Masquerade Rules
The Masquerade is an amateur competition that rewards the creative labour of its participants. Most of the costumes must be made by the participant and expectations regarding this proportion increase according to the level in which the participant is registered.
Levels
Participants registered for the masquerade will be categorized according to the standard level system.
Professional costumers (individuals who derive more than 50% of their income from making costumes) are not eligible for awards, and must present their work in the “Out of Competition” level.
Due to the popularity of the event, the Masquerade Management will not accept “Out of Competition” entries unless under exceptional circumstances.
Groups
The maximum of participants per entry is limited to six (6). Groups exceeding this size will not be accepted.
Maximum entries
Each person may participate in only one onstage entry during the Masquerade. However, anyone can display several costumes, as long as they are worn by other individuals within a single entry or are part of a quick change.
No additional entries or time will be granted to any person who has made more than one costume, whether those costumes are worn by the creator or by others.
Withdrawal
Participants must report to the Masquerade Green Room at the required time on the day of the event. Failure to appear for a judging appointment or before the show, or not being ready to go on stage when called, may result in disqualification. Note that only cases of force majeure may excuse a breach of this rule.
Failure to respond to email inquiries within a reasonable timeframe may also result in the loss of registration and disqualification. Reminders will be issued when circumstances permit.
The Masquerade Management reserves the right to disqualify anyone who demonstrates marked incivility, disrespect, discrimination, or racism, or who engages in physical, psychological, or sexual harassment during the Otakuthon Masquerade.
This prohibition includes, but is not limited to:
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Deliberate costume damage and sabotage;
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Sexual harassment, including inappropriate glances and disparaging comments;
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The ill-willed refusal to use an individual’s preferred pronouns;
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Politically charged comments or expressed opinions that undermine the physical or psychological integrity or dignity of others.
No threat and/or act of violence towards anyone will be tolerated in the context of the Otakuthon Masquerade. Such behaviour can lead to expulsion from the convention.
The Masquerade Management encourages anyone witnessing such behaviour to inform a Masquerade staff member as soon as possible so actions can be taken promptly.
Further, the Masquerade Management reserves the right to remove anyone from competition for any reason deemed sufficient.
Artisanship
Craftsmanship is evaluated both before the Masquerade and during the performance to assess the rendering of the costume on stage. Quality work deserves recognition, regardless of level. The jury will pay particular attention to the choice of materials and fabrics, garment cut and finishing, and technical mastery. Participants must inform the jury if certain elements of a costume were purchased; however, wigs, small accessories and jewelry are exempt from this rule.
Lying or deliberately omitting information during the craftsmanship evaluation will lead to disqualification. Honesty is an essential value of the Otakuthon Masquerade.
Presentation
The evaluation of the onstage presentation measures the capacity of the participants to captivate the audience.
Documentation
While documentation is optional during judging, it is strongly recommended, as it helps the jury familiarize themselves with the chosen source. It is especially pertinent when unconventional materials or techniques are used, as it helps the judges better understand the creative process.
Entry Duration
Presentations are limited to a maximum of 60 seconds for individuals or groups of three (3) participants or fewer, and one (1) minute and thirty (30) seconds for groups of four (4) or more people.
It is recommended to plan enough time on stage for the audience and the jury to see all aspects of the costume while keeping the presentation concise to maintain the audience’s attention.
WARNING: Should your onstage presence exceed the time limit, lighting and sound will be cut, and participants still on stage will be escorted away. Contestants and groups exceeding the allotted time limit risk seeing their entry disqualified.
Sound, music and soundtrack
Only MP3 files on a USB key or a cellphone will be accepted, provided you bring your own audio file to your appointment on the day of the event. No audio on CD, YouTube, Dropbox, or any other digital sharing platform will be accepted. The Masquerade team has no music library for contestants; if you do not provide a track, your entry will be silent. We ask that you prepare and submit your audio file during your appointment onsite or online during preregistration.
Microphones will not be provided.
To avoid confusion, it is highly recommended to clearly identify the file with the title of the entry and to make sure it plays well before handing it over to the sound technician.
It is the contestants’ responsibility to ensure the quality, length, and transitions of their soundtrack (such as fade-in and fade-out). The sound technician’s task is to play the correct tracks for each entry, not to perform do sound editing.
RULE ON PRESENTATION REGARDING RECENT CONTENT (SPOILERS)
Out of respect for the public, any person participating in the Masquerade must follow these guidelines for any content released in the six (6) months preceding the convention, or face disqualification for presentation prizes:
- Refrain from centring the presentation around a turning point in the story (spoiler) and from revealing the official scenario during the onstage presentation.
Target Audience
The Masquerade is rated G, but is not recommended for young children. According to the Régie du cinéma of Québec, a G-rated work can include some scenes of violence, though these must be infrequent, of minimal intensity, and presented without complacency. Depending on the context, certain instances of coarse language may be heard.
Blatant nudity will not be accepted and will be grounds for disqualification.
- The use of open flames, flash powder, or flash paper is not allowed.
- If you are using a strobe effect, please note it on your form so an elective warning may be issued to the audience.
- Laser pointers are prohibited.
- No messy substances are allowed on stage.
- The stage must be in the same condition when you leave as when you entered. If you leave an object on stage, it must be easily retrievable but the stage crew; otherwise, you must provide your own person for that purpose.
- Costumes or accessories too voluminous to pass through standard door frames in either height or width will be denied for security and mobility reasons backstage.
- For logistical and space reasons, all bulky costumes and accessories must be declared to the Masquerade Management and approved prior to the event.
- If in doubt, ask the Masquerade Management for permission during or before your registration.
Props
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No real firearms, realistic copies, or projectile weapons are allowed.
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No metal blades are allowed, whether they are dull or sharp.
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If your costume requires a bow, the string must be unhooked when you are not on stage.
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All weapons must follow the convention’s Props Policy. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE.
The judges’ decisions are final.
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Awards are selected for workmanship, presentation or a combination of both. In some circumstances, adding special categories may be justified.
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If the judges feel none of the costumes entered in a level are deserving of an award, they may choose not to give any. They may also choose not to give out a “Best in Show” or a “Best in Level” award.
Decisions of the Masquerade Management regarding the Masquerade rules and the standard level system are final.