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IsshoCon 2024 Cosplay Masquerade 

The IsshoCon 2024 Cosplay Masquerade will take place on Saturday, January 27th. Please be sure to read through all the rules listed below before applying.

Online sign ups will begin on 9/30/2023 and will end on 12/15/2023. 
 

If there are in-person slots available those applications will be taken at Con-Ops on Friday 1-26-2024 from 10 AM - 6 PM

IsshoCon 2024 will have the following categories for the Cosplay Masquerade. Please refer to the chart with details for each category: Please also refer to the bottom of the chart to see the awards that will be given out at the end of the Masquerade:

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We will have the following awards:

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  • Best Chibi - $25

  • Best Beginner - $50

  • Best Intermediate - $75

  • Best Advance -$100

  • Judge Choice Award(s) 

  • Best in Craftsmanship - $125

  • Best Skit  - $125

  • Best in Show - $500                           (Best in Show must participate in Performance and Craftsmanship!)

  • Best Prop 

*Additional awards may be given  out after the contest*

All participants will receive a free 3-day badge into IsshoCon 2025!

General Masquerade Rules:

  • All participants and handlers must have an IsshoCon Badge (Either Weekend or Saturday badge.)

  • You must participate in both Craftmanship and Performance to be considered for the “Best in Show” award.

  • Hall Exhibition/ Cosplay Showcase will not be eligible for any of the Masquerade awards mentioned above. (This includes any cash prizes that will be given out.)

  • If you participate in the Hall Exhibition/ Cosplay Showcase you will not eligible to enter into the official Cosplay Masquerade. 

  • All participants must follow all IsshoCon policies - Cosplay Policies / Weapon Policies for more information on that please click here.

  • No harmful imagery may be used in your costume. This includes cosplays that require you to change into a  race that is not your own (Blackface and other forms of harmful imagery). If you are found doing so, you will be immediately disqualified from the cosplay contest and removed from IsshoCon.

  •  Please keep in mind this event is family friendly. Please keep performances PG-13. If you have any questions regarding a performance or cosplay, please email us at isshocon.cosplay@gmail.com.

  • We ask that all cosplayers wear some form of shoes that cover their feet while on stage. We want to make sure that contestants stay safe while executing their costumes/ performances. Any inaccuracies regarding shoes will be looked over. 

  • Participants must keep the size of their costume in mind while moving through the con/ contest. It is highly recommended that participants choose a costume that is able to fit through an average doorway /hallway. 

  • Participants will be allowed 1 handler through the contest if needed. Only cosplay contest participants/ and approved handlers will be allowed into the Green Room. Each cosplayer participating in the contest will have a time slot to enter the Green Room for pre-judging. 

  • Contestants 12 and under must have a parent or guardian present with them throughout the entire cosplay contest process. This includes when prizes and awards are given out. There will be a form given to everyone who wins an award to fill out. There will be a required parental consent for that will be available for those 12 and under. 

  • There will be strict rules for contestants to be mindful on stage. This includes no running, jumping, flips etc. Staff must be made aware of everything to be done on stage. Anyone caught breaking these rules will be immediately disqualified. We want to keep everyone safe.

  • No explosives such as smoke bombs/ machines etc.

  • Contestants are not allowed to bring/ use anything that could cause a mess or be hazardous to other contestants/ attendees. This includes -shooting things into the audience like confetti/ t-shirts/ other merchandise etc. 

  • Contestants may model a costume made by someone else. The original creator of said costume must be present during the entire judging process.

  • IsshoCon reserves the right to deny someone entry/ the continuation of participating in the cosplay contest for any reason. 

  • In order to attend the cosplay contest you must read all of the following rules and agree to them. Anyone found breaking these rules may be denied entry into the cosplay contest.

  • Judges reserve the right to move contestants up a division if it is found they are considered to be above the division level applied for. If you have any question about which division you should be entered into please email us @ isshocon.cosplay@gmail.com.

  • IsshoCon has a zero tolerance policy on bullying/ harassing other attendees and contestants during the con/ Masquerade. Anyone found doing so will be immediately disqualified. This will also include prizes being revoked and being banned from participating in any future Masquerades at IsshoCon.  

Walk-On Sign Ups:

  • Sign-ups will take place online and once applications close we will inform everyone on social media if there are any in-person sign ups slots available.

  • Online sign ups will begin on 9/30/2024 and will end on 12/15/2024. 

