First Timer at Anime Boston—Any Tips for Cosplay Survival on a Budget?

[cattitude]

Hey everyone! I'm super excited to attend Anime Boston for the first time next year, and I really want to cosplay as a character from Demon Slayer (probably Nezuko). Thing is, I’m on a tight budget and don’t have much experience with crafting or conventions. How do you all manage cosplay costs without breaking the bank? Also, any tips for surviving a full day at the con in costume—like dealing with heat, crowds, or quick fixes for outfit mishaps? Would love to hear your advice!

[waynoinsano]

Source what you can from thrift stores.

[Lamron]

Just make sure you drink water and rest when you can. Don’t be afraid to sit down in a hall or go to a panel to rest. Make sure you eat something good, not just pocky

AB has a cosplay repair room if needed and also a quiet room

[Kalyoth]

As a vet of over 15 AB's & north of 100 cons now, you will need hydration, solid food, change of clothes during day, at least 1 good shower & a quiet nap. Build your cosplay to avoid creating tripping hazards for yourself or others & avoid the sudden turn impact effect some cosplay creates. Be mindful you will be on your feet often & on carpet, concrete & tile so plan your footwear & carryall appropriately - utilize the bag check room if you need to.

You will be overwhelmed with noise both visibly & audibly. Be patient, observant of patterns of movement & always make note of exits in the event you need to leave the area for any reason. Also, never be afraid to seek help from anyone in an Orange/Red AB Staff Shirt, from the information booths located around the convention or the Support Squad assisting convention operation. Popular events have crowd variations around the larger events - always check the guide app (formerly our beloved Con Chowder) or the display boards.

Have fun, not stress.

[MistyKristiCosplay]

Hi there - I'm going to share some tidbits from my experience!

For keeping costs down - As other people in this thread have mentioned, thrifting is a great way to obtain various cosplay pieces for less. As for finding full cosplay - Amazon is not a bad starting point as they have a variety of costumes that range in size - I would, however, recommend taking measurements of yourself as a lot of the sellers will list cosplay in Asian sizing vs US standard sizing as there can be a significant difference between the two, paying attention to the reviews and sizing charts on listings is something I cannot recommend enough in this regard. Other places you could try are Facebook Marketplace, Mercari, and Depop - These three platforms are where other users will post cosplay for sale, typically in reasonably good condition for less than what the costume overall potentially retails for. Your experience may vary on this but this option can be cheaper than Amazon if you decide to bargain hunt.

As for surviving an extremely warm convention center - My best advice is to keep a handheld fan and a water bottle in your bag, that way you can cool yourself off easily and stay hydrated! For the crowds, I would say in my experience, Anime Boston's crowds haven't been overwhelmingly terrible and despite the large attendance, there's typically more than enough room to fan out without others being in your own space - I will note that Anime Boston in the past has had a quiet room on the 2nd floor of the con center (Unknown if AB will have this for this upcoming year), so if you need a quiet place to go to at any point of the convention, the quiet room is always a good option.

For Cosplay Mishaps - I highly recommend the cosplay repair center (usually housed on the 1st floor of the Hynes Convention Center) they will most likely have everything you need to fix up your outfit as you need to.

Overall, I hope you have a wonderful time at AB, and hopefully, some of the advice above will be of some help!

[Ariandante]

Just make sure you drink water and rest when you can. Don’t be afraid to sit down in a hall or go to a panel to rest. Make sure you eat something good, not just pocky

AB has a cosplay repair room if needed and also a quiet room

The manga library along with fan creations (aka the AMV room) are also great places to chill for a bit when you need a breather.

One way I've saved money with my cosplays in the past is to commission part of it, and either thrift or find components to make up the rest. I did Kagome last year, had her seifuku top custom made by a seller on Etsy (which ended up being very reasonably priced) and then acquiring a green miniskirt, brown loafers and white socks seperately via thrifting to complete it - ended up costing significantly less that way and still looked just as good IMO.

Amazon cosplays can be very hit or miss - I've had really good luck with some, although in at least two cases the measurements advertised and what I actually received weren't even in the same ballpark... should have had no issues fitting me but it honestly looked like it was something made for a small child! I'd say read reviews and double check the sizing guides and return policies before ordering.

Also, check out the swap meet if you have a chance - sometimes there are attendees trying to get a few $$ for their old cosplays and you might get a bargain. Some conventions have flea markets or garage sales, I'm on staff at Portcon in Portland, ME during the summer and we have a pretty large garage sale that runs the entire con weekend - there's usually a ton of gently worn cosplays for sale. Last year I saw everything from staples like Goku and Usagi to Love Live, Deku from MHA, Nezuko from Demon Slayer, multiple Genshin and Honkai cosplays among others (this was at the con I staff - NOT AB, just something to keep your eyes open for if you go to other cons throughout the year).

EDIT: Removing wrong information.

[Aidan2]

Also, check out the swap meet if you have a chance - sometimes there are attendees trying to get a few $$ for their old cosplays and you might get a bargain.

If someone at our Swap meet charges actual money for anything, that is strictly against the rules and the spirit of our Swap meet.

[Ariandante]

Also, check out the swap meet if you have a chance - sometimes there are attendees trying to get a few $$ for their old cosplays and you might get a bargain.

If someone at our Swap meet charges actual money for anything, that is strictly against the rules and the spirit of our Swap meet.

Yikes! I've never actually traded at the AB swap meet though I have poked my head in once or twice. Sorry about that, I corrected my earlier post.