The Insomnia Cosplay Community Masquerade – Rulesets

The Insomnia Cosplay Community Masquerade

Honouring and welcoming all ability levels of cosplay, this is a great place to get started in the cosplay world or simply show off your creation! The Community Masquerade will carry a series of categories the judges may choose to award you with.

Prizes (Insomnia69 Friday 26th August 2022)

How can I enter?

The Cosplay Community Masquerade will be taking place at Insomnia Gaming Festival on Friday. You can take part by using the signup form below. Please arrive at least half an hour before the competition is due to begin. If you have signed up online you will be sent a confirmation email with all the details you need. We advise popping by the desk nice and early to check through your requirements.

How will the competition be judged?

The judges have various awards ranging from ‘Best Performance’ to ‘The One to Watch Award.’ Judges also have the ability to award special honour mentions for something they love, they are used to encourage you to think outside the box and have fun!

All categories are equally weighted.

Craftsmanship

This category focuses on the quality of a costume and its accompanying props and accessories. How well these elements are made or finished. 

Performance

Takes into account the use of general performance conventions and stage techniques used as well as how you interact with the audience. 

Character Concept

Character concept is a ‘bridge’ category and has equal application across the other categories, it looks at how you communicate your character concept, how you construct your character concept and how you express your character concept. Be it accuracy to a character, a creative interpretation (e.g Steampunk Harley Quinn or cross play) or a character likeness.

You are welcome to add pictures, such as you building your costume and/or reference photos of the character, and tell us all about your costume! This helps let the judges know what you’re proud of or what to look out for on stage. 

Who can enter and what are the general rules?  

The Costume Element

• Costumes from any genre of video game, television, film, book, anime, manga etc. may enter the Masquerade. 
• All costumes, including those that are bought, are allowed to enter the Cosplay Community Masquerade.
• 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.
• Any size group may enter the Masquerade. However, if eligible for a prize, this will be split evenly between participants.  
• This competition is open to all ages, but if you are under the age of 13 please make sure to get parental consent.  

The Performance Element

• 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.  
• Performances/Skits must be no longer than one minute and thirty seconds in length. Please state the length of your skit time or if you are posing (e.g three point system) on your application form. 
• If you have additional requirements for stage (such as having something placed on stage before your performance,) this does not count towards your track time allowance, however you must contact us beforehand within a reasonable time frame. 
• Please 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.  
• Arrive at the designated area ready NO LATER THAN half an hour before the masquerade is due to start. 
• We ask you to fully fill out your application form. This includes confirming any music cues, performance requests and medical conditions.

ALL ENTRANTS MUST COMPLY WITH THE COSPLAY MASQUERADE RULESET AND PROPS RULES.

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 venue security and staff are final and these rules serve as a guide only.

General Props Ruleset

What are the rules on weapons/props?

Weapons and props must be approved by security staff and/or event staff before being allowed into the convention. This may include checks which will be carried out by the cosplay team. 

Decisions made by the venue, security and/or staff are final and these rules serve as a guide only.

Please be aware 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 and/or costume to; cosplay@costumeandplay.co.uk. Please note that we cannot definitively suggest that your prop will be allowed into the convention without inspection in person.

Types of props:

• Live weapons (including, but not limited to; deactivated guns, Airsoft, metal knives, swords, axes, live bows or slingshots, bokken, hanbo) are expressly prohibited, whether sheathed or peace-bonded.
• No pyrotechnics, gas canisters, explosives (including cap-guns) or incendiary items.
• 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.
• No exceptions will be made regardless of any special licences, training or memberships!
• ‘If the prop was to hit someone, would it break before they do?’ If your answer is ‘no’ then it means that someone could get hurt and we would recommend you leave your prop at home so you are not disappointed.
• Props cannot be made out of metal or hard woods e.g baseball bats or swords. 
• Props must not be capable of firing any sort of projectile at any point, including foam darts or water. If you have a bow type prop, you must make sure this cannot fire a projectile.
• Props must also be fitted with a visible brightly coloured safety tip and/or panel of colour. This must be clearly visible at all times. It must also be clear at all times that you are not in possession of a real weapon.
• Any sensible material is permitted for use with your prop such as light wood, foam, card, light plastic etc. but make sure your prop contains no sharp, protruding edges. Make sure these are sanded, rounded, padded, covered or otherwise protected adequately.

Transport of costumes/props

• When outside of the convention hall, please make sure you have a safe way to transport your props and that they are sufficiently covered. Be extra careful when travelling through high traffic areas such as the airport and railway stations, so as not to cause alarm or issue to others.
• If your prop is made out of light wood, this cannot be too heavy, large or unwieldy (i.e blocking corridors/doorways or is likely to hit, hurt or inconvenience others.)
• If your costume is large and/or has trails/trains of fabric, please make sure you are aware of how you will travel to and from the venue and in high traffic areas of the convention. Costumes cannot block isles/gangways, or act as a trip hazard.
• In all cases, the weapon or prop must be no longer than 1.6 m (5’2”).
•  Large elements, such as wings, exceeding over two metres, must be collapsed when on the convention floor.
• If you lose your prop please report this to someone immediately with a full description and if possible a picture of the item.

NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE REGARDLESS OF ANY SPECIAL LICENCES, TRAINING OR MEMBERSHIPS HELD!

Please be aware 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.

Masquerade Ruleset

• Costumes must be appropriate for a family friendly convention and include enough body coverage to be worn in public.
• All entrants must have a spare copy of their masquerade music track on USB/CD.
• We STRONGLY recommend entering two separate costumes for Community and Championship masquerades. Only one prize can be awarded per costume, if entering one costume to both competitions in order to maintain maximum fairness we will be asking entrants to choose which ONE competition they would like to forfeit being judged in and to choose two different music tracks, one per competition. This will be noted on all your masquerade documents so we can provide the clearest and fairest means of competition we can.
•  We reserve the right to decline or stop any performer at any time for any reason.
•  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.

•  You agree to be filmed and photographed during the event, all rights of this belong to the event organizers and/or Costume and Play.
• In order to keep up with latest advancements in social issues and concerns within the cosplay and competition community, Costume and Play and any staff, venue or organiser reserves the right to change or revise these rulesets at any time, to better reflect these issues any make sure a fair competition is held. 

• Prize Terms 
  • Any size group may enter the Masquerade. However, if eligible for a prize, this will be split evenly between participants.
  • Cash Prizes awarded after the event will be paid directly to you. 
  • If you are under the age of 18 we may need to seek parental consent to award you a prize directly, we may request to send your prize to your parent/guardian in this event.
  • Costume and Play handmade trophies are only awarded to first place winners. If the winner is a group, there will be one trophy only.
  • No cash or alternative prize will be awarded in replacement of items such as (but not limited to) trophy, items, certificates, sponsor prizes etc.
  • All cosplayers may receive photography/video performances provided by Insomnia Gaming Festival. The time frame for these will vary. If we do not have your email address, announcements will also be placed on our social media for receipt of these.
  • Due to the handmade nature of the trophies, postage and Bank processing times, a timescale of 8 weeks is set for the processing, sending and arrival of prizes. This starts the day following the concluding day of the event.
  • Should any issue beyond our control arise that may extend the 8 week processing time (weather, postal/bank strikes, damage ect) all receiving applicants will be made aware of the situation and kept in contact until the situation is resolved.

  THE JUDGE’S DECISIONS ARE FINAL ONCE MADE.

Insomnia Cosplay Community Masquerade Sign Up Form