How do you protect suits you are wearing from other people, who might brake it?

[Teacherinspace]

Do you have experiences of people bending fracile parts, testing if things work real or testing your suit parts for finding out the material?
I am amazed how violently other people handle costumes that I wear.

 

[Sedulous Studios]

I try to make things extra sturdy wherever possible. Of course, that's mostly because I hate feeling like I have to be extra careful when I'm wearing a costume.

 

[SithApprentice2]

It's not uncommon...

In 501st trooping, plain clothed or costumed handlers are assigned to members who have limited vision in costume (helmet, mask, etc.) to protect their costume and props from uninvited contact.

 

[Psicorp7]

Handlers are a costumers best friend! I have had people punch the Iron Man suit and Captain America shield "to see if they were real". :rolleyes :facepalm

I have asked people if they would punch, kick or try and bend a part on a car at a car show. They then say "No." and then I asky them why they would do the same to one of my suits of props. That can shut them up pretty quick. If you think it can break. Don't test it on the public. Try and break it yourself. If you can do it easily and in a second or two then it might need to be built tougher. But a handler is even better as they can stop it from happening in the first place and people are less likely to mess with you if they know someone close if watching them.

 

[laellee]

A handler is the best bet. I've been nearly tackled off stilts, had fingers pushed through eye-holes, armor punched, etc. etc. etc.... People are stupid, a lot don't realize that these costumes aren't bulletproof even if they look that way. Some costumes make communicating difficult as well, so your handler can work as an interpreter of sorts as well. Lastly, they can carry your money. ID and cell phone.

I also bring an emergency repair kit with extra fasteners, the obligatory duct tape, spare batteries, stuff like that.

 

[OldSkoolEffects]

You have to build with with durability in mind, and handlers are a godsend. You can always chastise someone after the fact, but a handler can prevent stuff from ever happening. In the GB community, proton packs have so many inviting knobs and handholds, it's almost a given that someone will try to touch; I actually was in an elevator with Adam Baldwin (didn't know it was him at the time) who was tapping and tugging on a pack I was wearing. That was one time turning around and giving a piece of my mind was best avoided, though.

If you build well, you can minimize any damage. But, for as much as you can design and build with idiots in mind, there will always be a better idiot.

 

[P4r4dox86]

Agree that a handler can help minimise issues. I have had people 'offer'/ask to punch both my Iron Patriot armour (EVA foam) and my Cap America shield (fibreglass and body filler). I generally respond with 'Sure, as long as afterwards I get to hit YOU, fairs fair right?'. Funnily enough I've never had anyone take me up on that deal

 

[PaulMmn]

I'm a model railroader, and participate in model train shows where we assemble modular railroads for the public to view. Not touch, to view. But I've cautioned people that you don't take the one-of-a-kind model that your grandfather willed you on his deathbed to a show, because the public does have itchy fingers! They want to see how it's made-- is that pile of 'gravel' glued down; how sturdy -is- that mountain?

These are the same issues with costumes-- only moreso. In movies, we see the 'armour' protecting against all sorts of mayhem. So what's a little punch from a 98-pound weakling against Iron Man or Cap's shield? The action in movies is so realistic it's hard for some people to separate the fictional world from reality.

In the model train world we can hang "DO NOT TOUCH" signs from the sides of the modules. Signs on a costume look tacky!

Only solution I can think of is to strategically place bare wires on obvious 'grab points' on your costume-- wired to a button on your glove that fires them up from a cattle prod.

--Paul E Musselman

 

[charades]

It depends on the type of convention you go to. For the most part, cons with a lot of cosplayers in attendance, people will know it's general etiquette to ask before touching. Even if I really want to feel something to see what it's made of, I always ask the owner first. When I wore my Iron Man suit, people just asked what it was made of, instead of trying to find out for themselves by touching.

Sometimes it's unavoidable though. At really packed, busy conventions, it's difficult to get around without a handler. You need to judge for yourself if you need a handler, or if you just shouldn't wear that armor, or carry that prop inside and remain in an outdoor space instead where there's more room to move around. Store breakable props in the car or hotel when you've decided to go inside for panels or shopping. It's all about planning your day. If your costume is too fragile to wear all day, then don't wear it all day.

 

[mdb]

I always get pulled or prodded- and this is for costume elements that are meant to be body parts (Maleficent horns and even Asari tentacles which are really close to the head!). In this case making sure that an element could be broken off has been in my favour. I was tugged at on a staircase.. it was a bit freaky as it was so unexpected.

I build so that if I fall I won't get hurt. So this means my helmets will not shatter or splinter and that anything glued on could potentially be pulled off without ripping my skin. My favoured material for armour is in fact leather. Still don't have it perfected but it combines flex and durability

 

[Killtime]

I build most of my stuff in fibreglass and lots of glue. Rivets are awesome. If a part may get caught I will consider velcro just so it will pull away allowing it be reattached. Hopefully not wreaking the prop or whatever it just hit. Build it tough and let them hit it, only happens once.

