Cosplay

Please be sure to read the below rules so you are fully prepared to be awesome at the convention:

A. All registrations will be filled out at the con itself. Due to the fact that we use different colored sheets for the various categories, online forms are not an option this year.

B. MechaCon is happy to announce our new judging categories for MechaCon’s Cosplay Competition, along with their respective awards/prizes:

Best In Show - $1,000 + Trophy

Best Skit - $200 + Trophy

Best Advanced (craftsmanship) Walk-on - $200 + Trophy

Best Novice (craftsmanship) Walk-on - $100 + Trophy

Best Walk-on (non-craftsmanship) - Trophy

Best Walk-on (group non-craftsmanship) - Trophy

Judges’ Awards - Trophies

Platinum Choice Award - Trophy

C. Portfolios are allowed for the Craftsmanship categories, though not required. Thus, if time is a factor in the pre-meet for up close and personal viewing by the judges, they can still evaluate your costume as you prepare at the pre-meet.

The MechaCon Cosplay Ten Commandments:

1. Participants must submit all registration forms and materials (waivers, C.D.s, etc.) to the cosplay desk on the convention floor, in order to participate in the Cosplay Competition. Materials must be turned in at the time of registration. Minors must have parent’s permission and a parent’s signature on the waiver.

2. You can only participate in either the walk-on category or the skit category. You cannot do both.

3. Walk-ons will be 35 seconds, and skits will have up to 3 minutes. Skits are allowed to bring an audio CD of the EXACT section you want played. We cannot jump tracks or start at a particular spot in the music. A backup copy on a flashdrive is recommended encase our equipment cannot read the CD. Walk-ons will be competing to the music of our choice.

4. In order for you to qualify for craftsmanship judging, you must have made at least 50% of your costume. Store bought costumes will be allowed to participate as a walk-on or skit, they just cannot be entered into the craftsmanship category. This will be the first year having Advanced and Novice levels, thus we ask that if you have won a Craftsmanship award in the past from any con that your register as Advanced.

5. Costumes should be self-contained. (i.e. your costume cannot be socketed or have any wire or electrical hook-ups.) If your costume has any excessive or flashing lights, you must inform us by making a note of it to the Cosplay Staff so that the appropriate warning can be issued to the audience in case of any medical issues that may be caused by the flashing lights.

6. All weapons should follow the MechaCon Weapons Policy and mandates which can be found here.

7. Only 100 total entries will be accepted (please note that skits count as one entry, regardless of the number of participants in your skit). On Thursday and Friday, we will be accepting up to 5 skit and 25 walk-on entries. Saturday, we will be accepting 10 skit and 30 walk-on entries. Please make sure you register A.S.A.P. because once the slots are filled, we cannot accept anymore entries.

8. Cosplay = costume + play. Your costume may be from any genre’, book, anime / manga, video game, or Japanese culture.

9. No excessive sexual themes, violence, or nudity will be tolerated on stage. We have a strict PG 14 rating. All skits need to be pre-approved by a member of the cosplay staff. Please present a copy of your script or video on CD with your registration form at the Cosplay Desk. The violation of these rules will not be tolerated and you will be disqualified, and possibly have your convention badge revoked. All of the preceding rules include cross-play!

10. Once you have signed up and are ready to compete, you must attend the Cosplay Pre-Meeting before the actual competition. The Pre-Meet will begin at 1 PM and the contest itself at 3 PM. You will be given directions to the Pre-Meeting when you register for Cosplay. Please be aware that food and drink are not permitted during the Pre-Meeting or backstage during cosplay(there will be water stations). If you need to eat or drink, please plan to do so before the Cosplay Pre-Meeting. Parents of minors MUST accompany their children at rehearsal and backstage. Rest assured parents, we place everyone’s safety and well-being above all else. If you do not show up for the Pre-Meeting, you will be disqualified.

Please direct any questions regarding the Cosplay Contest to [email protected].
All rules for the MechaCon Cosplay/Masquerade are subject to change without notice. While we will attempt to keep you abreast of any changes via the MechaCon website, these changes may occur at anytime.