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| Afonso Judicibus, as genderbend Elsa, Frozen, presenting his workshop about Genderbend Cosplay at CCPT22' Cosplay Experience |
Choosing what to wear for ComicCon Portugal 2022 was a major indecision on my part, and, one month before, I really didn't want to go. Last year CCPT was a big turn down, because of how things were organised, I didn't take any cosplay, and was happy with my decision. I also wasn't in the mood to pay about €120 for something I wasn't interested in, but the Cosplay Experience got a major upgrade this year, with at least two workshops every day, two Cosplay competions: Heróis do Cosplay Performance and Heróis do Cosplay Makers, and a few other activities. In short, I HAD to go. Thesis oblige.
Then came the security restrictions announcement. A few not so reasonable items were forbidden: water bottles, soda bottles, food, snacks, umbrellas, to name a few. I don't go anywhere without my water bottle, and the weather prediction was rain, a lot of it. I have a small trick to smuggle stuff into these places, carry them in the pockets, as they usually only search bags. As usual, most cosplay costumes don't have big pockets, and most of mine are somewhat water resistant, but not pouring rain resistant. Initially, I was thinking about taking the Hokuto Mad Hatter cosplay, but the shoes are lined with fabric, not really adequate to walk on puddles. I also only finished one piece out of six of the Foxy Lady cosplay. Couldn't take that one either. After a lot of indecision and a bit of anger, I decided to take normal clothes, but trying to keep it on theme, so I took my Sewing Woes dress, my new Sailor dress, and tried to always take something I sewed myself.
I watched all the workshops, took notes, watched both competitions, and also took notes. There was also a small cosplay exhibit at the cosplay area and a table selling prints and other merchandise by the Cosplayers involved in the workshops. The Thursday and Friday workshops were very interesting, quite promising, but the weekend's workshops were a bit weaker, especially those in the morning. I don't know the criteria for either choosing the workshops or scheduling them, I only know one needed to apply a few months before (I missed the deadline), but it was a pity that they started very strong and then only went downhill, in terms of content quality. The good thing about this was, Thursday and Friday it was much quieter inside, so there was much less information loss on the better presentations.
As a complementary Cosplay area, there was an enclosed space with a photography studio and vestiaries, where Cosplayers could have their photo taken, change into their costumes or have something repaired at the SOS Cosplay. As far as I could notice, it was always busy.
In short, in spite of all the negatives and lack of will to attend, I was determined to have fun, and I did! Met new cosplayers, had interesting chats with a bunch of them, and enjoyed the Cosplay Experience very much. Both competitions were really good, although, as part of the audience, it's much easier to determine who are the winners of the performance competition than of the makers, as one doesn't really see how well made or not are the costumes from afar.
+ I had fun, and the Cosplay Experience delivered as promised.
- the price and unreasonable security measures made me decide I won't be attending CCPT again, unless something changes or I get paid to go.
THE CUNNING PLAN
Finish writing the Events chapter on my thesis.
