Aurora-Con 2008

Cosplay

Welcome to the Aurora-Con 2008 Cosplay Contests! I’m your Cosplay Coordinator, Ellen Davis. We don’t want to suck the fun out of cosplay. We want to give as much stage time to as many entrants as we can support and provide a fair, safe and fun place for the competitions.
Because Aurora-Con is a growing convention, the cosplay contests are undergoing a few changes as well.
What’s new this year? First, there is a fashion show open that gives you a chance to show off your costume on stage without worrying about performing. Second, the Masquerade (skit) contest will have an optional pre-show costume inspection (no audience) to give the contest judges a chance to take a close-up look at the hard work you put into making your costume.
Please take a little time to look over the contest information, especially the rules, to understand how the contests will be run before you sign up. Feel free to contact me with questions, ideas, or comments via PM or email. auroracosplay@gmail.com

- Section one goes over General Policies and Rules. Included is a brief explanation of the cosplay contests, general cosplay contest rules & policies, judging, and awards.

- Section two goes over the fashion show in more detail. Included are contest specific guidelines & rules, and how to sign-up for the contest.

-Section three goes over the masquerade competition in more detail. Included are contest specific guidelines & rules, and how to sign-up for the contest.

Section One: General Information and Policies

General Competition Information & Rules

There will be a Fashion Show and a Masquerade Competition. The Fashion Show is about showing off any costume on stage without a performance, the Masquerade Competition is about performance and costume quality.

The fashion show is open to all Aurora-Con attendees, volunteers, and staff.
The Masquerade competition is open to Aurora-Con attendees only. Aurora-Con volunteers and staff may not enter.
Attendees may enter both the fashion show and the Masquerade competition. You can choose to enter one but not the other. What you cannot do is enter the same contest twice.
Sign-up is required in advance for both events and is on a first come first serve basis. If the list is full, you will be wait-listed. However, if there is still room on the sign-up list on the day of the convention, sign-ups will be allowed at the convention, but don’t count on this option.
These events have separate judging, and awards will be given for each.
Judging will be as impartial as humanly possible. Personal preferences for the person in the costume or the character portrayed will not be placed above excellence.

Awards:
Prizes are donated to the convention by sponsors and cannot guarantee what kind of prize you will be receiving. Aurora-Con will also provide winners with commemorative certificates that will include the date of the event and the award won.

The awards Aurora-Con plans to award (but may be subject to change) are:

Best of Show- this is the highest award available. It is for the best overall Masquerade entry and available only those that participated in the Masquerade and the craftsmanship inspection. The best of show winner is not eligible for other awards.
Best Craftsmanship (1^st and 2^nd place)- This award is for the costumes that exhibit the best design, construction, general presentation. You must participate in the costume inspection to be eligible for this award. A general hint: A well-made costume is a well-made costume, whether it is simple or complex. It is possible for a simple, but beautifully tailored dress win over a complex mecha-suit.
Best Performance (1^st and 2^nd place)- This award is for the best skit (entertainment value and presentation) and available only to those that participate in the Masquerade competition. Entertainment value and evidence of preparation will be given more weight than the costumes, though the costumes absolutely effect presentation.
Judge’s Choice- this is available to Fashion Show participants. This will be presented for the Judges’ favorite costume.
Audience Favorite- this is available to Fashion Show participants. This will be awarded according to the audience’s response to the costume.
Most Creative- this is available to Fashion Show participants. This will be awarded to the most creative costume or costume concept.

Section Two: Fashion Show

The Fashion Show is chance to show off your costume on stage with out the pressure of planning out a skit.

To register:
1. Read the contest rules and information before deciding to enter.
2. Download and fill out the form. Email it to the Cosplay Coordinator or mail it to
AuroraCorp
Cosplay Coordinator
P.O. Box 210050
Anchorage, AK 99521

Entries must be received or postmarked no later than Sept. 15^th 2008.

Slots available: 50
Eligibility: Open to all Aurora-Con attendees, volunteers, and staff. Preference given to attendees.
Divisions: None.
Awards: Audience Favorite, Most Creative, and Judge’s Choice. (Best Costume award has been reserved for the Masquerade competition.)

