So, I guess I should talk about where I was for the last two weeks. Give some explanation to the people that took notice that I was less active than normal (if people did even notice).
The last two weekends, I’ve been doing nothing but con-going. It so happened my friend (the Zoidberg in the bottom corner) won a weekend pass to another con in KC and so I went with him. I was able to get most of my McCree cosplay done in time for it. However, as you can also see, my chestplate was at different stages of build in a few pictures, the pictures with the weathering and piping on the sides being the more recent con and update.
The top photo is courtesy of SilveScotty Photography on Facebook and despite the fact that my chaps had broken and I was having a heat stroke, it turned out pretty damn cool. And look how pristine and beautiful that chestplate is before I weathered the shit out of it (lol).
P.S. I know I’m missing my chaps, they kept falling apart and I’m still having difficulties with them (lol).
My further con experiences are under the cut!
The first convention I attended was Sausomecon in Kansas City. It was a smaller convention, only it’s third year but granted, it was still a good time. It was a nice practice run for McCree for the following weekend. Despite having low attendance and a small vendors room, I actually really enjoyed this con because my favorite part of conventions is talking to people. And since it was so small, I was able to really stop and talk to vendors as well as the cosplay guests. One group that was asked to come and put on some panels stopped me on Sunday actually (while I was in my Star-Lord cosplay) and asked me if I had been the McCree the day prior. I said yes, of course, and the female half of the cosplay group physically came up and hugged me and started asking me all of these questions about how long I’d been cosplaying and how I made my builds, etc. It was just… a really humbling experience to be praised by professional cosplayers like that. When I told them that I one day hopped to be on their level, they were so hyped and supportive and gave me their cards if I ever had any questions about anything.
The second convention I attended this last weekend was O! Comic Con in Omaha. Again, it’s a young convention but attendance was pretty high. They’re working the kinks out of how everything operates but, again, it was overall a good time. The vendors room was amazing and I literally spent most of my money on Overwatch art drawn by the artists there. It was great all three days, all three cosplays going over well (Rey on Friday, McCree on Saturday, Star-Lord on Sunday). I made a bunch of new friends that I’ll probably see at the next convention and I can’t wait to go! There was supposed to be an Overwatch shoot actually but I literally got there just as they were finishing up. A lot of people were disappointed but I said it was fine and just brushed it off (as was typical of a real McCree).
There was also another McCree cosplayer there as well! However… unfortunately… he was a bit rude to me. Granted, I was taller than him by half a foot and his chest armor was a little less complex and less three dimensional than mine. Regardless of that, he started pointing out stuff that was wrong with my cosplay. Just… in general I got the whole “girl v boy gamer” vibe from him that I couldn’t like McCree or Overwatch. Not to mention that I’m… well, I wasn’t looking like my typical hot dumpster fire. I felt pretty for once and (astoundingly enough) had people reaffirming this at both Sausomecon and O! Comic Con. I walked away from the interaction with discouragement and a heavy heart.
I’ve also learned from the last two experiences that long and free hair is too fucking hot for McCree so it’s going to be in a thick braid next time because it was humid af and my straight hair couldn’t hang for long with how much I was sweating.
Weirdly enough, kinda mentioned before, I was getting a lot of comments on me instead of the cosplay which was an absolute first i.e. as I was walking down an aisle in the vendors room at O!: “That… is a very fine McCree.” I nearly died and instead started walking fast, my spurs jingling the whole way.
a Genji needing to have a selfie with me after having posed in a picture with me an hour or so prior
a random dude needing both a full portrait picture and then a selfie with me because “it would make his buddy so jealous to have met a female McCree” like he physically got off the phone with said buddy to take a picture with me
Was walking by a group of boys at Sausomecon and heard “I mean, I would have never thought I would want to f*** McCree… but now…”
Someone said I had really pretty eyes
Said I was the perfect example for a genderswap for McCree
But that’s all beside the point. Regardless of all that and the confidence boosters, the experiences made it all worth it especially with the children attending.
What stood out the most was that there was this little black girl dressed as Wonder Woman and I just remember that she had been staring at me as I walked passed and not wanting to startle her, I just smiled and waved. She did take a half step back into her momma’s leg but instead she just looked up at me and squeaked out a “Who are you?” I replied appropriately and told her I was McCree and got down on her level (she couldn’t have been older than four years old). And then I said that didn’t matter because she was Wonder Woman. And let me tell you, I’ve never seen a bigger smile on someone’s face. So we talked a bit and her mom ended up just asking me for a picture regardless of not knowing who I was and I let the little girl hold Peacekeeper (which was bigger than like half her torso) and that… that’s why I go to conventions. Whether I make people happy with my cosplays or make children feel special in theirs, that’s why I go.
