Interview with Nayru Cosplay

Doctor Strange 
Picture by @projectshowcase

For our first cosplayer interview of 2022 I would like to introduce you all to my little sister and writer for the Daily Cosplaynet, Nayru Cosplay (pronouns she/her). 

Nayru Cosplay is a nerd through and through. Ever since we were small she was always gaming, very studious, nose always in a book and literally was the real life Hermione Granger, big frizzy hair included! Since those days she may have lost the big frizzy hair but she can still be found with her nose in a book, gaming and now has even more nerdy fandoms and interests including cosplay. She has appeared at MCM London as a guest speaker and attends conventions up and down the country throughout the year. Nayru is also a huge advocate for body positivity amongst the cosplay community. 

Nayru Cosplay is an Instagram sensation! Make sure to go and check out her Instagram @nayru_cosplay to check out more of her great work!

When did you start cosplaying?

Esdeath
Picture by @hannahlouphotos

The first cosplay I did was Lara Croft back in 2017! Looking back it wasn’t as good as my cosplays now, and I improved that cosplay since then!

How did you get into cosplay?
By being a nerd! I’ve been a huge nerd my whole life always been into gaming and was one of those kids queueing up at midnight for Harry Potter book launches; I’d wanted to cosplay and go to conventions for a while but I wasn’t really sure how to start or have someone to go with. Then one day I just started doing it and once I started I was hooked!

Which characters have you cosplayed?
Now that’s a question! I think I’ve done over 50 cosplays! I’ll just list some of them – Merida, Galadriel, Tifa Lockheart, Loki, Doctor Strange, Ram from Re:Zero, Nezuko, Misty, Toga Himiko. There’s too many to list!

Do you have a favourite costume? 
I always struggle picking a favourite! I have so many I love and I’m always doing new ones so it’s always changing!

Do you act in costume or purely look like the character? 
I certainly pose in character, I make sure my poses and facial expressions suit the character; and will “act” in character if I’m making a cosplay video. Just going around con though not shooting I’m just me!

Harley Quinn
Picture by @cosplaybypedro

Do you make/buy/commission your costumes? 
I have made some props/accessories in the past. My Nuka Cola Girl tanks, Merida bow and arrows, Princess Bubblegum crown. I just don’t really have the patience for it though and I don’t actually find that aspect enjoyable personally, my favourite part of cosplaying is actually being in the cosplay so I tend to buy or commission now!

What skills have you learnt cosplaying?
I think you have to learn to be resourceful! Thinking of ways you can do things, how to make fixes to things that break or aren’t working, learning to reuse parts of cosplays for different characters to save money.

Where do you tend to shop for cosplay costumes and accessories?
I have a few places I use! I’ve just started getting Genshin cosplays, Uwowo cosplay and Kasou Wig are my favourites for Genshin. Othe places are Wig Is Fashion, Miccostumes, Aliexpress, Amazon, Ebay, Etsy. Depends on the cosplay really!

Do you have any costume tips/tricks to share? 
Use wigs/outfit pieces for multiple characters where possible as it will save money. Try and think seasonally when choosing convention cosplays – choose things that are warmer or that you could layer under for winter and cooler ones for summer conventions! A silicone wig grip is your best friend. 

Merida
Picture by @ninetythirdstreet

What are your personal fandoms?
I have so many favourite fandoms! My top 3 are probably Zelda, Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. I also love Genshin Impact, Fallout, Tomb Raider, Devil May Cry, Marvel, and anime like Re:Zer ad, My Hero Academia. And of course Disney!

Body positivity is a very hot topic in cosplay at the moment. There seems to be pressure to be a certain shape/weight/look to pull off certain characters. There can be a lot of negativity in terms of trolling within groups based on people’s appearance. How have you found the cosplay community personally?

The cosplay community themselves are actually usually very supportive and positive about anyone cosplaying whatever they want regardless of their size, shape, race, gender etc. True cosplayers know that none of this actually matters in cosplay. I have actually hosted a panel at MCM London in the past talking about body confidence in cosplay and discussing these issues. Trolls online are usually actually not people in the community, people who just like to troll anyone; but the community itself will be supportive. It can be hard and put people off of even starting cosplaying if they fear that they will get troll comments online, and it could happen. I’ve certainly had it and had plenty of fat jokes as a “plus size” cosplayer. But the support I get FAR outweighs the negative. And you have to try and remember it’s not personal. The people who troll will find anyone to try and troll, find anything to pick at as they get their kicks from getting a rise out of people while they hide behind the anonymity of their screens. They would never dare walk up to you and say it to your face. And that says far more about them than it does about you – do you even care about the opinion of someone like that?

