The Rapture Cosplay Community Masquerade – Rulesets

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. You can take part by using the signup form. 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.

The Rapture Gaming Festival Community Masquerade will be taking place on Sunday 4th July.

Judging

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!

Craftsmanship 40%

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

Performance 45%

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

Character Concept 15%

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.

THE JUDGES DECISIONS ARE FINAL ONCE MADE

The Costume Element

• All costumes, including those that are bought, OC’s and from any genre of video game, television, film, book, anime, manga etc, 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.
• 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. 
• Groups of up to 3 may enter the Masquerade. However, if eligible for a prize, this will be split evenly between participants. 
• The competition is open for all ages, but if you are under the age of 13 please make sure to get parental consent. If you are under the age of 16 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.

The Performance Element

• Performance details and requirements, such as music cues, should be written on your application form. We highly advise you to visit the cosplay desk to check through your requirements. If you do not visit the desk, your requirements for your performance may be refused. Please email us if you have any queries. 
• 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. 
• 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. 
• For complicated requirements, 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. 

ALL ENTRANTS MUST COMPLY WITH THE PROPS AND GENERAL RULES.

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.

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. If this is the 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 travelling through high traffic areas such as an airport or 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 peace bonded.
2. No pyrotechnics, gas canisters, explosives (including cap-guns) or incendiary items.
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. to the point they may 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. No Items presenting a ‘mess’ or ‘spill’ risk.

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

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.

General Masquerade Ruleset

• Costumes must be appropriate for a family friendly convention and include enough body coverage to be worn in public.
• 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.
• 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.
• Costumes entered that were used in the saturday masquerade who also wish to enter the sunday masquerade may be put on a waiting list if we are getting full. We will let you know in the unlikely event this may happen and will give as much notice as possible should you get a space. 
• Under the grounds of fairness, if you have placed top three on saturday please be aware that you will not be able to place top three a second time on sunday. 
•  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:

1. Excessive/inappropriate language such as swearing.
2. 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.

Prize Terms

• Groups of up to 3 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. 
• The competition is open for all ages, but if you are under the age of 13 please make sure to get parental consent. If you are under the age of 16 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.