This book provides a broad and detailed glimpse into the ingenious artistry and attention to detail behind some of the most fabulous costumes you can find.

This book will help young readers discover how a little education, practice, and networking can bring their cosplay game to the next level. Part acting, part design, and part promotion, becoming a professional cosplayer will also result in many friends and admirers, not to mention sparkling LEDs, brilliant metalwork, and perfectly spiked hair.

Cosplay, a blend of costume and play, has taken off in popularity around the world. This entertaining and enlightening volume introduces readers to the wide and vivid cosplay world. They will learn the history of this creative outlet and how some people have taken this colorful and whimsical hobby and made it into a lucrative business. Whether the reader is interested in costumes, makeup, acting, photography, or another aspect of cosplay, this book provides inspirational yet practical examples of people who have made careers out of creative cosplay.

Television, Social Media, and Fan Culture examines how fans use social media to engage with television programming, characters, and narrative as well as how television uses social media to engage fan cultures. The contributors review the history and impact of social media and television programming; analyze specific programs and the impact of related social media interactions; and scrutinize the past fan culture to anticipate how social media programming will develop in the future. The contributors explore a diverse array of television personalities, shows, media outlets, and fan activities in their analysis, including: Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Paula Deen; Community, Game of Thrones, Duck Dynasty, Toddlers and Tiaras, Talking Dead, Breaking Bad, Firefly, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Army Wives, The Newsroom, Doctor Who, Twin Peaks, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; as well as ESPN’s TrueHoop Network and Yahoo’s Ball Don’t Lie; and cosplay.

Costumed characters transform ordinary amusement parks into magical settings where princesses, superheroes, and more come to life. This lively guide helps creative teens looking to mix fun and work become a part of this essential theme park experience. Teens will learn how to land a role-playing job, performing in character with guests or onstage. Also covered are the many areas in which teens can exercise their interests away from the spotlight. Readers will learn how to leverage such skills as acting, dancing, and sewing to nail an interview, audition, or future career in or out of the theme park environment.

1,000 Incredible Costume and Cosplay Ideas provides a broad and detailed glimpse into the ingenious artistry and attention to detail behind some of the most fabulous costumes you can find. Featuring costumes from popular convention-goers to professional craftsman, this stunning, photo-filled book by Joey Marsocci and Allison DeBlasio of Dr. Grymm Laboratories walks you through scads of your favorite characters as imagined and created by fans.

If you think only Hollywood and Broadway costume designers can do spectacular, think again! A gallery of stunning and inspiring cosplay photography. 1000 Incredible Costume and Cosplay Ideas provides a broad and detailed glimpse into the ingenious artistry and attention to detail behind some of the most fabulous costumes you’ll find anywhere . . . and most of them are designed by just regular folks who have a passion for the character they’re looking to emulate. From clothing to makeup to accessories, these costumes are like nothing you’ve seen before. Featuring costumes from popular convention-goers to professional craftsmen, this stunning, photo-filled book by Joey Marsocci and Allison DeBlasio of Dr. Grymm Laboratories and Yaya Han walks you through scads of favorite characters as imagined and created by fans. Use it as inspiration for your next costume creation!

Cosplay, comics, anime, and geek culture have exploded into the mainstream over recent years and have resulted in a thriving community of costume enthusiasts and pop culture fans. Today’s cosplayers find inspiration on the pages of comics, classic literature, and even history, as well as film, television, and video games to inform their creative and oftentimes elaborate ensembles. They utilize all manner of materials and techniques including 3D printers, thermoplastics, craft foam, fabric and more to design their costumes and props. Libraries on the leading edge are already embracing this new worldwide sensation by integrating cosplay into their programming and events. Learn all about the world of cosplay and how you can host cosplay events, workshops, makerspaces, clubs, and more in your library! This one-stop guide includes quotes and interviews with librarians who are incorporating cosplay into their programming as well as with cosplayers. You’ll also find 32 full-color photographs of cosplay in action to give you both ideas and inspiration for getting started!

Fun and easy to read, this marketing and promotion guide offers you the "big picture" of how best to spend your limited funds and energy to create a successful marketing strategy—from traditional promotions such as advertising and posters to social media marketing. Robust, resilient, and flexible marketing is an absolute necessity for today's libraries. Fortunately, marketing can be fun. Through this savvy guide, you'll discover a wealth of fresh, actionable ideas and approaches that can be combined with tried-and-true marketing techniques to serve any library. Focusing on building platforms rather than chasing trends, the book offers low- and no-budget ideas for those in small libraries as well as information that can be used by libraries that have a staff of professionals. The guide opens with an overview of the basics of marketing and continues through the numerous channels that should be incorporated into a modern-day marketing strategy mix. Branding, merchandising, and media relations are covered, as are social media, new technologies, fundraising, and advocacy. You'll also learn how to use tools such as data-driven information gathering and email segmentation to help your library compete and stay relevant. Perfect for beginners, the book will be equally useful to seasoned communicators who are looking for creative ideas, new techniques, and innovative approaches to boost the effectiveness of their existing marketing efforts.