Have you done any charity work as a cosplayer?
Not yet but it’s definitely something I would like to do! 

V
Picture by @wadewilson

How do you feel about character adaptations of a costume rather than making a carbon copy of what’s in print/film etc?
I’m absolutely into this! I’ve done genderbend cosplays such as my President Loki which was done as a femme style instead and I’ve done lots of cosplays where I’ve changed it to make it a more unique version. Doing screen accurate ones is fun but being creative with them and making something new that other people aren’t doing is also fun!

What is the best and worst piece of cosplay advice you’ve received?
I can’t actually think of any specific advice I’ve received! I feel like I’ve mostly worked things out as I went along!

As a dab hand at attending conventions and events do you have any advice/do and don’ts to share?
Don’t wear shoes you can’t manage in! It’s ok to forgo accuracy if it means you can actually walk around all day. Eight hours in crazy heels if you can’t really do that will take its toll. Do stop for breaks and make sure you eat and drink properly! Especially longer conventions that are 3 days will be a struggle if you don’t do that. Wear warmer cosplays at winter cons and cooler ones at summer cons. Bring basic make up for touch ups, wig glue if you have a glued down wig, safety pins in case of any mishaps!

Ram
Picture by @wadewilson

What has been one of the best things to come from cosplaying?
Definitely the friends I’ve made! I met my best friends through cosplay and conventions and I have some amazing friends thanks to it!

What other cosplayers do you admire? Obviously Jessica Nigri is a queen. There’s a cosplayer I follow Seeuxiaorou who is amazing! Sayathefox, Leon Chiro. There’s so many I follow!

Do you have any advice for people looking to do cosplay photoshoots? 
Conventions are a great way to meet photographers. Posting in con groups on facebook and cosplay groups will help you find photographers. Try and make sure your location suits the character! Practice your poses and facial expressions, use reference photos if you need to.

What do you like to do when you’re not cosplaying?

I love gaming, at the moment I’m hooked on Genshin! I also watch anime and other shows etc, I’m often on Playstation Party with friends.

For people wanting to get into cosplay, what advice would you give them?
Go for it! Pick a character that’s fairly easy to do as your first one to ease you into it, and pick a character you love because that will help motivate you!

What are your future cosplay plans?
I’m currently working on Raiden Shogun, Ganyu, Lisa and Ayaka from Genshin Impact as well as finalising a Princess Zelda cosplay!

Toga Himiko
Picture by @xantheboudoir

Which conventions/events do you have planned to attend this year?
Definitely MCM London! I’m also going to Secret Con next month, and I’m *hoping* to go to Anime Expo in the states!

What are you most looking forward to for the rest of the year?
Getting to cosplay with my friends! It’s the best part of cosplay and conventions for me!

Thank you to Nayru for taking the time to do this interview for us! Stay tuned for more cosplayer interviews coming soon! 

Skye Fawkes

Editor In Chief and Head Writer

Conventions Around the World - Part 1/4

I left the UK in 2015 to travel the globe with my partner and we’ve been lucky enough to visit some of the most beautiful places in the world!

From Trekking through Borneo’s rainforests with wild Orangutans to Scuba Diving the Great Barrier Reef. Hiking active Volcanoes in Hawaii and of course…attending Comic Cons in every City we’ve lived in! I’ve always considered myself a bit of a nerd. Growing up I spent most my school holidays playing video games, collecting Pokémon cards, and watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer on repeat. Nowadays, you will find me still playing video games, enjoying all things Pop Culture, diving headfirst into the Marvel Universe, reading Fantasy Fiction novels, spinning a Lightsaber and pretending to be a real-life flying Mermaid in my Aerial Hoop classes.

In this four-part series, I will be reliving my time at each of the following Comic Cons:

Part 1: MCM Comic Con – London 2015

Part 2: Armageddon – Wellington 2016

Part 3: Supernova – Melbourne 2017

Part 4: Fan Expo – Vancouver 2018

Now sit back and relax, whilst I take you on a little journey through some of the Continents Comic Cons! 

