Convention Survival: Solo Weekends

Sometimes you want to go to a convention so badly that you will do anything.. Even go alone! 

There may be times in the beginning or during your fandom journey that because of plans changing or work scheduling you have to go to a convention or plan multiple convention trips on your own. 

I had my first solo trip (and a trip that did not start out but ended as a solo trip) and wanted to make a blog giving some advice! It doesn't have to be a heart-breaking bummer.. going to conventions on your own can be as adventurous or as casual as you want to make it!

Plan your trip.

Don't panic. Hopefully you had enough warning to be able to create a rough draft of how you want your trip to go. If you have a rough idea to keep you calm than you won't feel so lost.

When do you want to arrive at your lodgings? How close do you want to be to the convention center(s)?

Are you staying for all 3 days, an extra day to take in the area before/after or just 2 days? 

If you are staying all day, for each day, you will need to look for restaurants in the area - the ones closest to the convention center(s) will be the most packed with lines.

Are you going to make friends, meet other cosplayers, do photoshoots, play games, meet celebrities, go to workshops/events or shop merchandise?

Don't be afraid of AIR B&B and Uber

Being in another city (or a new one if you've never been there before) may seem terrifying but that doesn't mean that you have to keep to yourself and walk everywhere so that you are not near any potential people or danger. 

Most Air B&B and taxi/Uber drivers know how busy (and profitable) that "convention season" can be so they are more than happy to give great customer service - some have even been patrons themselves and given me advice or recommendations!

Just breathe

If you had your heart set on spending the trip with a friend(s) it may seem awkward now that you are alone. You may feel it but I promise.. No one is watching you or feels bad for you because you're alone. Some people have even come up to me and said they were impressed and wanted to hangout for a bit! As long as you give yourself some things that you want to do, watch or try than eventually you will stop feeling like the odd-man out.

Cosplay alterations

This is a good idea to think of in general for every costume you create/buy but if you know you will be going to a convention or event alone then you will want to consider how easy or quickly you can remove pieces or all of your costume(s). 

Will you need to add extra pockets to carry your things?

Do you need to begrudgingly make extra cuts with zippers?

Can you easily breathe or should you add more ventilation holes?

Is it possible to make more pieces detachable with Velcro, buttons, snaps or loops?

Cosplayers are friendly - just ask!

When you are in a group of people who all want the attention of someone it is easier for someone to bravely speak up. But if you are alone and no one else has noticed or is near a specific cosplayer at the time than you will have to get their attention yourself. THIS IS OKAY! Most cosplayers know that whether their character or OC is widely known or more niche that sooner or later someone will want a picture or ask a question. Just remember... COSPLAY DOES NOT EQUAL CONSENT! Always ask a cosplayers for their permission or a picture, or a hug or anything else you want their attention for. 

Some cosplayers may be tired and on their way to take a break. 

Some cosplayers may be just starting their "wandering loop" and may be more willing to stop for you.

Some cosplayers are willing to share their tips, tricks and advice but some may not be..

Either way it's worth the risk of feeling a bit silly or embarrassed to just ask. A couple of my fellow cosplay friends are in my life now simply because I got excited and yelled at them for a picture (lol).

Take a walkthrough of the markets first before you buy anything

This is a good idea whether you are an "impulse buyer" or have enough will power to show restraint. Even if you want to spend money at every booth to support every vendor you should pick and choose what is most important to you at the time. 

Ask for business cards and social media contacts for any vendors that you still want to buy from that you may not have the time, money or arm space to do so.

Make new friends

This may seem tough to do especially since you do not have the confidence of already having friends with you. BUT most people go to conventions to connect with other like minded members of the fandom community so although it may seem daunting or awkward you should always try! It may end in a friendship or it may end in at the least a conversation that takes up some of the time you didn't have a plan for. And if enough people see you at conventions frequently enough than they start to recognize you and may come up to you on their own! It happened to me :)

Watch all of the performances

If you don't feel motivated to do much else than take advantage of all the performers and events that go on at conventions! Most weekends have workshops and classes, gameshows and fashion shows, parties/raves, musical and acrobatic performers and of course cosplay masquerade/contests. Going to an event or performance with other people is a fast easy way to break the ice.

