Masquerade/Cosplay Contest
The Kawa Kon Masquerade is an exciting chance for costumers, experienced and new, to show off their costume creations on stage.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: If you are entering Workmanship (getting your costume itself judged), you will need to sign up for a worksmanship judging time slot when you turn in your form. The slots are at the same time as the tech rehearsals (9:00-11:30 a.m. on Saturday) or in the green room (5:30-7:30 p.m. on Saturday). You DO NOT need to wear your costume to the judging if you choose a morning time. Just bring it with you, and wear it only for the masquerade itself.
IMPORTANT FOR 2015: The Masquerade is now at 7:30 p.m. to make space for the hypnotism show. If you would like to attend the hypnotism show, please schedule an early judging time and get in as much of your costume as you can. Check in to the green room before seeing the show. You will have time to get back to the green room before the masquerade begins.
Your masquerade director is Tony "Seth" Stark who has been running it since 2011. If you have questions for Tony, please send a message to kawakonstl@gmail.com.
Presenting... the masquerade with the big screen background!
Do you want a background image to set the scene? Do you want to interact with your favorite characters during your skit? Have an actor that can't make it to the convention? No problem! You can turn in a DVD, video file, or image file to be projected behind you during your entry. All image files must be .jpg or .bmp, and all video files must be .wmv, .mov, or .avi files. DVDs must be finalized to play in a normal DVD player.
To pre-register for the masquerade and secure your spot, you can fill out this form and send it to kawakonstl@gmail.com. Anyone who signs up via email MUST still sign in by the time listed below at the Masquerade table. You may also sign up at the convention.
Masquerade Rules:
Registration for skits will end at 9:00 p.m. on Friday of the convention, and registration for workmanship will end at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday of the convention.
All new masquerade entrants are REQUIRED to attend the Masquerade 101 panel on Friday evening. Anyone who has entered a masquerade before is HIGHLY encouraged to attend.
The masquerade is divided into two divisions.
One is the skit division, in which ONLY the skits are judged with no regard whether or not the costumes were made by the entrants. There will only be 25 skit spaces in the masquerade. Skits are limited to a length of two minutes unless cleared ahead of time with the masquerade director.
The other is the workmanship division, in which all costumes must be 80% made by at least one of the entrants. Judging is based on the workmanship of the costumes. This can be an individual entry or a group project. All entrants in the workmanship division will do a walk-on presentation where they model and pose on the runway, but the entry cannot win a skit award unless it is entered as a skit as well. There is no limit on how many workmanship entries can be in the masquerade.
Anyone may enter both divisions with the same costume(s), but no one may appear on stage in more than one entry. Also, no person can make the costumes for more than one workmanship entry.
Everyone must either sign in or sign up at the convention. At the time of your sign up, turn in a clearly labeled CD with your background music or voice over. Only one hand-held microphone will be provided for skits ONLY. We HIGHLY recommend that you use pre-recorded voice over.
FAQ
1. What is a skit?
A skit is a presentation that tells a story or joke. It can be like a mini play or as simple as a visual pun on a sign. We give you a time limit of TWO minutes for skits.
2. Can I be in more than one skit?
This year, we are only allowing each person to be in one presentation. That means one skit OR one walk-on. This is meant to allow each person an equal chance at an award AND to cut down on your stress during the masquerade.
3.How strict are the deadlines?
Very strict. In order to keep the masquerade running smoothly, you MUST adhere to ALL posted deadlines. We will not allow late entries of any sort, and you will NOT get to compete if you are late to either the tech rehearsal or the green room check-in.
4. What's a tech rehearsal, and do I get one?
If you are entering as part of a skit, your skit leader will sign up for a tech rehearsal time when he/she turns in your form at the convention (or checks in if you've registered online). You MUST show up in the Main Events room at that time for your rehearsal. The entire group must be present, and you will present your skit onstage to practice blocking, sound, and lighting. You are expected to have your skit practiced and ready by that time. This is mostly for our tech crew and for you to get a feel for the stage.
If you are a walk-on workmanship entry, your tech rehearsal will be different. All of the walk-ons will practice at one time (which will be specified when you sign up for the masquerade), and you will get a chance to practice modeling on stage to music.
5. If I'm in a walk-on, can I still play my own music?
Yes, but only if you turn it in with your form at-con. Your walk-on will be at the beginning of the walk-on section.
Explanation of Classes
There are four classes for workmanship judging and four for skit judging. Normally, you will enter in the same class for both except in the case of some Beginners, as explained below.
Beginner: For workmanship judging, this is your first costume you've ever made, whether you have taken ANY costumes on stage before. This class is designed to encourage those who are just starting out with cosplay to take their first creations on stage. For skit judging, this is your first time on stage. If you are in theatre at school, you may not want to enter as a beginner since you have stage experience.
Novice: You have won less than three awards with your costumes or skits (that's total, combining costume and skit awards).
Journeyman: You have won less than three major awards with your costumes. Major awards here are defined as "Best in Class" or "Best in Show". Those may also be worded as "Best Costume" or "Best Skit" in some contests. You may still enter as a Journeyman if you have won three or more major awards but only at smaller conventions than ours.
Master: You are a professional costumer (making most of your income from sewing or costuming), (for skits) you are a professional actor (making most of your income from acting or stage performance), or you have won three or more major awards at similarly-sized or larger conventions.
These categories are meant to help cosplayers who don't have as much stage experience, not to define your "status" as a cosplayer. If you feel that you belong in a category, by all means enter there. If the judges, after speaking to you, believe you belong in a different category, they may move you.
Hall cosplay is also encouraged at Kawa Kon. In fact, you get a $5 discount if you wear a costume when you pick up your badge!
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