PART 1/4

MCM Comic Con – London, UK 

London MCM was my very first EVER, Comic Con and boy was it a beauty! 

Me and my partner attended MCM in May 2015 and we Cosplayed as Beth & Daryl from The Walking Dead. Now, our costumes were VERY last minute, and they certainly weren’t necessarily good, but it was fun to join in and try to fully embrace the experience! 

I remember funny little things throughout the day, like being told I wasn’t allowed to carry my fake knife on me at Basingstoke train station (Doh!) I remember rushing to finish my make-up on the train floor (because the train was so full!) and I remember not seeing ANYONE else in Cosplay, until we arrived at MCM! We stopped by the bar before heading in to sink a few pints to try and ease the nerves about being amongst such large crowds.

I loved the excitement and vibes of the day. The Cosplayers were INCREDIBLE (I wish I’d been brave enough to ask for photos!) Everyone was just having the best time and it was a real buzz to be in amongst it all! I don’t remember there being any guests that I wanted to get autographs or pictures from, so we just checked out all the stalls, made a few small, fun purchases like keychains, Lego earrings and some Funko Pop’s (Sorry, I can’t remember who we brought from!)  

I did experience one minor (if a little funny) piece of negativity from the day. We stumbled across the Batmobile and for some reason I had a complete mind blank, turned to my partner and said “Wow, Look! It’s the Batman…Car” (LOL!)

Now, I was a little tipsy by this point and I’m not really a Batman fan, but I should have known better! 

But, of course, one guy called me out on it and said (in a little bit of a snobby, judgemental way) “Did you just call it the Batman Car?” …Yes, yes I did. And I was super embarrassed. I’m at a Comic Con and I couldn’t even remember what the Batmobile was called…But I think it’s a nice reminder to try and be kind and to remember that what you like, other people might not like. You don’t have to know every little thing about every kind of fandom, in order to call yourself a nerd. Don’t put others down when they are just there trying to enjoy the same thing as you. 

I don’t read comics or watch much Anime, does that mean I shouldn’t be attending Comic Con’s? No, not at all. Because it should be a safe space for anyone to enjoy. In saying that, it was a funny memory (My partner always cracks up about it!)

It certainly didn’t ruin my day though; we grabbed a couple of cans of cider from the store inside the convention and headed outside to get some fresh air.

This is where everything got a little bit wild, HAHAHA!

There was a little stage outside where the DJ was playing some intense, what I can only presume was, K-pop songs, where a small crowd of Cosplayers were jumping around having the time of their lives! 

It was probably the most entertaining thing I’ve ever witnessed in my life. We spent most of the afternoon outside because everyone was just having a blast. You can tell that for a lot of people, they felt they could be completely comfortable and act their weird selves, as they were surrounded by fellow nerds!

We had such a great day experiencing our first ever con and I would absolutely love to attend a London Convention again one day!
Sammy
Writer

MCM Comic Con London 22nd-24th October 2021

MCM returns to ExCel London 22-24 October for an epic three day celebration of popular culture and most importantly…..cosplay! It’s been two years since cosplayers assembled at the ExCel. There is sure the fear of Covid, the overwhelm of being around so many people, the anxiety of being in crowds, and the concern of how different things might be.

Picture by Cosplay By Pedro

So, let’s talk about what happened. I turned up for the Saturday and Sunday. I heard and saw from pictures that the Friday was a very quiet day, far more so than normal. I cosplayed both days, the Saturday as Black Widow. The Sunday I was part of a cosplay group of the Sanderson sisters from Hocus Pocus with our writers Jolly Holly Cosplay as Mary, Nayru Cosplay (who is my actual sister) as Sarah and I was Winifred Sanderson.

In terms of covid precautions you were asked to show your NHS App QR code for the covid pass upon entry and given a covid wrist band once its seen. When you enter and leave the building you need to show this band along with your entry pass. This worked well in theory however most security wasn’t scanning or checking the actual QR codes. You could have literally shown any screen shot of a QR code and been given the ok. I know some who didn’t need to show anything and were let in. I think personally you should be able to show your pass and show a negative lateral flow test as even if your double vaccinated you can still carry covid.

Pink Steven
Rose Quartz 
Pink Diamond

You didn’t have to wear masks inside the convention halls, but many people did. Obviously, many cosplayers didn’t due to their make-up etc. 

