Reasons Why You Should Attend Conventions (By a Former Cosplayer)

Back in October 2024, I ended my cosplay journey after 10 wonderful years doing a craft that I enjoyed so much. I'm enjoying my post-cosplay life a year and a half later and keeping myself occupied on other hobbies. Don't get me wrong. I loved cosplaying as different characters, showing them off on social media and at conventions. I'll always appreciate the memories I've had there with my friends. If you've recently got into cosplay and planning on attending your first convention, I'll share some reasons why you should attend at least one and many more.

The Atmosphere is Positive

I didn't get into cosplay until I was 26, because I was getting myself adjusted into a new area at the time. In August 2014, I attended my first con and before this, I didn't have any friends. As a kid, it was difficult for me to make friends, due to my autism diagnosis. By the end of the three-day event, I made a few friends. Even though I attended more conventions since then, I attended the aforementioned con for seven consecutive years until 2019. The Covid-19 pandemic unfortunately put an end to that streak. Attending a convention is like nerd heaven. There are cosplayers and non-cosplayers who come together, having a great time, and enjoy themselves. It's better than going to a bar or a nightclub. You don't need to dress up in order to go to a con, because it's optional.

Taking Part in Cosplay Contests

Depending on which convention you're attending, usually on the second day of an event, cosplayers and non-cosplayers take part in cosplay contests. Depending on the convention, people sign up for the contest via the convention's website. It usually takes place somewhere inside of a convention center on a stage. Hours before you go on a stage and show off your cosplay to the audience, you Just show proof to the person in charge of the cosplay contest and you're good to go. Then you go inside a room and also go through a process called cosplay pre-judging. It's when you're in a room with a few cosplay judges, where they ask you some questions about your cosplay. Questions they might ask you is if you made or bought your costume and if you made a prop for your cosplay, they might ask if they can hold and see it. Fast forward to the cosplay contest: you get in a line with the other cosplay contest participants. Each participant will go one at a time on the stage for a few seconds, showing off their cosplays. If something were to happen on stage, such as part of a prop about to fall apart or part of your costume starts to come apart, smile and improvise. If you're doing a skit with another person, the both of you would be able to show off your cosplays for a little bit longer. After all of the participants had their turn on stage, the cosplay judges get together and choose which cosplayers would win the contest. The con that I've attended for years, winners for first, second, and third in the categories of beginner, intermediate, and expert were awarded. Plus, winners were awarded in other categories, such as Judge's Choice, which was given to the cosplayer or cosplayers whose cosplay stood out to them the most. After the awards are given, the winners are asked to come on stage for a group photo. If you're attempting to overcome stage fright and have confidence in yourself, cosplay contests might be for you. I remember taking part of in my first cosplay contest in 2015 and each one I participated in, I started to become more comfortable doing it. I too had stage fright, but cosplay contests brought me out of my shell and also to freely express myself. In 2019, after five years of being a cosplayer, I finally won my first cosplay contest. Many people approached me during and after the cosplay contest to congratulate me. I posted my cosplay award, which was a certificate, on social media and received congratulatory posts underneath that photo. Several months later in February 2020, before Covid-19 interrupted our daily lives, I attended another convention and took part in their cosplay contest. I ended up winning my second and final award. I won it with the same cosplay I went as the year before. Less than four years later, I attended my final convention and participated in one final cosplay contest. The cosplay I did was as Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson. While I didn't win anything in any of the categories, I wanted to end my decade-long cosplay journey on a positive note. The character that I cosplayed as in both 2019 and 2020 was Lord Gyaradrakkon, a cosplay mashup between the Pokémon Gyarados and Lord Drakkon.

Cosplay Is for Everyone

A year before I started doing cosplay, which was 2013, my colleague at one of my previous jobs at the time suggested that I'd consider attending the local con, which he was in charge of along with other people. I had no idea what cosplay was until I looked it up. I jokingly said to myself that I would never become one of those weirdos. By weirdos, I meant that I, as a grown man, would never dress up for a convention. Unfortunately, my words came back to bite me and regretted them. I eventually started to like cosplay and was interested in it. Cosplay has no age limit, so everyone, young and old, can partake in it. There was a cosplay competition show called Cosplay Melee that aired on SyFy. In each episode, several cosplayers take part in challenges, create their own costumes, and take part in a cosplay contest. The winner was awarded a prize of $10,000. The show aired for one season and ran for six episodes. It was hosted by Yvette Nicole Brown, and the judges were LeeAnna Vamp and Christian Beckman. In one of the episodes, a cosplayer was 41 years old at the time when he started doing cosplay. It's sad that those who don't cosplay make fun of others of loving a hobby that people love and are passionate about. Cosplay has no expiration date and no, people who love doing it don't need to "grow up." Being a cosplayer of color had its challenges. I was occasionally the subject of racist and homophobic remarks by online trolls. I was told that I was "too old" to cosplay or that I wasn't the correct body type or race to cosplay certain characters. Cosplay as whoever you want with no apologies. People who do stuff like this are miserable with themselves, jealous, and want to get a reaction out of you. Despite the nasty comments, I continued to show off my cosplays on social media. Racism in the cosplay community is real but never let anyone damper your spirit. Be bold and confident in what you do.

If you're thinking about doing cosplay, go for it. There will always be online trolls who will find anything to crush your self-confidence and self-esteem. You can cosplay as any character you please. Keep your head up and also keep the haters at bay.