convention is being held, and incidents from past conventions. Unfortunately it only takes one rotten apple to spoil a whole bin, and rules that may seem silly or stupid are often there for a good reason.
ASK PERMISSION BEFORE YOU TAKE PHOTOS OF ANY
COSPLAYER. I cannot stress this enough! It’s incredibly rude to
photograph a cosplayer(or any other human being for that matter) without asking
permission. It’s also kind of creepy. Don’t be afraid to ask! Most cosplayers
know they will be approached for pictures, and as long as you remember to say ‘please’
and ‘thank you’ they will be more than happy to oblige. If they say no, don’t
force the issue. They may have a good reason to decline, and if they aren’t
nice back to you they aren’t worth your time. Also, if you plan on posting your
pictures on sites like Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr, make sure you ask
permission of the cosplayer before you post.
When
posing for a cosplay photo, don’t block the walkways. This includes places
like Artist Alley or the dealer’s room, or busy hallways with a ton of foot
traffic. It is inconsiderate, it slows traffic, creates a hazard for the people
around you, and some convention rules explicitly prohibit it to keep the
traffic flowing. Saboten, for example, has prohibited cosplay posing and
photography in the vendor’s room this year. If someone approaches you for a
photo, look for a place out of the way to take the photo. Likewise, if you ask
someone for a photo and they start posing in the walkways, politely suggest a
better area.
Be
careful with weapons and props, especially if they are heavy. Be aware of
the people around you. Don’t swing your prop around wildly or let it hang out
in aisles or walkways for people to trip over. It could seriously injure another person if they are in the wrong place at the wrong time. If you accidentally bump someone with your prop,
apologize. Conventions get crowded and sometimes accidents happen. Also, make
sure your props are within convention guidelines. It sucks to haul a prop all
the way to a con only to be told you can’t carry it with you.
Remember
to bathe, and pack/carry strong deodorant. This might seem like another no-brainer
but it seems like at nearly every con there are people who don’t shower, and
you can smell them long before you ever see them. I feel that for Saboten
stressing this is incredibly important. It’s hot in the Arizona desert, and to
make matters worse we’re in the middle of a wicked monsoon season, so it’s
going to be super humid. You are going to sweat, and if you’re wearing a heavy
cosplay outfit you will sweat more than you ever thought you could. Why would
you honestly want to stay sweaty and yucky all weekend? You’ll feel better if
you shower and your fellow cosplayers and con-goers will thank you.
Be
patient with con staff and volunteers. Most conventions are run entirely by
volunteers. They put a lot of time, effort, and sacrifice into making sure
their convention goes off without a hitch, without a financial reward. Planning
and hard work goes into a con, and they’ve been at it long before the
registration line opens, so they will most likely be tired and stressed. Be
polite. Be patient. Thank them for their hard work. Without them you wouldn’t
be here.
Handle
rude people with class. While most con attendees are awesome wonderful
people you’ll want to hang out with, there is the occasional jerk. Be the
bigger person. Don’t sink to their level and cuss them out, or throw a punch,
or something equally unclassy. That makes you no better than they are and you’ll
only end up embarrassing yourself.
Okay, that’s all I have today. xD I’m
pretty sure I covered the basics, but if I left anything out please let me know
in the comments!
Stay fabulous!
-Vik
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