Nagata Shachu is ALWAYS A MUST-SEE!

And a situation as simple as stopping to watch a performer, may turn into a great friendship! 

Especially when you get excited to finally meet T-K Entertainer from online videos, and he in turn got excited because he knew I was cosplaying as Shinjo-kun!

Important things to remember to pack:

- sunscreen & deodorant

- clothes for cooler or rainy weather
- contact lenses & solution
- bottles of water
- non-perishable snacks
- program guide book or at least a summary of things you want to do

- selfie stick

- rechargeable battery packs

- charge chords

- pass holder with lanyard

- cosplay emergency kit

This is what I keep in mine: tide-to-go stick, measuring tape, black & white thread with needle, sewing pins and safety pins, black sharpie, gold sharpie, Band-Aids, mini lint roller, mini scissors, magnetic sticky strip, black and red pen, crazy glue.

- Tylenol or pain relief cream - for all of the walking and/or posing

- GPS or map

* remember all your ID cards and a small enough wallet

- a back-up extra set of make-up

And when its all over... Don't forget to be proud of yourself!

To those who recognize themselves in the pictures, I want to thank you for your friendship & encouragement. Reviewing the pictures and memories I've had over my fandom journey so far has made me realize the incredible people I've inspired, who have inspired me and the smiles/laughs I've been able to give. I can't wait to continue doing all of these things and more into the future! Thanks friends!

What other things do you remember to pack with you? What other advice would you tell first time convention goers? Let me know in the comments!

A BIG feeling of Spirit for the Children

WHAT A DAY! I am truly honored, proud of & thankful for you Kingston!

Thank you to everyone who took time to come and visit the Halloween Party at Spirit Halloween yesterday! 

It was pretty nerve-wracking getting back into cosplay again after a 2+ year hiatus for most of us due to the current way of the world. But for the children anything is possible! It felt very rewarding and above all fun to do what I love the most.. making people smile. I'm glad most parents remembered who the X-men was and even the older children did too.

With your help we raised almost $200 for Spirit Halloween's Spirit of Children which will go to CHEO. 

All of us are honored you could come and have fun!

Your money will be providing, costumes, accessories, decorations, and most everything needed for a party as well as sensory and educational items, toys used for distraction during medical procedures, and much more.

A BIG thank you to our special cosplay guests and volunteers! Please feel free to share your pictures or fun memories with us! on Facebook & Instagram #proheros 

You can click HERE to go see more pictures!

PROheros is coming to Spirit Halloween Kingston!

We would like to announce that PROheros Cosplay will be at the Halloween Party at Spirit Halloween Kingston on Saturday Sept 25th 2021 from Noon to 4pm! Please come help fundraise money for Spirit of Children which goes to CHEO the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario! 

 #NubiaWonderWoman and #KingstonStorm can't wait to see you there, along with their friends Punishing Cosplay, Herbztiu Stunts & Cosplay and Toronto_dadpool! 

Please click HERE for more details!  

What is the Spirit of Children at Spirit Halloween?

Spirit of Children brings fun and funding to local hospitals at Halloween and all year round through monetary donations and hosting Halloween celebrations by providing, costumes, accessories, decorations, and most everything needed for a party including volunteers from local Spirit stores.

Our mission is to make hospitals less scary for kids and their families through support of the Child Life department at partner hospitals in our local communities. Funding has also helped partner hospitals purchase sensory and educational items, toys used for distraction during medical procedures, and much more. 100% of every dollar donated supports the Child Life department in our 147 partner hospitals across the United States and Canada.

Funds raised by Spirit of Children would not be possible without the outpouring of support from local communities. Customers ring the iconic purple cowbell when they donate to Spirit of Children at checkout.

We are super excited and honored to partner with such a great store and even greater cause! So bring your phone/camera and some cash!

PROheros of Kingston, Cosplay Ent. are YGK area Kingston local cosplayers who want to show the world that anyone can be a hero! Check our their weekly Multicultural Superheroine Feature every Wednesday! Find them on Facebook & Instagram!

Cosplay on a Budget

If you're just starting to jump into the fandom/community that is cosplay it can be overwhelming and intimidating. BUT it can also be exciting and rewarding!

