Hydrate/Eat/Sleep/Repeat! I cannot tell you how important this without stressing the fact that you will learn after the first con. I heard this multiple times before my first, and let me tell you with all the excitement and amazing things a convention brings you tend to forget the important things while attending your first con. This is where the term 'con plague' comes into play. At conventions you spend 90% of your time walking/standing. And, in most cases, your costumes only help speed up the dehydration process. It is SO important that you drink lots of water at a con. Not soda. Not coffee. Not an energy drink. I'm talking water. Bring a few bottles or a reusable one. My philosophy is if you are walking, and you see a water station, take a quick drink. You don't need to down a glass every station, don't get me wrong. Simply help your body to a quick swig and move along. This along with ACTUALLY eating at a con will drastically help reduce the risk of getting the con plague. The other important factor I would like to offer my advise on is to be sure you get sleep. Chances are, if you are like most of us, you don't spend your entire day walking/standing, so your body is in for a little shock. Offer it some comfort in the form of sleep. It's recommend you get (at the very least!) 6 hours a night at con (Fri/Sat). Far too many people push there body hard and it's really not healthy. You may be used to staying up into the late hours of the night gaming/chatting/watching anime but at a con you have walked/stood almost all day. You have been active. And you don't want to sleep in to noon while at con. Also, please shower. Daily. I'm talking Friday night, after you take your costume off, and Saturday night. Some people shower twice a day. But not showing at all at a con makes it rather unpleasant to be around you. Once you smell 'the con funk' you won't forget it...trust me. Most of all have fun! Cosplaying and attending conventions is seriously one of the most exciting things I have ever done with me life! It's helped me to make lasting friendships, get out of my shell more, and experience/learn new things. We are a family, so if you ever need help at con don't be afraid to approach a cosplayer or staff for help! I am dropping a personal invitation to you to check out the cosplayingcommunity.com forums. Most of our members attend conventions like Minneapolis, Midwest, Acen, Matsuricon, and so on. We do online and offline events, and focus on being a family-style community. Let me know if you have any more questions! http://cosplayingcommunity.com

Great place to make friends who attend conventions like midwest: http://cosplayingcommunity.com

Make sure this goes through staff, a switch, if it happens. I would hate to see an artist denied a table 'given' to them by another that was not approved and run through proper channels. Be safe! :D

Hello! If anyone is going as any Animal Crossing characters for Anime Midwest, we should meet up and take photos! I will be Leif all weekend most likely so let me know if any of you will be other characters!

Hello there! Personally I love Pinky Paradise's contact lenses! I have heard good things about Honeycolored as well though, but never purchased a set from them. http://www.pinkyparadise.com/?Click=74405 I own four pairs from PP: GEO Blue, GEO Red, Sharingan, and GEO Aqua. I will link you to PP so you can check them out, but keep in mind this is my personal favorite and my opinion. My lenses are comfortable and I am still using them a year after purchasing. You just need to take good care of them, just like your eyes! Make sure you visit your Eye doctor first to get proper measurements of your eyes! If you have any further questions feel free to contact me here, via cosplayingcommunity.com, or email happycosplayer@gmail.com Can't wait to see your genderbent cosplay!

Please if we can have guests Sean Schemmel and Chris Sabat COME to the Anime Midwest since Chuck Huber will be there. It would be good to have Vic Mignogna as well.