
Attending your first cosplay event can be exciting, but also nerve-wracking! There are thousands of people from all walks of life who attend cosplay conventions every year, so it’s hard to know what to expect. It’s important to fully prepare yourself to ensure you have an enjoyable experience.
Decide who to go as
A huge part of the fun when attending your first event is deciding who you’ll dress up as. Many people go as their favourite superhero, film or TV show character. Die-hard fans spend hours perfecting their outfits to ensure they look as close to the character as possible.
You can either purchase your outfit online or create your own. There are plenty of tutorials and guides on how to create your own cosplay costumes, and you can even look in charity shops or find spare pieces of material to create your ensemble.
Bring your costume to life by purchasing a wig, applying makeup or even wearing coloured contact lenses to truly look the part.
Plan out your day
The event you’re attending will have an agenda for the day that you can view in advance. This is so you and your friends can see who’s there, what stands to visit and which talks to listen to.
The London Film & Comic Con is an event that spans over three days, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Throughout the event, there will be panel discussions, autograph opportunities and a retail hall where you can purchase your favourite character’s merchandise.
Alternatively, the UK Games Expo located at Birmingham NEC is an event for all the family. The convention hosts hundreds of tournaments and events and is ideal for those who love gaming. You can experience live entertainment and interactive shows which delivers a truly unforgettable experience.
There’s so much to do, no matter which cosplay event you attend. From workshops, cosplay photography, costume competitions and anime premier screenings – you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Networking
The sociable aspect of attending cosplay events is a key part of why people enjoy going every year. Meeting like-minded people and getting to know individuals who are just as passionate as you are will allow you to make new friends and discuss everything you love about cosplay.
You may also receive recommendations for new games and anime to check out. Feel free to talk about your backgrounds and interests, sharing your love for creativity and your favourite characters.
Take part in cultural events and enjoy live music and art displays that will be dotted around the convention centre. You may even get to experience a dance party or rave – the perfect place to hang out with the friends you’ve made.