I brushed on some of this advice with #KingstonStorm at this year's King Con Kingston 2021 during their panel discussion about 'How Accurate does a Costume have to be?' 

but I wanted to write a more in depth article giving my personal advice on starting cosplay with a budget (please plan a budget!)

So first of all what is 'cosplay' anyways!?

Cos-play = costume play representation of a character; either of original design or from a source of media. Although the costumes may look similar the cosplayer (performer) takes no direct responsibility or representation of that copywritten/trademarked character and the company that owns it’s conception.

Advice #1: Ask away!

Search cosplayers in your community - or random cosplayers on Instagram & Facebook. Seriously! It may seem intimidating to ask for help from someone who has been involved in cosplayer in 2 or 20 years but the reaction and answer should still be the same - we help & learn from each other!

I got started asking for advice from my hometown local icon Woodstock Spiderman. I asked about cost, shoes, materials, which companies were better quality and which were cheaper, I wasn't afraid to ask and he wasn't afraid to answer. If you don't ask than you won't know (and most within the community are just excited to have a new cosplaying friend to talk to/hanging out.)

I've asked The Girl with a Great Smile (a.k.a January/Jordan cosplay) a ton of questions and if I don't ask personally than I watch her videos to learn from her. And you know what? We became friends - I consider her my sensei. So even if it's just watching others and not talking (yet) it will always help.

Advice #2: Why are you cosplaying?

It's a funny question to ask, and don't worry if your answer changed through the years, but it is an important question to ask because it will determine the kind of materials you buy.

If you plan to cosplay for fun than the sky is the limit! 

If you plan to enter competitions/masquerades than you may want to consider buy more durable and expensive materials.

If you want to start entertaining at parties & events (individually, in a group or a company) than you need to spend more money on higher end materials or at least products to make your finished design look as best as possible. Children are innocent but critical at times - they may have seen another Spiderman before you and judge between the two. Also to join a group/company you may have requirements to meet to make sure that all characters are as authentic and consistent looking as possible.

Advice #3: Comfort vs. Accuracy

Once you decide why you are cosplaying, for whatever reason, you still need to consider how much you are willing to build (or buy) and how much you are willing to compromise.

Things you need to consider when making compromises should be:

- can you see, breathe, walk and/or sit okay?

- will you be able to get in/out of your costume by yourself or will you always need help?

- do you have proper airflow in your costume so you don't overheat?

- how comfortable will it be to wear? for an hour? for several?

- transportation? do you need to make your costume collapsible to transport?

- can you hide some pockets/a pouch or will you need "handler help" to hold important things like ID, passes, phone, wallet..etc.

Advice #4: Plan out your design

It's always good so that you can stay on track to plan out as much as possible what you want to make out of what materials, how big something should be, how things will attach and where things need to be like breathing/vision holes. Planning out your cosplay can be a full scale diagram or as simple as a list starting from the head and down to the feet. If you can't draw don't let it deter you from planning out what you need/want so that you don't get ahead of yourself or miss something.

Advice #5: Pattern everything

Remember that old saying 'measure twice, cut once'? Well it doesn't only apply to sewing! If you pattern out the shapes you are making then you can measure properly so that when you make the final piece it is the right size. Its not fun to waste materials because your first batch was too big or too small or won't fit properly. Also if you ever need to do it again or someone else wants to buy/use your patterns then you still have them in the future.

You can make patterns with anything available like construction paper (my preference) sewing paper, newspaper and a lot of cosplayers use plastic wrap then cover it in duct tape.

Advice #6: Make way for the one time buys

You may have already made budget plans for your materials but you also should plan for your start up tools. Buying things like gloves, work mats, safety goggles, respirator mask, Dremel, wood burner, soldering iron, wig stand, a UV resin lamp (or 3D printer) and model dress form for starters can but a big chunk into your finances if you don't set aside for it to begin with.

Advice #7: Emergency budget

For the sake of your sanity it is always best to try to put aside an emergency chunk of money for any unexpected happenings. Things like remaking an entire piece or buying a last minute product/material or even starting the whole thing over can not only mentally drain you but also your finances.

