Cosplay Safety - What do you want to know?

[gale]

I'm putting together a panel on Cosplay Safety. In order to bring you what you want to know, though, I need your help!

Overarching topics I'm planning on covering are:
-Maintaining a safe workspace
-General tool safety
-Irons, glue guns, and other hot tools
-Hair, Wigs, & Make-up
-Cosmetic/Contact Lenses
-Your Valuables at Conventions
-Food & Hydration at Conventions
-Hygiene at Conventions
-Personal Safety at Conventions

What questions do you have on these topics? My co-panelists and I will do our best to research accordingly.

Thanks!

[Oriana]

Sounds good!

Maybe bring up something about dehydration and weather awareness.

[Knarpulous]

Maybe a quick reminder to people about personal space, I've seen too many people receive unwanted glomps or hugging without asking. I hate it when someone's prop is broken due to overly rowdy fantards.

[jekka]

Might want to add a quick section about proper chest binding, the dangers of ace bandaging, the pleasures of compression vests, and maybe a lead-in into corsets.

or, How To Keep Breathing, for Benefit Continuation of Life.

[mom]

Might want to add a quick section about proper chest binding, the dangers of ace bandaging, the pleasures of compression vests, and maybe a lead-in into corsets.

or, How To Keep Breathing, for Benefit Continuation of Life.

absolutely! (I remember being in the elevator with Edward Elric a few years back, listening to the groans -"oh! my girls.....)

[mom]

Something about the amount of personal space the costume itself entails might be useful. Conventions are becoming more and more crowded, and Portcon is no exception, especially on Saturday. When the halls are wall-to-wall people, large wings, long trains, etc. are impractical at the least, and often unsafe for the wearer and bystanders.

[gale]

Thanks everyone! Believe it or not, I'm starting to have too much information! Fear not, though: or overflow info I've started a blog to cover everything that doesn't fit in the panel, so keep the suggestions coming!

[j99450]

This certainly sounds interesting, maybe a bit on ideas for working storage into your costume/prop?

[Kitteninstrings]

Ducttape, Saranwrap, Cosplay, and You!

[Ambit Energy]

Personal space is highly regarded, so conversations take place at arm's length. The violation of this space even in crowded stores and museums is considered disrespectful and hostile. Exceptions occur in crowded bus stations and on buses. Formal greetings among strangers are mandated, whereas salutations among acquaintances are informal.

If you plan on cosplaying, make or buy your costume early. This isn’t exactly Convention 101, but conventions are much less stressful when you don’t spend the week beforehand worrying if you’ll finish your costume or if it’s going to come in on time. Also, starting early allows for error, whether in shipping or crafting. Working long hours on it the week before the con guarantees error, but not the time to fix it.




 
John Galt
 Ambit Energy , Sales Consultant
St. Louis, Missouri

[PatrickD]

Normally, I'd delete a spam post (clearly an attempt to get his links posted in his sig and profile...which I have removed)...but this is impressive in how it apparently copied content somewhat relative to the conversation and posted it here.

Personal space is highly regarded, so conversations take place at arm's length. The violation of this space even in crowded stores and museums is considered disrespectful and hostile. Exceptions occur in crowded bus stations and on buses. Formal greetings among strangers are mandated, whereas salutations among acquaintances are informal.

This entire paragraph was lifted from an article talking about the culture of Columbia:
http://www.everyculture.com/Bo-Co/Colombia.html

If you plan on cosplaying, make or buy your costume early. This isn’t exactly Convention 101, but conventions are much less stressful when you don’t spend the week beforehand worrying if you’ll finish your costume or if it’s going to come in on time. Also, starting early allows for error, whether in shipping or crafting. Working long hours on it the week before the con guarantees error, but not the time to fix it.

This is all copied from this FAQ:
http://knightrokon.com/faq/

He's also claiming to be John Galt.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Galt

The biggest clue these were fake?  Nobody really writes like this on a forum.  ...and how often do we get people from St. Louis posting here.  The undeniable evidence is the Philippines IP address he used.  Spammer.

We now return you to your regular discussion.  Please do not reply to this part of the thread to talk about spammers.  That's off topic.

[Kitteninstrings]

@Patrick: I'm in Awe of if you knew all that with out googling. ^_^

Secondly:
I know the panel is called Cosplay Safety, but what if you included stuff about Masquerades? There's always some first timers who want to get judged and either don't know how or try and fail miserably. Maybe talk about the importance of not buying your costume and saying you made it and how much can you buy vs make before it's really considered store bought or altered. You could lump this all up as Safety for your feelings getting hurt? IDK.. But it's good info to have! ^_^

[gale]

I know the panel is called Cosplay Safety, but what if you included stuff about Masquerades? There's always some first timers who want to get judged and either don't know how or try and fail miserably. Maybe talk about the importance of not buying your costume and saying you made it and how much can you buy vs make before it's really considered store bought or altered. You could lump this all up as Safety for your feelings getting hurt? IDK.. But it's good info to have! ^_^

Jena, I appreciate the idea, however that is truly not what this panel is about, and moreover could be a whole panel in itself. Plus, I'm actually starting to run on too much information as it is. If there is enough desire for a panel on entering masquerades, I might talk to my friends about doing one on that topic with me, but I have my hands full building this panel for the first time to plan another one as well. Also, I believe there was a panel on entering masquerades last year? Or maybe I'm just remembering wrong.

[nik the foamsmith]

Wearing armor, real or fake,  and being mind full about it.  anything heavier then sort leather or craft foam actually needs some for of padding to prevent chaffing and/or pinching.  probably will not need to say a lot about it but i feel better knowing its covered.

[Taga]

Jena, I appreciate the idea, however that is truly not what this panel is about, and moreover could be a whole panel in itself. Plus, I'm actually starting to run on too much information as it is. If there is enough desire for a panel on entering masquerades, I might talk to my friends about doing one on that topic with me, but I have my hands full building this panel for the first time to plan another one as well. Also, I believe there was a panel on entering masquerades last year? Or maybe I'm just remembering wrong.

There is already a panel about that.