Tips on Bringing Mobility Complicated Cosplays to Contests

Are you bringing some really cool but BIG or cumbersome cosplay builds to some contests really soon?

Photo by @chrispang.productions

 

I've been bringing some fully immobile merfolk tail cosplays to conventions recently, including a contest and here some tips based off mine, other people, and a staff member's experiences. These will mostly apply to contests, but will also be helpful to consider when navigating an event in general. (Also, I hope this opens the door to conventions considering improving their ADA accessibility because cosplayers that use mobility aids will for sure encounter these issues if they're in a wheelchair, use canes, etc.)

 

"Coordinators would appreciate you ask. We have had people show up in/with things they didn't really... make clear to us ahead of time and if we'd known about them we'd probably have said no/made rules about them afterward. Coordinators may know about Safety issues that apply to the stage area, that aren't as much of a concern on the con floor. The word of advice is:  Read the rules.  If it's NOT in the rules but it's bigger than the door, or requires STILTS in ANY way, ask. Just because a rule doesn't exist doesn't mean it's actually OK, it just means the team hasn't encountered or thought of it yet." 
-Quote from Sumikins 

 

1. Check the rules first! 
2. Email the coordinator/the con to officially obtain permission and have a plan of action on what accommodations you need. 
3. Ask about the judging room setup and stage setup ahead of time, including ADA ramps (which venues should have). Make sure to be polite and professional to the staff as they are human, and being rude will probably get you declined, but do advocate for your needs, especially if it's ADA reliant. 
4. In your buildbook, provide detailed photos of what your cosplay looks like on you or your model to prove what it looks like fit-wise, especially if you or your model won't be wearing it during pre-judging. Also plan your speech and time yourself. 

 

Recommended accommodations:

Consider asking for your cosplay to be brought to prejudging on a mannequin or garment rack so that ALL pieces are easily visible for you to explain and for the judges to see everything. This is especially true if you'll be in stilts that will be taller than the door of the prejudging room.

^I got permission to bring my Gyarados cosplay to pre-judging on a styrofoam head and rack.

If you literally cannot walk in your cosplay, consider asking to be carried onstage, to sit onstage, or to be wheeled onstage. If you are abnormally tall, consider asking for a backstage resting chair or wall. If you take up a lot of space or are on wheels, ask them for a different backstage waiting spot and if there are ADA accommodating methods you can use to get onstage (ie a ramp or elevating platform) instead of staircases. 

Bring your own handlers and mobility methods- for example, a wagon if you're in a merfolk tail and a staff/walking stick if you're in stilts. 

 

Before and during the contest stage show:

7ft long worm costume on wheels, that required communication with staff and security. Permission to use photo from Ms_marauder.

^How I traveled from my hotel room to backstage.

 

• Make sure that the staff has communicated to security about your unique costume situation. 
• Make sure to attend tech rehearsal so that you can check out your transport method to get from wherever you're getting dressed to on and off the stage.
• Bring water to stay hydrated as you will likely be in this uncomfortable costume or mobility situation for several hours.  
• Be nice to staff and ideally don't fall off stage and injure yourself or anyone else- you don't want to be the reason that they end up banning your type of cosplay in the future.

 

^ This was just a street festival, but I asked the contest runners before putting on my skates.

^Digileg stilts, often used in monster suit costumes.

 

Do you have any tips for bringing cosplays with literally BIG builds or complicated mobility? I'd love to hear your suggestions! Stay safe!  

Thank you for quote/photo permissions and additional input from: Sumikins, Fabrickind, and Ms_marauder.