Exhaustion:
Depending on the length of the convention, exhaustion hits people at different times. Most cons take place over two or three days, so I find I become exhausted towards the end of the final day - before the convention has even ended. At PAX, I spent the final hours of the con sitting at my friend's art booth and contemplating the long walk to the closing ceremony. Listening to the smooth sounds of William Shatner at the final Oz Comic Con panel, I found myself wishing for a pillow and blanket so I could curl up and go to sleep.
My advice is to stick it out. You may be tempted to go home early or run off in search of more nutritious food, but you're better off finding a nice patch of floor (preferably next to a wall) and letting your body slump against it for a while. I've left cons early in the past, and I always end up regretting it. You never know what you might miss. And let's face it, you want your money's worth.
Relief:
Taking off your wig and giving your scalp a much needed scratch; ripping out your contact lenses and giving sweet, sweet oxygen to your eyeballs; or that first trickle of steaming hot water from the shower as you scrub off your make up - these are some of the most amazing feelings you experience as a cosplayer. It can be tempting to dump everything on the floor and collapse onto the nearest soft object, and that's normally what I do. However, I suggest taking the time to clean things up a little, especially wigs and contact lenses. If you're so exhausted that you can't keep your eyes open, at least lay things out neatly in a place you can come back to later. Often I will throw my stuff anywhere and it ends up staying there for months and months until I suddenly decide I REALLY NEED THAT SKIRT and I have no idea where to find it.Euphoria:
So, you're clean, fed and finally able to sit down and unpack your convention haul. You're probably still buzzing from all the excitement as you recount the events of the previous few days. Depending on how good your convention experience was, you may be on a high for a while. Photos will start to appear on social media, and you'll relive some of the most exciting moments of the con.Depression:
The more conventions I attend, the easier it becomes to deal with the post-event depression. However, it can hit people pretty hard. Returning to work after an amazing weekend of cosplay, celebrities and geeky merchandise can seem like the worst thing in the world. Before I decided to take some much needed sick leave, I was working in accounting. There is no creativity in accounting, and the idea of sitting down to enter figures into a spreadsheet, after spending the weekend with like-minded, artistic people, was horrible.When I came home from PAX Aus last year, I was in tears. It was the best convention I had ever been to, and I didn't want to leave the cultural hub that is Melbourne. I jumped on my computer and booked tickets to Armageddon. I probably shouldn't have. I didn't have the money, and I put everything on my credit card. But, having another convention to look forward to made it easier to deal with the loss of PAX.
Providing you plan in advance, there is nothing wrong with attending several cons a year. Working on new cosplays is another way to keep your mind busy. Just don't bankrupt yourself.
Acceptance:
Once you get back into your routine, the post-con depression will ease up. If your job isn't particularly exciting, try having a creative endeavour to go home to every night. Not a cosplayer? That doesn't matter. You could always help design and build costumes for other people. Learn to paint or draw. Read a book or play a video game. Be like me and start a blog.Being able to write about cosplay gets me through the boring times. I would love nothing more than to be able to create costumes and attend conventions all year, but until that dream comes true, I have to live in the real world. I've taken up blogging because writing is one of my strongest skills. Find yours, and it will get you through the boring times too.
