The following information is designed to help you understand what to expect before, during, and after this year's Costume Contest. If in doubt about anything to do with this costume event, feel free to contact us. We will help you as much as possible. We want you to show your costume. The registration form is now available here at Costume Contest Registration Form.  You can register at the convention, but it would be preferable if you can register beforehand so all entry information can be readied and available for judging.  All participants in your presentation must have memberships for NEFANX, either a full weekend membership or Saturday membership in order to participate.

Remember, this is a "Costume Contest." So, we will not be doing elaborate light shows or sound effects. If you have some music or skit material that you would like to be played, please provide it in Audio CD (Red Book) format.

At NEFANX there will be a Costume Contest table. Please stop by to check on your registration and turn in any documentation for the judging.

Skill Divisions

The Costume Contest will have a two-tier system comprised of "Novice" and "Experienced."
¨ A "Novice" is a costumer who has never before entered a costume competition (i.e. at a Worldcon, Costume Con, or any regional convention) or has never won an award.
¨ An "Experienced" costumer is everyone that is not a "Novice."

Types of Costume
The following are the three categories of types of Costumes that you can enter.

Original costumes are those with designs that are a product of the costumer's imagination or are taken from a fictional description. They reflect the designer's outlook on science fiction, fantasy, anime, kaiju or pop culture and are often drawn from the creator's favorite literary works. Since they are original, the choice of design, construction, materials, and props are left entirely to the costumer's discretion.

Re-creation or media costumes are those costumes whose design is copied, reproduced or derived from film, television, comic books, anime, paintings, etc. Because you are re-creating something that you have seen elsewhere, you will need to provide some sort of documentation that shows what the original looks like.

Historic costumes are those costumes whose design and construction must be carefully documented and researched from history. Since they represent living history, the need for authenticity and exactness - much like Re-creation costumes - is very important. So, like the "Re-creation" category, you need to document your costume.

Restrictions on Costumes and Props

There will be absolutely no flame, fires, sparks, or other flammables on stage. If you are a dragon, plenty of fake and safe "flame" is welcome. If you are carrying a weapon on stage, we need to know ahead of time. All weapons must be cleared before the costume contest with the Masquerade Director. There will be no sharp edges allowed on weapons. No weapon will be allowed if it ejects or shoots projectiles. If you are pointing a weapon at each other or at anyone in the audience, it must be demonstrated to not work and not shoot before the Contest.

Any weapon allowed in the Masquerade but otherwise restricted by the Convention must be cleared by the Masquerade Director before hand.
Do not construct or decorate yourself or your costume or props with anything messy, smelly, or slimy. All parts of your costume must come and leave with you.

Wireless (radio) Remote Controlled Devices Discouraged: Due to the presence of significant RF interference sources at the Courtyard in general, and the Main Ballroom in particular, we strongly advise against using any radio-based Remote Control devices as part of your costume and/or your presentation. If you were planning on doing this, please re-think those plans.

Each person may appear only once on stage.

Purchased or rented costumes may not be entered in competition. It is possible however to show those costumes Out of Competition.

There is no restriction on costumes being worn at this convention or prior conventions before the competition. We ask that you use your best judgment about whether to enter in or out of competition (if you're not sure, ask us). If you have won an award at an International Competition with this costume, please consider presenting out of competition. We do want to see your costumes here and want to give others a chance to win with their costume.

Out of Competition
Skits that are self-written, that fall within the 90 second guidelines may be performed Out of Competition for entertainment purposes in purchased or rented costumes. International winning costumers are encouraged to "parade" their costumes Out of Competition.

Judging Guidelines

Awards will be given once the Judging is complete. Time of judging will depend on the number of entries in each category. Be prepared to be called back onto the stage for awards.

Workmanship Awards will be given, then Presentation Awards. You may be called onto the stage more than once for different awards.

Presentation Judging

The Presentation Judges will be looking at your costume from the audience viewpoint. They will look at the costume itself as well as how it works with the music, script and choreography on stage. Even a mediocre costume can win an award if the presentation is well done. Remember, funny is good, shorter is better, short and funny is best. All presentations must be less then 90 seconds, No whole music selections (i.e. Broadway numbers) only edited skits.

Workmanship Judging

This judging will be to evaluate the best parts of your costume, up close and personal. Please indicate to the Workmanship Judge specifically what you are most proud of in your costume or prop. Tell him or her a little about how you made your costume.

If in doubt, visit with the Workmanship Judge even if you're not that impressed with your work on your costume. Leave it to their judgment as to whether your work is special in the context of this competition.

Documentation

Documentation can be very important for the judges to help in evaluating your presentation or workmanship.  Judges are not all-knowing and may not have seen or heard of the source for your inspiration. Documentation can be anything from a copy of a written description or passage from a literary work, photocopied or printed images from visual source material such as DVD covers, art books, magazines, manga, internet images, frame captures from video, etc. If you are providing documentation it must be turned in to the Costume Contest table at NEFANX before the contest.

James Hinsey
Masquerade Director
New England Fan Experience
costume@nefanx.com