Information, Rules, and Suggestions

PLEASE READ THIS INFORMATION CAREFULLY. THESE RULES ARE SIMILAR, BUT NOT IDENTICAL, TO ANY OTHER RULES YOU'VE READ BEFORE.

Overall: The Masquerade Director (MD) is the only one who can change the following rules. Please see him for any exceptions to these rules.

Before the Convention

We'd like to be able to plan the best possible Event for the benefit of our audience. We've put together a great staff both behind the scenes, like me, and out in public. Our judges are very experienced artists in their own right. Our Master of Ceremonies, Tech Crew, and backstage crew are all here to make sure you get everything you need to give your best to the audience.

Before the Masquerade

Online Registration is available by clicking here. It will close on Thursday, January 15th 2009 at 11:50 PM Eastern Time.

ALL MEMBERS OF EVERY ENTRY MUST CHECK IN ON-SITE AT THE MASQUERADE REGISTRATION DESK.

The same online Registration process will be used on-site at the Masquerade Registration Desk. Be prepared with typed or clearly written documents -- we don't want to distort your information.

Fill in as much information as you can ahead of time and submit it along the way. We will make provision for you to change that information until Masquerade Registration closes at 1 PM on Saturday.

Your presentation time will be limited. Please read the rules that follow. Entries with four or more people should discuss presentation plans with the Masquerade Director.

The Masquerade Registration Table will be open in the Hyatt Lobby from 4 to 9 PM Friday and from 10 to 1 PM Saturday.

You must sign various release forms (for Young Fans, bring your parent(s) and verify your information on site).

Tech Rehearsals, which are MANDATORY, are scheduled at the Masquerade table, and will be from noon to 5pm Saturday. Our Stage Manager will be at the Masquerade registration table for as much of Friday as possible.

The run order for the show will be determined by the MD on Saturday afternoon Contestants competing in the Re-Creation category must provide at least one photograph of the original work at Masquerade Registration. Some Judges may not be familiar with the work you are copying.

Please provide documentation sufficient for the Workmanship Judge to fairly and impartially evaluate your work. The Judge will have a limited amount of time to review your work and your documentation, so please don't write a novel. Photos, design sketches, screen shots, and short written descriptions of your work are encouraged.

The only person allowed to speak from the stage is the MC. He will be happy to work with you in reading a short script or to interact with you as planned ahead of time. Please provide any intro or reading for the MC on printed paper in a large font, if possible.

All your speech and music must be pre-recorded and handed in to Tech through the Masquerade Registration Desk as early as possible. Provide your recordings on CD or CD-R (no CD-RWs) only. There will be no support for tapes. It is strongly suggested that you put only the music and/or speech that you want us to play on the CD you hand to us. Make and bring multiple copies so that you won't be out of luck should your CD become unusable prior to the competition.

Wireless (radio) Remote Controlled Devices Discouraged: Due to the presence of significant RF interference sources in the Hyatt in general, and the Main Ballroom in particular, we strongly advise against using any radio-based Remote Control devices as part of your costume and/or your presentation. If you were planning on doing this, you should re-think those plans.

There will be TWO Green Rooms this year. The Kamikaze Kids will be on the first floor in Presidents Ballroom A. The adult and young-fans Green Room will be on the 14th floor in Empress. Getting from the 14th floor Green Room will involve following a Habitrail down the freight elevator and through the service corridors to the stage. Any large props will need to be left downstairs at the stage. Please discuss any large props or costumes with the Masquerade Director. All costumes must fit through a standard door to make it through the Habitrail.

Special effects must be cleared with the Masquerade Director and Tech Director before the competition. The best time to do this is before the Tech Rehearsal so that we can schedule enough time for that rehearsal for all of us (and you!) to feel comfortable that your effects will work.

NEVER surprise the crew. ALWAYS surprise the audience. Together we can insure that both these goals are achieved.

Restrictions on Costumes and Props

There will be absolutely no flame, fires, sparks, or other flaming on stage. If you are a dragon, plenty of fake and safe flame is welcome.

