A masquerade is a non-professional costume competition featuring costumes from comic books, movies, Japanese animation, video games or any popular fandom.
There are two different entry categories:
1. Skit: Short sketch done alone or with a group. This can be a humorous play or performance, a choreography or lipsynching to music. Creativity is key!
2. Walk-On: The contestant or the group walks on the stage, strikes different poses to show their costumes’ every angle and walks out of the other side of the stage. Background music is permitted and strongly encouraged.
Time limit
For a group of 1 to 3 participants, the time limit is fifty seconds (50 seconds). For a group of four or more, the limit is a minute and 15 seconds (75 seconds). If the skit or walk-on are longer than the allocated time, the lights and the sound will be cut and the contestants will be escorted off the stage and disqualified.
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Here’s how to enter the masquerade:
**NOTE THAT THE REGISTRATION WILL OPEN SOON!**
1. Please read the masquerade rules below.
2. ONLY advance Online registration will be available.
3. Registration opening dates will be published via Comiccon’s social media and newsletter, please follow the page and subscribe to the newsletter to be kept informed of the news.
4. If all spots are filled, you can email the masquerade coordinator at mascarade@montrealcomiccon.com to be added to the waiting list.
5. A limited number of entries will be available through online registration. This will guarantee you a spot in the masquerade.
6. IMPORTANT #1: NEW – Pre-registered entries MUST SUBMIT their audio track (MP3 or WAV only) in advance of the masquerade. This allows time for staff to review and test the files to ensure everything works properly before the main show. If you fail to submit your audio, your entry will be silent on stage. You may bring an updated audio track on USB on the day of the show if required.
7. IMPORTANT #2: A valid Comiccon ticket is required to participate in the masquerade on the day of the event. Please be mindful when registering online and ensure you are committed to attending. If you register online to reserve a spot and don’t show up, you are taking the opportunity away from other participants who would have loved to compete but couldn’t because the show was fully booked.
8. Should a slot open, the 1st person on the waiting list will be offered the spot. The spot will remain open for 24H. If no response is received by the deadline, the spot will be offered to the next person on the waiting list.
Question? CONTACT US: mascarade@montrealcomiccon.com
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GREEN ROOM BY APPOINTMENT!
Book your timeslot in our calendar during online registration and show up at the scheduled time in the Greenroom to have your costume judged, speak to the MC, sound technician, ninjas and have your official picture taken. You’re then free to enjoy the con until final call time!
Register here! **COMING SOON**
Entries who fail to show up to their appointment or are significantly late without proper justification will be disqualified.
Final call time will be one hour before the show. You must report to the Greenroom by that time or you will be disqualified. Please note that you will not be able to leave the Greenroom after that time. It is therefore strongly recommended that you wrap up anything you needed done prior.
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Rules:
- Microphones will not be provided. Using a pre-recorded soundtrack is highly recommended. The Masquerade team does NOT have a music library for you to choose from. If you do not submit a soundtrack, your entry will be silent.
- The maximum number of contestants in a group is twelve (12). No group over twelve people will be accepted.
- MINORS (17y & under) please read the following carefully:
- 12y & under: Must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at all times
- 13y to 17y: A signed parental consent form is required to participate in the masquerade. This form will be emailed after registration and has to be filled and signed by a parent or legal guardian. The signed form can be returned via email or printed & brought on the day of the show.
- No open flame, liquids, powders, smoke machines of any size (including modified vape pens) or “flash” paper are allowed on stage. If you want to use an electronic flash or any other visual effect, you need to mention it on your application form so the host can warn the audience. No laser pointers are allowed. No loose glitter.
- No slippery or messy substances are allowed on stage. In doubt, ask the masquerade coordinator via email. The stage must be in the same condition before and after your entry. If you have to leave anything on the stage, the objects need to be easy to pick up by the support volunteers. Otherwise, you need to have your own ninja to pick it up.
- No gratuitous nudity. The masquerade is rated PG-13 and can be seen only by people ages 13 and up. However, children 12 and under with an adult can watch the masquerade.
- No real firearms, real firearm replicas or throwing weapons are allowed. No cold weapon, no metal blade, be it sharpened or not are allowed. If your costume needs a bow, the bowstring must be removed when not on stage. Any weapon used during the masquerade must follow the event’s Weapons and Large Props Rules and Regulations. Exceptions are at the coordinator’s discretion only.
- Every contestant can only go up on stage once during the masquerade. However, anyone can present as many costumes they want but they can only wear one of them on stage. The other costumes must be presented by other contestants (they can be in the same group or not).
- Contestants must be in the Greenroom at the required time. Ask the masquerade table for any details. If you are not present on time or you are not ready to go on stage when it is your turn, you will be disqualified. Any exceptions are at the coordinator’s discretion only.
