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1.) Do not use your own head as a hatblock.

2.) Moving parts get you pictures (

3.) Do not leave your $10 a yard fabric where the cat can sleep on it (or claw it, or eat it, or puke on it).

4.) Patterns are tricky beasts that like to run away and hide.

o make up is important. DON'T FORGET IT.
o always try on your wigs. always.
o always bring emergancy hygenie products
o check the floor, seat, wherever before you sit.
o even if you're not feeling well, smile for the camera. at least you should feel better.

1) Don't resort to using cork-board when trying to stiffen an obi. It'll break, and then you have to unpick the stitches and tape it with hockey tape, and sometimes it'll cave in and make this ugly pucker...

Yeah. Don't do it.

2) Make sure that when you do your first cosplay, you spend more than a week on it.

3) DON'T TRY TO USE STRAIGHT FABRIC PAINT ON POLYESTER! Do an undercoat of white, or it'll soak through and dull out, hence looking like crap.

~You will get hugged, you can't be a hug-o-phobic.
~The more detail, the better.
~Always bring extra thread and a needle
~Always bring..ahem..feminine products...if you're female.
~Pose, don't just smile.
~Always reply to people, no matter how weird they're being...unless they're a *****
~try to reply in character. Raito would not say "LYK OHMAGAWD THNX"
~Always say some sort of "thank you" when being complimented.....don't just smile absent-mindedly.....ehh..I've been known to do that.
~ADVIL/TYLENOL IS YOUR FRIEND. Especially when wearing a wig.
~Don't eat messy foods in cosplay.
~Be EXTREMELY careful with drinks other than water.
~Larger/more elaborate/working props get you lots of attention
~Try to keep cool. Being red in the face in your pictures isn't pretty. And Dehydration isn't nice, either.
~People either LOVE naruto, or LOATHE it. There really is no in between at cons.


Never, NEVER use your foot when using hotglue to attatch a sock to a flip flop. It hurts like all hell.

Never try to dye your hair black with the Loriel hair dying mousse when you're a blonde. It turns your hair purple.

When girl-to-guy crossplaying, don't bind to tight or you WILL pass out from pain and lack of air.

~ If you're cosplaying a character from a yaoi/yuri anime, do not walk past the booth selling paddles unless you want to get hit several times.
~ Don't try to play DDR in three-inch heels. It will murder your feet.
~ Don't try to cram your feet into boots that are two sizes too small. It's very painful.
~ Unfortuanatly, cardboard props break easily.
~ Be willing to spend $50 on a decent wig. Those cheap ones suck.
~ Sasuke fangirls are vicious.
~ Just because you fell asleep in the hotel lobby doesn't mean that people won't take your picture.
~ "Cosplaying" is a sad excuse for big hairy men to dress like Sailor Moon.
~ Cosplay appropriately to the weather, or at least try. (Don't wear a skimpy cosplays in December, and don't wear three layers of clothing plus a scarf and gloves when it's 90+ degrees outside.)
~ Cool props often want to be seen (*or played) by other people.


- Hot glue does not replace thread.
- Just because they're of the same sex as you does not absolve all chances of being attacked in a sexually aggressive manner.
- Always use hair pins when wearing a wig.
- When dealing with anime-style miniskirts, you can have perfect accuracy or you can have modesty, but you cannot have both.
- Anime-style miniskirts and DDR do not play well together.
- Everything is funny after three hours of fabric painting in a poorly ventilated area.

-Always be willing to answer peoples questions, even if you are asked it about 60 times within one day.
-Always be polite no matter what, even if they are kinda creepy, because you really never who they are exactly and for all you know it could be a senior staff member.

- You will get fangirled/boyed at cons
- Hydration is great
- Having a bodyguard (i.e. friend) does not keep the glompers from tackling you
- When crossplaying make sure not to bind too tightly
- Gothic Lolita =/= Chi or Freiya from Chobits
- Say 'Thank You' to compliments, unless you can't understand a damn word they're saying
- There will be people who say their costume is better than yours, even if theirs looks like it was made in two hours and you spent 3 months.
- Crenaline (I think I spelled it right) will damage your wallet. It's expensive and use as needed.
- Petticoats are cute, until you need to sit down...
- Look to make sure there isn't anyone trying to bombarde you in the bathroom...