Advice #8: Math as an Adult

If you're trying to stick to your budget than it is a good idea to double-check a 'good deal when you see one.'  Sometimes clearance or sale prices are actually more expensive than what I could get it for at regular price and/or with a coupon. If you’re shopping online then always look at the shipping costs (and possible tariff/duty tax.)

Advice #9: Dollar stores are awesome!

Don't be embarrassed to buy materials or parts you need from dollar or thrift stores. Even cosplayers that have been crafting for years or have sponsorships still use sale/deal items to save on finances. And sometimes you find really cool or authentic looking things! I buy most of my EVA foam from the dollar store (they're sold as "camping mats" in the summer all rolled up.)

Advice #10: Halloween is not just once a year!

Just like shopping at dollar and thrift stores take advantage of Halloween stores and seasonal aisles in 'big box stores.' Wrong colours can be painted over, sequins can be removed and stitching can be taken out. If you find something you need or like than it can always be changed later to fit into your costume.

Advice #11: You do not have to build it all..

Just because it is your first cosplay or you are still new to the community do not think it means that you have to do ALL of the work. There is no clear cut margin of you MUST build it all - you can build, print and buy pieces and parts however it fits into your comfort level and budget. Of course if you are planning to enter competition/masquerades then it is better to practice and enhance your skills so that you do build as much as possible.

Advice #12: Watch other cosplayers

Search the hashtag #cosplaywip - meaning work in progress. Again I'm serious! There are tons of cosplayers out there that journalize their creation progress on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube and many post their patterns for people to use/buy. If you are stuck then try googling the character you're creating with 'cosplay' behind it to see what others have done to help get inspiration or tips.

Advice #13: Don't be afraid to ask for help

If you are running low in your budget or just having a hard time finding what you need/want you shouldn't be afraid to ask to borrow from family, friends or other cosplayers. Sometimes we get so excited that we buy multiple or in bulk so extras can happily be given. Don't be embarrassed to ask for a pair of shoes or a belt.

Advice #14: Reduce, reuse and recycle

It may be discouraging or disheartening at first but recycling or reusing your cosplay parts can sometimes come in handy. If you are running low on storage space but want to continue creating new costumes than sometimes you have to give up older costumes (a fun way to say goodbye is with a final photoshoot before you start to take it apart.) Or again if you are having problems finding the pieces or parts that you need you will sometimes realize that you already have it in a different costume. Along with the Girl with a Great Smile fellow community member Shoestring Cosplay does an amazing job at creating cosplay on a budget with recycled and reused materials.

Advice #15: Take your time

Unless you are building a cosplay in time to go to a specific convention (yay con crunch) than do not be discouraged if it takes longer than you anticipated. Life happens.. burnout happens.. Sometimes you need to take a break from a project in order to prioritize other things and that is okay.

Advice #16: Level up!

If your cosplay does not turn out 100% like you had planned, whether it is your first or your 100th costume, the great thing about cosplay is that you can always upgrade pieces/parts or the whole thing later (reduce, reuse, recycle.) I've found that the community gets more excited seeing 'glow up' improvement when you post how proud you are of yourself then with the initial design sometimes.

If you have any other advice you think should be included in this list, or have any questions about cosplaying please feel free to leave a comment!

Additional Advice: Create a Cosplay Emergency kit!

These are the things that I keep in my kit:

- white & black thread each with their own sewing needle

- one red & black pen and one sharpie permanent marker

- sewing pins

- safety pins

- laundry detergent to-go pen

- bandages & gauze

- a mini measuring tape

- a lint roller

- mini scissors

PROheros at King Con Kingston 2021!

We just had to Live just a bit of tease of King Con Kingston 2021 this past June!

With the participation of #KingstonStorm and members of The Society of Creative Anachronisms the Greyfells Stronghold (Kingston), we dug into how true to source does a costume have to be. Do you have to make your own costume? How true do the materials for a medieval garb have to be? Is it okay to buy a ready-made costume or hire someone else to sew for it you? Drop in to hear the opinions of our guests and ask them questions about costumes and making them.

