Costume-Con 28 Science Fiction/Fantasy Masquerade

The Science Fiction/Fantasy Masquerade offers you a chance to let your imagination run wild on stage. It recognizes creativity, workmanship and stage presentation.

Naturally, being a competition, the Masquerade has rules. We have tried to keep them short and simple, but please review them carefully and follow them.

Rules

1. The Science Fiction/Fantasy Masquerade will take place on Saturday, May 8, 2010. You must be an attending member of Costume-Con 28 to compete in the Science Fiction/Fantasy Masquerade, as must any models you may use.

2. All entries must register before 6:00 P.M., Friday, May 7, 2010. Documentation is also due by this time. You may pre-register. A form will be available on the convention website closer to the convention weekend. If you pre-register, you must turn in your documentation by the above deadline.

3. The Science Fiction/Fantasy Masquerade will follow the International Costumers' Guild Guidelines for International Level Masquerades and Competitions.

4. Categories: All categories are eligible for Best in Class and Best in Show. The Science Fiction/Fantasy Masquerade will use the following categories:

  1. Original: A Science Fiction or Fantasy-based costume based on a design from your own imagination, although said design may be inspired by a specific artist or artwork.
  2. Science Fiction/Fantasy Reproduction: This category is for costumes that are based on a specific, existing costume, painting, illustration, or written description. The goal of a Science Fiction/Fantasy Reproduction is to look exactly like the original costume or illustration. If competing in this catagory, you should submit documentation in order for the judges to better appreciate your work.

5. Skill Divisions: The Costume-Con 28 Science Fiction/Fantasy Masquerade will use Skill Divisions to assure fairness to all entrants. We will use the following Skill Divisions:

  1. Young Fan: This level is limited to entrants 12 years of age or younger. It will be divided between those costumes built by the young fans themselves and those built by an adult that the young fan presents.
  2. Novice: The Novice level is for beginning costumers. You may not enter in the Novice level if you:
    • Have won three awards in the Novice division in a Costume-Con Science Fiction/Fantasy Masquerade;
      • Have won Best in Class in the Novice division or Best in Show at a Costume-Con Science Fiction/Fantasy Masquerade;
    • Have won any award (including Honorable Mention) while competing in a division higher than Novice in a Costume-Con Science Fiction/Fantasy Masquerade;
    • Compete in the Master division in the Fantasy and Science Fiction Masquerade at Costume-Cons or Worldcons (World Science Fiction Convention);
    • Possess a Costume Laurel in the Society for Creative Anachronism or a similar accolade in an equivalent organization;
    • Are a Professional in the Costuming Field. Professional is defined as someone who earns a majority of his or her income from fashion or costume, including college or university faculty members.
  3. Journeyman: The Journeyman level is an intermediate division for those who are no longer Novices, but are still honing their costuming skills. You may not enter at the Journeyman level if you:
    • Have won three awards at the Journeyman level at Costume-Con Science Fiction/Fantasyal Masquerades;
    • Have won Best in Class in the Journeyman division or Best in Show at a Costume-Con Science Fiction/Fantasy Masquerade;
    • Have won an award at the Master level in either a Costume-Con or Worldcon masquerade (either Science Fiction/Fantasyal or Fantasy and Science Fiction);
    • Possess a Costume Laurel in the Society for Creative Anachronism or a similar accolade in an equivalent organization;
    • Are a professional in the Science Fiction/Fantasy costuming field (professional as defined above).
  4. Master: The Master level is an open level. Anyone may enter and compete at this level if they wish. You must enter at this level if you are not eligible to enter as a Young Fan, Novice or Journeyman. (Note that if you are not required to enter at the Master level and decide to enter at this level and win any award, you must enter at the Master level at all future competitions. If you do not win an award you may enter in your qualifying division at future competitions.)

6. Judging: Entries will be judged against what the judges see as an award-winning standard. The judges reserve the right to not issue awards in any area or to award a Best in Class or Best in Show.

7. Documentation: Although documentation isn't required, it is strongly encourages, especially for costumes in the Reproduction catagory. Documentation must be received at the masquerade registration desk no later than 6:00 PM on Friday of the con. If you are arriving at the con later than the 6:00 PM deadline, please contact us well in advance. We will make accommodations for reasonable situations. Documentation may not be submitted as computer disks (CD's or DVD's), memory sticks or any type of video.

