Worcester Comic Con – Cosplay Community Masquerade

Honouring and encouraging all ability levels of cosplay, we’ll be welcoming Cosplayers to the community cosplay masquerade, giving you the chance to gain experience Cosplaying, show off a fantastic costume or simply come up on stage and perform in character!

Signup using the form below!

Who can enter?

Costumes from any genre of video game, television, film, book, anime, manga etc. may enter the Masquerade. ­

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. See you at the Masquerade!

Can I enter my costume if it is completely brought?

Yes, a fully brought costume can enter and be judged.

Can I enter my costume if my costume is an OC?

Yes, we will ask that your signup form explains your character.

Can I enter if my costume is altered/handmade?

Yes, the more of your costume that is constructed by yourself, the more points you will score in the craftsmanship category.

All costumes will qualify for Character Concept and performance categories.

How will the competition be judged?

Cosplays will be judged on 3 main categories, the performance and character concept categories carry the most weighting in this masquerade.

Costume/Character Concept – Who are you cosplaying? What are their motivations? Where are they from? How well are these ideas communicated to us?

Performance – This is a catwalk style event, strut your stuff and pose in character. Show us what you’ve got! Know what you want to do, be confident, use as much of the stage as you can, Show us the character!

Craftsmanship – How much you made yourself and how well you made each handmade, altered or adjusted element such as costume, props, accessories and makeup. Showing and explaining how you made your cosplay is encouraged on the signup form. Help us see how you’ve created your masterpiece!

The judges have various awards ranging from ‘Best OC’ 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!

• Any requirements need to be reviewed within good time before the show.
• Generic music will be provided for you, microphones and lighting cues are not available for this competition.
• We highly advise you visit the cosplay desk early to check through your requirements. Please email us if you have any queries.

General Masquerade Ruleset

• All applications will be checked over by the Cosplay Team, this will not influence any judges decisions and you will be notified for competition confirmation.
• 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.
• Costumes must be appropriate for a family friendly convention and include enough body coverage to be worn in public and bearing no controversial signs or regalia.
• We ask you to fully fill out your application form. This includes confirming any music cues, performance requests and medical conditions.
• Please make sure to bring a spare copy of any notes and photos you have supplied with your application on the day.
• 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 reserve the right to change the rules at any time. However, rules for individual events may be amended at any time to maintain the safety of attendees and staff by venue staff or organisers.
• Rulesets and materials are provided for use to the event at the discretion of Costume and Play and cannot be copied or altered without prior permission from Costume and Play, except where doing so would constitute a threat to safety of the staff, attendees or other members of the public.

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.

Please visit the events main website for props rules: https://www.bolt-events.com/about-1 

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.

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.
• Any prizes provided by third parties will be the sole responsibility of the group providing said prize. Costume and Play accepts no liability for the provision of these prizes. A list of all prizes not being supplied by Costume and Play for the event, and the third party providing said prizes will be available upon request.
• 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.
• 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 judges may choose to award and honor/special mention or shout out above and beyond the listed categories.

●  All judges’ decisions for any award/mention/honor are final.