geekkon_costuming@geekkon.net

Quick Steps for Participating in the Masquerade

• Come to Geek-Kon.
• Sign up for the masquerade at the information table and fill out the form by noon on Saturday.
• Sign up for an orientation meeting.
• Attend your orientation meeting between noon and 3PM.
• Report to the Masquerade Green Room by 4:15PM
• Present your costume to the audience at the Masquerade.
• Have fun!

Rules for Cosplaying at Geek-Kon

• No costume will be allowed that exposes the wearer in an inappropriate fashion.  UW rules and laws governing indecent exposure will be followed and any violators will be ejected from the convention and subject to arrest, penalties, and fines as per UW, city, state, and federal law.  No clothing is NOT a costume.
• No mock fighting or sparring on the convention premises.
• No real weapons may be carried during the convention.  Any real weapons will have to be checked in and left with the convention and cosplay staff.  This is per a requirement by University Police!!!  All other weapon props must be checked by convention security and tagged as checked.
• No props larger than 4 feet long may be carried in the halls.
• Convention staff reserve the right to peace-bind or make safe any spikes or sharp edges they deem dangerous.
• Crediting the creator of your costume will be strictly enforced this year.  If you made the costume, you may put "self" or something similar on your entry form.  However, vague references such as "Ebay" will be thrown out.  If you purchased or commissioned the costume, be certain you know the name of the person who made it and their contact info.  Commissioned costumes will not be entered into the contest for Best in Show.

Rules for the Masquerade Presentation at Geek-Kon

• Entrants shall not expose themselves in violation of UW rules or city, state, and federal law or be ejected from the convention and subject to arrest, fines, and penalties.
• There shall be no mock combat or sparring on stage or in the aisles, regardless of whether or not an entrant is qualified to do so at other venues or events.
• Entrants shall not swear.  Language shall be approximately PG-13 rated.
• Entrants shall not throw things into the audience.  All parts of the presentation must remain on the stage at all times.  Special dispensation may be given for use of the aisles in the Main Programming room, but must be approved by contest staff.
• Props larger than 4 feet in length are subject to approval by contest staff.
• No stage presentation shall be longer than 3 minutes in length.
• There is no minimum presentation time requirement, but the contestant must be willing to appear on stage as a walk-on and walk-off at the least.
• Entrants must complete the contest registration form in full by 12 PM Noon on Saturday.
• Entrants must attend their assigned orientation meeting or be disqualified.  Contest staff will allow a five-minute grace period for late arrivals before moving on to the next group.
• Any A/V elements needed for a presentation must be submitted at orientation and are subject to approval by contest staff.  No A/V elements will be allowed following that meeting.
• Entrants will report to the contest green room no later than 4:45 PM on Saturday and will check in with the cosplay staff.  Entrants who fail to check in by 4:45 will be disqualified.  THIS DEADLINE IS FINAL!  THERE IS NO GRACE PERIOD!
• Curtain calls will be held in the green room.  Entrants failing to appear for their curtain call will be disqualified.

Quick Tips for Your Masquerade Experience at Geek-Kon

• The cosplay staff cannot be expected to know everything about every character that may be cosplayed.  It is a good idea to bring some form of reference for the judges to consult.  This can be a picture, an action figure or doll, or even a description from a book.  Anything you can do to help the contest staff know your character will help.
• When making your presentation for the masquerade, avoid in-jokes.  You may think they're funny, but no one else will understand them and it will likely hurt your presentation score.
• Don't point out inaccuracies in your costume to the judges.  If it's glaring it will be obvious to them.  If it isn't, pointing them out will only hurt you in the end.  A small inaccuracy for practicality is not necessarily a bad thing.
• Point out to the judges the part of your costume you are proudest of or think is the most impressive.  Tell them about how you made that prop or what you used to get your wig to stand up like that.  Creativity is impressive!
• Point out the unseen details.  Do you have that picture of your character's brother hidden in a locket?  Is a Harper pin hidden under your cloak?  Make sure the judges know about it.

Other Pertinent Information

• Though a contest entrant may express interest in the contest on their registration form, they will not be considered entered until signing up in person at the convention.
• Contest staff will reserve the right to cap the number of entrants if they deem it necessary.  If this happens, entrance into the masquerade will be on a first come, first served basis.  There will be no waiting list.
• Orientation time slots will be handed out on a first come, first served basis.
• All times will be based on the synchronized clock system in the UW Humanities building.