The stalls were very spaced out, reduced capacity and social distancing were in place. This may well be to the detriment of the whole event consequently. More space meant less to see and do. When there is less to see and do it make for a lesser con experience overall. The ticket pricing wasn’t reduced yet the convention experience was reduced.

There were times walking around the halls people forgot themselves and social distancing went out the window. This was also the case when con goers asked for photographs with cosplayers, they usually stood right next to the cosplayer without a mask for photos. Generally speaking, you felt safe.

Due to reduced capacity, we noticed the missing retailers both large and small from previous years, the missing artists that would normally be attending and the lack of things such as movie props, cars, big stalls, interactive areas.

Cruella Cosplayer

I attended the convention as Black Widow on Saturday with Jolly Holly Cosplay attending as 1940s Clare Fraser from Outlander and we had a cosplay group for the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus for the Sunday. We always enjoy looking around the convention, cosplaying, having photo shoots, exploring my favourite area Artist Alley and generally being immersed in popular culture and the cosplay.

There was the MCM London Comic Con App you can download which really helps to plan the weekend. Pro tip would be to download this before you attend so you can plan your panels and make sure you don’t miss anything. If you’re a family with children this is a must to save the aimless wandering of busy halls trying to figure out what’s available to keep the kids entertained.

I did enjoy the Official MCM Merch store. I personally picked up a zip up hoody and a Captain Carter T-Shirt. It was very busy every time I walked past all weekend. By the Saturday morning there was already items sold out which was disappointing. They had offered pre orders and with how busy the stand was there just wasn’t enough of certain items. I was impressed with the range of items and the quality on offer. In future I would order in advance so not to miss out, however this time I needed to work out my size which you need to do in person.

There were a huge number of panels running all weekend including celebrity panels. There was of course a list of top celebrities in attendance with the top name of the weekend being Tom Hiddleston. Therefore, there was so many Loki cosplayers in attendance. There is always the photo and autograph opportunities you can book and pay for with the special guests. There was also SideQuest gaming station, The Treehouse interactive station.

There was also a lot going on in Cosplay Central with cosplay panels, casual cosplay showcase, selfie stations/photo sets, cosplay masquerade and the cosplay hospital for repairs.

MW Cosplay

We also bumped into the cosplay repair guys. You see the two lads with a big sign saying Free Cosplay Repairs. I happened to see them at the exact time I needed safety pins to keep my Black Widow gun holsters in place. They are fun and friendly, and an absolute cosplay god send! Find them on Instagram under @michaelwhichelo MW Cosplay. If you can’t find these guys there is a cosplay hospital inside the halls so for any emergencies it should be easy to patch things up. 

On the subject of cosplay, on the Sunday we attended as the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus. We turned up with a prop each, a vacuum cleaner, a mop, and an old-fashioned style broom. We were stopped at security and the mop and broom wasn’t allowed in. When you go through security you have the metal detector wands waved over you and bags searched and props checked. They took the props and kept them behind the industry desk for us and we would pick them up to go outside for photos and drop them back to go around the convention. We decided to leave the hoover as there was no point in only one of us having a prop. It was questionable as it didn’t specify in the rules that they wouldn’t be allowed. Although typically the next time we entered we were all allowed in no questions asked. We still took them to the industry desk just in case, but it seems it’s down to each security guard’s interpretation. There didn’t seem to be a set standard when it came to props being allowed in and how searches are carried out. The same situation occurred with the level of bag check, some barely looked, some guards opened your wallet and checked every card etc. There’s a lack of consistency with the security team which was of big discussion with con goers this weekend. All staff we came across personally though were polite and easy to talk to, just a lack of consistency and different interpretations of the rules.

I think everyone now associates the smell of Lush Snow Fairy with comic con after their appearance at the stand this weekend! The stand was lovely, very pretty, and eye-catching. I think all convention halls could do with a nice smelling stand to mask the usual smell of a room filled with a lot of people! Although it was certainly overpowering when close by! The stand didn’t have too much in terms of exclusivity and no freebies which is always disappointing. The staff were very enthusiastic, and I was there for the fun conga line that took place around the stand the end of the day on Sunday which certainly entertained.

