The Rapture Gaming Festival Cosplay Masquerade MAIN STAGE(Saturday 3pm) Costume and Play is proud to present the Rapture Cosplay Masquerade, if you have an amazing costume you’ve poured hours into or you simply want to bring your favourite character life on stage, then signing up to the Cosplay masquerade provides you with that opportunity! Costume and Play want to give you the ability to cosplay how you choose to!

SIGN UP NOW USING THE FORM BELOW!

*Weapons and props must be approved by venue security staff before it’s allowed into the convention. This may include checks which will be carried out by the cosplay team. Decisions made by the venue security and staff are final and these rules serve as a guide only. The full masquerade rules can be viewed within the tabs.
*Please arrive NO LATER THAN half an hour before the competition is due to begin at the designated meeting point. If you have signed up online please pop by the desk early to check through your requirements and collect the designated meeting point information.

Rapture Cosplay Masquerade Prizes

 

1st Place Prize:

Runner up Prize:

Honor Mention Prize:

£100 Cash Prize

Cosplay Trophy

Cosplay Certificate

Cosplay Keyring

Cosplay Certificate

Costume and Play Goodies

Cosplay Certificate

Costume and Play Goodies

 

  • Any size group may enter the Masquerade. However, if eligible for a prize, this will be split evenly between participants.
  • If a prize is awarded by a sponsor provided by the event in question or the event itself contributes towards a masquerade prize pool, Costume and Play accepts no responsibility towards prize receipt and time frame for these prizes.

The Rapture Cosplay Masquerade Welcomes all Masquerade entrants at any level or ability. You can take part by using the signup form. (If you have signed up online, we advise popping by the desk nice and early to check through your requirements.)

*Please arrive at least half an hour before the competition is due to begin.*


The Costume Part:

  1. Costumes from any genre of video game, television, film, book, anime, manga etc. may enter the Masquerade.
  2. A costume qualifies as handmade if it is 80% your own work. We ask that you provide detail on your application form to explain how your costume was made. The application form acts as a framework for you to provide this information. It is highly advisable you include construction photos and reference pictures for your application.
  3. An altered costume will be eligible to receive points in the Craftsmanship category for specific components which are heavily altered or handmade entirely. All costumes will qualify for Character Concept and Performance categories.
  4. Any size group may enter the Masquerade. However, if eligible for a prize, this will be split evenly between participants.
  5. The competition is open for all ages, but if you are under the age of 13 please make sure to get parental consent.

A small selection of places will be open to those who wish to present a performance piece but not be judged. These entrants will not be eligible for a prize.

The Performance Part:

  1. You may perform to music and/or use a microphone during your performance. If you do not provide music, generic music will be provided for you.
  2. Performances/Skits must be no longer than two minutes in length. Please state the length of your skit time or if you are posing (e.g three point system) on your application form.
  3. We highly advise you to visit the cosplay desk no later than two hours before the event is due to start to check through your requirements. If you do not visit the desk, your requirements for your performance may be refused.
  4. Arrive at the designated area ready NO LATER THAN half an hour before the masquerade is due to start.
  5. We ask you to specify any requirements for your performance on your application form. This includes setting up a ‘cue’ for when you would like your music track to begin.

*All entrants must comply with the Cosplay Masquerade General Ruleset and Props Rules.

How will the competition be judged?

While the judges will award first place and a runner up, the judges have various honour awards that costumers can win ranging from ‘best performance’ to ‘best family cosplay.’ These categories will be awarded at the judges’ discretion. They are used to encourage you to think outside the box and have fun! All categories are weighed evenly when judging.

Craftsmanship

The quality of costume, props and accessories; and how well these elements are made.

Performance

Takes into account use of general performance conventions and how you interact with the audience; for example confident movements as well as general stage techniques used through performance.

Character Concept

This category is judged based on execution of your character concept and a clear display of character choice, be it accuracy to a character, a creative interpretation (e.g Steampunk Harley Quinn or cross play) or character likeness.

Additional Points may be awarded for detailed application forms including reference pictures and construction notes but this does not form an active judging category for this masquerade. Please be aware line check takes place for all masquerades.

