• Must be a couple.  Let's say we go as Han and C-3PO.  They're Star Wars, but they aren't a couple.  Everyone who sees us immediately looks around for Chewie and R2.  That just doesn't work.  We might go as Han and Chewie or R2 and 3PO (i.e., the logical pairing).  I don't like to make the crowd work too hard.  They're already over-stimulated.

• No masks.  Masks are hot and don't let me get into character.  No one knows who I am with one on, only who I'm dressed up as, and those are two separate things.  I have nothing against make-up and/or wigs, however, so long as anything I put on is durable enough to last through the night without me having to sacrifice my activity level.

• Minimal props.  A sword (or lightsaber) is cool, but you need to have at least one hand free.  You know, for holding the camera or your bag of candy.

• Characters.  I like to literally be a character for a night.  I don't do any sort of method acting; I just like to be able to revert to another identity, quote lines from a movie, do a voice, strike a pose, whatever.   I don't like "joke" costumes like the plug and the socket.  Yeah, I get it.  But then what?   Say I'm the plug, what do I do?  "Look, I'm a plug!  Bzzzzz!"

Those are the main considerations that come to mind when I consider the possibilities.  Any suggestions?  If so, please email me.  And quick, too.  I don't care if it's the day after Halloween... there's only 11.97 months to go!