- The masquerade is a non-professional competition. Costumes bought online or rented are not eligible for any award, same as professional or theatrical costumes. However, these costumes can be presented on stage in the “Out of Competition” category. Please note that priority is given to costumes created by non-professional contestants. The “Out of Competition” applications will be allowed only if available slots remain after registration.
- Commissioned costumes will be allowed IF AND ONLY IF the creator (the person who made the commissioned costume/prop) completes the application form themselves. They are not required to appear on stage, but their presence in the Greenroom is MANDATORY. Wigs, small accessories and jewelry are exempt from this rule. Anyone who fails to comply with this rule will be disqualified from the masquerade.
- The masquerade coordinator reserves the right to remove anyone from the competition for any reason deemed sufficient, including but not limited to: falsifying registration, inappropriate, indecent, rude, racist, or sexist behaviour. Threats and/or violence of any kind toward staff, attendees, or volunteers will not be tolerated and may result in immediate expulsion from the convention.
- The decisions of the judges are final. Awards are based on workmanship, presentation, or a combination of both. Judges may choose not to give out a “Best in Show” or “Best in Division” award, or any award in any division, if they feel none of the entries are deserving of such recognition.
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Standard Judging Division System
The Standard Division System exists to promote fairness and ensures all levels of costumers have reasonably equal chances to win awards in masquerades using divisions based on skill and experience. Any participant can choose to enter a division higher than the one they belong to, if they feel that their experience is greater than that of their current division. For example, a contestant that has made more than a dozen costumes in the past but has never participated in a masquerade may enter at a higher level than a novice, depending on the overall level of the competition they are looking to compete in. Keep in mind that if the contestant wins in that higher Division, they must compete in that Division in future competitions.
The Standard Division System, in accordance with the International Costumers’ Guild Guidelines, will be used as follows:
Junior Division
(Also known as the Young Fan Division)
Any contestant less than 12 years of age at the time of this competition may compete in the Junior Division. The Junior Division is divided into two categories:
- Junior Self-Made: A Junior contestant who has largely or wholly constructed his/her own costume.
- Junior Adult-Made: A Junior contestant whose costume has been largely or wholly constructed by an adult.
Novice Division
A contestant who has not won a major award at a masquerade other than as a Junior costumer or has some awards but does not feel ready to register in a higher category. A contestant who has won numerous awards in the Novice division is encouraged to enter in the Journeyman division. Winning Best in Class in Novice or Best in Show automatically graduates a participant to the next category (Journeyman).
Journeyman Division
A contestant who has won major awards in the Novice division at masquerades and wishes to challenge themselves or who wishes to enter this division if they do not belong in a higher division in use in the competition. A contestant who has won numerous awards in the Journeyman division is encouraged to enter in the Artisan division. Winning Best in Class in Journeyman or Best in Show automatically graduates a participant to the next category (Artisan).
Artisan Division
A contestant who has won major awards in the Journeyman division at masquerades and wishes to challenge themselves or who wishes to enter this division if they do not belong in a higher division in use in the competition. A contestant who has won numerous awards in the Artisan division is encouraged to enter in the Master division. Winning Best in Class in Artisan or Best in Show automatically graduates a participant to the next category (Master).
Master Division
A contestant who has won major awards in the Artisan division at Masquerades and wishes to challenge themselves or who wishes to enter this division.
Out of Competition Division
The masquerade is an amateur competition. Purchased or rented costumes are not eligible to compete for awards but may be showcased on stage in the Out of Competition Division. Costumes made for business purposes, theatrical productions, or professional events are also not eligible for awards but may be presented in this Division. Additionally, anyone who wishes to showcase their costume in this Division may do so. Please note that priority will be given to costumes created by non-professional contestants wishing to be judged for awards first, and participation is subject to available spots.
Workmanship Judging
Judging for Workmanship Awards will take place prior to the start of the masquerade. You can be judged on your costume or on a specific piece or prop. Workmanship judging is mandatory for all divisions except Out of Competition. Quality is quality, no matter the Division, and a beautiful job deserves recognition. Our judges will look for technical skill displays, tailoring, execution, finishes, fit, fabric and materials manipulation and much more! The judges need to know what parts of the costume were constructed by you and what parts (if any) were purchased.
Presentation Judging
Judging for Presentation will take place during the masquerade, while entries are on stage. Judging criteria can be: originality, energy, quality of acting, sync with audio track (ie: lipsynch, sound effects), choreography, special effects, creative use of props, use of stage, script and much more! How the costume moves and “behaves” on stage can also be reviewed. Participants are encouraged to prepare a presentation that showcases every angle of their costume for the stage portion of their entry.
Documentation
It is strongly recommended that you provide documentation for re-creation costume entries if you feel the judges may not be familiar with a particular reference. Documentation can include any pictorial representation of your costume. Provide copies only; do not bring originals.