Otaku Skit

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For general inquiries, please contact the Information Desk at info@otakuthon.com.

For all registration questions, please contact registration@otakuthon.com.

(In addition to online registration, the Otaku Skit Show will now accept onsite registration on Friday August 3rd at the Otaku Skit Show registration desk between 12 pm to 5 pm.)

Formerly known as the Skit Contest, the Otaku Skit Show will be dividing this year's entries into their appropriate categories and judged accordingly in regards to the type of entry they entered - Skits or Talents. 

You don't know how to sing a Japanese song? Well, you can lip-synch it instead and perform it as your favorite character in one amazing performance on stage. How about singing the Skyrim theme song as a capella?  If singing is not your style, you can either perform the ''Bad Apple'' dance perfectly, or re-enact Zack's epic death scene from Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII without laughing.  Whether you decide to show the world your talent (dance, lip-synching, re-enacting, etc.) or not, you can share the fame alongside the traditional skit entries.

It's now time to let your hidden Otaku talents shine!  If you think you have what it takes to impress the audience and the judges with your skits or talents, then the Otaku Skit Show is for you!

Otaku Skit Show Rules and Information

General Information

The Otaku Skit Show is similar to the Masquerade but it is important to note the difference.  While the Masquerade is more concerned with the creation of costumes, the Otaku Skit Show is for those who love to perform on stage (lip-syncing, dancing, interpretation, comedy, etc.), meaning more time is provided on stage for each group.

This year, we have decided to separate the type of entries into two main types: talents and skits.  Each type will have different amounts of time on stage and different prizes (e.g. Best Talents, Best Skit, etc.).  There will also be a "Best in Show" award for best performance overall.

• For talent performances, there will be a time allocation of between 1 to 3 minutes on stage.
• For skit performances, the time allocation will be between 3 to 5 minutes on stage.

Up to fifteen (15) groups composed of up to eight (8) people per group will be accepted.  Spaces will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis!

The Otaku Skit Show will be held on Friday August 3^rd, 2012 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.  After you register your group performance by sending us an email with the information requested (see below), you will be then asked to bring the completed registration form to the Otaku Skit Show registration desk on Friday August 3^rd, 2012 between 12pm to 5pm. Contestants must be in the green room between 5:30 pm and 6:00 pm. Any late arrivals will lead to immediate disqualification.

Registration Information

• Registration deadline (email): SUNDAY JULY 29TH, 2012 at 11:59pm.
• Hardcopy must be submitted on Friday August 3rd, 2012 from 12pm to 5pm.
• In addition to online registration, the Otaku Skit Show will now accept onsite registration on Friday August 3rd at the Otaku Skit Show registration desk between 12 pm to 5 pm.

1. Download, print and complete the registration form (.pdf).  Bring it to the Otaku Skit Show registration desk at the convention.

• All participant names must be registered on the sheet.
• All participants in the group must SIGN the registration sheet and read the rules.
• The real names of the participants must be used.

2. The group leader must submit their entry before the registration deadline to skit@otakuthon.com with the subject "OTAKU SKIT SHOW ENTRY" with the following information:

• The name of the act
• The category you will enter (ex: novice)
• Age of all participants
• Name of all participants
• Type of entry (skit or talents)
• Duration
• Costume source:
• Special requirements: (ex: you'll need stage ninjas, or need accessories on stage). Please let us know in advance to see if it is possible.

3. Once submitted, an email confirmation will be sent to inform you of the status of your entry.  Please allow 3 to 5 days to receive an answer. You will get a registration number with your confirmation email.  Please bring that number with you to the registration desk.

4. The printed and completed registration form must be received at the Otaku Skit Show registration desk on Friday August 3rd, 2012 from 12pm to 5pm.  Any registration forms received after that time will be disqualified.

5. All participants must be present in the Green Room on Friday evening between 5:30pm and 6pm. 

*NOTE : All hours are approximate and subject to change.  The final schedule will be confirmed when all Otaku Skit Show participants have registered.

Participants must register for this event before the convention.  If there are any cancellations before the deadline, an announcement will be made on the Otakuthon website and on the forums until August 2nd, 2012.

The number of entries accepted will be limited to the amount of time available during the show, so register now!

We suggest you read the competition rules beforehand.  By signing the registration form, you certify that you have read and agree to comply with all Otaku Skit Show rules.  Participants who have not completed and signed the form will not be allowed on stage.

Competition Rules

1. Each group may have a maximum of 8 participants.
2. Each skit or talent performed by your team must come from or be related to anything Japanese, such as:  anime, manga, video games, etc.
3. All performances should be rated PG. There should be no excessive profanity or adult subject matters in the performances.
4. There are no limits on song choices. Songs in Japanese (from anime, J-Pop, video games, etc), Korean, Chinese, and even English are allowed.
5. Each Skit performance must be in between 3 to 5 minutes.  Each Talent performance must be in between 1 to 3 minutes.   If a performance goes beyond the respective time limit, the sound will be cut on stage and your group might not be eligible for any awards.
6. Each team must bring a CD or USB key, with the song to be played as the only track on that CD or USB key. It is highly recommended that you bring a back up CD or USB in case your audio cannot be read or played on our audio equipment.
7. Audio should be pre-recorded for each skit.  Microphones will not be provided.  It is highly discouraged to speak or sing with your voice on stage since people in the audience won't be able to hear you properly.
8. Only one entry per group. Multiple entries will not be accepted.
9. A minimum of 5 groups and a maximum of 7 groups will only be taken for the Talents Category (dance, re-enactment of a scene, lip-synching performances, etc...).  This is subject to change, depending on how many Talent and Skit entries we receive.
10. A minimum of 7 groups and a maximum of 10 groups will only be taken for the Skits Category (original performances).
11. In total, we will accept up to 15 groups from both categories combined.
12. Since this is a stage performance show, we do not require all the cosplay entries to have hand-made costumes.  Your cosplays can be store bought.  You won't be judged for craftsmanship.
13. Please be sure that your skit can still be mostly understood by the audience even if they are not very familiar with the source (ie: the judges need to understand your skit even if they don't know the source).

