Standard Level System

The goal of the Standard Level System is to promote equity, ensuring a novice has as much chance of recognition as a more experienced person. This system is therefore based on both the experience and the talent of anyone participating in the Masquerade.

A person may register in a higher level than the one assigned by default if they judge their experience to be superior to the criteria of their current level.

• Example: Someone who has crafted more than a dozen costumes but has never participated in a masquerade may decide to register in a higher level than Novice if they feel the gap is too wide between their own skills and the general level of competition.

• Please note: if an award is won in this higher level, the person must continue to compete in that same level or higher in future masquerades.

The Masquerade Management may also assign someone to a higher level than the one normally assigned by the rules.

• Example: A person who has never participated in a masquerade registers in the Novice level. However, the excellence of their work significantly exceeds the competition level of that category, creating an inequity within the levels. Masquerade Management may then assign them to a higher level, based on the quality of their costume.

For any contestant under 13 years of age at the time of the convention. This level includes two sub-levels:

Costume Made by the Contestant : The costume was largely or wholly constructed by the contestant under the age of 13.

Costume Made by Another Party: The costume was largely or wholly constructed by someone other than the contestant under 13 years of age.

For any contestant who has never won an award in a masquerade, other than in the Junior level. Anyone who has won several awards in the Novice level is encouraged to enter the Intermediate level, especially those who have won a “Best in Category” award.

For any contestant who has won three (3) awards in the Novice level at masquerades, or anyone who wishes to enter this category and does not belong in a higher level.

For any contestant who has won three (3) awards in the Journeyperson level at masquerades, or anyone who wishes to enter this category and does not belong in a higher level.

For any contestant who has won three (3) awards in the Artisan level, or who has won an award in the Master level at a nationally or internationally recognized masquerade.

Anyone wishing to participate in this category may do so, provided the costume was not created for professional purposes.

The Masquerade is an amateur competition. Purchased or rented costumes, as well as those created for professional purposes, may not be entered in the levels for awards, but may be presented on stage in the Out-of-Competition Level.

As such, anyone who crafts costumes professionally (meaning an individual who derives more than 50% of their income from costume making) may register in the Out-of-Competition Level. Generally speaking, anyone can choose to register at this level.

Please note that the number of available slots in the Out-of-Competition Level is at the discretion of the Masquerade Management, depending on the volume of registrations in other levels.