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[Buddycat]

The general Science Fiction and Fantasy costuming community has taken notice of the huge number of people who make and wear costumes at anime cons. The design and attention to detail that anime fans give to their outfits is very impressive. All of us would love more of you to come to the general SF cons to show off your stuff, and more of you starting to do so.

Now, if you love costuming as a form of artistic expression almost as much as you like dressing as your favorite character, then you might enjoy Costume-Con. It's 4 days of all costuming - all the time. You can learn a lot at instructional panels, meet other costumers from different backgrounds (fiber art, historical, SF, SCA, etc.), and see some dynamite costumes.

For more information, please visit us at www.cc25.net.

Can't wait that long? Costume-Con 24 will be in Des Moines, Iowa, Memorial Day Weekend this year. You can find out more at: http://cc24.dmsfs.org/.

[supergeekgirl]

Gah! Costume-Con in STL!? Yippee!! Now if we just got Worldcon, that would make it perfect!

Well, we need an anime convention, too... as St. Louis is severely lacking in those.

[Buddycat]

Are you aware there's going to be a one day affair in April for anime fans? Maryville College folks are putting it on.

[supergeekgirl]

Originally Posted by Buddycat

Are you aware there's going to be a one day affair in April for anime fans? Maryville College folks are putting it on.

Of course I know... but I'm kind of sketchy on the details. Do you know a lot about it?

[khenemetset]

Originally Posted by Buddycat

Are you aware there's going to be a one day affair in April for anime fans? Maryville College folks are putting it on.

Yeah, um it would be nice if they would be a little more vocal about it so people who want to come will come. I only found out about it by sheer luck to be honest. Maybe someone for the anime club there needs to come here and post something about it. Just a suggestion

As to Costume Con, man, I would love to go to it since it'll be like 15 or 20 minutes away from me but I don't think I can afford to go to it sadly.

[Buddycat]

Originally Posted by khenemetset

Yeah, um it would be nice if they would be a little more vocal about it so people who want to come will come. I only found out about it by sheer luck to be honest. Maybe someone for the anime club there needs to come here and post something about it. Just a suggestion

As to Costume Con, man, I would love to go to it since it'll be like 15 or 20 minutes away from me but I don't think I can afford to go to it sadly.

I don't believe we've posted the details yet, but we're near having a no-frills Student rate that might make it more affordable for you.

Also, we will be awarding a free membership to the most promising Novice at Archon's masqurade this year. That doesn't mean it may be the Best Novice, but possibly.

[Buddycat]

Ever wanted to design an original costume for your favorite anime character? Or, how about just do something different and create an anime-inspired ensemble? Here's your opprotunity - it's the Costume-Con 25 Future Fashion Follio! Go here for details: http://www.cc25.net/FFF.htm. Want to see what's been done in the past? Visit http://www.costume-con.org/CClink/index.shtml, click one of the past conventions and click the Entries link for the Future Fashion Show. Drawing ability is not really a requirement!

For more info on what a Future Fashion Folio is, go here: http://www.alleycatscratch.com/ffashion/

[khenemetset]

Originally Posted by Buddycat

I don't believe we've posted the details yet, but we're near having a no-frills Student rate that might make it more affordable for you.

It's a nice idea to have a student rate, but that won't help me out sadly as I'm not a student anymore. ^_^ But, it's good to hear all the same.

[Buddycat]

It should be mentioned that we will have one day rates.

[Buddycat]

CC25 hopes to present free memberships to Costume-Con 25 to the Best Novice or Most Promising Novie entries at select convention maquerades this year. The tentative schedule is as follows:

Demicon
LA CON
Archon
Lunacon
MidSouthCon
Philcon
Capricon
CC24
MileHiCon
ConQuesT (Kansas City)

We are investigating the possibility of a couple of anime cons as well - subject to confirmation. We'll announce them here when we know for sure.

This is a $95 value, which includes all publications, including the Future Fashion Folio. Winners photos will be posted on CC25 website (www.cc25.net) as part of the "Hell Freezes Over Tour" featured "acts".

