Masquerade rules

Otakuthon 2023: Masquerade Rules

Otakuthon’s masquerade is an amateur competition. Professional costumers (individuals who derive more than 50% of their income from making costumes) are not eligible for awards, but still can present their work in the ‘Out of Competition’ division. However, due to the popularity of the event, the Masquerade Direction reserves the right to give priority to amateur entries.

Entry Types:

• Sketch/Skit: A short scripted performance of maximum 60 seconds (alone or for groups of up to 3 participants) or one minute and thirty seconds (groups of 4 or more). If the skit should run over the time limit, the entry will be disqualified, sound and lighting will be cut, and the participant(s) will be escorted off the stage.
• Parade/Walk-On: A presentation of the costumer’s workmanship. The participant walks onto the stage, poses at center stage showing various angles of their costume and character portrayal, and then exits by the opposite side of stage. Background music is strongly encouraged and should be supplied by the contestant.

Microphones will not be provided for the entrants. It is strongly recommended that participants provide pre-recorded material in a MP3 format on a USB key. No other audio playback means will be provided. To avoid confusion, it is highly recommended to clearly identify the file (title of the entry) and to make sure it plays well before handing it over to the sound technician.

The maximum of participants per entry is limited to twelve (12). Groups larger than this size will not be accepted

Only 50 entry slots in TOTAL are available for the Masquerade. No EXCEPTIONS will be made, so register early!

1. Use of open flame, fire, flash powder or flash paper is not allowed. No laser pointers 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.
2. No messy substances on stage. If in doubt, ask the Masquerade Director. The stage must be in as good a condition when you leave as when you entered it. 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. This presentation follows PG movie rating guidelines: “Parental Guidance Suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children. This signifies that the film rated may contain some material parents might not like to expose to their young children - material that will clearly need to be examined or inquired about before children are allowed to attend the film. Explicit sex scenes and scenes of drug use are absent; horror and violence do not exceed moderate levels.” (Régie du Cinema, Québec)
4. No real firearms, no realistic copies, and no projectile weapons are allowed. No metal blades are allowed, regardless if they are dull or sharp. 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 Masquerade. Individuals may enter several costumes into competition, but they can only wear one of them and the others must be worn by other Masquerade contestants in the same entry.
6. Contestants must report to the Masquerade Green Room on time. 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 Masquerade Director reserves the right to remove anyone from competition for any reason deemed sufficient that can include but is not limited to: inappropriate, indecent, rude, racist or sexist behavior. Threats and/or violence of any kind to staff, attendees and volunteers will not be tolerated and can result in immediate expulsion from the convention.
8. Commissioned costumes are allowed only if the designer of the costume has filled out and signed the registration sheet. While the designer does not have to walk on stage, his/her presence in the Green Room is mandatory. If your costume is 100% purchased, it will NOT be accepted. Wigs and small accessories/jewel are exempted from this rule.
9. The decisions of the judges are final. Awards are selected for workmanship, presentation or a combination of both. The judges may not give out a 'Best in Show' or a 'Best in Division' award, or any award in a division if they feel none of the costumes entered are deserving of such award.