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[Jun_Kazama]

I checked around the forums, checked the faq and did a search, so if a thread like this already exists sorry ^_^"

Anyways, I'm looking for some info regarding how the judging works in the masquerade and what exactly happens in general. I sent in my reg. for a walk on for Acen (im hoping there's enough room). I know that the actual judging takes place beforehand (only b/c it said so on the site though).
I've never entered any contests or anything of the sort before so I'm just looking for some help/advice from ppl who have done this kind of thing before and was wondering what exactly I should expect.

[Sarcasm-hime]

It really depends on the event; they all run things slightly differently. The cons I go to all run the ICG Masquerade system, which involves optional workmanship judging before the event in the Green Room...then presentation judging is done while you're onstage.

You sign up for the Masquerade, then check-in at a specified time on the day of the show. You get assigned a number and often are arranged in dens or groups to keep everything organized. You wait in the green room until it's time for your group, then you line up to go onstage. After you go onstage you wait until they announce the awards. ^_^

[Xanthix]

ACEN has tweaked their rules a little each year. This year walk-ons and skits are totally seperate, so walk-ons are judged on craftmanship alone and skits are judged on presentation alone.

In each category, there are 4 main awards and 3 judges awards. The 4 awards are Best of Show Group, Honorable Mention Group, Best of Show Individual, and Honorable Mention Individual. Judges awards are awarded as judges see fit. So if you're going alone, you're eligible for 2 main awards and 3 judges awards. The reasons the judges give for their awards always seem to be pretty random.

I've never competed for craftmanship (we've always done skits), but I've heard that at ACEN they look for detail work a lot. They want to award the cosplayers who not only have good-looking costumes, but ones who got the tiniest details right. So even if your costume isn't big and flashy, you have a chance if you do good work.

Good luck!

[Jun_Kazama]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the help.

Do we get to see the masquerade from in the green room at all?

[Sarcasm-hime]

It depends. Some masquerades have live television feeds from the stage to the greenroom, some don't. It's kind of complicated and can only work if the stage isn't too far from the greenroom.

[grandis]

Since you're asking about Acen in particular, I wondered if anyone knew if Acen still has the gong. I hear the masquerade was pretty good last year, but I figure anyone going into the Acen masquerade should know about the gong, if they still have it.

Grandis

[Eriol]

Originally Posted by grandis

Since you're asking about Acen in particular, I wondered if anyone knew if Acen still has the gong. I hear the masquerade was pretty good last year, but I figure anyone going into the Acen masquerade should know about the gong, if they still have it.

Grandis

Is this a gong as in "The Gong Show" type of disqualification?

[Xanthix]

The gong is what ACEN used to use for skits that went too long, were really really bad, or got distatsteful. Really it was just there to encourage people to stay within two minutes (not that it worked).

The gong is not mentioned in the masquerade rules this year. All they say is they may interrupt your skit if you go over 2 minutes, so I don't know.

As for the green room, the rules say "Following the stage appearance, the cosplayers will be guided back to the green room to enjoy the rest of the Masquerade..." So I assume they'll have some video set up. I hope so anyway, it always bugged me how cosplayers got the worst seats to watch the rest of the masquerade, plus you inevitably end up sitting behind some giant mecha or godzilla costume so you can't see.

[Sarcasm-hime]

I love Dragoncon's version of the Gong.....they just have a few Stormtroopers lurking in the wings who will politely escort you offstage (to be executed, of course) if you go over the time limit. *lol*

[Eriol]

Originally Posted by Xanthix

The gong is what ACEN used to use for skits that ... were really really bad, or got distatsteful. ....

I think the gong is doing exactly what it is supposed to do, just like the TV talent show.

Originally Posted by Sarcasm-hime

I love Dragoncon's version of the Gong.....they just have a few Stormtroopers lurking in the wings who will politely escort you offstage (to be executed, of course) if you go over the time limit. *lol*

More cons should have better enforcement of time. Bad skits are a matter of taste, but it would be amusing to use the gong for that purpose. Of course, the entrants should be fully warned about the gong. For some people, being humiliated like that probably isn't going to sit well.

[grandis]

That's always my point. I like the entrants to be traumatized as little as possible.

Grandis

[Jun_Kazama]

Do walk on people just walk across the stage or do they stop or anything?
I'm really new to all of this and I can't remember the masquerades from my past cons all that well ^_^"

[Eleryth]

Usually, I think they walk on (either to music or without), pose a little to show off the costume, then walk off the stage. No skit/joke involved. Just showing off the outfit.

[Sarcasm-hime]

Yeah...don't just walk across the stage as people won't have time to see your outfit. Walk on, do some turns/twirls/poses etc. for maybe 10 seconds (it's actually much longer than it sounds) and then walk off. ^_^

[Kaijugal]

Most of the local fan run conventions in Toronto: Anime North, Toronto Trek, Ad-Astra, use the International Costumers Guild standard as Sarcasm-Hime pointed out.
It's a divisional system with levels: Young Costumer, Novice, Journeyman, Artisan, and Master.
For more details you can look here: ANIME NORTH MASQUERADE
or here INTERNATIONAL COSTUMERS GUILD GUIDELINES

(This is about the ICG for anyone curious)

We have a time limit that competetors need to adhear to but there is no Gong, Hook, Etc. It's considered disrespectful, and could potentially turn alot of first timers off ever trying to cosplay again. (And let's face it, most of us were not that good our first time.)

This year I am proud to announce that ANIME NORTH will have a large Greenroom Feed so all contestants can watch the show from the Greenroom!