  • If there are in-person slots available those applications will be taken at Con-Ops on Friday 1-26-2024 from 10 AM - 6 PM. As mentioned previously, if there are any open slots an announcement will be made to inform contestants of available slots. 

  • In person sign ups must have all the information available that is required in the application. This includes the link to the folder with all applications information such as reference images/ progress photos etc. Please look below for all information needed for applications.

Walk-On Rules:

  • Walk-on refers to cosplayers who wish to solely walk across the stage to showcase their costume. 

  • This part of the contest will not require speaking or the use of microphones. 

  • IsshoCon will be providing licensed music to our contestants, so please do not submit your own music.

  • Every contest participating as a Walk-On MUST participate in pre-judging for their costume. Contestants who do not participate in pre-judging will not be allowed to walk across the stage and are not eligible for any awards. 

  • Individual contestants will be limited to 35 seconds and groups will be limited to 1 minute on stage. 

  • All Walk-On contestants must have the folder requirements mentioned above as part of their application.

Skit/ Performance Rules 

  • Scripts for skits will be due by 12/31/2023.  Any contestant that does not provide a skit by this time will be denied. 

  • Audio for Scripts will be due by 01/05/2024. Please make sure to include that in the folder mentioned above. 

  • Scripts must be PG-13. Please avoid harsh language and inappropriate content. 

  • Individual performances will be limited to 90 seconds for individuals and 3 minutes for groups. 

  • There will be a limited number of performance/ skit entries so please be sure to apply as soon as possible. Any additional performances over the expected number will be waitlisted and we will notify you via email if we have s space open up.

  • Cosplayers are encouraged to wear costumes that have been hand-crafted for performances, but it is not required. 

  • The stage for the contest will be approx. 18x8’ 

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All Walk-On
 Applications Must Include:

All Skit/ Performance Applications Must Include:

  • Reference Images -  Photos of the character you are cosplaying. The more references you have of the character in different poses the easier it will be for judges. Reference images are mandatory for the application. If there are no reference images in your folder upon sign-up, your application will be denied and you will need to resubmit. 

  • Progress Photos - Photos that show you working on the costume over a period of time. These photos may be what you have so far, it's also ok if you don't have images just yet! Just make sure to update this folder as you start to work on your costume.

*Please enter these into two separate folders within the original folder*

  • In the application there will be a section where you can add a link to a folder that includes all of these images. Please provide a link that will be able to be viewed by our judges. If the link you provided does not allow our team to view the files, you may be asked to resubmit your application. Please make sure the folder is able to be viewed.

  • If you are basing your costume off of a design that is not your own (non-canons works found on sites such as Instagram/ Facebook/ DeviantArt,) you must have written consent from said artist you are able to showcase that costume. This consent file must be located in your folder as well. If you fail to provide consent from said artist(s) you will not be able to enter the costume contest. 

  • The same rules mentioned above will apply to costumes that have been commissioned by someone else. You must have their permission to enter the costume contest. If you fail to provide consent, that costume will not be allowed to enter.

  • Reference Images -  Photos of the character you are cosplaying. The more references you have of the character in different poses the easier it will be for the judges. Reference images are mandatory for the application. If there are no reference images in your folder upon sign-up, your application will be denied and you will need to resubmit. 

  • Progress Photos - Photos that show you working on the costume over a period of time. These photos may be what you have so far, its also ok if you don't have images just yet! Just make sure to update this folder as you start to work on your costume.

*Please enter these into two separate folders within the original folder*

  • In the application there will be a section where you can add a link to a folder that includes all of these images. Please provide a link that will be able to be viewed by our judges. If the link you provided does not allow our team to view the files, you may be asked to resubmit your application. Please make sure the folder is able to be viewed.

  • If you are basing your costume off of a design that is not your own (non-canons works found on sites such as Instagram/ Facebook/ DeviantArt,) you must have written consent from said artist you are able to showcase that costume. This consent file must be located in your folder as well. If you fail to provide consent from said artist(s) you will not be able to enter the costume contest. 

  • The same rules mentioned above will apply to costumes that have been commissioned by someone else. You must have their permission to enter the costume contest. If you fail to provide consent, that costume will not be allowed to enter.

  • Please make sure there is a section for you to add in your script.

 "Best in Show" Eligibility Requirements:

  • Cosplayer must participate in Craftsmanship and a skit/ performance

  • Cosplayers are encouraged to wear cosplays that have been created for skits/ perforamnces but it is not required.

  • When entering the craftmanship section for walk-on, cosplayers must follow division requirements listed above. There will be no exceptions! 

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