There is no additional cost to enter the Fashion Show, but you must be an Aurora-Con attendee, staff member, or volunteer to enter.
Costumes that have been self-made, purchased, commissioned, etc. are allowed.
You will have a maximum of 45 seconds on stage. The emcee will announce you & your costume (or read an introduction of 50 words or less) possibly ask you a question or two. You can ham it up and strike some poses, or be deadpan, but let everyone get a good look at you. If you want to do any unique stunts, poses, etc., remember to clear it with the Cosplay Coordinator at the pre-meeting or inspection. This is for the safety of you, the staff, and other participants.
Music will be provided for the show. Because this is not the Masquerade competition we will not be accepting audio specifically for your time on stage. You are welcome to suggest music- preferably from an anime or video-game, or Asian music.

5. Shortly before the show begins there will be a pre-meeting to familiarize participants with where they are supposed to be during all stages of the show. You must report on time to the pre-meeting or you will not be in the Fashion-show. Report times will be announced as soon as they are available.

Costume Pre-meeting Time: TBA

Keep all content and costumes to PG-13 and under. This is a family friendly convention. No swearing, explicit gestures, excessive violence, or nudity. Make sure your costume is well-made so that you are not falling out of your costume, or that it is not falling off of you. Breaking the PG-13 rule will disqualify you. Use good judgement; if it would get you arrested in public it doesn't belong here.
All costumes must in some way reflect Asian culture (including, but not limited to, anime, manga, video-games, traditional clothing, movies, J-pop, Loligoth, etc.) When in doubt, contact the Cosplay Coordinator.

Costumes must be entirely self-contained. This means it cannot have connections to electrical, audio, or any other kind of external plug or source.
Costumes that have won more than three awards at any other convention are not allowed.
All contestants must be respectful and careful of each other, their costumes, props, and all equipment at all times. Willful damage of costumes, props, equipment of any kind, as well as inappropriate manners toward other contestants or staff will result in disqualification.
Decisions made by the Cosplay Coordinator and the judges are final and not negotiable. If you wish to discuss (not negotiate) the results with the Cosplay Coordinator, please wait at least 24 hours before doing so.

As the Cosplay contests are a part of the convention, all restrictions given by security are enforced. All weapons must be peace-bonded and the Aurora-Con weapons policy will remain in effect prior to, during, and after the cosplay events. No pointing weapons of any kind at the staff, emcee, Cosplay Coordinator, stage staff, security staff, judges for any reason. Doing so will result in immediate disqualification and will be reported to both Aurora-Con security and the Egan Center. Please see the following weapons policy for full details, and contact the Cosplay Coordinator if you have questions.

Aurora-Con weapons policies

Stage Safety:

No jumping on or off the stage. Jumping on/off the stage will result in immediate disqualification. Use the designated entrances/exits on stage.
No fire, flash powder or paper, open flames, lasers, explosives, fog machines, strobe lights, wind machines, dry ice, liquid gases, oxygen tanks, Jacob’s Ladders, Van de Graff Generators, Nuclear devices, or radioactive material of any kind will be allowed.

The stage must be in as good a condition when you leave as when you enter. If you are leaving something on stage (like a prop) it must be easy to pick up. Please bring your own stage ninjas (helpers).
No messy substances of any kind will be allowed on stage. The includes anything that will ruin another’s costume or equipment, or otherwise make the stage sticky, icky, gooey, slippery, slimy, lumpy, blackened, toxic, radioactive, or gone. No glitter, silly string, or ketchup.
No live animals allowed unless they are: a) ADA certified b) human.

Section Three: Masquerade Competition

The Masquerade competition is intended to show off all the hard work you put into your skits and costumes. Judges will evaluate performance (artistic presentation, technical skills, charisma, entertainment, and overall performance) and costumes (craftsmanship, general presentation. and likeness to character) for those that have opted for the cosplay inspection. Stage dimensions will be made available as soon as possible so that people can practice accordingly.

For this year’s event, we will be having an optional cosplay inspection that will not take place in front of an audience, only in front of the judges of the competition. The inspection will give the judges a chance to examine the craftsmanship of your costume. To be eligible for costume craftsmanship and best of show awards, you must enter the cosplay inspection.

