Interacting with Cosplayers: A Short Guide

The Basics

  • Our friendly neighborhood mangree.

    Be respectful: Cosplayers are just regular people, no matter who or what they’re dressed as. If it would be disrespectful to say or do to a regular person, then you shouldn’t say or do it to a cosplayer either!

  • Ask before touching: Sometimes cosplayers don’t want to be touched, and if their costume is harder to see or hear in, touching them without warning can be especially startling. Likewise, if you want a photo with a cosplayer but you’d rather not be touched, let them know.

Taking Photos

  • Remember to keep our photo policy in mind: You can find it at https://mysterium.net/policies/#photos
  • Ask before taking photos: Although photography and recording are expected at Mysterium it is courteous to ask beforehand. Sharing photos with the costumers afterward is encouraged.
  • Be mindful of your surroundings: asking for photos in narrow corridors, doorways, and other high-traffic areas, or during ongoing panels, can be disruptive to others. Try to find open, less busy areas to pause for photos.

Safety Stuff

  • Be careful: Cosplayers put a lot of time and effort into their costumes, and it can be difficult to fix damaged parts in the middle of a convention, so don’t be rough with them.
    • Food and drink are prohibited in the convention space, but outside, make sure food and drinks are covered and set aside before interacting with a cosplayer to avoid spills.
    • For costumes with long skirts, tails, etc. touching the ground, make sure to watch your step around them. You risk damaging costumes and tripping up the cosplayer or others.
  • Costume pieces that cover the head or face can make it harder for the wearer to see/hear what’s around them.
    • Try to approach from the front, and stay in front of the cosplayer while talking to them. Approaching from the side or back could startle or cause them to bump into you.
    • Speak loudly and clearly to make sure they can hear you. Hand gestures (e.g. holding out your arms to ask for a hug, miming a camera to ask for a photo) can be helpful.