We did attend the Wheel of Time Amazon Prime UK stand. This stand had an interactive green screen and 4 video clips from the series before its released on the 19^th November. On the 19^th of November there will be 3 episodes released and then one a week until Christmas Eve. As I haven’t read the books, I was going into it blind. From what I saw the clips gave a Game of Thrones meets Lord of the Rings vibe. It certainly looks magical, mystical, and full of adventure. The poster that was used in the image above gives a very Harry Potter/teen adventure style vibe with this floating looking 'death eater' looking creature. It looks somewhere between something from Harry Potter and something from Vikings. Apparently this is a cause of major controversy and upset amongst the WOT fan community as its a misrepresentation and certainly gives a different impression than the clips watched and other artwork for the show. 

The costumes look insane and something to keep an eye on as I’m sure come May there will be many cosplays coming! I was with Zoe from @wheeloftimecommunity @weavesofthewheel and I feature in their interview after watching the video clip so be sure to check out their pages and MCM videos!

Hellbound Media

There was a lot of small food stalls in the halls as well as all the usual food kiosks outside the halls. Its always good to see small independent companies you wouldn’t normally find such as T’s Fried Scoop. They are a deep-fried ice cream stand with vegan options! Despite how it sounds it was really good. It would be nice if there were more vegan friendly options around. Some of the usual small food stalls wasn’t in attendance. It’s not comic con without cupcakes so the presence of treat stalls was lacking. The usual problems with the kiosks out of the halls are the queues and the prices as they are heavily elevated. So pro con tip…. take snacks to keep you going!

My personal favourite things to check out are the independent shop stalls such as small business/Etsy sellers you wouldn't normally be able to meet and checking out Artist Alley. I love meeting all the independent artists and seeing the variety and different types of work available. I noticed that some of my favourite artists were missing. I think so many have been worried about how the con will go before committing. I personally didn’t get any artwork this time. I am hoping more artists return for future conventions.

Saturday Black Widow

As we were cosplaying, we would of course head to the West Entrance over to the stairs/grey walls/green area to try to catch some of the photographers we know to get some pictures of our cosplays. I did several shoots both days and mainly stayed around the outside area. One shoot we did outside the parameters of the convention to get a different background. I will do a separate post with regards to group cosplay.

No matter what is happening on the inside of the convention, the cosplayers revel in the chance to meet on the outside. Being at those stairs, under the trees, on the green, hang outs at The Fox, at the surrounding hotels all are such a huge part of the cosplay experience at MCM London. Socializing and photo opportunities are usually the biggest part of what the cosplayers go for, and I think even with a lack of stalls and features for the convention they will always keep the cosplay attendees purely due to the opportunity it gives.

Picture of Sumisu Cosplay

For the first MCM back after the pandemic it was great to have comic con running again. There’s been a feeling of underwhelm by what was on offer but nevertheless people had a good time. There’s room for improvement so hopefully by May 2022 things will improve. For every negative there's a positive. I personally really enjoyed myself and it certainly sparked things again and made me look forward to the next event.

Now I’m sure we will see the post con depression/blues and the post con flu kick in across nerds everywhere. So, take your Lemsips and con crunch away over the next few weeks. 

Roll on MCM Birmingham 13th-14^th just around the corner!

See you there!

* All photos taken by myself unless otherwise stated. 

 Skye Fawkes

Editor In Chief and Head Writer

MCM London October 2018

Skye Fawkes Returns to MCM

Following all my personal events this year should I have still been pregnant I wouldn't have been attending October MCM however as this was no longer the case I decided to brave one day and attend for the Sunday. I decided to bring my SSR Agent Carter cosplay to London for the first time.

My friend drove us to London and we parked on site at the Excel which was simple and easy to do. It was a £20 flat day rate to park.

The queuing system to collect your wrist band was smooth and easy. As ever I checked my bags into the cloakroom and set off for the day. The only downside to this was the huge queue at the end of the day and not enough staff to get through it quickly. Lesson learnt for next time not to wait until the very end of the day to collect my things!

For this convention I decided to take it easy with it being my first big event after Leia so there were no interviews or pressure, just to soak up the convention like your average con goer/cosplayer would. This was I could take in what the con had to offer for your average attendee. As always with MCM there is lots to see and do. I only just about made it around everything, There is certainly a reason the convention lasts a few days as it can take you a lot of time to get around everything especially if your queuing for guests, watching the competitions, talks, etc. 

