Convention planning – The Casual Otaku

More Than Just Picking Costumes

Long before I start packing for a convention, I’ve usually spent weeks refining my cosplay lineup. If you’ve ever wondered how my Dragon Con cosplay lineup can change so many times before a single costume makes it into a suitcase, you’re not alone.

I wrote in an earlier post that this year marks 15 years since I started cosplaying regularly and shared some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way. One thing I never really expanded on, though, was my planning process. More specifically, how I decide what my next cosplay will be and how I put together a lineup for each convention.

One of the biggest surprises after 15 years of cosplaying is that I spend far more time deciding what not to wear than what actually makes the final cut. Choosing a cosplay isn’t just about accuracy anymore, it’s about making sure the costume enhances the convention experience instead of becoming the convention itself. If I’m being honest, the planning process can get a little obsessive and occasionally borders on overthinking.

Trading Traditions for New Adventures

For me, the Fourth of July has usually meant one thing: Anime Expo. With the exception of the pandemic years, I’ve attended every year since 2007. Some years were fantastic, some made me question why I kept coming back, yet somehow I always found myself buying another badge the following year.

It was tradition, after all, but this year is different.

Instead of braving the crowds at the Los Angeles Convention Center, I’m sitting at home attempting, and mostly failing, to make a dent in my never-ending anime backlog.

Breaking the Streak: Why I’m Skipping Anime Expo This Year

Well, this is new.

After going back and forth on it longer than I should’ve, I made a tough call on something that actually means a lot to me as an anime fan: I’m skipping Anime Expo (AX) this year.

Typing that out still feels weird.

For the longest time, AX has been automatic. No debate, no overthinking—it just happened every summer.

Convention Going 201 – Enjoying and Surviving the con

In my last post, I discussed the basics of planning and preparation in terms of budgeting to help make the con a more enjoyable and stress free experience for you. Well, in the second of this three part series we’ve come to the actual convention itself. What can you do to make it through the weekend and get the most out of your time at an anime convention while you’re there?

Before we get to the actual convention business itself, let’s back up a bit to the days leading up to the convention. You’re getting excited (don’t lie, you totally are) about the fact you will soon be spending a weekend with thousands of fellow anime fans and escaping real life for a few wonderful days, it’s only natural.

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Convention Going 101 – Planning

It seems like there is at least one anime convention going on somewhere in North America on any given weekend and while this is certainly a good thing, it can be overwhelming to someone who has never been to an anime convention before or even to someone who has been to a couple of conventions, but is still relatively new to the convention scene.

As someone who has close to 50 conventions in my con going resume ranging from super small (Pacific Media Expo) to massive (San Diego Comic Con and Anime Expo) I’ve learned plenty about attending conventions over the last 21 years. Wait, has it really been that long? It seems like just yesterday; I would say something about being old, but I’m only 42 and that’s hardly old, though some days I feel older than that. Back on topic, I want to offer some helpful advice to those of you who might be thinking of attending your first convention this year.

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