The (optional) Cosplay Inspection

This pre-show inspection will not take place in front of an audience, and is intended to give the Judges a chance to take a close look at the quality of the work you put into your costume and ask questions (such as why you chose to use a particular technique or type of material.) Parents are welcomed to be present during the inspection. If all the spots are filled, you can be put on a wait-list.

To register:
1. Read the Inspection and the Masquerade contest information and rules.
2. Download and fill out the form for the Masquerade and be sure to indicate that you would like to participate in the inspection. Email it to the Cosplay Coordinator or mail it to
AuroraCorp
Cosplay Coordinator
P.O. Box 210050
Anchorage, AK 99521

Entries must be received or postmarked no later than Sept. 15^th 2008.

Slots available: 30
Eligibility: Open only to Aurora-Con attendees.
Divisions: Open (13 and up) and Youth (12 and under)
Awards: Eligible for Craftsmanship and Best of Show. Awarded after the Masquerade.

1. Because the cosplay inspection focuses upon craftsmanship, no commissioned, purchased, or manufactured costumes will be allowed. These costumes will disqualify you from the Masquerade. Costumes must be either sewn or crafted by you (if you are in the Youth division, you may have parental assistance.) As some costumes may contain plain parts (shoes, wigs, dress shirts, etc.), it is understood that some items will be purchased. These parts must be listed for the costume judges. Please contact the Cosplay Coordinator if you have questions.

2. There will be two inspection divisions: Open and Youth.
Open is for participants 13 and older, the costume must be self-made.
Youth is for participants 12 and under. Parent or Guardian assistance is acceptable, however, any adult credit must be stated to the costume judges and it is preferable for the adult to be present to answer questions. Any awards presented will name the child. If a person 12 or under feels they have the ability to compete in the Open division, they may do so, but the costume must be self-made.

3. Entrants in the costume craftsmanship judging that have a re-creation costume (recreating a specific costume) are highly encouraged to provide a reference picture, no matter how popular the series or character- there is no guarantee that the judges will know your character, much less the specific details of their costume. No reference picture will deduct points from your score.

4. Costumes that have won more than three awards at any other convention are not allowed.

5. You must check in with the Cosplay Coordinator or other specifically designated staff member when you come to the judging area. If you do not show up for judging, you will dropped from the contest.

6. While waiting your turn to be judged, please maintain a low noise level, DO NOT PLAY ON THE STAGE or with equipment, and follow the instructions given to you by staff, security, and the judges.

Remember that decisions made by the Cosplay Coordinator and the judges are final and not negotiable. If you wish to discuss (not negotiate) the results with the Cosplay Coordinator, please wait at least 24 hours before doing so.

Craftsmanship Judges will look for:

· Accuracy to original (if based on a character)

· Neatness and accuracy of construction

· Construction techniques (welding, stitching, carving, etc.)

· Fit

· Choice of materials

· Overall presentation

Masquerade Competition

To register:
1. Read the Masquerade contest information and rules.
2. Download and fill out the form for the Masquerade and email it to the Cosplay Coordinator or mail it to:

AuroraCorp
Cosplay Coordinator
P.O. Box 210050
Anchorage, AK 99521

Entries must be received or postmarked no later than Sept. 15^th 2008.

Divisions: Open (13 and up), Youth (12 and under),

Prizes: Best Performance- all masquerade participants are eligible.
Best Costume- available ONLY to those that participated in the inspection
Best of Show- awarded for excellence in both performance and costume. Available only to those that participated in the inspection, and did not win Best Costume or Best Performance.

Slots available:

20 group slots- 2 minutes maximum.

10 walk-on (individual) slots- 30 seconds maximum.

There will be a 2 minute maximum time limit on stage for group skits (2 or more people), and a 30 second time limit for walk-ons (individuals.) If you feel you need just a little bit longer, please contact the Cosplay Coordinator to possibly negotiate an extension.