*Bring a personal fan when waiting in a room with a couple hundred other people for your chance to go on stage for the cosplay contest.
*Have comfy backup shoes when your three inch heels start raping your feet after nine hours of wear.
*Make sure you're at the back of the line to go on stage in your group if your costume is long enough for someone to step on it(....It always sucks when your first experience with a masquerade is your friend stepping on your coat and making you trip..;.; )
* Never underestimate the power of a prespiked wig.
*When your brother says he wants to cosplay as Johnny Bravo and NOT have foam hair..bitchslap him.
*Don't get annoyed when someone mistakes you for a different character..even if it -IS- blatantly obvious.
*Try to start on your costumes in advance, unless you want to be up until 4AM finishing your costume, with about two hours to sleep until you have to leave.
*Unless you have bangs, it is 90% likely that you, in fact, can NOT use your own hair for your character.
*Unless you're going to bleach your hair white before dying it..its easier to get a wig.
*Spray-on haircolor is made by Satan himself as a means of torturing all of the people you glomp with it on.
*If have prescription contacts, but you don't wear them that often, always start getting used to wearing them at -LEAST- two weeks before the date of the actual convention.
*Just like wearing a Naruto headband doesn't make you a ninja, wearing a shinigami captain's cloak over your 'I <3 Hentai' shirt and shorts does NOT make you a shinigami.
*If you have an overly large prop sword, make sure you have it attached to your body in such a way that you can get it easily AND reduce the likelihood of you mauling someone with it.
*Don't let your friends talk you into costumes two months until the con unless you have the means to start IMMEDIATELY.
*..Always look for an alternative to cardboard.
*Practice your poses before the con so you know how to do them.
*Don't be suprised when you learn that the attractive cosplayer you've been hanging out with is almost twice your age.
*Sakura Haruno's hair is NOT hot pink.
*If you can get a lighter color to a darker, less in-your-face tone of a non-natural color, go for that instead of getting the bright-as-sin shade.
*You can not, and I repeat, can -NOT- make a wig lighter.
*Color rings are wonderful, WONDERFUL things to have.
*Always have a colored reference picture when you're looking for fabric, or else you'll find at least half a dozen colors that 'might work.'

1. Try not to get annoyed when someone mistakes your cosplay for someone else.

2. Smile for the camera. :]

3. Duct tape is much more versatile than one would imagine.

4. As stated before, get a wig. I was gifted with bangs and orange hair, making an Orihime cosplay inevitable.

5. A dress will begin to feel like a sausage wrap after 6 hours of wear. Bring a back-up outfit.

6. Always have a reference. Makes your life a lot easier.

7. Material can show up anywhere.

8. Get contacts, because your cosplay gets taken down a bit if you wear glasses, unless you're cosplaying as Kabuto.

1. ALWAYS bring a sewing kit (Needle, thread, safty pins, etc)

2. Bring an apron or a large jacket when you go to eat, you may look stupid, but it can save your life if you spill a lot.

3. IF you want to give someone a hug, ask them. Most people don't enjoy being thrown to the ground by fangirls/boys.

4. If your coming from another city/state for a convention, and you aren't familer with the area, make sure you have a map, and if you don't you better be prepared to run into a resturant or store in full costume to ask directions.

