In no particular order:
- It would have been faster and easier if I'd had my sewing machine.
- Amazon and ebay really are suprisingly cheap.
- Toy plastic guns that don't look like alien guns are quite hard to find.
- Staples are not your friend (not even to cheat and attach belt buckles).
- Temporary spray glue (post-it note glue!) is your friend (to fix things in place while you sew instead of using pins; to stop things falling down on the day).
- Colombia doesn't have enough types of glue (or perhaps I was just looking in the wrong shops?)
- Foam craft sheets are brilliant.
- Stencils should be stuck down (preferably using the post-it note glue) to whatever they are supposed to be covering, otherwise just trace it and use a sharpie (yes, I found out the hard way).
- Graffiti must be much harder than it looks - just spray painting a couple of knife handles and bullets was hard enough!
- Spray paint comes off plastic bullets quite easily :(
- Always have a plan B, C, and D for the construction process/materials, and for what to do if things fall off when you're in costume.
- People will pay you to have their photo taken with you! (Or would have if I'd asked... next time!)
- A large number of people will want their photo taken with you even though they have no idea who you're supposed to be dressed up as:
Spot the Black Widow...
- People who do recognise your character, and are dressed up as a "teammate" will produce the most awesome photos:
- People who are dressed up as something completely irrelevant will produce the funniest photos:
- Curly hair really suits me.
- Fake eyelashes are brilliant.
- It will take longer than you plan, but not as long as you fear.
- You will end up with both surplus, and not enough, materials for various parts of your costume.
- Wigs are fine, but real hair gets more attention.
- Getting into character really pays off (modelling job offers!).
- If you're dressed as a character who can fight, everyone will want to "fight" with you in the photos:
- Being famous for five minutes is hilarious (I've been "recognised" twice by people in the street).
- Having guns in thigh holsters is frighteningly comfortable and easy to get used to (brilliant place to rest your hands).
- Children are awed by people in costumes (OK, I already knew that, but I hadn't experienced it from this side of the relationship!)
- It's a great way to make friends who are into the same silly stuff as you.
- It's a lot of work, but it's definitely worth it!
Exitoooo!