[CapsuleCorp]

Man, that would be wonderful except 1) I'm so not a student anymore and 2) I'm not a Novice anymore either! I'm Journeyman-Master level. And I STILL can't afford CostumeCon, even if it's that close. (Iowa's closer, but I have a wedding to go to that weekend) I hadn't intended on competing at Archon, but even if I do, I won't be allowed at Novice level. SIGH.

Why *does* CostumeCon always have to be so expensive? I would love to go, and get the benefit of rubbing elbows with other experienced adult costumers like myself, but I'm poor. I can afford anime cons, but not world-level cons.

[Buddycat]

Originally Posted by CapsuleCorp

Man, that would be wonderful except 1) I'm so not a student anymore and 2) I'm not a Novice anymore either! I'm Journeyman-Master level. And I STILL can't afford CostumeCon, even if it's that close. (Iowa's closer, but I have a wedding to go to that weekend) I hadn't intended on competing at Archon, but even if I do, I won't be allowed at Novice level. SIGH.

Why *does* CostumeCon always have to be so expensive? I would love to go, and get the benefit of rubbing elbows with other experienced adult costumers like myself, but I'm poor. I can afford anime cons, but not world-level cons.

Thank you for asking this question, as we get this a lot.

Mainly, it's a question of numbers. The usual reason that anime cons and general SF cons are cheaper is because they deal in volume, volume, volume. That brings down the cost per person. Also, CC is a travelling convention, hosted by different groups of people each time (historically, but not restricted to, an ICG chapter). There is no base of funds from previous cons to build on - most are lucky to break even or clear a couple of grand.

The largest CC was CC8, back in 1990, with about 900 attendees. The smallest was somewhere around 180 or so. The more people you can promise the hotel, the better deal you get. If you're lucky, the hotel will let you have meeting space for free if you can produce a certain number of room nights. They always charge you for catering, so you can't bring yoiur own food in. There's all sorts of ways they can get you. This seems to be more prevalent on the Coasts than in the Midwest, but not always. More so when it's in a downtown hotel.

CC also produces a Future Fashion Folio each year (http://www.cc25.net/FFF.htm) and is given to every paid member of the convention. That's probably a grand or two off the top, depending on who publishes it. Add the pubs and you're up to another grand or two. There's also possible equipment rental for the Tech Crew.

So all that has to be built into our costs.


To be honest, many of the people who go to CC are in the same boat as you. We share expenses with 1 or 2 other people, which brings down our average expenses (not counting food, etc.) quite a bit. And in turn, Worldcon is making it more and more expensive to go to, pricing many costumers out of it. There's a fear that one day WC will decide it's no longer cost-effective to have a masquerarde, and that would be a shame.

The best advice I can give you is when you hear about a CC, buy your membership immediately after the bid is accepted as the official site. That's when you get the cheapest rate. Ours was $40 when we became official (I think). Procrastination costs.

As for competing at Archon, I wouldn't worry about competing as a Journeyman. The level of competition varies wildly from year to year. The only tough place is the Masters, where it's getting quite crowded. But you shouldn't be concerned about winning something - it's more important to have fun and entertain Archon's enthusiastic, pro-costumer audience.

[CapsuleCorp]

Pro-costumer audience, eh? That sounds like something I can get behind.

Your explanation makes a lot of sense. I understand now, even if it doesn't make it any more possible for me to attend. I would very much like to, believe me I would. Next time, I won't procrastinate when there's even a ghost of a chance of it being anywhere near me (Chicago, then Des Moines, and now St. Louis). Thanks! Much appreciated!

[Buddycat]

You're welcome. Hopefully, your financial staus will improve with time. I udnerstand that there's a bid for a Minnesota location in 3 - 4 years.

[khenemetset]

Originally Posted by Buddycat

It should be mentioned that we will have one day rates.

Any idea on what these 'one day rates' will be? Just curious, not that it'll make it an option for me to go or anything.