SDCC Survival Guide

[fandom]

Whether it’s your first ever Comic-Con or you’ve attended so many you’ve lost count, SDCC can feel overwhelming. Yesterday our resident cosplay aficionado and Tumblr employee Marlene Bonnelly (@marlene) offered up some hot tips on SDCC etiquette. Today she’s giving out advice on how to survive the next four days of fun—especially if you’re cosplaying.

• Bring your own food and water. If you’re wearing gloves, bring something you can eat with utensils. If you’re scared of disturbing your makeup, bring a straw for your water. Refill your bottles at the panel room coolers, or bring a bottle with a built-in filter and refill from the taps. Stay hydrated, especially if you’re wearing lots of layers!
  
• If you want professional photos, ask a photographer as soon as possible. You can usually prepay for fifteen to twenty minutes of their time, and you can also pay extra for retouching. Stick to the time slot and location you were given. Their time is precious too.

Originally posted by pandagin

• Mind your props! It’s very easy to accidentally whack someone if you’re carrying a large foam Master Sword and not watching your angles. Before you even bring your prop to the convention, make sure you check SDCC’s Convention Policies. Don’t forget to factor in time to have it inspected at the Costume Props Desk.
  

Originally posted by hydraworx

• Prepare for costume malfunctions. If you can, bring a sewing kit, make-up, and maybe even some strong tape. You never know when you’ll tear your sleeve, smudge your face, or accidentally break a prop.
  
• Wear comfortable shoes. Or at least comfortable-ish shoes. You’re going to be on your feet a lot. No one wants to leave SDCC early because of some blisters.
• Speaking of which, invest in a small first-aid kit. If you can’t fit one in your bag, ask a friend to hold onto it for you.
  

Originally posted by queenofdoom

• If you feel harassed or unsafe at the show, seek out the nearest volunteer (they usually have uniformed shirts) or security guard, or find the Comic-Con Show Office on your map and head straight there.
  

Don’t forget, we’re going to be at SDCC all weekend long. Find our coverage on @fandom, in the #SDCC tag, adding to our official Instagram Story, and hosting a few Answer Times and exclusive GIFs over on @stardom. Oh, and don’t forget to submit a pic of your cosplay to us! We’re going to post the best of the best right here on our Tumblr.