8. Documentation Requirements: The basic requirements for all documentation are:

  1. Title of Costume
  2. Name and address of the person responsible for the entry (or the spokesman for a group)
  3. Name(s) of designer(s) and maker(s)
  4. Brief identifying description of the costume's origin. This description should include the Science Fiction/Fantasy basis for the costume. This basis could be as simple as a single photo, but could be more comprehensive. Always assume the judges are not familiar with your source material. The text portion of documentation may not exceed 5 pages. Photos do not have a limit.

9. Workmanship: Contestants are encouraged take part in Workmanship judging. This is your opportunity to let the judges admire your work up close. Each entry will meet privately with our judges. Entrants will be expected to show the judges all necessary parts of the costume. It is recommended that entrants bring the costume to the judges rather than wear it. This will allow them to more closely examine the costume. If you choose to wear your costume, you must be prepared for the judges (who can be of either gender) to lift your skirts, examine your cleavage and peer at your underpinnings. If you are particularly proud of a particular part of the costume, be sure to bring it to the judge's attention. Workmanship judging will be limited to 5-10 minutes per person. The exact time will depend on the number of entrants wanting workmanship judging. Entrants will have an opportunity to sign up for workmanship judging appointments when they register or check in at the masquerade desk.

10. Stage Presentation: All entrants must appear on stage. This is your opportunity to show your costume to best effect or tell the story you wish to tell. Entrants with 1-4 persons will be allowed no more than 60 seconds to present your costumes. Entries with more than 4 persons will be allowed up to 90 seconds. You will have to convince us if you wish more time. It will not be an easy job to convince us.

We strongly recommend that all entrants use music to enhance their presentation. See technical requirements for music elsewhere in the Costume-Con 28 rules (forthcoming later in 2009).

Additional Rules

1. All general rules for the Costume-Con 28 stage apply.

2. Individuals may appear in the Science Fiction/Fantasy Masquerade only once. You may enter more than one costume, but it must appear on another body.

3. No purchased or rented costumes may compete. If you have an interesting costume you think the audience might enjoy that is purchased you may show it in Exhibition. Exhibition costumes do not require documentation or workmanship judging. Parts of costumes, however, may be purchased (shoes, shirts, belts, etc.) In no case should the purchased parts of the costume exceed 30% of the costume.

4. Costumes worn in the hall or at the Friday Social are ineligible for competition, although they may be part of the Exhibition catagory.

5. No nudity! This is a PG-13 show.

6. Costumes that have won awards for presentation or workmanship at past Costume-Cons or Worldcons may not appear in competition in Costume-Con 28's Science Fiction/Fantasy Masquerade. They may appear as Exhibition Costumes.

7. No flame, fire, pyrotechnics or messy substances (such as peanut butter) will be allowed on stage.

9. Drawn weapons must be approved by the Masquerade Directors.

9. Any electrical effects must be self-powered. No power cords will be allowed.

10. No live animals will be permitted. (Guide animals excepted)

11. Children must be kept under the control of a responsible adult at all times.

12. Your costume must be complete when you come to the Green Room. Final assembly of large items is permitted; however, the Green Room is for dressing and prepping for stage, not for construction or painting.

13. Follow the technical rules for CD's or other music media.

14. You must attend a technical rehearsal prior to going on stage. Rehearsal times will be available at registration/check-in. You must come to your rehearsal ready to go and wearing any portion of your costume needed to practice your movements: large feet, large wings and so forth. (You are not required to wear your entire costume to rehearsal.) You may also bring some swatches of fabric so the lighting crew can help you pick lights.

15.Default lighting will be stage dark, rising to full lighting when entry is announced, fading to dark on exit.

16. Default music will be start after entry is announced and faded out at exit.

17. Following your entry's exit, any props must be removed from the stage.

18. The Green Room is for entrants, roadies and masquerade staff only. Please do not invite family or friends to the Green Room or backstage.

19. All entrants must go through Official Photo. This is not optional. Refusal to be photographed is grounds for elimination from the masquerade.

20. Surprise the audience, but never the Directors, staff or technical crew. Contact us if you are planning something unusual that may violate any of these rules.

21. If you think any of these rules don't apply to you, you are wrong! Exceptions are possible, but only by approval of the Masquerade and Technical Directors.

22. The Masquerade Directors have full authority to eliminate anyone from the competition on the grounds of bad taste, danger to self or to other, violation of the rules or any other reason deemed sufficient. There is no appeal.

If you have any questions, please contact Barbara Wright and Jennifer Kelley, Costume-Con 28 Science Fiction/Fantasy Masquerade Directors.