I'm finally getting together a panel submission request out to my local convention so I can teach others about how to make creature costumes... but it's a hellva lot of work. I need the help of anyone and everyone I can get! *panics*

So what can you do?

First off if you have any experience in making costumes (I don't care if you've only made one and it sucked) please feel free to inform me what sort of invaluable lessons you've learned along the way, what you wish you knew starting out, and any suggestions to me about how to run my panel or what to cover. If you haven't made any costumes or have questions for those who do or any other suggestions, please send them my way! Please comment on this journal if you have anything to add. I did post a poll earlier this month asking for input... but the more I have the better. Can't hurt to ask again.

I am in need of example pictures and references. I have only made a few costumes and it's simply not enough to cover what is necessary to properly demonstrate certain aspects of costuming. Because I need to get permission from artists themselves, I first want to ask if anyone is willing to allow me use of their costume photos in my presentation.

I am in need of both good and bad examples of costumes. If you've made an absolutely horrible suit, by all means allow me to use it to show others what not to do XD I am most interested in any video game or anime creatures because this is for an anime convention... but other suits are totally fine too. Work in progress and finished pictures, including any concept art would be awesome. If I don't have enough content then I'll be going around to other artists asking them permission to showcase their art directly.

One last thing I'll be needing from you: an audience. In the next month or so after I've gotten most of my panel together, I am going to host a test-run of my panel over Livestream. It will be a virtual panel! This will give me the most accurate feeling of how it will run and what I need to improve on with immediate feedback from all of you. I may be splitting up my panel into several different areas because the concept of costuming is so broad. I'll announce when this will be and you're welcome to sit through the whole thing or pop in very so often. As a bonus you'll get to have your questions answered directly as there will be time for an Q&A.

I've also been asked by many people if I will be recording the real panel at the con. The answer is yes. However I can't broadcast it live because there's no free wi-fi service available on location. But I will stream it (and it will be saved as a recording) after the con is over so you can still watch whenever you'd like.

Oh and if you want to help further, I'd love some donations. All the donations I receive will be put towards printing out handouts for attendees. If 60 people show up, that's a LOT of printing to do and a lot out of my pocket (of course I'll make these handouts available to you guys online too). And if you're attending Nan Desu Kan, I'd love to see you there! If you have anything else you can offer me please do speak up. Thanks one and all!

Narutobakasan here offering up slots for a Pokémon group picture that I will be participating in... but we need some more people!
So if you're interested in having your trainer self alongside a Pokémon companion drawn in a groupshot with mine for only $5... then get your butt over here!