If you are carrying a weapon on stage, we need to know ahead of time. Clear all weapons before the convention with the Masquerade Director. There will be no sharp edges allowed on weapons. No weapon will be allowed if it ejects or shoots projectiles. If you are pointing a weapon at each other or at anyone in the audience, it must be demonstrated to NOT WORK and not shoot before the Masquerade.

Any weapon allowed in the Masquerade but otherwise restricted by the Convention must be carried to and from the Masquerade Green Room under cover and peace bonded.

Do not construct or decorate yourself or your costume or props with anything messy, smelly, or slimy. All parts of your costume must come in and leave with you.

It is recommended that each person appear only once on stage, but if you have multiple entries, it is YOUR responsibility to manage your changes and presentations as we may not be able to provide the time or ‘stalling’ that you may need.

Purchased or rented costumes may not be entered in competition. It is possible to show those costumes out of competition.

We do want to see your costumes here so please consider entering, but if you have won an award at an International Competition (WorldCon or Costume-Con) with this costume, please consider competing up one level, or presenting out of competition, unless substantial changes in design, execution or presentation have been made since the International award was received.

There are no restrictions on costumes being worn at this convention before or after the competition.

We ask that you use your best judgment about whether to enter in or out of competition.

Photography

There will be Official Photography and Fan Photography. We also expect audience members to be taking non-flash photos during the presentations.

In the hallways many fans may wish to take your picture. It is entirely your choice whether to allow people to take your picture.

There will be NO FLASH photography from the audience. Your friends will be ejected from the room should they be found to be taking flash pictures from the audience.

In the Masquerade Green Room

The Masquerade Green Room will be available beginning at 6:30 PM in Empress on the 14th Floor until about 30 minutes after the end of the Masquerade.

The Kamikaze Kids' Green Room (Young Fans are also welcome here) will be available from 6:30 to 9:00 PM in Presidents Ballroom A.

All entrants must sign in at the Masquerade Green Room (except the Kamikaze Kids) before 7:30 PM or you may be scratched.

Kamikaze Kids must sign in at the President’s Ballroom B before 7:30pm or you may be scratched.

You will find out the presentation order for the show when you arrive at the Masquerade Green Room. Sign in at the desk with the person in charge.

You will be assigned a den and given over to the care of your assigned Den Mom (or Dad.) If you need anything, please let them know.

There will be a Repair Table available for your use. Please do not abuse this privilege. It is here to provide safety pins, a little glue, and a dab of makeup. Do not expect to use the table for large projects; it is here to cover last-minute emergencies.

The Official Photographer will be located in a part of the Masquerade Green Room. As soon as you are ready for your photos tell your Den Mom. He or she will insure that you take your turn for official photos. A photo will be attached to the judges' forms and will help them identify you when they are in deliberations. Official Photos will be made available for sale both to you and to any convention member on Sunday.

Your Presentation

You may surprise the audience (and we would be happy to help you do so), but it is imperative that the Tech Crew, the MC, and the MD are completely aware of what you plan to do on stage. There are NO exceptions.

The Kamikaze Kids will appear first in the competition. They will then be sent back to their Green Room to pick up their personal items, and will then be returned to their parents in the audience. The Young Fans will follow, and then the Adults. All Presentation Rules will apply to all.

The Kamikaze Kids and Young Fan Awards will be awarded before the Adult entries start. After the Young Fan Awards, these entrants will be free to visit Fan Photography, go to bed, watch from the audience, or return to the convention at large in the charge of their parents and/or guardians.

Your Den Mom will make sure that you get into the hall in the right order and on time to make your best entrance.

There will be Stage Ninjas (people in black) both at the entrance and exit from the Stage. They are there to help you with a hand up, to move your props onto or off the stage, and to catch you if you stumble. It's up to you to tell them how much assistance you need. The more assistance you need, the earlier you should let them know. So, if you have big props, please tell them all about it at rehearsal. Tell the MD during your Masquerade registration as well. That way we'll have the right people there to help you.

There will also be Stage Ninjas at key points around the stage to try to stop you from stepping off the stage by mistake. Do not run, skip, jump, or dance so fast that the best they can do is let you go. You are ultimately responsible for your own safety.