 

[Jaedena]

As a female Storm Trooper I've had guys walk up to me (not knowing) and smack my chest plate in a 'hey buddy' kind of gesture. While hitting anyone isn't appropriate, in my case it hurts the girls. What I've ended up doing is adding some padding under my chest plate to absorb idiot impacts and of course, always troop in groups with a handler now.

 

[Zeppo]

Back when I did Medieval recreation and tournament fighting, I wore a suit of 16th century plate. People always want to touch it, tap it, knock on it. One time I had a guy ask if he could punch the armour. I said sure - wasn't going to do me, or the armour any harm. So he hits me and then proceeds to continue hitting me with this stupid grin on his face. Finally I had to stop him and say "Well don't just keep punching, you'll break your hand". What an idiot.

 

[ApophisV]

Since I am wearing my costumes at carnvival events I build them as durable as possible, especially the torso and head parts. On my way from one location to another I met a group of drunk guys (being a little drunk myself) and they could'nt believe my armor wasn't "real". So one guy wanted to try his boxing skills on my chest plate, I told him, even if it's not "real metal" it is hard as hell, he wanted to try anway. Since I was drunk and was eager to know how much of an armor I really had made, I agreed to this little experiment. He hit me several times with his whole power, the armor wasn't damaged at all, but when I met him the next day by chance his hand was completely bruised. While we talked (we were completely cool with the happenenings of the previous night) I noticed he kept a little distance though

Apart from this little story I experience a lot of grabbing, hitting and especially "testing" from random people, not really suprising considering that most people are half or fully drunk around me. Since my costumes are always meant to be worn in those situations I build them as durable as possible (fibreglass) and get rid of those parts that might attract drunk and / or dumb peoples' special attention (like the "handle" of a Fallout Power Armor chest piece, I was shaken every five minutes or so by various idiots that grabbed it).

And a little padding beneath the suit does help a lot too as soon as you wear any non-cloth costume parts, a costume can be fixed or replaced, but your body might get permanently damaged!

 

[DRG]

The worst is people who like to give smacks or knocks to helmets or costume heads. Never understood the logic here... even if the piece is durable enough to withstand abuse and there's padding in there, you're still smacking somebody in the head. Would they do that to someone in a motorcycle or bike helmet?

 

[SmilesLikeJoker]

Handlers are a god-send. They've saved my butt more times than I can count. I had an incident on a troop where some teenagers just started punching me in the chest while posing for a photo. It was on one of the few times I didn't have a handler. Of course they ran off afterwards. I was totally helpless. I will never troop that particular venue again with or without a handler. Before you ask, I just tried to keep from falling. It's about all I could do.

I also found out staying close to a wall helps. It makes it easier for handlers to control the crowd and keeps people from being able to circle you. Being circled by kids is kinda scary when you know that you can't see what they're doing to the back of your costume.

 

[FrontaLittle]

The worst is people who like to give smacks or knocks to helmets or costume heads. Never understood the logic here... even if the piece is durable enough to withstand abuse and there's padding in there, you're still smacking somebody in the head. Would they do that to someone in a motorcycle or bike helmet?

THIS !
A 501st member myself I have witnessed and experienced a lot of events where members got knocks to the helmets, at least one event where someone punched a biker scout causing his (I believe resin or fiberglass) helmet visor to crack. A month ago we went to a local con and some poorly dressed wannabe tusken raider smacked my buddy's helmet with his gaffy stick. There are definitely events, mostly cons, where visitors know how to handle these costumes, being cosplayers/costumers themselves but there'll always be this event where this one idiot thinks he has to punch your helmet, your chest, try to steal your thermal detonator etc. You cannot protect your costume from stupid people

 

[hzrdous]

I wasn't too worried about my dragonscale being damaged by impact because the worbla is pretty durable, but I was concerned about someone taking a claw to the eye if they got a little too close to one of my pauldrons. I attached them strictly with magnets so that there would be a little give if someone did get too close or I needed to quickly remove them for the safety of others in the elevator. The downside of this was that they shifted when my tunic shifted and I felt like I was constantly readjusting. It did, however, pay off when someone crashed into me. Well, my handler and I were both pretty sure he crashed into me on purpose, but the pauldrons being able to move saved both of us from getting injured. One of the pauldrons just flew off my shoulder instead of getting caught on anything or anyone. I opted to change out of that armor in the late afternoon as the general alcohol level went up and I feel like that was a good safety choice as well.

 

[Buzz]

Knowing my luck I need a few handlers whenever I go out.

 

[Deetoz]

I have literally never had that issue. People just do not abuse others' stuff here in Denmark.