Embracing Costume Play in your Library

1. Budget Cosplay
Ellyssa Kroski
http://ellyssakroski.com
http://giallogirl.com

2. Agenda
• What is Cosplay?
• Discussion: How Many of You Cosplay?
• Cosplay Tools of the Trade
• Where Does Cosplay Happen?
• Libraries Embracing Cosplay
• Discussion: Tell Us About Your Own
Library Cosplay Events!
• Cosplay Programming for Libraries
• Host a Comic (or Anime!) Con in Your Library
• Host a Cosplay Contest
• Form a Cosplay Club
• Budget Cosplay: Create Papier-Mache Minions
• Budget Cosplay: Create Infinity Gauntlets with Craft Foam
• Host a Themed Cosplay Lock-in

3. cosplay, n.
Etymology: < cos- (in COSTUME n.) + PLAY n. >
-Oxford English Dictionary

4. Discussion: How Many of You Cosplay?
Please tell us what you cosplay in the Chat!

5. Cosplay Tools of the Trade, or…

6. Fabrics and Trim

7. Repurposed Clothes

8. Commissions

9. Thermoplastics – Worbla and Wonderflex

10. EVA Foam

11. Craft Foam

12. Paper - Pepakura

13. Paper - Cardboard

14. Paper – Papier Mache

15. 3D Printed Cosplay

16. Wigs

17. Makeup

18. And now a word about safety…

19. Where does Cosplay Happen?

20. Types of Cosplay Events
• Comic Cons
• Anime Cons
• Convention Directories
• Upcoming Cons
• Convention Scene
• Local Events
• Cosplay days
• Cosplay photo shoots
• Cosplay parties

21. Connecting with the Cosplay Community
• General Facebook Groups
• Cosplay - 21,776 members
• Local Facebook & Meetup Groups
• NY SciFi & Fantasy Meetup - 2,393 members
• Event-specific Facebook Groups
• Dragon*Con Cosplayers - 2,155 members
• Format-specific Facebook Groups
• The Replica Prop Forum - 17,109 members
• Genre-specific Facebook Groups
• Star Trek Cosplay - 1,014 members
• Charity cosplay groups

22. Libraries Embracing Cosplay

23. Mid-Pinellas Comic and Maker Con
• St. Petersburg College and the
Seminole Community Library
• https://www.facebook.com/PC
MCon
• Date: August 9, 2014
• Cost of the Event: $500
• How Many Attendees: 3,500
• Estimated Number of
Cosplayers: 300

24. ELANCO After Hours Teen Fandom Event
• Library: ELANCO Library
• https://www.facebook.com/pag
es/ELANCO-Library-
Teens/415155415829
• Date: Ongoing, every other
month
• Cost of the Event: $60
• How Many Attendees: 40
• Estimated Number of
Cosplayers: 40

25. ToshoCon
• Library: Salt Lake County Library
• https://www.facebook.com/Tosh
ocon
• Date: 2014
• Cost of the Event: $2,500
• How Many Attendees: 1,500
• Estimated Number of
Cosplayers: 60+

26. Chesterfield County Library Comic Con
• Library: Chesterfield Public
Library
• http://library.chesterfield.gov/ev
ents/comic-con
• Date: March
• Cost of the Event: $500
• How Many Attendees: 2,150
• Estimated Number of
Cosplayers: 1,000+

27. Salt Lake County Library Harry Potter Yule Ball
• Library: Salt Lake County Library
• http://tinyurl.com/q8h75gv
• Date: 2013, 2014, 2015
• Cost of the Event: $1,500
• How Many Attendees: 1,500
• Estimated Number of
Cosplayers: 1,500

28. Discussion: Tell Us About Your Own Library Cosplay Events!

29. Intermission
Check out these cosplaying librarians and ask questions!

30. Cosplay Programming for Libraries

31. Host a Comic (or Anime!) Con in Your
Library
A one or multiple day event filled with pop culture programming, guests,
exhibitors, and fun!

32. Host a Comic (or Anime!) Con in Your Library
• Elements of a Comic Con Event
• Exhibitors
• Special Guests
• Food Vendors
• Featured Cosplayers
• Panels and Activities
• Panels
• Classes and Workshops
• Gaming
• Screenings
• Kids Crafts
• Cosplay Contests

33. Host a Comic (or Anime!) Con in Your Library
• Elements of a Comic Con Event
• Cosplay and Photography
• Photo Booths and Backdrops
• Cosplay Photo Shoots
• Planning a Library Comic Con
• Costs and Funding
• Security and Fire Planning
• Space Planning
• Weapons Policy (yes, you’ll need one!)
• Signage
• Staff and Volunteers
• Communication
• Promotion

34. Host a Cosplay Contest
Highlight the hard work and creativity that cosplayers put into creating their costumes.

35. Host a Cosplay Contest
• Elements of a Cosplay Contest
• Event Promotion
• Categories
• Skits
• Individuals and Groups
• Costume Specifications
• Prejudging
• Rules
• Judges
• Prizes

36. Host a Cosplay Contest
• Elements of a Cosplay Contest
• Registration and Permissions
• Backstage
• Stage setup
• The Event
• Alternatives

37. Form a Cosplay Club
Clubs help build community, bring in new patrons, and promote your collections.

38. Form a Cosplay Club
• Audience
• Communication and Promotion
• Logistics
• Staffing
• Food
• Icebreakers
• Activities
• Plugging the Library
• Waivers and Permissions
• Club Officers
• Fund-Raising

39. Budget Cosplay: Create Papier-
Mache Minions

40. Budget Cosplay: Create Papier-Mache
Minions
• Materials Needed
• A stack of newspapers
• Flour
• Water
• Paintbrushes
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun
• Glue sticks—$4
• Optional: an old sheet and white glue
• Premo! Sculpey polymer clay—$3
• Masking tape—$1
• Latex or acrylic paints in various colors—$5–$15
• Total cost: $13–$23

41. Budget Cosplay: Create Papier-Mache
Minions
• Creating your minions
• Papier-Mache
• Making monster teeth
• Assembling the monster
• Cloth Mache
• Painting

42. Budget Cosplay: Create Infinity
Gauntlets with Craft Foam

43. Budget Cosplay: Create Infinity Gauntlets with
Craft Foam
• Materials Needed
• Scissors
• Latex dishwashing gloves—$2
• One to two sheets of craft foam—$2
• Superglue—$4
• Glass gems in multiple colors (found in the floral department of Michaels)—
$3
• Gold metallic spray paint—$5
• Plasti Dip black rubber coating spray—$6
• Total cost: $22 (however, you can likely make two gloves with just these
supplies!)

44. Budget Cosplay: Create Infinity Gauntlets with
Craft Foam
http://tinyurl.com/m3rkw42

45. Host a Themed Cosplay Lock-in
After-hours library lock-in events are a big draw for teens!

46. Host a Themed Cosplay Lock-in
• Permission Slips
• Theme Ideas
• Snacks
• Activities
• Sample Schedule of Events
• Avengers Assemble! A Marvel Comics Library Lock-In
• 6:30 p.m.–7:00 p.m. Teens arrive in Marvel Comics costumes
• 7:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m. Icebreaker Name That Superhero trivia game and snacks
• 7:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Teens build Infinity Gauntlets with craft foam
• 8:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m. Cosplay parade

47. Ellyssa Kroski
ellyssakroski@yahoo.com
Cosplay, Comics and Geek Culture in Libraries: http://ccgclibraries.com