Nan Desu Kan 2007 >> Cosplay Competition >> Cosplay Competition Rules and Regulations
Cosplay Competition Rules and Regulations
Tagged with: awards, competition, cosplay, costume, event, policies, rules
These rules apply to all contestants. Please read the rules to the very end as some of your questions may be answered further down.
- Masquerade area head has final say!
- You must be pre-registered with the convention before you register online for the costume contest.
- All members of an entry must individually sign the NDK Cosplay declaration (legal liability, publicity waiver).
- Contestants may sign up for the category they think they belong in. However, the masquerade area head and the craftsmanship judges reserve the right to move contestants into a different category based on the work presented. If you are found intentionally entering a category below your level you may be disqualified from the contest.
- Contestants may not enter a costume that has won at a previous NDK or has been worn and won at 2 or more costume contests/masquerades larger than 10 entries.
- NDK weapons policy will be strictly enforced. As per the weapons policy, if you wish to have a weapon allowed, please email the masquerade area head.
- No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service: This is the hotel’s policy. Please wear some form of shoes. Even barefoot characters must have shoes on for the contest. The lack of authenticity will be forgiven.
- All contestants must have a torso covering. Despite the double standard created by our society at large, in the interest of fairness to both sexes, we must insist that both genders wear appropriate torso coverings.
- Nudity, even the illusion of such, is strictly forbidden and will disqualify you. If you have questions, please ask!!!
- NDK’s masquerade is rated TVPG (Parental Guidance Suggested): This program contains material that parents may find unsuitable for younger children. Parents may want to watch it with their younger children. The theme itself may call for parental guidance and/or the program contains one or more of the following: moderate violence (V), some sexual situations (S), infrequent coarse language (L), or some suggestive dialogue (D).
- There will be no “bag run” service. Please make other arrangements for your valuables.
- There will be no set amount of slots for any walk on category except for children, which is limited to 5. There will be 50 slots total available to the beginner, intermediate, or masters category instead of the previous 30 slots for this category, 20 slots for that one. Slots are filled on a first come, first serve basis.
- All slots for the contest will be available online. Any slots not filled after the 2-week online registration will be available on site. This means that there is a possibility that there will be no slots except for the children’s category, which are only available on site, so please register early.
- All members of a group entry must sign up at the same time. There will be no late entries to any group.
- All online entrants must be at check-in on Friday night or Saturday morning. If you do not check in by the end of the check in period, your slot will be given away to someone on the waiting list and you will not be allowed to compete.
- At check-in, you will be given an entry badge. If you do not have the badge at final check-in, you will not be allowed to compete.
- Times and dates for pre-registration, check-in, craftsmanship judging, green room, and contest are given clearly. If you miss any of these deadlines you will not be allowed to participate in the contest. No exceptions.
- While we appreciate costumes from other genres, NDK’s masquerade will be limited to those of Japanese origin. Special exceptions may be made for costumes of other Asian media, but the masquerade area head must approve them. If you have a question regarding this, please email the masquerade area head.
- Any contestants who have music or audio must enter online and must submit any music or audio you want played for your walk-on or skit by midnight Friday, September 7, 2007. No music or audio submissions will be accepted late or on site.
Costume Contest
- Street Clothes:Street clothes are defined as any item that has been purchased off the rack. All requirements regarding this are given below in respective categories. Any costume containing street clothes that has not been approved by the masquerade area heads may be disqualified.
- Commissioned Costumes: No commissioned costumes will be allowed for the contests. Modeled costumes are permitted only with prior consent given directly from the costumer to the masquerade area heads. Costumes must be one of a kind costume created for the model, in other words no mass-produced costumes, Ebay or otherwise, will be allowed. Wigs and props are exceptions; however, credit must be given where credit is due.
- Professional Costumer: NDK defines a professional costumer as any person who receives payment for making a costume.
- Walk-on entries are limited to walk-on performances forty-five (45) seconds or less.