My favourite area of the convention is always Artist Alley. I was great to see new faces and old behind the stalls. We worked our way around the con floor taking in all there was to offer. There were lots of interactive areas, companies promoting their products. I saw some areas set up for photos/selfies which was good to see. More of these and mock sets for cosplayers would be great!

We went outside by the stairs to check out the cosplay. It was pretty busy even with the cold weather! We were very lucky to miss the rain that there was the day before! Its always a good place for people watching and getting photos taken of your cosplays/take photos of cosplayers.

For the average person I would like to see more sets/photo areas, more freebies (seeing as you pay so much for your ticket), more big names in attendance with prices kept reasonable.

I had a great day. A fab way to reintroduce myself to the bigger conventions this year. My next MCM con is Birmingham, my favourite con of the year! It will be nice to see what there is to offer this time around! I hope to see you there! 

Skye Fawkes

Editor Daily Cosplaynet 

Photos: Skye Fawkes Cosplay

Top and bottom post photos of The Basingstoke Cosplay Collective

Jolly Holly Cosplays Practically Perfect Con 

Last weekend saw me returning to MCM Expo London for my 5th year and attending all three days as usual. For this weekend I brought back one of my favourite and first characters, Mary Poppins, the character that gave me my cosplay name. With the upcoming release of Mary Poppins Returns many people were excited to see the flying nanny, including many of this years security staff.

The security personal are often the cause of many rants and groans in the MCM Expo Facebook group, with many "security did this, security did that” posts. I myself have experienced unfriendly, grumpy members of the security teams in the past, but this year I have nothing but praise for them.

Not only did they all greet me with their best, or worst, Dick Van Dyke impressions but two of the bag checkers made my day when searching through my magic carpet bag and pretending they were reaching into its depths. I also have to say a thank you to a few security personnel in particular for rescuing me from battling queues and crowds when I had resorted to using my crutches, this year I have been suffering with the return of my childhood arthritis which makes walking painful at times when my ankles swell to the size of beach balls. I counted many smiles and friendly hellos over the course of the weekend, if you are using a new company this year MCM/Reed Pop then please use them again in the future.

On the whole the con felt a lot less busy this year. Friday has always been the quietest day but compared to previous years this was much quieter, zero queues and crowds, a result of the price increase? Possibly. Yet Saturday was the busiest I have ever seen it. Who knows what the capacity of the Excel centre is, but it definitely felt overcrowded to me. Journeying from one end of the concourse to the other took well over 30 minutes during the peek times of 12 and 2pm. It's no surprise that many people stay outside once they have claimed their wristband.

The temperatures this year had plummeted, in a complete opposite to May's soaring heat. October saw people huddling together for warmth or risking the cold to get that perfect photo or video clip for a CMV.

I did see an improvement in sniping this year, my biggest pet hate at a con. In May I confronted multiple togs/con goers who we sniping people eating, smoking or fixing their costume. Personally, I cannot understand wanting once of these unflattering images as opposed to a nice posed photo that truly represents the character.

It's still early days in the Reed Pop MCM take over, the price hike has certainly been a concern, so I was intrigued to see if we were going to get any more for our money. Other than a few added selfie sets I didn't see anything new or improved. I'd love to see some sets built for people to take photos against.

On the whole an enjoyable con this year, next up MCM Birmingham.

Jolly Holly

Writer Daily Cosplaynet

Photos: Jolly Holly Cosplay

Convention Round Up 2017 with Jolly Holly Cosplay & Skye Fawkes Cosplay

To kick off the Daily Cosplaynet here is a convention round up of how we found last year’s comic cons from a cosplay point of view.

MCM London May 2017

JH: May MCM saw one of the hottest weekends so far in the year. This made it a real struggle to be in full cosplay. It was also just a week or so after the terrorist attic in Manchester which meant that security was heightened, bag checks were in effect, sniffer dogs were on patrol, and the entrances and exits to the Excel centre were limited.

Anyone who knows the building knows its sheer size, getting from the east to the west side on an empty day will only take a few minutes but during a convention like MCM with the size of the crowds and costumes it can take sometimes 20-30 minutes. During this convention, because of the security measures, to exit and then renter the building meant walking the entire length of the building outside in the scorching heat. This was not fun.

Security and MCM staff of course had the best intentions for all attendees but it was a very frustrating weekend.

