At comic and anime conventions, attendees tend to be nice and non-judgmental. If you are not sure about what to wear, you should not be worried. No one expects you to become an overnight cosplayer for your first convention. Here are four recommendations that you can follow in this regard:

Dress Comfortably and Respectfully

Fans of anime and comic books are part of a tolerant and respectful community. When you choose your convention attire, you should think about dressing in a respectful manner. Keep in mind that the people at the convention will be coming from a variety of backgrounds, and so this is not an opportunity to make a political statement or to mock a particular genre or character. By doing so, you could offend a lot of people and put a damper on others’ fun.

As for comfortability, realize that you may have to do a lot of walking at large convention centers. Make sure that you’re wearing shoes that you’d feel comfortable walking around in. The event will most likely be crowded as well, and so you should wear shoes that are closed-toe just in case someone ends up stepping on your feet. Often, people want to wear similar shoes and clothes that the character they’re trying to cosplay as does. If those shoes include 6-inch stilettos, though, your feet are not going to be happy after a few hours. Think ahead and try to analyze whether or not what you’ll be wearing will be comfortable after a while as these events can sometimes go on all day.

Take Inspiration from Anime

At your first convention, you will notice a lot of people wearing anime shirts. This is part of a fashion trend that started decades ago. It is not unusual to see fully costumed cosplayers change into stylish anime attire by brands, like Capsule Corp Clothing, that sell clothing that caters to this genre. You will likely see lots of anime clothing when you hit the convention after parties as well. Anime fashion is known to get conversations started and meet interesting people at conventions.

Join Cosplay Costume Groups

Some people take the plunge and arrive to their very first conventions in full cosplay regalia. Cosplay is a lot of fun, but there is more to this activity than just dressing up like superheroes or Pokémon characters. The cosplay community is strong, inclusive and always waiting to welcome new members. If your first convention is a few weeks away, you may want to search online for local cosplay groups whose members are also going. They might be sticking to a certain costume theme that you could participate in too.

Proudly Display Your Otaku Roots

One of the coolest aspects of comic con is that they serve as a meeting point for people with diverse interests. If you are more into video games than anime or comic books, you can certainly dress according to your otaku status. When comic book and sci-fi conventions started getting popular in the 1980s, many people dressed in Star Trek uniforms, but others simply wore Atari ball caps. In 2018, retro gaming fashion is among the hottest convention trends, so you may want to dust off that old Nintendo backpack.

In the end, spending some a little time and effort in your first convention outfit could go a long way in meeting new people. Keep in mind that respect, more than clothing, is the bonding element of the communities that attend these gatherings.

December 29, 2017 by Rami Haber

6 Ways Digital Signage Can Supercharge the Event Experience

Business

Events provide a feast for all the senses to enjoy. Companies are continually trying to find ways to improve the attendee’s overall experience. One way is by integrating digital signage.

Signage is not just there to provide advertising space; it can also be used to provide vital information for event participants and help them become more engaged. A professional audio visual company lists some of the possible uses for digital signage:

1. Advertise the event

You can cut down on printing marketing material by designing signage that feature vital information about the event such as schedules of games, lineups of speakers, lists of movies playing, current promotions and a list of upcoming events.

The above display signage can be distributed around the venue. By integrating touchscreen technology, attendees can have access to all the information they need. No need to go look for staff to get answers.

2. Increase attendance

Massive LED screens can allow attendees to see and enjoy the action from even the farthest seats. People who attend the live event will also get to view exclusive content that is not shown on television or even live cable. When it comes to sporting games, this includes high resolution videos of player statistics, interviews, replays and closeups of the various teams and players.

3. Provide directions

Digital signage can be used to direct people to where they need to go. For instance, stadium parking lots can utilize signage to inform drivers which floor has available slots and where these are specifically located.

They can also be used to indicate the quickest way towards the seats, bathrooms, concession stands and other integral parts of the event venue.

4. Keep attendees updated during the event

There will be moments when you will need to leave your seat to go to the bathroom or the concession stand. Imagine seeing a long line of people, each one patiently waiting for their turn to get inside the bathroom or buy food. Each minute you wait, you are missing an important part of the concert or live performance. By placing digital signage in certain areas inside the venue, patrons won’t miss another minute of the action.

Another application is to use the signage to post any changes in the event. LED screens and electronic displays can be used to display changes in the schedule, lineup of speakers, rooms and more. The information can be updated at any time throughout the day, which makes it easier to disseminate the new details to the audience.

5. Get fans excited before and after the main event

Micro events and activities can be organized before and after the main event. Digital signage can be used to keep people hyped for the game, concert or alternative event. For instance, you can allocate an area outside the main stadium where you can place massive LED displays, a stage, lights and a sound system.

Hire a host or play music or games with the crowd. This festive atmosphere can add to the immersive experience and make people want to stay around longer.

6. Interact with audiences

Use your digital signage to connect with event attendees. You can have an app developed specifically for the event where attendees can post their comments. An alternative is to encourage people to post updates on your brand’s social media accounts such as Facebook or Twitter. They could also use these online channels to post photos or videos or even answer polls. During the event, the content can be posted on the LED screen or digital signage. This can make participants feel more engaged and part of the action. Plus, making good use of this user content can help increase the buzz for the event.

The use of digital display technology can be applied to almost any type of event; these are only a few examples. If you are planning to organize an event, try some of these tips to see what works. The end goal is to create a live event experience more memorable for attendees.