Cosplay at Thought Bubble

comic Convention

Join the THOUGHT BUBBLE COSPLAY parade!

It's time to celebrate cosplay! Whether your cosplay is homemade, store bought or a bit of both, we want to embrace it and the best way to do that is to strut your stuff on the stage as part of our annual Cosplay Parade hosted by the amazing Kofi Smiles.

As well as the opportunity to show off your amazing cosplay, everyone taking part will be entered into a raffle to win some incredible prizes kindly provided by Diamond Comics. To sign up all you need to do is head to the Cosplay sign up desk by the Dead Northern Stage at the times below. There you will write down your name and character next to a number. This number is important as it will be put into the prize draw. Then get ready to parade your cosplay in front of a supportive and excited crowd.

We look forward to seeing you and your awesome cosplay there! All welcome, no age limit.

Cosplay Guidelines

Please note, these guidelines are advice only, and any specific issues on the day we’ll address on a case by case basis. Remember, our volunteers are always there to help, so please do look out for a member of our red-shirted team, and ask if there’s anything you need, or if you have any questions.

Here at Thought Bubble, we welcome and admire the endless creativity of cosplayers at our event, and cannot wait to see the creations and characters you will bring to our comic con. We want everyone to have as fun a time as possible, but we do ask for you to kindly abide by the few rules that we do set out and think carefully about your costume, props and their place within the comic con.

Coverage/Costume Type

Regardless of gender identification, no bare chests or buttocks please.

Costumes replicating military, police or official law enforcement wear must be identifiable as a costume, and not seen as an impersonation, as this is illegal.

We do not allow symbols or actions of hate or prejudice, whether on costumes or not. Hate, in general, is frowned upon at Thought Bubble. We’re lovers, not haters.

The use of make-up or prosthetics to change your skin colour to that of another realistic race is not tolerated at Thought Bubble.

Cosplayers are welcome and should be made to feel welcome at Thought Bubble regardless of how much of their costume is handmade.

Size and Construction

Your costume can be any size and shape but please be aware that all indoor areas will have doors approx 3ft wide and 6ft tall.

Costumes must have no sharp edges or hard pointy bits that could cause injury. Metal, wood and professionally constructed costumes are allowed, but they must have properly finished edges.

If you are in any doubt, please drop us a line before the event, and if it’s right before the event, it’s better to err on the side of caution.

Weapons and Props

Certain props may not be approved inside the convention halls. If your prop is large or deemed unfit for the busy indoor areas please be aware that we may ask to store it while you’re walking around the comic con.

No BB guns, paintball guns, spray canisters, replica or actual weapons, nor anything of the like. Our comic con site is in a busy city centre location so this is a requirement, not just from us, but from the local police. Any realistic weapon must be entirely brightly coloured.

Your “weapon” or prop is your responsibility and should not, in any circumstance, be left unattended. Anything left unattended may be removed, damaged or destroyed by the police.

We advise that:

All weapon props should be kept sheathed, holstered or stowed while walking around and only drawn for photographs and controlled performance – Thought Bubble takes place in public areas, and we don’t want to be scaring any of the general populace.
All weapon props (and props in general) be constructed from lightweight materials such as cardboard or foam and should be light enough to be lifted easily with one hand.
Brightly coloured store-bought plastic toys are fine so long as they conform to British Standards.

Behaviour

As an organisation, Thought Bubble trusts that you will act responsibly in your costume. However, if, at any point, you or anyone else is deemed to be acting irresponsibly we reserve the right to ask you to leave the event, and, in more serious cases, impose bans from our future events.

Photography, Recordings and Consent

By attending Thought Bubble you are consenting to being recorded. This includes being photographed, filmed, sound recorded and appearing on camera. As part of this we also require all of our guests, press and attendees to be respectful of you; you are within your right to refuse documentation.

For general reference our rules for the above are:

Everyone should be treated with respect, at all times;
Express permission should be granted by the subject/s for individual and small group photographs;
Cosplay is not consent – be respectful, and be nice.

If at any time during your stay with us you’re made to feel uncomfortable, or the actions of others are stopping you having fun, please let one of our team know – they’ll all be in bright red t-shirts, and clearly identified as staff, and they’ll be happy to help. Please do try and let us know at the time, if you’re able – it’s much harder for us to take action after the fact, but if you do have an issue that you’d like to bring up outside of our events, please drop us a line.

THE FINAL SAY

Thought Bubble Festival staff and/or the Local Authorities will have the final say on any person, prop or costume. We expect reasonable cooperation from you and will work with you to ensure the best outcome for all, but please do stick within the guidelines detailed above. We’re a friendly team, and ultimately we want you and everyone else to have an awesome time at Thought Bubble!

Check out these amazing

BSL for Cosplayers

videos by Lilist Prince

Learn the basics of signing common cosplay terms, talking about how you make your costumes, asking permission to take photos and much more!

Watch the full playlist here

Cosplay FAQ

Do I have to enter the cosplay parade if I buy a cosplay ticket?

Nope! If you want to just attend the comic convention in cosplay just for fun, no problem!

Do I have to wear a wristband when I’m cosplaying?

Yes. It has to be visible at all times and must be worn around your wrist. It cannot be attached to props instead. You only get one wristband at the comic con and you must wear it at all times, otherwise you will be refused entry into venues.

Do you allow imitation weapons as part of cosplay outfits?

If you intend to bring a replica weapon we require that it is entirely brightly coloured (as opposed to just having a bright orange safety tip). Anything with the size and shape of a real firearm could be considered a threat by the police and warrant a response, so this policy is in place so we can avoid this situation entirely. Please read the cosplay guidelines for more details and, if in doubt, leave your imitation weapons at home.