October 9-11, 2009
Crowne Plaza Hotel Detroit Metro Airport Romulus, Michigan USA
Masquerade Rules
Definitions – ConClave uses the following definitions within the Competition Rules:
Masquerade – an orderly stage presentation of costumes and awards. This does not include the Dance.
Muster – A gathering of all Masquerade participants prior to the complete stage presentation.
Costume – A combination of Worn Garments, Makeup, Accessories, and In-character Thematic Presentation.
Category – A subgrouping of costumes based on specific judging criteria.
Division – A separation of costumes by age or experience level.
Contestant – The “Creator” of a competitive Costume Entry.
Model – Wearer of any Costume. May be a person other than its Creator.
Costume Entry – a Costume or ensemble of costumes, worn by an individual or group of Models.
QUALIFYING
1. All Masquerade Contestants must be members of Conclave 34. Unbadged minors who model a costume must be accompanied by their registered parent or guardian at muster. Participants or their legal guardians will be asked to show their badges to be admitted.
2. Costumes must be enrolled by Saturday October 10th, at the Masquerade Muster. Enrollment during Conclave is also possible at Convention Operations until the Saturday Muster.
3. Appear at the appointed time. Costume Entries are scheduled to muster promptly and complete their presentation during the Competition.
4. Complete costumes which have been purchased or rented are not allowed in competition. Commissioned costumes (purchased and modeled for a Contestant) or select purchased pieces in a costume are allowable, but the costume as a whole must be a work of individual creation.
5. One Model per Costume Entry. There are no dress-changes during this competition. Models are identified on stage by their Badge nickname or first name only. The “Creator” is fully identified in all cases.
CLASSIFICATIONS
6. Masquerade Award Categories are:
Re-creation - Entries based on a visual source (anime, comics, media, art, book cover, etc.) . Entries in the re-creation stream are advised to provide a clear copy of visual documentation for judges who may not be familiar with the source.
Original – Entries with no specific visual media source or basis. Interpretations of literary sources may be included as Original at the sole discretion of the Masquerade Director.
Divisions by Experience: If warranted by Costumer turnout, entries may be grouped and presented (but not necessarily judged) by the Contestant’s experience level to provide a more consistent playing field and an organized progression of modeled costumes. The Divisions open upward; a Contestant can field entries in any Division at or above their current stated division. Professional costumers, fashion designers, or textile artists must enter in the Master division. In Division Competition, each entry will compete in one of the following divisions, which will be presented in this order:
Novice - Contestant
who has never won an award in a Masquerade or similar costume competition
Journeyman - Contestant
who has won at least one award (but fewer than three awards)
Artisan - Contestant
who has won three or more awards
Master - Contestant
who has either won three or more awards in the Artisan division or is fielding
multiple non-ensemble models, or any Professional Costumer.
(Depending on turnout, the Artisan and Master divisions may also be combined.)
7. Entries Per Contestant Are Limited. The number of entries fielded by any individual Contestant is subject to approval of the Masquerade Director in fairness to single-entry Contestants. If divisions by experience level are used in the Masquerade, all multiple non-ensemble entries fielded by individual Contestants will be automatically placed in the Master Division of competition and presented consecutively.
JUDGING
8. Costumes will be judged during the Masquerade after all presentations by a panel of judges. Judges make 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place decisions based primarily on the following criteria:
Creativity (for original designs) or Faithfulness to the source (for re-creations)
Theme/concept – Appropriateness to any announced theme of the Masquerade
Presentation / audience impact, Overall look and consistency , and Technical Accomplishment
9. Lightning Round Judging by audience response will be used in the event of any tied scores.
STAGE PRESENTATION
10. All Costumes will be introduced by the Masquerade M.C. Any and all information an entry needs to accompany the M.C.’s intro of a stage presentation MUST be provided with the entry’s enrollment form. If a prepared introduction is not furnished, the M.C. is free to adlib a reaction, after announcing only the costume’s entry number, division, and title at the beginning, and credits at the end of each presentation. Presentations are limited to two minutes on stage. Additional time or any need for an entry to involve the M.C. in its presentation is subject to review with the Masquerade Director and the M.C. in advance of the Masquerade Muster. Remember that all entries must remove their membership badge before going on stage.
11. No microphone will be available to contestants. In preparing presentations, bear in mind that the Masquerade will take place in a large room. Be prepared to project.
12. Costumes must be stageworthy. The standard path for the Masquerade involves entering the Ballroom catering access, climbing stairs to reach the stage, crossing the stage, walking down stairs to leave the stage, and exiting the room. Special arrangements to accommodate mobility or vision restrictions must be requested in advance and noted on the entry’s Enrollment form.
13. Miscellaneous Event Rules. The following standard Masquerade restrictions apply absolutely. Breaking any of the following rules results in but is not limited to disqualification:
No Nudity or Explicit Sexual Content. No costume is not a costume. The Masquerade's policy on nudity is not above the laws of the state or the mores of the convention.
No Pyrotechnics. Open flame, explosives, flash powder, or flash paper are not allowed in any presentation. Sealed electronic flashes and strobes are permitted if they are declared.
No Messy Substances, such as liquids, peanut butter, powders, gels, slimes, Styrofoam peanuts, chocolate pudding, ketchup and anything that may damage another entry costume or create a hazard on the stage.
No Authentic Firearms, functional or nonfunctional. Any other Weapons in the Masquerade are subject to the ConClave weapons policy. Weapons drawn, brandished, trained upon and/or dry-fired at targets or individuals in any threatening or ad lib (unexpected) manner is forbidden.
No projectiles.
All judging is final. The ConClave Masquerade Director reserves the option to eliminate anyone from competition on the basis of danger to the audience or other contestants, or any reasonable consideration including tardiness or unsportsmanlike behavior.
These Costume Masquerade Rules were adapted for 2007 by the Great Piñata Riders Costuming Guild.