I got to share some memories with Sarah Caracciolo as Shinjokun and Funassyi, my first cosplay as Houndoom and the great work my cosplay inspiration IG: @thegirlwithagreatsmile (January/Jordan Cosplay) does with reusing and recycling her awesome and affordable cosplays.

All of our #proheros want to give the BIGGEST THANK YOU to King Con Kingston for asking us to join their panel discussion and Heather for being the BEST host. It was great to meet members of the Greyfells Stronghold and #KingstonStorm cannot wait to see you all at the next King Con Kingston (hopefully in person!)

Ever wonder about Wonder Woman?

Did you know there have been many different versions of Wonder Woman? We've posted about the different ethnically diverse Wonder Woman who have taken up the mantle, you can read up on our posts:

Nubia the Amazon

Created by Robert Kanigher & Don Heck of DC Comics, Nubia first appeared in 'Wonder Woman #204 - The Second Life of the Original Wonder Woman' in 1973.
Nubia is Wonder Woman's "black sister", created from black clay, just as Diana was created from white clay. Both were brought to life by Aphrodite, but Nubia was stolen after her birth by Ares (otherwise known as Mars)

Peng Deilan - the Green Snake

Created by Gene Luen Yang, Viktor Bogdanovic and Billy Tan for DC Comics, Peng Deilan is the Wonder Woman of China. Her first appearance was in 'New Super-Man #1: Made in China' published in September 2016. Her story was woven into Chinese legend as the Legend of the White Snake.

Yara Flor

Created by Joëlle Jones, Yara's first appearance was in 'Dark Nights: Death Metal #7' and in 'Future State: Wonder Woman Vol 1 #1' both published by DC Comics in January 2021. Yara Flor is not from the Island of Themyscira but the rainforests of the Amazon in Brazil (South America.) She has a faithful winged steed, Jerry and a forest guardian spirit named Caipora.

and Maria Mendoza

Created by Jim and Stan Lee, Maria made her first appearance in 'Just Imagine: Wonder Woman #1' published by DC Comics in January, 2002. Maria works as an activist protesting against the ruthless excavation of an ancient holy site in Santa Atalaya, Cuzco, Peru. Maria was given a golden staff named ' Tapac-Yauri' and imbued with incredible powers.

Do you know any other Wonder Woman versions that we should Feature? Please remember to check our page every week to see a new hero featured! And please comment on anyone you'd like to see on our page!

What happens on Wednesdays?

 
Looking for more from PROheros? What do our cosplayers do when they're not entertaining?

Every week on Wednesday we have a multicultural superheroine feature with information about various female icons/characters in the media. 

These women can be from the news, comics, books, videogames, mythology or the big screen! So far we've posted about fellow X-men members, children's book artists, multicultural comic book creators and a few well-loved actresses.

Got a suggestion? We would love to see your comments on different multicultural features you would like us to post about!

You can keep up with all the news on our weekly features here  or go straight to our Facebook!

Powered by EmbedSocial→

Giant Tiger and PROheros give back to Kingston!

Working at Giant Tiger has given me ways to give back and help out the community. 

Last April 2020 at Giant Tiger we put together care packages for our brave first responders & frontline workers in the community. Thanks to the great idea of her Giant Tiger-245 store Owner! Our local PROheros members #KingstonSpiderwoman #KingstonStorm #NubiaTheAmazon and #SpideyX got honored with their own bags too! From all of us at PROheros we want to thank everyone who is helping out anyway they can.

 With the current state of the world finally calming down and looking more positive and safe every day we cannot wait to get our members back out into the community soon and making friends/smiles!

Missing and Found: Time to catch up!

Where has creative.DUNNING been?

With the growth of PROheros Cosplay Entertainment and my involvement within the cosplay fandom/community, unfortunate technical difficulties, rising job responsibilities and the current continuing state of the world.. I do apologize for the delay in returning to my regular blogging.

The latter half of 2021 will bring forth some unfinished works and new posts. So to everyone who has followed since the beginning, been patiently waiting or just tuning in brand new - Thank you and welcome to all that is me! This blog started as a college project and continued into a chronical of my adventures and experiences. Who knows, maybe I will get my Youtube channel going again next year!

Please comment anything you'd like to be updated on, or a section of my blog that you'd like more new posts about!