/cgl/ - Cosplay & EGL

>In Secret Santa
>Excited to go shopping for my match
>Drop phone
>Shattered screen
>Hardware failure
>Mfw

I will be able to do both, but it sucks that two big money sinks will hit my finances at the same time. At least I can buy a phone with a better camera, right?

>be me, a guy
>ended up not cosplaying because losing weight, but currently still pretty hammy
>trying to branch out, but I didn't want to approach anyone even though my friends were telling me to because that feels weird
>feel like I've gotten into the cosplay scene too late, will be 26 next month
>trying my best to look up, but it's always going to be a struggle
>doesn't help that I'm self-conscious about my money and career situation and I'm a wage slave that has to save for months to go to cons
How do I approach people at cons without coming off as creepy, or is it just always going to be creepy and my friends are full of shit? I really don't want to come off like an ass. I'm putting in a lot of effort to present myself, and I'm looking better than ever, but the only girls I've ever met at cons were those that approached me in the past (which is literally just 1 - my ex). Should I just give up and look elsewhere? I feel like a selfish prick for having massive anxiety around girls. Like, I feel like I should be able to take things far more casually, but I wear my goals too heavily and I'm looking for serious relationships only. Like, conventions don't feel like the places to mingle any more, and the adult events I go to are always too sleazy and off-putting for me and I hate it. I'm doing so much to work on myself but I feel like polished brimstone. I look great and feel great, but I'm still just a coward beneath the shine.