As a cosplayer of 5 years, I have attended many conventions. From big conventions in Maryland to smaller ones in Secaucus, each convention is unique and different in its own way! But what do you do at conventions? How can you be safe and have fun? WHAT DO I BRING?! These are just some of the many questions cosplayers ask each other when attending a convention for the first time. But have no fear, William, the experienced, cool, and awesome cosplayer is here!
In my first little blog today, I am going to go through the essential items you should bring to conventions, events I recommend attending at conventions, and some conventions I recommend! Who's ready? I am, LET'S GO!
Essential Items for Conventions
- Wallet
- Phone(With the Guidebook/Convention app downloaded)
- Portable Charger
- Charger
- Deodorant(MUST HAVE! Even during the winter)
- Fan (If it is a summer convention)
- Handwarmers (For winter/fall conventions)
- Water Bottle
- Makeup bag
It's... a lot, I know, but everything on this list is usually what others recommend bringing to conventions for safety and... hygiene. I also recommend bringing a big bag to carry all these items or a tote mobile utility cart, like pictured below!
Must Attend Events at Cons
Conventions will always have a set schedule for all the events happening during the weekend of the con, but due to there being so many events, panels, or meetups to choose from, it can be overwhelming to the point where you just sit in the corner of the con and cry. I don't want that to happen, so due to my experience with conventions, I am going to recommend events that are and are not worth your time!
Sometimes conventions will have their own app that shows everything from panel schedules to cosplay meetups, like AnimeNYC, while a majority of conventions use Guidebook. Guidebook is a must-have app for attending conventions because it has EVERYTHING! I mainly use it because you can curate your schedule for any of the days of the convention, and you are able to set an alarm to remind you that an event will begin in 15 minutes!
 |
| DerpyCon Guidebook Sidetab |
There is also an event that all conventions host: the Cosplay Masquerade! The Cosplay Masquerade is usually later at night, always on a Saturday, and is a time for cosplayers to show off their hard work and performances. I always try to attend the masquerade at every con because I love seeing everyone's hard work and supporting friends perform! It's also very fun to participate in one, so if you ever dare to apply for a masquerade, DO IT!
Recommended Conventions
There are many conventions around the world, but for this blog post, we are going to focus more on the East Coast. Also, because I live on the East Coast...
 |
| AnimeCons Convention Schedule Tab |
Before getting to conventions you should attend, I'm going to tell you how you can find these conventions! I always get questions from non-cosplayers about how I find all these conventions near me, and the answer to that is AnimeCons.com! This website tells you about all the conventions happening worldwide. I usually use this site near the end of the year to start planning which conventions I want to attend and my cosplay line-ups. Now onto the fun part...MUST-GO-TO CONVENTIONS!
As of October 31 at 11:19 am (when I'm writing this), I have been to 7 conventions! Out of the 7 cons this year, the 4 conventions pictured above have been my absolute FAV! If you're looking for a big convention with tons of people, events, and merch near New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York, Anime NYC is the place to go. Anime NYC was my first convention back in 2021, and I had a blast! It was so much fun, and I've been attending it every single year (except 2023 because of a family vacation) since then.
Near the DMV area, there is another big convention held in Washington, D.C. called Otakon! This year was my first time attending Otakon, so I didn't know what to expect, but I still had a lot of fun and saw so many friends! Otakon is more on the side of old-school anime conventions, due to its opening in 1994, while Anime NYC is more new-school, so you have a taste of both worlds if you decide to go to both. The only downside of attending both cons is how close they are to each other. Otakon is held at the beginning of August, and then you have a week to prepare for Anime NYC, which is held at the end of August.
Now, onto the more medium-sized conventions, we have Zenkaikon! Zenkaikon is held in Lancaster, PA, around the middle of March, so you can attend it during your spring break like I did! It's not too overwhelming with people, and there are many spaces to relax for a bit if you need it. The artist alley/dealers hall isn't too big, so you won't be overwhelmed with choices to buy from compared to Otakon and Anime NYC...phew, those artist alleys were huge...Also, there's a Waffle House nearby, which makes this a 10/10 con for me!
Finally, onto a smaller convention, Castlepoint! Held in Secaucus, NJ, not only is Castlepoint smaller in size, but it's also smaller in the number of days the convention is held. Compared to other conventions with 3-4 days, Castlepoint is only 2 days! Nice and simple. There are a variety of restaurants and, despite its size, the artist alley is also amazing. I spend so much money in there, everyone is so talented! I also have a little bias for Castlepoint because that was the first convention where my friends and I performed in the Cosplay Masquerade and won!
Phew, pretty long first blog post, I know, but I truly love talking about cosplay and the culture that comes with it! Hopefully, you've fully read through this and enjoyed my little tangent on cosplay conventions. Until then, BYE-BYE!
Comments
Post a Comment