SF: May always feels like the biggest MCM of the year and usually hot, especially in costume. One of the issues many cosplayers had with MCM London Comic Con May 2017 was that there was a new entrance and exit route which meant if you left the building you could only re-enter by walking the entire length of the building using the opposite entrance. Many cosplayers are in and out the building for various meets, photoshoots, toilet breaks, food breaks, trips around the convention halls, fresh air etc. This really did have a big impact on your time and energy having to walk all the way around the river each time. A lot of cosplayers are wearing armour, carrying props, wearing difficult to wear/uncomfortable costumes and shoes which can be tricky enough to manage a full day in but to have to factor in lots of extra walking outside really did make things tricky for people and actually put people off coming back again to the October convention. Luckily the folks at MCM saw sense and changed the access to the building and this really did help the whole experience this time around. In May security was very tight and bag checks were very vigilant. I had no issue with this personally as its reassuring that they are looking after the wellbeing of everyone there. The bigger issue was the rudeness of staff and general attitude towards paying customers. This time I personally found the security to be nicer however I didn’t have a single bag check over the 2 days I attended.

MCM London October 2017

JH: October brought the exact opposite of May's experience. Security was so relaxed and entrances and exits were plentiful. I also found the security staff themselves to be much friendlier and welcoming, much more aware of the con itself and what was going on. The halls felt more spread out and there was less crowding, the concourse on the other hand was rammed from the Friday. With more and more tickets being sold we are seeing much bigger queues for food, cash points, and toilets. Is MCM London becoming over crowded?

SF: This con had a really relaxed and laid back feel which many people have noticed and commented on. I certainly felt so in comparison to May. October always feels quieter and usually hasn’t got as many top level guests and panels and this was true of this convention. We had good luck with the weather and were able to spend time outside for photos etc.

MCM Birmingham

JH: Birmingham is my favourite of the MCM cons. It's a much more friendly atmosphere (maybe that's just a northern thing). The con itself is much more relaxed, it's not as crowded, there's less rushing and the halls have much more space. From March to November there was a change of location within NEC, whether this was well published on the MCM pages or not I don't know, I certainly didn't see, but it caused a lot of confusion for those planning or attending meet ups. With the cell service in the building suffering under the crowds, many were struggling to update social media to alert people of changes to location.

JH: Personally I didn't like the relocation. I much prefer when the con is in hall 5, halls 15-19 were very elongated and it made the event feel fuller, the concourse outside the halls was also very full, giving me London flash backs. For me November didn't have as much of the charm that Birmingham MCM always gives me.

SF: This was my first time attending Birmingham MCM. I hadn’t previously experienced the halls being in the other location so I didn’t really find it an issue. I stayed in a hotel nearby with JH and friends and attended both days. The Saturday was busier however still much quieter and easier to manoeuvre around than the London MCM. Sunday was quieter and the con seemed to wrap up earlier in terms of people. The stalls were of course still going right until the end but I found people thinned out by mid-afternoon. I loved it, much more than MCM London in fact. I found the halls a good size to work around with plenty of stalls and the same events such as cosplay contest, talks, panels etc as London however not on such a huge scale. This for me meant I could walk around quicker, easier and spend more time cosplaying and socialising than walking laps of the building and queuing for food and facilities, The car park is on site with shuttle buses to and from. Overall this is now my favourite MCM to attend!

Reading

JH: Yet again Reading provided a fantastic smaller local convention. With more and more small cons popping up the competition is growing yet Reading seemed to pull a decent crowd for its second year. I noticed a wider variety of stalls this year offering a wonderful range of products, form old school comics to home-made crafts. There were large/different names on the billing this year too. It was refreshing not to see the likes of Andrew Lee Potts and Hannah Spirit occupying a slot both days. The cosplay zone was superbly run once again by the team at JustBecos, the entries this year had risen the level of skill in creating and performing. The Rivermead Leisure complex hosts the event well with plenty of amenities.