- There will be a total of 50 slots available to contestants entering in the beginner, intermediate, and masters categories during online registration. If the Cosplay slots do not fill up by the end of online registration, they will be converted to walk-on slots available on site. (Don’t count on it.)
- Categories are based loosely on International Costumer’s Guild guidelines. Please note your category and enter appropriately! If you do not know what category you should enter, please talk to the masquerade area head or the craftsmanship judges. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask!
- Specialty awards are the George Robbert’s Traditional Costume Award, BakuDan’s Video Game Award, Best J-rock Award.
- Judge’s Awards are awards given out by NDK’s guest judges to their favorite costume or cosplay contestants.
| Children’s | |
|---|---|
| # entries | 5 – all on site registration |
| # entrants allowed per entry | 6 (six) |
| Restrictions | All children 12 and under are in this category. Children of age 10 or over, who have made their own costumes, may elect to enter in the Beginner category. Any entrants wishing to do so will need to see the craftsmanship judges although they are not therefore required to undergo Craftsmanship Judging. |
| Street Clothes | N/A |
| Eligible awards | None. This is not a judged category. |
| Beginner | |
|---|---|
| # entrants allowed per entry | 6 (six) |
| Restrictions | Open to entrants 13 and over who are not professional costumers and/or who have not won awards.
All music/prerecorded sound that you want played during your skit must be sent via email along with the script and received before midnight September 2, 2007. |
| Street Clothes | Entrants must alter any street clothes 25% or more to be considered. Alternately, unmodified street clothes must consist of less than 25% of costume. The lenience of this requirement is for those who have costuming skills other than sewing. If you have street clothes in your costume, please email the masquerade area head! |
| Eligible awards | Audience Favorite Judges’ Awards 1st Place Beginner 2nd Place Beginner 1st Place Beginner Division Craftsmanship 2nd Place Beginner Division Craftsmanship Best in Show Specialty Awards |
| Any contestant in the beginner category may opt for craftsmanship judging, for which extra points will be given, but it is not mandatory. If you wish your costume to be judged for craftsmanship you’ll need the following things. | Printed out reference picture of source costume, minimum: one picture quarter page in size. Fully filled out questionnaire. |
| Other info | Contestants in any group may be from different series, games, or musical groups. However, all contestants in a group must be at the same skill level. If there is a member of the group that is at a higher level than other members your group will be bumped up to the appropriate level. |
| Intermediate | |
|---|---|
| # entrants allowed per entry | 6 (six) |
| Restrictions | Open to entrants 13 and over who are not a professional costumer and/or have not won 2 best in shows, or any master level awards. All music/prerecorded sound that you want played during your skit must be sent via email along with the script and received before midnight September 2, 2007. |
| Street Clothes | Entrants must alter any street clothes 50% or more to be considered. Alternately, unmodified street clothes must consist of less than 10% of costume. If you have street clothes in your costume, please email the masquerade area head! |
| Eligible awards | Audience Favorite Judges’ Awards 1st Place Intermediate 2nd Place Intermediate 1st Place Intermediate Division Craftsmanship 2nd Place Intermediate Division Craftsmanship Best in Show Specialty Awards |
| Any contestant in the intermediate category may opt for craftsmanship judging, for which extra points will be given, but it is not mandatory. If you wish your costume to be judged for craftsmanship you’ll need the following things. | Printed out reference picture of source costume (minimum: one picture quarter page in size). Fully filled out questionnaire. |
| Other info | Contestants in any group may be from different series, games, or musical groups. However, all contestants in a group must be at the same skill level. If there is a member of the group that is at a higher level than other members your group will be bumped up to the appropriate level. |
| Masters | |
|---|---|
| # entrants allowed per entry | 6 |
| Restrictions | Open to entrants 13 and over. All music/prerecorded sound that you want played during your skit must be sent via email along with the script and received before midnight September 2, 2007. |
| Street Clothes | Entrants are not allowed to have any street clothes. Any wigs and props not made by the contestant must be approved by the masquerade area heads. |
| Eligible awards | Audience Favorite Judges’ Awards 1st Place Master 2nd Place Master 1st place Master division craftsmanship 2nd place Master division craftsmanship Best in Show Specialty Awards |
| All Masters must be judged on craftsmanship. | Printed out reference picture of source costume (minimum: one picture quarter page in size) Fabric samples and/or photos of construction and fully filled out questionnaire. |
| Other Info | Contestants in any group may be from different series, games, or musical groups. |
| Cosplay Contest | |
|---|---|
| # entries | Maximum of 20 entries; all of which will be offered only online. Any left over cosplay spots at the end of the pre-registration period will be turned into walk on slots available on site. |
| Max # entrants per entry | 6 (six) |
| Restrictions | Performances will be limited to 2 minutes each.
