This past weekend, Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con celebrated its fifth year for the event at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on January 9th-11th, 2015.

The convention is a three-day event for the young and old alike, and all those who share a love (and occasional weirdness) for pop culture.

This year, there were some really special guests who graced convention-goers with their appearance; some crowd favorites were Karl Urban (Star Trek; Dredd), Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead), Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley (The Vampire Diaries), Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy; The Walking Dead), Sean Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy; Gilmore Girls), and Brett Dalton (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D).

Other highlights from this year’s convention included a great selection of artists, a number of celebrity panels and informative talks, speed dating, and a variety of creative writing, drawing, and costume contests.

The character costumes (or cosplay, which can be defined as the practice of dressing up as a character from a movie, book, or video game) largely contribute to the fun and exciting atmosphere at all Wizard World conventions.

Although you don’t have to be in costume to enjoy the convention to its fullest, dressing up is still a lot of fun and a great way to meet other convention-goers.

According to enthusiast, Liz Ohanesian, here are a few tips to keep in mind if you want to go in costume to your next Wiz Con:

3. Don’t be intimidated. When you look through photos of cosplayers posted on the internet, it’s easy to get intimidated. There are people who have turned cosplay into a serious art form. But if you go to a convention, you’ll see a lot of different types of costumes, from store-bought to homemade, from simple to complex. Some people aim to look as much like the character they’re portraying as possible. Others don’t. It’s all a matter of personal choice.

2. Use lightweight material for your props. There are times when a costume isn’t complete without props. Conventions typically have guidelines for any kind of prop that could be perceived as a weapon, so make sure you check their website for details. When traveling with props, the biggest help you can give yourself is making the material light.

1. Don’t forget the extras. If you’re going to wear a costume, you need to be prepared for any potential costume-related disaster. Bring a sewing kit, just in case something rips. As for keeping your costume clean, try inserting sweat guards or using Febreze to freshen it up.

Wearing a great costume at a convention will make you stand out from the crowd, even if the crowd is also dressed in their geekiest finery.