SF: This was my second year attending Reading Comic Con at Rivermead Leisure Centre. I have really enjoyed both times and feel there was improvement in 2017. The staff at Rivermead are always fantastic. The con had larger props and scenery around this time including the hospital doors from The Walking Dead first ever episode which I loved to see, I found new stalls from the previous visit. I personally wasn’t as impressed with the guest line up this time in comparison the` first Reading Comic Con but then last time I did have

Guildford

JH: Guildford comic con was a disappointment. It was extremely quiet with very few numbers coming through the doors. The market place looked empty even at peek time which was a disappointment as there were some fantastic stalls and artists in attendance. From talking to some visitors and stall holders many were saying the con was not well enough advertised and there was a distinct lack of signage on the day directing people where to go on arrival at the Guildford Spectrum leisure centre. The saving grace for Guildford con was the cosplay zone, run spectacularly by the team at JustBecos. I had been invited to attend as a guest this year and give a talk on performance in cosplay. Throughout the day the talks were well attended and the cosplay masquerade gave cosplayer of all levels and abilities the chance to step forward and show they're hard work and talent.

SF: This is one con I didn’t attend as I was in Dublin for Leaky Con but it was one I enjoyed previously.

Leaky Con – Dublin

JH: A Leaky Con regular of 5 years however was unable to attend last year

SF: This was my first Leaky Con and first convention outside of the country. Leaky Con is an American Harry Potter fan convention and due to them coming across the pond the convention was smaller than it usually would be as they have more traders etc stateside. The venue was the Citywest Hotel outside of Dublin which was a very good location and set up for it. It was a fantastic convention. It is different to any other convention I have ever experienced. The friends you make and experience connects people like a family who all share this passion for the Harry Potter universe. Cosplay wise so many people walked around in casual cosplay or as Harry Potter Students and there was some fantastic character cosplays around. I entered the cosplay contest as Narcissa Malfoy which was a great experience coming in the top 10. There was panels all day every day of the convention as well as the stalls, special guests and talks, and  the Saturday night evening ball. I would go every year if it was held in Europe for sure and I have made some fantastic friends from this. Highly recommened!

Alton

JH: It's great to now have so many local cons to go to and Alton Comic Con offered the local residents a treat in the form of scores of cosplayers in a range of costumes ranging from Doctor Strange to Princess Belle. Yes, the venue is small; Alton Assembly Rooms only allowed space for a limited number of stalls, a change of location would do this con wonders, after 10 minutes inside you had seen all that was on offer.

SF: Alton Comic Con for me is a great way to spend an afternoon. It is a small con but it’s well put together. It’s run by ‘Go Geek’ who runs other cons in the local Hampshire area. There isn’t much floor space which means only a handful of guests and not many stalls. The convention itself only takes a short while to walk around but Alton for me is always about hanging outside with the other cosplayers. There is a small green right outside with a few spots great for photos. There is always some outside props and cosplayers getting attention from the public passing by. There is a cosplay contest which in 2017 I was a judge for which I enjoyed.

Port Solent

JH: If you had been asked to guess how many people would have attended this event you would have been way off. An estimated 5000 people converged on Port Solent for the first free comic con there. It was way above capacity and made for a very uncomfortable day. It was impossible to move anywhere due to the crowds, you couldn't see signage directing you to the stalls or special guests, it was a tremendously hot day with shade hard to come by. With only one way in and out of Port Solent the roads were grid locked and it took me over 3 hours to make a 25 minute journey, add on a packed car park with people abandoning cars wherever they could and it just made things more difficult for everyone in attendance. With another event organised for 2018 it will certainly be interesting to see if any lessons have been learnt.

SF: Port Solent was a great day and gave a very different feel. It was a free comic con which as we all know is rare to find. The convention wasn’t your typical set up of halls indoors. The whole thing was outside with props, stalls and guest all around the board walk and outside areas. It was a very hot day. I cosplayed as Rey from Star Wars and even in that I was roasting hot. So many people attending it became impossible to move around and getting from place to place was a struggle for being stopped for photos by the amount of people and the general traffic of the people attending. Because of the traffic of people I missed the cosplay competition. There was great reaction to the cosplayers and it was lovely to have such a nice location out in the sun to cosplay in for a change. Like all new cons there were the teething issues JH mentioned about parking being an issue which I think was down to more people attending than expected. Some lack of signage and general mapping of what was where was needed as it’s so different to having a hall with map you did need to know where to go so you don’t miss things like I did, The reactions totally made the day, the people and the waterfront were the highlights for me for sure.

This year we both have any conventions and events planned to share our experiences in more detail. Stay tuned.

Written by: Skye Fawkes and Jolly Holly Cosplay

All photos provided by Skye Fawkes and Jolly Holly Cosplay