Please submit a script and/or a solid skit concept (if there is no dialog) to the Cosplay Coordinator, and attend the pre-show meeting. Unique and surprising skits are encouraged, but please do not surprise the Cosplay Coordinator, staff, or security. This is not to be a killjoy, but we need to know what is going to happen on stage to ensure the safety of you, the staff, and other participants.

A maximum of eight people in a group.

The pre-show meeting will take place at the main stage and is a chance for everyone involved -staff and contestants- to get prepared for the contest. You and your group must report on time to the pre-meeting. Report time will supplied shortly before or during the convention. If you do not show up to the pre-meeting, you cannot participate in the skit competition.
We will be making sure that:
- We have the audio for each skit in hand, and in the right order.
- Your audio will play properly.
- Everyone knows what order the skits will be going in.
- Everyone will know where to go: where to wait for their turn to get on stage, where to get on stage, where to get off stage, and where to go after they get off stage.
-If time allows, possibly have a full rehearsal.

You may only enter in one skit. Even if you enter as a background character, you cannot be in another skit.

The emcee will announce you/your group, skit title, and an optional introduction 50 words or less. Interaction with the Emcee during, or as part of, your performance is not allowed.

Microphones will be available, but keep in mind that the audience might have difficulty hearing you. If you cannot clearly project your more than 50 feet, you might want to consider pre-recording your dialogue.

If you are using pre-recorded dialog or music for your skit, please have a COPY of your audio (no masters, please) on a CD in a commonly used format such as .wav or .wma. Make sure the CD is in a jewel case or paper sleeve with your name clearly marked on it, and please have a back-up copy or two with you. CDs will be accepted and tested during the pre-meeting. Expect it to come back with writing.
CDs can only be played from the beginning of the single track. We are not responsible for skipping forward, pausing, etc. on a CD during a performance.

Stage Safety:

No jumping on or off the stage. Jumping on/off the stage will result in immediate disqualification. Use the designated entrances/exits on stage.
No fire, flash powder or paper, open flames, lasers, explosives, fog machines, strobe lights, wind machines, dry ice, liquid gases, oxygen tanks, Jacob’s Ladders, Van de Graff Generators, Nuclear devices, or radioactive material of any kind will be allowed.

The stage must be in as good a condition when you leave as when you enter. If you are leaving something on stage (like a prop) it must be easy to pick up. Please bring your own stage ninjas (helpers).
No messy substances of any kind will be allowed on stage. The includes anything that will ruin another’s costume or equipment, or otherwise make the stage sticky, icky, gooey, slippery, slimy, lumpy, blackened, toxic, radioactive, or gone. No glitter, silly string, or ketchup.
No live animals allowed unless they are: a) ADA certified b) human.

Costume Policies:

15. A costume may not be used in more than one skit.

Keep all content and costumes to PG-13 and under. This is a family friendly convention. No swearing, explicit gestures, excessive violence, or nudity. Make sure your costume is well-made so that you are not falling out of your costume, or that it is not falling off of you. Breaking the PG-13 rule will disqualify you. Use good judgement; if it would get you arrested in public it doesn't belong here.
All costumes must in some way reflect Asian culture (including, but not limited to, anime, manga, video-games, traditional clothing, movies, J-pop, Loligoth, etc.) When in doubt, contact the Cosplay Coordinator.

Costumes must be entirely self-contained. This means it cannot have connections to electrical, audio, or any other kind of external plug or source.
Costumes that have won more than three awards at any other convention are not allowed.
All contestants must be respectful and careful of each other, their costumes, props, and all equipment at all times. Willful damage of costumes, props, equipment of any kind, as well as inappropriate manners toward other contestants or staff will result in disqualification.
Decisions made by the Cosplay Coordinator and the judges are final and not negotiable. If you wish to discuss (not negotiate) the results with the Cosplay Coordinator, please wait at least 24 hours before doing so.

Aurora-Con weapons policies

Judging:

Masquerade Judges will look for::

· Overall performance

· Attitude

· Use of given time and space (including evidence of preparation)

· Good writing and/or concepts

· Resemblance to character

Decisions made by the Cosplay Coordinator and the judges are final and not negotiable. If you wish to discuss (not negotiate) the results with the Cosplay Coordinator, please wait at least 24 hours before doing so.

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