May 02 2009
The Pros & Cons of Wearing a Costume to a Convention
I’ll never forget the first real Star Trek convention I attended as a teenager. I desperately wanted to wear my Star Trek: The Next Generation science officer uniform, but I didn’t want to be the only one in costume. Low and behold, when I arrived I found tons of people wearing uniforms and various alien garb. Not only that, attendees were asking to take pictures of their costumes! I knew from that point on that I was going to wear my costumes to conventions without second guessing myself.
One of the questions I see asked a lot on online forums, is whether it is “necessary” to wear a costume to a convention, or if an attendee will feel out of place if they do or don’t. Feeling out of place isn’t likely to happen, but there are some issues to consider before deciding to take the costuming/cosplay plunge. So in honor of Costume Con 27 (which I am at as we speak), I present the The Pros & Cons of Wearing a Costume to a Convention.
The Pros of Wearing a Costume to a Convention:
1. It is really nice to get your picture taken.
It’s hard not to feel an immense amount of pride when someone stops you in the hallway, and asks to take a picture of you, or with you. And let’s be honest, cosplayers love to search the Internet after a con to see how many times their picture gets posted.
2. It is FUN!
One of the things that cosplayers mention to me over and over is that it is a ton of fun to get dressed up as someone (or something) else. Whether you’re dressing up like a pirate, Batman, or an anime cat girl, cosplay presents people with an opportunity to pretend, and that is still fun to do - even if you are an adult.
3. It is a great way to show off your skills and craftsmanship.
For those who make all their costumes and props themselves, attending a convention in costume is the perfect way to showcase what you’re capable of. Pictures on the Internet are great, but getting to show off your work in person and seeing people’s reactions first hand can be so much more rewarding.
The Cons of Wearing a Costume to a Convention:
1. Bad weather can completely ruin the cosplay experience.
Whether it’s too hot, too cold, too windy, or rainy…all of these weather patterns can make wearing a costume unpleasant. I made the mistake of wearing my full Slytherin student costume (sweater and wool robes) to Dragon*con one year. I was absolutely miserable in the Atlanta heat, and ended up having to change after just a few hours. I only pack cool costumes with breathable fabrics for summer cons now.
2. Decreased mobility as the result of a costume can be a real problem.
If you’re wearing more of a show piece costume, be prepared to do a lot of standing in one place getting your picture taken, and not a lot of actually seeing the con. Some costumes make it hard to sit or move very much. That, and the aisles in almost every 
convention’s vendor room are small and packed with people. The aisles can be especially problematic if you’re wearing a costume with large wings or a tail of some kind.
3. Transporting a costume can be a nightmare.
If you’re flying in for a convention (or driving in a smaller car packed with friends), getting your costume to a far away con can end up being more trouble that it’s worth. You not only have to find the room to transport it, but you have to hope you can get it there in one piece! You have to decide if you’re willing to take the risk, and if it is worth the trouble. For some, the answer is a resounding “of course it’s worth it!” For others, it may be a reason to skip the costume for that particular convention, and save it for a more local con instead.
How do you decide whether to attend a convention in costume or not? What are your favorite convention cosplay moments? What are your horror stories? Post a comment!
