My First Anime Convention. Holy God. O.O

[Jinx You Owe Me A Soda]

Alright. I have recently found out that there is an anime convention this July very close to my house. Let's just say that my reaction was a little something like, "HOLY CRAPOLA MOTHER THERE IS AN ANIME CONVENTION THAT'S IN OUR CITY! OUR CITY! ITS ONLY 10 BUCKS FOR A DAY PASS AND-OHMYGOD THERE'S GONNA BE A HETALIA PANEL. I MUST GOOOO!". Obviously, you can tell that there has never been a convention close enough to my house for me to go to. So, I have a few questions for you con-goers. biggrin

Okay, I am planning on cosplaying Lucy from the anime "Elfen Lied". I don't have much money, so I plan on making most of the costume. (If you don't know what Lucy looks like, can you please look her up real quick ^^"?) Based on what she looks like, would it be easy to find cheaper things to make the cosplay out of?
Another thing I have been thinking of is- what can I expect at an anime convention? Are they really as amazing as I think they are? Am I gonna blow all the money I bring to the con? Do you meet awesome people? What should I bring??? Should I prepare now or is it far enough away to relax with it???
I'm so sorry, I'm a noob to the whole Anime Convention thing. If you can answer any of these questions (I'm mostly looking for opinions on my Lucy cosplay dillema), I'll love you forever. Sincerely, a con-deprived otaku. sweatdrop

[Nocturnal Melodies__ix]

♫ And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand

Hmm... which outfit were you thinking of? xD There's a couple of different ones on google.

Most of her clothes look pretty normal, so I'd hit up local thrift stores and see what you can find. You can always edit the clothing to work better after you buy it.

Another tip, look for sales at your local fabric store. If they offer it, sign up for their mailer - that usually includes coupons.

As for your other questions:

Another thing I have been thinking of is- what can I expect at an anime convention?
Depends on the con, to be honest. Since a 1-day pass is $10, I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that it's a smaller convention you're going to. Probably a lot of it will be people talking to old friends/meeting new friends. There's more than likely going to be a dealer's room, obviously you said there will be panels, and there might be an anime viewing room, as well as a video gaming room.

Are they really as amazing as I think they are?
Well, uh... Yeah? xD A con is what you make of it. If you go to have a great time, you'll have a great time.

Am I gonna blow all the money I bring to the con?
If you're worried that you'll over-spend, just set some limitations on yourself. Leave your credit/debit card at home, and only bring as much money as you'd be comfortable spending.

Do you meet awesome people?
Usually! ^^ Sometimes the best way to meet people is to be in costume, because fans of the series/character will want to talk to you. Hell, even people who have no idea what you're dressed as will talk to you if they think your costume is neat.

What should I bring???
Water and a snack/light lunch. A cell phone for emergencies. I usually bring a nylon gym bag that I put all my stuff in and then I just set it aside for pictures and stuff. It's also a good idea to bring deordorant and a tide pen (or similar stain remover) in case your costume gets dirty.

Should I prepare now or is it far enough away to relax with it???
Doesn't hurt to be ready in advance, especially with a costume. Scrambling at the last minute to get an outfit done is way stressful!

When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am ♫

[Lady Ravenway]

As far as Lucy goes....It looks like she has two outfits from my search so not sure which one you want to do....maybe post a picture or describe it?


As for the first con congratulations biggrin . I went to my first one last year and have been addicted to them since.... sweatdrop It'll be as fun as you make it. I went to my first con with a bunch of friends and it was their first time to. Some of them had an amazing time(like me) and others were bored. I think the size of the con depends as well. My first con was really small but, my second was huge. The first con I spent a lot of time sitting around waiting for panels and oggling cosplayers like a fan girl.... sweatdrop The second one I was running from panel to panel all day barely giving myself anytime to eat. I like panels ^_^. They're so educational. Haha. Um, just have fun? Go with friends if you can who like the same stuff? Unfortunately I don't have much in common with my friends when it comes to our comic and anime taste so, we never end up going to the same panels. I usually end up spending the day by myself. Which is still fun but, it's nice to have someone to get pumped up and excited with, instead of looking like a dork being super excited by yourself.

I think since it's in July you have time to think about what you need to bring. If you're only going for one day just a purse with basic essentials like money, water, maybe a granola bar or something etc. Maybe a miniature sewing kit incase something happens to your cosplay and something to change into for that same reason.

I hope you have super fun!

[This Isnt Sparta]

I dont know much about Elfin Lied, so sorry that I cant help you there, but Ive got plenty to share on what to expect at conventions.

Since you're going in cosplay, PREPARE TO HAVE PICTURES TAKEN OF YOU AND BE HUGGED. Whether you are okay with this or not, people usually mind their manners and ask first before hugging you or taking your picture. The same applies for when you want to hug/glomp/raep someone else in awesome cosplay. Remember your p's and q's!

The community as a whole is really friendly. Sure you'll have your snobby elitist cosplayers who think they're hot s**t, but for the most part everyone is pleasant to be around and forming relationships there is more than likely going to happen. 3nodding

Although the con is in July, there's nothing wrong with getting things ready now. You should find out if the con is in a hotel, though Im not sure since your convention sounds small. For larger conventions, you need to give yourself as much time as possible for registration, your mode of transportation and lodging. The earlier you get everything dealt with, the fewer headaches you'll get later. You should also find out if the con has pre-registering. It may be $10 now, but it might be higher later. And since you're making the cosplay, you'll have even more time to work on it and spruce it up.

If you're worried about your money, just set a limit of how much you are going to spend for the day. The Dealer's room is going to be a real test of your money management, since there is JUST SO MUCH STUFF that you never knew you needed until now. If you ever go to larger conventions, the dealer's room usually has sales on sunday which is typically the last day. Also, keep in mind that other vendors might be selling the same souvenir you want, but at different prices. Hold off on that $50 figurine you might be eyeing, and see if another vendor is selling the same one for $40. wink By the way, bring cash. Alot of vendors may not accept plastic.

As for what to bring during the con, Just bring like a messenger bag or small backpack for some snacks, water or juice, a camera and of course your phone. And since you have the luxury of being close to the con, you can save yourself money on food simply by just going home for lunch! The food served at cons tend to be pricy side. And remember to stay on top of your belongings at all times!

This is just a few of the essentials, but this guide pretty much covers everything you want to know. Good luck and have fun!

[oTrissa]

Which con?

[krtr]

You know those vitamin things? The soluble ones? The ones you drink before a flight or whatever? That boost your immune system?

Yeah. Use those during the con.

Seriously, every con I went to I got sick. So many people packed so close... your body needs a boost.Make sure you drink and eat plenty and try not to eat so much 'con food' like pocky or other sweets. Your body needs sustenance!!

Everyone has covered you nicely in what to expect I think smile

[InuYuusha Uchiha]

pretty much everything u need to know is already said, however. plz let me warn you: u wont know what hits u when you go to ur first con. especially when ur in a cosplay, i'ts a lot of fun. end there will be lots of people asking for pictures of you, which might seem a lil weird. but rlly, thats normal :p

[Ishida-kun03]

Lucy outfit is easy to find at thrift stores. Just get a pink shirt, a black dress and a pair of stockings. If your planning to wear a wig, you could try a costume store and are you planning to make her horns?