Community and Open Masquerade
The Play Expo Community Masquerade aims to give Cosplayers the opportunity
to gain experience cosplaying, show off a fantastic costume or simply come up
on stage and perform in character! While retaining original judging categories it
also recognises other unique moments.
Prizes: -
Honourable mentions and categories which may be awarded: Rising Cosplayer Award: - The rising Cosplayer award aims to recognise those
taking their first steps into cosplay, weather it is your first costume, masquerade,
cosplay or you’ve simply done something the judge’s love!
Iconic Moment Award: -The Iconic Moment Award aims to honour a particular
moment within the masquerade that captures the judge’s imagination or catches
them off guard.
Junior/family Award: - The Junior/Family Award aims to encourage mums,
dads and children to get involved and take part.
This rule-set applies to the Community Masquerade and Open
Masquerade. *only*.
Please remember if you are in any doubt or even just worried about entering
then check with us, we’re all happy to help you through this and we understand
rules, while essential, can sometimes be a bit daunting! Feel free to email: costumeandplay@gmail.com
Registration and Sign Up: Applications submitted in advance must be sent to costumeandplay@gmail.com
and labelled with "THE EVENT YOU ARE ATTENDING IN THE SUBJECT
TITLE" along with community masquerade.
We highly recommend you get your application to us beforehand.
You can register on the day for the event. Sign-ups will close one hour
beforehand, music applications will close two days beforehand and BRING
A SPARE COPY ON USB!
FORM:
Community masquerade entry – Convention: (e.g. Play Expo):
Name/s: (if you're a group enter all names)
Character Names:
Character Series:
Is your Costume Handmade (least 80%)/Altered or Bought:
(Optional) List 3 distinctive things about your costume and/or performance: (ie:
maybe something you handmade, why you selected the character, etc)
(optional) Performance details/microphone request: (If you want music please
submit one youtube link (we do not take edit requests), MP3 or WAV file AND
bring a copy of your track on USB/CD labelled with your name and contact
number just in case.)
Do you wish to receive further information from us? Y/N
General rules, notes and Eligibility:
1. Sign-ups will close one hour before the event, and two days before the
event if accompanied with music/tech.
2. You must arrive for ordering: NO LATER THAN 30 MINUTES BEFORE
the masquerade is due to start. IF YOU HAVE MUSIC – NO LATER THAN 45
MINUTES.
3. Any size group and any costume may enter the Community Masquerade,
however if eligible for a prize this will be split evenly between participants.
4. The competition is open for all ages, but if under the age of 13 please make
sure to get parental consent.
5. A costume qualifies as handmade if it is 80% your own work. An altered
costume will be eligible to receive points in the craftsmanship category for those
specific components which are heavily altered or handmade entirely. These will
be awarded at the judge’s discretion. All costumes will qualify forCharacter
Concept and performance categories. . (If you need help identifying your
costume e-mail us: costumeandplay@gmail.com)
6. We always encourage entrants to the community masquerade to enter with
a skit/performance (up to two minutes, music must be sent to us beforehand)
and/or reference pictures but this is not essential. If you are unsure of what to
do on the day, just use the three point system! (See performance rules.)
7. Original characters will be accepted but must be accompanied with concept
of the character, this must be no longer than one A4 page.
8. Pre-judging does not take place for the community masquerade, so we
highly encourage you to include as much detail as possible under the ‘list three
distinctive things’ section within the application.
9. Participants must comply with prop rules:
Judging:
Costumes will be judged in three areas, weighted evenly, by our professional
judging team.
1. Craftsmanship - The quality of costume, props and accessories; and
how well these elements are made.
2. Performance - Takes into account use of general performance
conventions and how you interact with the audience; for example confident
movements between and during poses, as well as general stage techniques
used through performance.
3. Character Concept - This category is judged based on execution of your
character concept and a clear display of character choice, be it a creative
interpretation (e.g Steampunk Harley Quinn or cross play), character likeness
or an original character.
It is highly recommended you include something about the choices you have
made in regards to your execution of the elements of your
costume/performance/character choice within the ‘list three distinctive things’
section of the application form.
PLEASE NOTE: - The judge’s decisions are final once made.
Performance:
Please do check your requirements through with us on the day nice and
early to make sure we have everything prepared!
1. You may enter and/or perform to music, this must be with us no later than
two days before the event. If you do not provide music generic music will be
provided for you.
2. Performance is entirely optional, however we do encourage you to come to
the desk early to set up a basic ‘cue’ with us if you have your own music track.
There are two basic types of cues, you begin your performance or movement off
stage and we start the music, you begin your performance on stage and give us
a signal when to start the music. Please make note of this in the performance
section of your application.
3. If you are not performing we ask for a minimum of three poses of at least
ten seconds each, this is called the three point system.
– We reserve the right to decline or stop a skit/performance at any time for any
reason.
- Use of excessive or inappropriate language such as swearing, committing an
act which is viewed as something which may potentially harm yourself or others
while on stage will also be immediately stopped, and you may be disqualified
from the competition.
You agree to be filmed and photographed during the event, all rights of this
belong to the event itself.
Props Rules: Weapons and props must be approved by staff before allowed into the
convention, this includes checks which will be carried out by the cosplay team.
Decisions made by the venue security and staff are final and these rules serve
as a guide only.
The general rule is;
‘Would it break before you do?”
If your answer is ‘no’ here then it means that someone could get hurt were this
to happen. In which case we would recommend you leave it at home just so you
don’t get disappointed once at the Convention.
No live weapons (deactivated guns, metal knives or swords, live bows or
slingshots) are expressly prohibited, weather sheathed and/or piece bonded.
No pyrotechnics, explosives (including cap-guns) or incendiary items.
No weapons that can fire any sort of projectile, even foam darts or water,
unless it can be shown to be empty and/or that only some parts have been used
for the prop.
No sharp bits or edges, make sure they're
sanded/rounded/padded/covered or otherwise protected adequately.
No props made out of wood that is too heavy, large/ unwieldy (Blocks
corridors/doorways or is likely to hit, hurt or inconvenience others.)
No actions which may lead event staff, attendees or members of the
general public to believe you are in possession of a real live weapon.
In all cases, the weapon or prop must be no longer than 1.6 m (5.2ft). Any
items longer this may be used in the Masquerade only and must be handed
in to Registrations & Help Desk for safekeeping until then. If they are not
handed in prior to the Masquerade they will not be permitted in the event
itself
Please know that these rules are here to assure we have a safe Conventions
for both Staff and Attendees. If you have been asked to put your prop away
please be so kind and do so or in an extreme case you might risk being
escorted from the Convention.
If you are in doubt whether or not you would be allowed to bring your prop
please send photos and a description of the prop
to costumeandplay@gmail.com