5. NEVER buy one of those $7 wigs, they DO NOT WORK.


6. Bring a fan, weather it's one you bought at a oriental gift shop or one of those hand held electric ones.

7. ALWAYS bring emergancey hygenie products.

8. BE IN CHARACTER!!

9. Be prepared to have your wallet raped.

~ Try not to come off as a b***h, even if you're hot/tired/hungry/thirsty/in pain, unless someone's being blatantly rude to you. Someone WILL be complaining about you on a forum or message/image board after the con.
~ If you see a cosplay that is absolutely revolting and you absolutely NEED to say something about it, wait until the person is out of earshot and whisper it to a friend. You never know who's listening.
~ Don't make an a** of yourself in front of a camera. It will be posted on YouTube, and you will regret it.
~ If you spend a lot of time on your costume, it will show.
~ Wigs are your friends. Save up and buy a nice one.
~ Interfacing is a double-edged sword. It's a godsend when you need it, but if you get the wrong kind, it can completely mess up your costume.
~ Try to socialize. Don't spend the whole con looking like a wet blanket.
~ Participate in photoshoots. It guarantees that people will have taken photos of you, and it makes it easier to find them after the con.
~ After the con, don't demand photos of yourself in every single nook and cranny of the Internet, especially if your cosplay wasn't particularly special and you KNOW that not many people got pictures of you. "Oh, I was the L with the handcuffs and the kind of short wig. Did anyone get pictures of me?" "Anyone?" "ANYONE?" "STOP IGNORING MEEEE"
~ Iron your costumes before you wear them. Always.
~ Don't wear sneakers when your character DOESN'T. If your character is barefoot, wear sandals or nude ballet slippers. If your character has boots, make boot covers. If worst comes to worst, just wear plain shoes or boots in a similar colour. It will look a million times better than your beat-up Reeboks from 2002.

1. don't wear sweaters in june to a cosplay if you do bring water so you don't pass out
2.if you are going to use spray on dye don't put it on with clothes you like on even if it says it will come out it doesn't come off clothes
3. if something brakes don't use super glue as a fast substitute it just makes things more complicated
4. don't let friends or older or younger siblings try on your costumethere is a chance they might accidently wreck part

~ If you have friends with you cosplaying from the same thing, do skits in the hallways (or other open areas) --This is rather fun.

~ Be very cautious with your props if you love them and want to keep them/use them again -- don't let random people hold them ;>> and always hold them so you won't smack someone with them.

~ Try to plan photo ops with others for characters from the same anime/manga/game

~ Start making props way in advance too...to be sure they get done.

~ Don't paint plastic and expect it to not rub off on your costume when you carry it on your shoulder constantly.

~ Sometimes cheap wigs are suitable....as long as you don't have to style it at all.

~If your cosplays are done, STAY THE HELL OUT OF FABRIC STORES.

~When gathering, pulling harder won't get it done faster.

~Sewing machines can and do overheat.

~Avoid 50-year-old men in bodysuits

~WEAR BOYSHORTS UNDER YOUR LOLITA SKIRTS.

~bloomers for lolita skirts

~ignore stupid bitches that give you a hard time about your cosplay.

~drink water so you dont randomly pass out from dehydration

~carefully design the props so they don't start drooping down from where they should be.

~avoid silky materials unless its necessary for the character. people tend not to like most cosplays that use silky fabrics.

~bring several cosplays with you to the convention to compensate for hot/cold weather.

-If someone says to you, "Will yaoi/yuri for money." DO NOT say yes.

-If your character plays an instrument, learn how to play random anime/game music on it. If you're good, people WILL remember you.

-Don't be embarrassed when you go out in public for lunch or something. There are people who look more weird than you somewhere out there. ;D

-Look before you SIT. Just like the phrase "look before you leap."

-Make sure your cosplay smells good. If you smell bad, people will keep their distance. (Use a perfume or cologne that your character would use. That's always fun. XD)

-If your character has gloves, take them off to eat.

-Be careful when glomping. You can hurt someone, and you can ruin costumes doing so.

-Annyoing little kids, can ruind your fun.
-People seem to not understand that wigs, are not to be played with!
-Pose dont look like a tree
-Sow your costume properly so it doesnt look like you tapped two peices of cloth together.
-Fan boys are just as annyoing as fan girls.
-When cosplaying a character with a large chest, people will look at your boobs more then they allredy do.
-If your costume is pure white you have to have an eye like an egale and becarefull of everything!
-Ask premition before glomping the person.
-Staff can be a b***h but suck it up.
-Bring extra hair pins when cosplaying, youll need them.
-Bring make up, you will need touch ups after 4 hours of sweating.
-If your a large person for christ sakes spare us all and do not wear a Sailor Moon outfit with that tight body suite and mini skirt.
-Shower, please!

- If you really don't like getting your picture taken, then don't bother cosplaying. If you cosplay, there's a high chance that people will want to take your picture.
- ASK before you GLOMP/POUNCE on someone. >_< Same with hugging/kissing people as well.
- If your costume has a long part in it (where it drags on the floor), watch for stairs..and people stepping on it.