Costumes must be appropriate for a family friendly convention and include enough body coverage to be worn in public.

 

The judge’s decisions are final once made.

  1. Large elements, such as wings, exceeding over two meters, must be collapsed when on the convention floor. (Please contact us to check if you are worried about your costume dimensions at cosplay@costumeandplay.co.uk)
  2. All entrants must have a spare copy of their masquerade music track on USB/CD.
  3. We reserve the right to decline or stop a skit/performance at any time for any reason.
  4. Use or performance of the following will be immediately stopped and you may be disqualified from the competition or convention floor:
  • Excessive/inappropriate language such as swearing.
  • Committing an act which is viewed as something which may potentially harm yourself or others.
  1. You agree to be filmed and photographed during the event, all rights of this belong to the event organizers and/or Costume and Play.

Props Ruleset

The general rule is;

‘If you were hit with the prop, would it break before you do?’

If your answer is ‘no’ then it means that someone could get hurt were this to happen. In which case, we would recommend you leave it at home just so you are not disappointed.

 

When outside of the convention hall, please make sure you have a safe way to transport your props and that they are sufficiently covered. Take extra precaution when traveling through high traffic areas such as the airport and railway stations, so as not to cause alarm or issue to others.

 

  1. Live weapons (deactivated guns, Airsoft, metal knives, swords, axes, live bows or slingshots, bokken, hanbo) are expressly prohibited, whether sheathed or piece bonded.

No exceptions will be made regardless of any special licences, training or memberships! 

  1. No pyrotechnics, gas canisters, explosives (including cap-guns) or incendiary items.
  2. No weapons that can fire any sort of projectile, including foam darts or water. Unless it can be shown to be empty, with a visible brightly coloured safety tip and/or that only some parts have been used for the prop.
  3. No sharp points, protruding points or sharp edges, make sure they’re sanded, rounded, padded, covered or otherwise protected adequately.
  4. Props made out of wood cannot be too heavy, large or unwieldy (I.e blocks corridors/doorways or is likely to hit, hurt or inconvenience others.)
  5. You cannot perform any action which may lead event staff, attendees or members of the general public to believe you are in possession of a real live weapon.
  6. In all cases, the weapon or prop must be no longer than 1.6 m (5’2”).

 

Please be aware that that these rules are here to ensure we have a safe event for both staff and attendees. If you have been asked to put your prop away, please do so. In an extreme case you may be escorted from the event.

 

If there is any doubt, please send photos and a description of the prop to cosplay@costumeandplay.co.uk.

SIGN-UP FORM

SIGN UP FORM – Rapture Gaming Festival Cosplay Masquerade

SEND TO: cosplay@costumeandplay.co.uk

DON’T FORGET to place the EVENT NAME and DAY PARTICIPATING in the email subject.

***PLEASE BE AWARE*** It is VITAL that you include the Rapture event you are attending (e.g Newcastle) within the email subject and application form!

Please remember if you are in any doubt or even just worried about entering, then check with us. We’re all happy to help you through this and we understand rules, while essential, can sometimes be a bit daunting!

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Convention and event location e.g Newcastle:

Email Address:

(Do you wish to be contacted in future with news from Costume and Play?) Y/N

Name/s: (if you’re a group enter all names):

Character Names:

Character Series:

 

Information for the Judges. We know you’re passionate about your costume so tell us about it!

Describe your costume including handmade/altered elements.

(Please include any reference pictures and work in progress if available.)

 

What parts of your costume are you particularly proud of and why?

(I.e: maybe something you handmade, why you selected the character, etc)

 

Anything else you would like the judges to know?

(Focus on the highlights of your costume or its construction.)

 

Performance Information;

Please describe what you will be doing during your performance and state your performance length.

(Performances are two minutes maximum.)

 

Music: (If you want music, please state when you would like this to begin and submit a MP3 or WAV file AND bring a copy of your track on USB/CD. Labeled with your name and contact number just in case.) You may submit a direct Youtube link in advance via email.)

 

Performance details/microphone request/lighting:

(You may request general mood lighting, prompts and anything else that you would like for your performance. We will attempt to use this if possible but cannot guarantee.)

 

Do you need assistance getting on/off the stage?