Custom Fields

Rules: General Masquerade Rules (from PR 1):

These rules are applicable to ALL stage presentations. If you think you would like an exception to something, PLEASE contact the Director of the applicable event.

1. Purchased, rented, or commercial costumes are ineligible for competition.

2. Entries with 1 to 3 individuals will be given up to 1 minute (60 seconds) on stage. Entries with 4 or more members have up to 2 minutes (120 seconds). If you require more time, please ASK the applicable Director.

3. No flash photography of contestant(s) on stage. There will be an official photographer backstage, and an official photographer in the audience taking "action shots" and there will be an off-stage photo area for other photographers.

4. Every contestant will be given at least one photograph of him/herself in return for participating.

5. In return for signing the video release, any entrant that provides a blank video tape will get a recording of his/her presentation.

6. There will be no live microphone on stage. If you wish to have a "guest emcee" announce your piece, you will need to consult with the Director. As our ballroom is quite large, we suggest that any sounds that issue from your throat on stage be along the lines of screams of terror or maniacal laughter. Anything that you wish to communicate to the audience should either be recorded and lip-synched or read by the emcee. (Otherwise, resign yourself to the fact that the audience is not going to understand a thing.)

7. a group or collaborative costume should compete at the skill level of the highest ranked member who participated in the design and/or construction.

8. If nudity is essential to your costume, please bring something to cover yourself while traipsing through public areas. (If nudity is not essential to your costume, cover yourself anyway.)

9. If your presentation involves weaponry have your weapon(s) and routine checked with the Weapons Master before you go on stage. Remember, if you draw blood, it will cost you points. Yourself, minus 5 points; a judge, minus 10 points; that really boring long-winded costume that went on and on, plus 50.

i0. No dangerous effects. (i.e. no flames, explosions, etc.) ALL special effects should be checked beforehand with the Director. He/she may think of a side-effect or consequence that you haven't. It's also not a good idea to frighten the judges too much.

11. Do not wear anything that would be damaging, odoriferous, or dangerous to other contestants, the floors, the walls, the audience, your Aunt Beth, the Fire Marshall, etc. (i.e. the "No Peanut Butter" rule.)

12. You mess it up, you clean it up. Please arrange to have someone remove props/costume pieces left on stage. And don't forget to wash behind your ears.

13. An "award" is defined as first, second, third, "Best...", "Most...", etc. Workmanship awards do not count as awards.

14. The Masquerade Director has the final word on his/her event.

Judging & Awards

CC11's Directors are collaborating on a set of Judge's Guidelines that ALL judges will be required to read before being allowed to judge. If you have any suggestions for this, please write to the CCll address.
If you would like to judge or know someone who you feel would be a good judge, please contact the applicable Director. There are also openings for "Judge's Apprentice."
All judges will be announced at the same time in advance of the convention.

We plan to have Audience Choice Awards at all events by ballot.

We also plan to have trophies especially designed and cast for CC11. And we plan to institute the Golden Thimble Workmanship Awards.

Fantasy and Science Fiction Masquerade
Suford Lewis, Director

This is the Masquerade where anything goes.

Sources can include mythology, science fiction/fantasy literature, media, futuristic concepts, puns, and your own imagination. The important thing about rules is their intent and the intent of these rules is to encourage fair competition in a diverse group of people.

F&SF Skills Divisions

These divisions are intended to promote fairness and recognize differing experience levels. The following definitions are minimum requirements and we strongly encourage contestants to compete at a higher level if they so wish.

Novice -- Anyone who is an amateur and has not previously won at a world class competition (i.e. World Con or Costume Con) and has less than three wins at the regional level. The costume to be competed should not have won Best in Show at any level.

Journeyman -- Includes anyone who is an amateur and has fewer than three wins at the world class Journeyman level.

Master -- Anyone who has more than four wins at the world class level, is a professional costumer, or has won Best in Show at a world class competition.

F&SF Definitions & Terms

Recreation -- A costume taken from any source which has at least one documentable view. This includes, but is not limited to paintings, movies, museum pieces, television, and all forms of visual arts. Those entering this category are strongly encouraged to provide the judges with photos or xeroxes of the source.

Workmanship -- Workmanship awards are for outstandinq accomplishment in the craftinq of a costume. Judging is done backstage before the stage presentation takes place and is optional. Participation is encouraged. This is your chance to show off the tiny things no one will see from stage. It is also possible to enter just portions of your costume for judging, such as your headpiece, belt, beadwork, or left shoe.

Master of Ceremonies: Toni Lay
Workmanship Judges: Marji Ellers ‡
Presentation Judges: Peggy Kennedy ‡, Deborah K. Jones, Kelly Turner, Bruce MacDermott
Judge's Clerk: Susan de Guardiola