Last-minute prep tips, etiquette reminders, and what's next on the calendar.

Cosplay Between Conventions

Cosplay Event Highlight

Ohayocon arrives this Thursday, January 30th, and the energy is already building. For those unfamiliar, this is Ohio's flagship anime and gaming celebration, running through February 1st, and it draws thousands of cosplayers, photographers, and fans eager to celebrate manga, anime, and gaming culture together. The event has become known for its welcoming atmosphere and genuine focus on community connection, not just commerce. With nightly dance parties featuring live DJs and a dedicated Cosplay Expo space, there's plenty of room for both showcase moments and casual hangouts between panels.

If you're planning to attend, tickets are still available at $65, though organizers note that badges are limited and prices will increase soon. For cosplayers specifically, this is a good reminder to finalize your costume plans now. Whether you're bringing a finished piece, a work-in-progress you'll touch up in your hotel room, or a simple but heartfelt mashup, Ohayocon welcomes all skill levels. The real magic of the event, according to longtime attendees, happens in the quieter moments between the main attractions, when you're grabbing food with a new friend you met in the photo pit or comparing build notes in the hallway. That's what makes Ohayocon feel less like a transaction and more like a gathering of people who genuinely care about the craft and the community.

Upcoming Events

Beyond this weekend, the cosplay calendar is filling up nicely. Spring conventions are starting to announce their schedules, and there are several solid options whether you're looking for a regional meetup or a larger showcase. Here's what's coming:

FanimeCon (San Jose, CA) - Taking applications now for Stage Zero performances; a great opportunity if you're interested in showcasing cosplay skits or musical acts.

SacAnime Spring (Sacramento, CA) - April 24-26, 2026 at CalExpo; more details coming soon, but a reliable spring staple for West Coast cosplayers.

Anime Boston (Boston, MA) - Late April; perennially strong turnout with excellent photo ops and a thoughtful community vibe.

Katsucon (National Harbor, MD) - February; if you didn't catch it this year, it's worth marking for next year.

Anime Expo (Los Angeles, CA) - Summer; the largest anime convention in North America, always a major cosplay destination.

Local anime meetups and mall cons - Check your regional Facebook groups and Discord servers for smaller, between-convention gatherings; these are goldmines for casual cosplay time and skill-sharing.

Etiquette Corner

Here's a question that comes up often as convention season ramps up: what do you do if someone photographs your cosplay without asking? The short answer is that it's okay to politely set a boundary, and most photographers will respect it.

Here's a concrete scenario: you're walking through the dealer hall in your costume, and someone raises their camera. You can simply say, "Hey, I'd prefer not to be photographed right now," or "Could you ask first next time?" Most photographers are enthusiastic fans, not professionals with commercial intent, and they'll apologize and move on. If you do want photos but want to do them properly, you can offer: "I'm heading to the photo pit in twenty minutes if you want to grab a shot there." This turns a potential awkward moment into a collaborative one.

The flip side: if you're a photographer, a quick "Can I take your photo?" costs nothing and builds goodwill. Even a thumbs up from across the room counts. Cosplayers put real effort into their crafts, and being asked feels like respect. It also gives you a chance to capture better shots when the person knows they're being photographed and can pose intentionally.

Social Media Spotlight

A particularly touching thread made the rounds this week from a maker who documented their first cosplay build from start to finish, shot entirely on a phone camera in their apartment. The series included close-ups of hand-stitching, fabric choices, and honest moments of frustration when things didn't go to plan. What struck the community wasn't the technical perfection of the final costume, but the generosity of showing the messy middle. The creator answered questions in the replies, shared fabric sources, and didn't gatekeep any part of the process.

This kind of content feels especially valuable right now because it normalizes the reality of cosplay making. Not everyone has a workshop, a serger, or years of experience. Seeing someone succeed with basic tools and genuine effort gives newer makers permission to start. The comments were full of people saying, "I thought I had to be perfect before I started, but this makes me want to try." That's the kind of cultural shift that strengthens cosplay as a whole. It's less about the individual post going viral and more about what it models for how we talk about craft and skill in this community.

Community Call & Closing

We want to hear from you. If you're heading to Ohayocon this weekend, send us photos, build diaries, or even quick snapshots of moments that meant something to you. Did you meet someone cool? Spot a costume that blew your mind? Have a funny or touching convention story? We're collecting submissions for future issues, and your perspective makes this newsletter better.

We're also looking for etiquette questions, event reviews, photographer tips, and maker wisdom. You can reply directly to this email, comment on our social posts, or tag us if you share this newsletter in your convention Discord or group chat. The more voices we include, the more this becomes a real community hub rather than just a one-way newsletter.

Until next week, keep making, keep connecting, and remember: cosplay between conventions is just as important as cosplay at them. Whether you're refining a build, scrolling inspiration, or planning your next project, you're part of this community. See you out there.

Reply with your stories, photos, and questions for next week.