Masquerade and costume rules document (PDF file)

Multiverse Masquerade Registration Rules
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All forms may be filled out in advance, but ​
must​
be turned in ​
in person​
at the 2 pm pre­Masquerade meeting. Please do not email them to the Masquerade Director or anyone else related to the convention. ●
Every entrant must be a registered attendee of L.I. Geek. You (or a representative of your group) ​
must​
attend the Pre­Multiverse Masquerade Meeting on Saturday afternoon. Failure to attend the meeting (without making previous arrangements with the Multiverse Masquerade Director) will result in your entry being taken out of the Masquerade. More information on this important meeting can be found later in these rules. ●
Entrants under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian sign the entry form. ●
All Entrants must be 13 years of age or older. There will be a junior costuming event on Sunday for those 12 and under. ●
The number of Multiverse Masquerade entry slots will be limited. Once the number of entries reach 30, the Multiverse Masquerade Director reserves the right to cut off registration for the event. This limitation exists because of the amount of time allocated the Multiverse Masquerade. The actual cut­off will be determined on­site the Saturday of the convention, and will be based on number of entries, number of people in each entry, and the time of day the 30th entry is submitted. Costume Rules
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Costumes may either be handmade or purchased. Please indicate on the sign­up for which category your costume falls under. The definition of ​
handmade​
is constructed by yourself (or someone else that you've agreed to model for). We allow purchased shoes, wigs, shirts, and accessories as long as the purchased items comprise ​
less than 50%​
of the total costume. The definition of ​
purchased​
is just that – ​
more than 50% ​
of the total costume was bought by you from a thrift (or other type of) store, eBay, Abbyshot, etc. or paid a person or company (like Magnoli Clothiers, for example) to custom craft a costume for you). Even if it was then altered to fit yourself (or your model) ​
unless the alteration significantly changes the original garment structure.​
It will be the Multiverse Masquerade Director's decision in that case which category your costume falls into. You may appear on stage once, in one costume. This is a family show. Please keep your costuming to a PG­13 rating. Please do not wear your Multiverse Masquerade costume in the convention space prior to Saturday evening. Although you will not be disqualified if you wear your costume around in advance of the Multiverse Masquerade, you will certainly ruin the surprise for the convention attendees. ●
If you have large props, or a costume that limits your mobility, please bring your own assistants to help you/it/them on and off the stage. We will have a limited number of backstage ninjas available and cannot guarantee they will be available to assist. Presentation Rules
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Presentations have strict time limits. All solo entrants are limited to one minute. A group entry (with between two and six members) are limited to two minutes. ●
Skits will be allowed, but they must be no more than two minutes in length and all audio must be pre­recorded. There will be NO live mics. ●
No materials or effects that will leave a mess on stage or in the Cosplay Room, or that may ruin another entrant's costume, are allowed. ●
No live animals on stage, other than official service animals. ●
No pyrotechnics or any other open flames are allowed. ●
Weapons must be peace­bonded when not on stage. If you plan on wielding your weapon as part of your presentation, you ​
must​
advise the Multiverse Masquerade Director exactly​
what you plan on doing on stage at the Pre­Multiverse Masquerade Meeting. Failure to do so can result in disqualification. Safety first! ●
There will be NO live mikes on the stage. All sound/music ​
must​
be pre­recorded and brought by the entrants to the pre­Multiverse Masquerade meeting. ●
Music/soundtracks must be burned on to a CD­ROM or a thumb/flash drive. ​
No other media, including (and especially) commercial CDs, will be allowed as we don't want to be responsible for losing your possessions.​
Also, bring 2 copies of the disc (or one CD, one thumb drive), just in case one gets lost, broken or will not play. Take the time to edit your presentation exactly how you want it. ●
Label the disk/drive with your real name, your entry name and a contact phone number (preferably a mobile number) so we can reach you during the con if necessary. Specify if you want it returned to you after the Multiverse Masquerade, otherwise we will recycle it. ●
You may turn in your music/soundtrack before the Pre­Multiverse Masquerade Meeting or at the meeting itself. No music/soundtracks will be accepted after the Meeting, no exceptions. ●
If you don't have your own soundtrack, you will walk across the stage in silence. The Multiverse Masquerade Staff does not have the time to hunt down music for you. ●
Tech will not accommodate any special lighting needs beyond "lights up" and "lights down." ●
The MCs will read out a short piece of commentary/description before and/or during your number, if you wish. There is a section for your script on the MC form. Please print legibly, or type up something ahead of time to attach to the MC form. ●
In the Cosplay Room, the MCs will check in and meet with all entrants to confirm how to pronounce your name, how you want to be introduced, etc. ●
This will not be a judged competition, so you will not need any other forms of documentation Skills Divisions
While this will not be a judged competition, we do want to differentiate between skill levels for the audience's sake. So you will also be asked to specify which class your entry qualifies for. ●
Novice:​
You have not won a major prize in any other masquerade/costume contest. (A "major prize" is any award that doesn't involve the words "Honorable Mention.") This category is ideal for first­time entrants, and for those with limited experience. Professional costumers—those who made more than 50% of their living off of costuming in the previous year­­ can't enter as a Novice, even if it's a first Multiverse Masquerade for him/her. ●
Journeyman:​
Anyone who has won Best Novice in presentation or workmanship at any regional SF costume contest, previous LI Who, Gallifrey One, or Chicago TARDIS conventions; or anyone who has won more than four minor awards while competing as a Novice at any of the afore mentioned conventions. ●
Master:​
Anyone who has won Best Journeyman in presentation or workmanship at any regional SF costume contest, previous LI Who, Gallifrey One, or Chicago TARDIS conventions; or anyone who has won more than four minor awards while competing as a Journeyman at any of the afore mentioned conventions. Professional costumers desiring to compete would enter this class. Pre-Multiverse Masquerade Meeting and Cosplay Room
The Pre­Multiverse Masquerade Meeting​
will take place on Saturday afternoon. Each entry must be represented by at least one member, unless prior arrangements have been made with the Multiverse Masquerade Director. At the meeting, you will turn in your entry forms (if you haven't already), along with any music/dialogue media. The Multiverse Masquerade staff will review your paperwork with you, and will inform you about Cosplay Room times and procedures. Why is this meeting mandatory?​
It benefits you to attend, because you will know where to be when for the Multiverse Masquerade, and you will be assured that the Multiverse Masquerade staff understands your requirements. It also benefits the Multiverse Masquerade staff, because by meeting with you prior to the event, we will get a real sense of what you­­and everyone else­­ will be doing. This sense will help in planning a running order and determining the final number of allowed entries. The Cosplay Room ​
opens approximately 90 minutes before the scheduled Multiverse Masquerade time. In the Cosplay Room, you will have the opportunity to put on the last bits of your costume, to hear last­minute instructions, and to generally relax before the Multiverse Masquerade begins. Because of the limited size of the room, only entrants, entrant assistants (limited to one, unless your costume requires more than ​
one person to maneuver it), and Multiverse Masquerade staff will be allowed in the room. No photography or videography (this includes uploads to Facebook/Tumblr/websites or tweeting)​
, with the exception of L.I. Geek authorized shoots, will be permitted ​
before​
the event. There will be plenty of time/space for photo/video shoots in a designated area afterwards. We look forward to your entry in the L.I. Geek's very first ever Multiverse Masquerade!