All skits must be pre-approved with the submission of both a full script with stage directions and if applicable, any sound accompaniment. Significant deviation from approved skit will result in being disqualified. All music/prerecorded sound that you want played during your skit must be sent via email along with the script and received before midnight September 2, 2007. |
| Street Clothes | Entrants must alter any street clothes 25% or more to be considered. Alternately, unmodified street clothes must consist of less than 25% of costume. The lenience of this requirement is for those who have costuming skills other than sewing. If you have street clothes in your costume, please email! |
| Eligible Awards | Audience Favorite 1st Place Cosplay 2nd Place Cosplay 1st Place Cosplay Division Craftsmanship 2nd Place Cosplay Division Craftsmanship Judge’s Awards Best in Show Specialty Awards |
| Any contestant in the cosplay category may opt for craftsmanship judging, for which extra points will be given, but it is not mandatory. If you wish your costume to be judged for craftsmanship you’ll need the following things. | Printed out reference picture of source costume, minimum: one picture quarter page in size. Fully filled out questionnaire. |
| Other Info | Contestants in any group may be from different series, games, or musical groups. |
How to Enter
Please read the rules carefully! Any questions can be directed to the masquerade area head.
- Online via email— All of the entry slots will be available online with the exception of children’s entries. There is room for 50 walk-on entries and 20 skit entries.
- On site at the hotel— Any walk-on entry slots not filled by the time online registration ends will be offered on site. Any skit entry slot not filled by the end of the registration period will be turned into a walk-on entry and offered on site. There will also be 5 children’s slots available on site.
Please note that there will be no skit slots available on site and plan accordingly.
Important Times and Dates
- Online sign-up begins Saturday, August 18, 2007 at noon Denver time (Mountain time) and ends Saturday, September 1, 2007 at noon Denver time (Mountain time). Any emails sent prior to the beginning of signup will be returned and the entrant will need to re-apply. To pre-register for the contest you need to be pre-registered for the convention. Email confirmation of walk-on entries will be sent within 2 days. Skit entries will be sent after the script and sound recordings have been previewed. If you do not receive an email, please inquire!
- Online registrants must check-in on site. Times will be given later. There will be check-in on Friday evening from 6:30pm to 8:00pm in the autograph area and Saturday morning from 9:00am to 10:00am in the autograph area. All members of an entry must check-in by end of check-in on Saturday morning, September 15, 2007; any entry failing to do so will not compete.
- For those who did not get a slot in the contest, a waiting list will be kept with contestant names and a phone number by which they can be reached on site. If any pre-registered entry fails to make the 10:00am Saturday deadline, their slot will be offered to those on the waiting list in order. You must answer the call personally to get a spot as there will be no messages left (and you must check in by 10:30am in the autograph area), unclaimed spots will be filled between 10:00am and 10:30am at which time the list will be closed.
- Onsite sign up for left over spots from online sign up will be Friday evening, September 14, 2007 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm in the autograph area.
- Craftsmanship judging will take place on Saturday, September 15, 2007 from 10:30am to 5:00pm. Any entry wishing to be judged on craftsmanship must sign up for a judging time upon check-in. Masters must have craftsmanship judging.
- Green room is mandatory. Any entry not present for final check-in will not compete. The green room check-in will be held in Conifer and will open at 5:30pm and close at 6:15pm on Saturday September 15, 2007.
Updated 01/06/2007