The Standard Division System

The Standard Division System, in accordance with the International Costumers' Guild Guidelines, will be used as follows:

Junior Division 
(Also known as the Young Fan Division)
Any contestant less than 13 years of age at the time of this competition may compete in the Junior Division.

Novice Division
A contestant who has not won a major award at a Masquerade other than as a Junior costumer.

Journeyman Division
A contestant who has won fewer than three awards at Masquerades while competing in the Journeyman Division.

Artisan Division
Any costumer who has won three or more awards; or who wishes to enter this division, provided that they do not belong in a higher division in use in the competition.

Master Division
A contestant who has won more than three times in the Artisan Division, or has won a Master award at a nationally recognized regional anime convention. Also, anyone who is a professional in a costume-related business must compete as a Master. For the purpose of this competition, a professional is defined as making 50% or more of their income in the costuming-related business.

Out-Of-Competition Division
The Otaku Skit Show is an amateur competition. Purchased or rented costumes may not be entered in competition for awards, but may be presented on stage in the Out-Of-Competition Division. Costumes made for business purposes, theatrical and professional events are not eligible for awards but may also be presented in this Division. In addition, anyone who wants to show their costume in this Division may do so.

Note : A contestant may compete in a Division higher than the one they are eligible to enter. Keep in mind that if the contestant wins in this higher Division, they must compete in that Division in future competitions.

Documentation

Documentation can include any pictorial representation of your costume. Provide copies only; do not bring originals. It is strongly recommended that you provide documentation for re-creation costume entries if you feel the judges may not be familiar with a particular anime/manga.

Introductions, Music, and Sound

If you have a special introduction that you would like the master of ceremonies to read, please write it legibly on your registration form or bring a printed copy so that it can be easily read.  Without an introduction, the MC will only state the number, title, and division for your entry.  After your entry is done, general information will be announced.

THERE WILL BE NO MICROPHONES given to the participants.  Addressing the audience directly is STRONGLY discouraged, since the majority will not hear anything and it might distract you from your presentation.  If you have a narration or dialogue, you will want to record it on CD or USB key.

If you have an introduction, music, or sound effects, please put them onto a CD.  Do not forget to write your name, entry title, and track number on the CD. ONLY the audio track of your act should be on your CD.

If the audio is much longer than your presentation (ex: a song, a CD commercial, etc.) or must be cut on a certain cue, please be VERY specific about the instant where it should be cut.

All groups need to bring their CD or USB key to the staff at the Otaku Skit Show registration desk table before 5pm on Friday August 3^rd, 2012.

We do not recommend that you use any valuable or rare CDs.

The CDs used during the Otaku Skit Show will be given back at the registration table on Saturday.

Stage Order

Participants in the Talents category will go first on stage followed by the participants in the Skits category.  Entries which include children may request to be placed first in their category, but must be requested during registration.  If there are any other circumstances which can affect stage order (such as needing to catch the bus to go home), please indicate this on your registration when you send it by email.  We will do our best to accommodate your request, however we can't guarantee your position.

Stage Guidelines

1. Use of open flame, fire, flash powder or flash paper is not allowed. Sealed electronic flashes are permitted. If you are using a strobe effect, please note it on your form so the MC may warn the audience. No laser pointers allowed.
2. No messy substances on stage. If in doubt, ask the show organizers during registration. The stage must be in as good a condition when you leave as when you entered. If you are leaving something on stage, it must be easily retrievable by the stage crew, or you will be expected to bring your own ninja for that purpose.
3. No flagrant nudity. The Otaku Skit Show is rated as "13 years and up" and may be viewed by persons 13 years of age or over. Depending on the situation, the use of curse words may be acceptable, however vulgar and degrading language is not permitted. Any presentation that doesn't follow these guidelines will be disqualified on the spot and may be subjected to being cut from the show.  (Régie du cinéma du Québec: http://www.rcq.gouv.qc.ca/en/process.asp#c13)
4. No real firearms, no realistic copies, and no projectile weapons are allowed.  No metal blades are allowed, regardless if they are dull or live.  If your costume requires a bow, it must be unstrung when you are not on stage. All weapons must follow the Convention's Weapons Policy.  NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE.
5. Each person may participate in only ONE entry during the show.
6. Contestants must report to the Green Room on time. Report times will be supplied at the convention at the Otaku Skit Show registration desk. Failure to appear or to be ready to go on stage may result in disqualification. Note that Acts of God may, to an extent, mitigate this.
7. The Otaku Skit Show organizers reserve the right to remove anyone from competition based on taste, danger to the audience or other contestants, or for any other reason deemed sufficient.
8. The decisions of the judges are final.  Other than categories, types of awards will be determined at the discretion of the judges and the show organizers.

For all questions, please contact the Otaku Skit Show director at: skit@otakuthon.com.

Hope to see you there!