If you've always wanted to cosplay your favourite character but never knew where to start, you're in the right place. Whether the character you want to cosplay is from an anime, a comic book, or even a Disney film, here are the answers to some of your questions, provided by highly experienced cosplayers of Bangladesh.

What are some of the things I need to consider before deciding on cosplaying?

"You should think about how much you know about the character, whether you have enough time on your hands to finish the cosplay before the event you plan to go to and also how much (money) you can spend on that particular costume," advises Kazi Nabila, cosplayer since 2013.

Where can I get my costume from?

You have two options: Buy the costume online or make it yourself. Most cosplayers in Bangladesh prefer the latter. For the fabrics, make a trip to Mouchak Market in Malibagh for cheap, and sometimes rare, fabrics. You could also opt for New Market; for latex, head to Nazira Bazar, Old Dhaka. You can find other materials like spray paint, hard boards etc. at a store called "Aowal" at Bata Signal circle. If your character has black or brown hair, you can find wigs at Gausia. However, for wigs of other colours and entire costumes in general, order from Facebook groups that specialise in costumes like "3 Otaku Store" or "Aoi Sakura". Or just use any other method you prefer for shopping online. 

How do I make my own costume?

This depends on what kind of costume you want since there are a lot of types: fabric-based, light armour, full armour, full armour with wings and stilts just to name a few. In general, cosplayer Tanvir Hossain Jesan, who has done around 40 cosplays till now, advises that you follow four rules, "It (the costume): 1. Has to be cheap, 2. Has to be durable, 3. Has to be portable, and 4. Cannot waste more than 10 to 15 hours of your time in the actual making process." 

You can sew your costume yourself or take help from friends or relatives. Jesan shares his way of making a costume: "I try to make an assembly line. I usually book a few rooms in my house for a few days. I keep my room for storage, the balcony serves as the painting area, the living room becomes the main building area, and the guest room is where I put all the finished products."

You can follow any order you are comfortable with, but make sure you keep reference photos of all parts of the costume you want to make and maintain lists to stay organised. 

How long does it take to make one costumE?

This depends on how complicated your costume is. It could take 2-3 days, or even weeks. It is recommended that you start planning everything at least a month before the convention. 

Is there anything I need to look out for on the day of cosplaying?

If your costume is too big, you might find yourself having transport issues as it won't fit into cars or auto-rickshaws. Also, people at conventions usually like to touch your costume, and this might make it fall apart. To prevent these things from happening, make sure to follow the four rules mentioned earlier. "Also, carry some things as a safety measure, like safety pins, hot gun glue, super glue, scotch tape, paint etc." adds Kazi Nabila. 

If you can, bring friends to the convention since they can help you carry extra materials or even your props when you need to take a bit of rest. Remember, these are day-long events and you will get tired at some point. Organisers are usually quite helpful so don't hesitate to ask them for help and report anything you don't like. 

What are cosplay competitions like?

"Cosplayers have to get on the stage and the judges will ask questions about the characters and the costumes, like why they've selected that particular character," answers Kazi Nafisa Rashed, cosplayer since 2013. Usually the prizes are given out as: first prize for heavy armour, second for light armour and third for fabric-based. As for prize money, first prize is BDT 10,000 to 15,000. Second is BDT 5,000 to 10,000 and third is BDT 3,000 to 5,000 at most competitions. 

What tips would you give to cosplay competition participants? 

"Go for your passion. It doesn't matter whether you cosplay a superhero or a Disney princess, it's all about how you portray the character and bring it to life. Passion always wins. Another advice would be to enjoy yourself while cosplaying rather than focusing on only the competition," answers Kazi Nabila.

What can I gain from the overall experience? 

"It improves your improvisation and communication skills. It gives you the courage to go out in public and perform in front of them. You gain a lot of crafting skills and you learn how to properly use many tools. Most importantly, you make some good friends along the way," answers Jesan.

What am I even waiting for?

I have the same question. If you want to cosplay, stop hesitating and just go for it!

Mayabee Arannya is a confused soul still searching for a purpose. Give her advice on life at facebook.com/mayabee.arannya