San Diego Comic Con costuming questions

[wickley]

Hello everyone,

I was hoping to pick the brains of costumers who have previously attended San Diego Comic Con. I have attended Dragon*Con yearly for over a decade, and have been costuming for much of that. You tend to see costumes at all hours at Dragon*Con, but after the panels end in the evenings the costumes really come out. It's more enjoyable to attend panels, get autographs, etc. in civilian clothing, and change into the costume later.

How is costuming usually done at San Diego Comic Con? I get the impression (maybe incorecctly) that costuming is a mostly day affair, when the convention center is open. I guess what I need to know is how you guys handle costuming at this convention

Thanks,
Chad.

 

[Whiskey]

It's more enjoyable to attend panels, get autographs, etc. in civilian clothing, and change into the costume later.

^^This is ideal.

My buddy dresses most of the time, unless he knows he's attending a panel, waiting in line for exclusives and/or autographs, or just sunday close-out shopping. Make sure you take a day to plan out your agenda for the day(s) when the programming book comes out.

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

I've been to SDCC many times and the prime-time to wear, show-off and get photographed in your costume is all day long, especially on Saturday.

The floor closes at 7:00 or 7:30 and everyone leaves the convention center, changes into street clothes, and hits the Gas Lamp area for drinks and dinner.

 

[equest]

Hello everyone,

I was hoping to pick the brains of costumers who have previously attended San Diego Comic Con. I have attended Dragon*Con yearly for over a decade, and have been costuming for much of that. You tend to see costumes at all hours at Dragon*Con, but after the panels end in the evenings the costumes really come out. It's more enjoyable to attend panels, get autographs, etc. in civilian clothing, and change into the costume later.

How is costuming usually done at San Diego Comic Con? I get the impression (maybe incorecctly) that costuming is a mostly day affair, when the convention center is open. I guess what I need to know is how you guys handle costuming at this convention

Thanks,
Chad.

Hi Chad,
How was your experience with SDCC? Haven't been there for a long time but I did attend it this year and happen to see you in the front room where the CW Arrow panel was held. It was the only panel I attended that day & wished I've attended more but I wanted to roam around in my costume & see other cosplayers. It was fun but very exhausting and hot wearing an air-tight pleather costume. Maybe next time, I'll remake my costume in polyester to make my skin more breathable. I just hope it would still look good as pleather. I too was dressed up as Green Arrow. Here's a pic. Need to shorten my hood next time. http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5496/9345799278_71b5c22d30_b.jpg

 

[wickley]

I had a good time with SDCC. I did not get to see any of the big panel. I was not prepared for the sheer amount of waiting in line that happens at SDCC. At Dragon*con you're pretty much going to see a panel if you're willing to wait for an hour or two. There isn't any overnight camping.

My costume was fairly comfortable, even though it has a lot of pleather. The gussets let it breathe enough to keep me from cooking in it. Definitely more comfortable than my Smallville Green Arrow.

 

[equest]

I had a good time with SDCC. I did not get to see any of the big panel. I was not prepared for the sheer amount of waiting in line that happens at SDCC. At Dragon*con you're pretty much going to see a panel if you're willing to wait for an hour or two. There isn't any overnight camping.

You're so right about that! I was lucky to just wait an hour&half for the arrow panel but the big ones like Marvel and DC, I had to forget it since I didn't want to miss out most of the fun in the main exhibit floor.

 

[wolfchild59]

I've done SDCC for 10 years, and every day is filled with costumes from con open to con close. But, as stated above, Saturday is the biggest day because that's the night that they do their Masquerade. I love seeing people in costume all the time, and have such huge respect for people that sport them all day, every day. I know that some folks do a different costume every day of the con.

I don't do the panels at SDCC (at least not since about 2008 or '09), but while I have seen the occasional line-waiter in costume, it's pretty rare. So it does seem like most people plan for days that they'll be mostly in line and don't do costumes those days.

And it's important to go hit the front lobby area as well as just outside the convention center as well. Some costumes are so big they can't make it around the con floor, and some people show up in costume, even without badges to get in.

I'm admittedly not a pic taker of cosplayers, but I admire them all.