Your presentation will be limited to 60 seconds unless you have four or more people in your group, in which case you will have 90 seconds, unless you have spoken to the MD and received permission for more time. After “your time is up”, your lights and sound may fade, or you may find a hook groping around from Stage Left, trying to find you.

Entries needing more time than that listed above, should discuss presentation plans with the Masquerade Director. Remember: SF fans are easily bored. You will make your best presentation by making sure they have enough time to see your whole costume, see what you can do once, and then leave the stage. A good costume and presentation can be ruined by taking too long on stage.

After your presentation you will be led to Fan Photography by your Den Mom. Fans must sign up for the privilege of taking pictures in this area. Some may also be offering free or paid copies of their pictures to you and others. Make direct arrangements with any Fan Photographer you wish to do business with. We will make a list of as many Fan Photographers as possible available to you after the convention

After you are finished in Fan Photography we advise you to return to the Masquerade Green Room. Feel free to get comfortable. Watch the competition on TV. Watch half time entertainment in the Masquerade Green Room or from the audience. Be available.

Awards will be given when the Judges are ready. Be prepared to be called back onto the stage for awards.

Workmanship Awards will be given, then Presentation Awards. You may be called onto the stage more than once for different awards.

When your entry and title are called, please file up onto the stage from the entrance to the exit. You will be given your award and we ask that you please walk towards the exit side of the stage and form in a line until your “level” had received its awards. This method will allow the audience to appreciate the level as a whole at the end and will allow the awards ceremony to pass quickly.

Judging

Workmanship Judging

Workmanship judging is optional, but recommended. This judging will be to evaluate the best parts of your costume, up close and personal. Please indicate to the Workmanship Judge specifically what you are most proud of in your costume. Tell her a little about how you made your costume.

If in doubt, visit with the Workmanship Judge even if you're not that impressed with your work on your costume. Leave it to her judgment whether your work is special in the context of this competition.

The Workmanship Judge will join the Presentation Judges at the beginning of the show so try to be sure you see her before the show starts.

Presentation Judging

This judging will be to evaluate your overall quality and Presentation from the point of view of the audience.

Skill Divisions

These divisions are based on Guidelines published by the International Costumers' Guild and have been modified for this competition. As always, when in doubt check with the Masquerade Director before the competition.

Craftsman/Master

• Anyone who is considered a Master in International Competition, or
• Anyone who is considered a Craftsman in Regional Competition, or
• Anyone who is a professional costume maker, or
• Anyone who has won three or more awards as a Journeyman at the Regional or one award as a Journeyman at the International level, or
• Anyone who chooses to compete in this division

Journeyman

• Anyone who does not need to enter as a Craftsman or Master or
• Anyone who has won at least three awards as a novice at the Regional or one award as a Novice at the International level, or
• Anyone who chooses to compete in this division

Novice

• Anyone who does not need to enter as a Journeyman or
• Anyone who has won fewer than three awards as a novice at the Regional level
• Anyone who has just become old enough to NOT qualify for the Young Fan Division

Young Fan

• Anyone who is under 13 on the day of the competition (born on or after January 17, 1996), and
• Anyone who is also not part of an adult group.

A group should compete in the skill division of the group's most experienced member. When in doubt, ask the Masquerade Director.

WHAT COMPETITION CATEGORY SHOULD I COMPETE IN?

Original: a costume inspired by a Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mythological, or other original source, but whose design is the creation of the contestant.

Re-Creation, a costume whose design is copied from a film, television series, art, comics, theatrical presentation, book illustration or other medium showing at least one good view of the costume. Re-creation costumes are duplicates or design adaptations of the published design work of someone other than the contestant. Recreation costumes require documentation of source. A picture or verbal description must accompany your registration forms.

After the Masquerade

On Sunday you will have the opportunity to retrieve your CDs, CD-Rs, any documentation we can return, order Official Photos for purchase, and participate in the Masquerade Wrap-Up session on the program. Please make sure to drop by the Masquerade Registration Desk and/or come to the Review session. We reserve the right to NOT mail your stuff to you after the convention.

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