COSPLAY TUTORIAL
CONVENTION SURVIVAL:
10 things to keep in your
Cosplay
Survival Kit! WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/HayleyEliseCosplay
With convention season already upon us as we move deeper into winter (seriously, who decided winter was the best time to have them?) cosplayers around Australia are working frantically on their costumes as we speak. Yet in the last minute rush cosplayers often forget to pack the essentials to get them through the long convention days, so here’s a list of the 10 things you should never leave home without!
Hot Glue Cosplayers’ hot, sticky lifeblood: hot glue is the saviour of many as costumes start to fall apart on the convention floor. For this, it’s worth a look into the small, cordless hot glue pens that are now sold at most hardware stores. Just be sure to remember to charge it the night before!
Small scissors From distracting loose threads to bits of tape and stray wig hairs,
scissors are a must, even when you don’t think you’re likely to need them. Grab a small pair to slip into your convention bag, and make sure you’re prepared for all eventualities!
Needle and thread Not everything can be hot glued – at least, not everything SHOULD be hot glued, and for this reason it’s worthwhile to bring along basic sewing supplies. While thread in the colour of your costume is preferable, think about taking clear thread instead, which can be used on any colour fabric!
Mirror While the front camera on your phone can be a godsend, there’s nothing like a good, old-fashioned mirror to check up throughout the day on your makeup, wig, and any tricky parts of your costume that won’t stay where they should be.
Makeup & makeup wipes Prioritise what items in your makeup kit you’ll need to touch up on the day, so you don’t have to carry around a full makeup bag at the convention! Basics tend to be powder and lipstick, but if you have more complex makeup you may need to bring other touch-up cosmetics. Wipes are great to have if you smudge something, but also for the end of the day when you’re done with having a full face of heavy makeup!
Deodorant Not everyone at conventions might understand the importance of personal hygiene, but you can at least do your part to keep the smell of body odour on the convention floor to a minimum. Just be sure to find a deodorant that isn’t going to mark or stain your costume!