COSPLAY MASQUERADE AND WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Alain Purney
- Jan 22, 2022
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 30, 2024
While cosplaying, one thing I found is there weren’t many articles regarding masquerade. I created this article to help any fellow cosplayer starting on their first journey on the masquerade stage or for those that wanted to know more about masquerades in general.
I would preface this with a disclaimer; what I describe next is based off my experiences in various masquerades both as a participant, judge, and masquerade coordinator. Each show is unique, and experiences may vary. These are general guidelines to give you an idea of what to expect.
So let’s get started!
DEFINITIONS
Cosplay = “Costume Play”:
Where we combine the fun aspect of making costumes and embracing the characters we bring to life. Whether they are from the world of Comics, Japanese Anime, Video Games, Movies, TV Shows, and others.
Cosplay Masquerade:
A non-professional, friendly costume competition where you show off your talents in costume making skills and stage performance in front of a panel of judges and audience.
THE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS WITHIN THE MASQUERADE
Most masquerades use the Standard Division System, in accordance with the International Costumers’ Guild Guidelines:
JUNIOR DIVISION:
Any contestant under the age of 12 can participate.
NOVICE DIVISION:
The Novice Division exists to encourage people who are new to costuming and Masquerades to compete.
JOURNEYMAN DIVISION:
The Journeyman Division is an intermediate Division for costumers who have consistently won awards in the Novice Division, but who feel they are not yet ready to compete in the Artisan Division.
ARTISAN DIVISION:
The Artisan division is an intermediate/higher division for costumers who have consistently won awards in the Journeyman Division, but who feel they are not yet ready to compete in the Master Division.
MASTER DIVISION:
The Master Division is open to any costumer who wishes to enter. Also, any contestant known as a professional in the costuming industry must enter in this division. For this competition, a professional is someone who derives 50% of his/her income from the costuming industry.
That being said, if someone has been costuming for many years and is participating for the first time and doesn’t know in which category to register, it is appropriate to approach the masquerade director for guidance. Also, you can enter your name as novice, but the judges are at liberty along with the masquerade director to change their category, if their skill is of a higher level than the one they registered in.
JUDGING PROCESS
Every masquerade will have a panel of judges selected by the director. These may sometimes include cosplay guests from the hosting event!
CRAFTMANSHIP
The cosplayer will meet the judges and will be asked to explain on how they made their cosplay, what techniques and materials they used. The judges will take notes and listen all at the same time while they inspect the cosplay closely. They will look at details and techniques. Oftentimes the meeting with the judges is a timed event to ensure fair access for all participants.
The judges will note down any element that amaze them about the costume and any flaws they find while inspecting the cosplay. Keep in mind that all judges will observe and note down everything differently from each other during the craftsmanship process. They will review your cosplay from head to toe.
TIPS
|
PERFORMANCE
The judges will also be judging the stage performance as well. The judges will typically evaluate using a pre-determined scale (often graded from 1 to 10). This means they will judge the cosplayer’s performance (skit or walk on) on stage on how it was done. The stage is the moment to shine for your cosplay. Show the judges and audience all the angles of your costume. In other words, “Make that cape flow”
Keep in mind that the judges will note any elements that will amaze them or any flaws during your stage performance.
JUDGES DELIBERATION
Once the stage performance is done, the judges and the masquerade director will meet and deliberate on awards. They typically decide on bigger awards such as the best in Show for Craftmanship, Presentation (or combined)first. The director is only there to guide judges if deliberations are stalling, or an entry is problematic. Judges have full discretion over the awards under the masquerade’s rules.
The best in show can be given to any cosplayer from any level!
Afterwards they will go through each division and discuss and compare notes on the entries and will decide on the various awards that may be granted. Examples are best in class, best sewing, best armour, award for the sketch etc. Honourable mentions can also be awarded. Note that some categories may have no awards, it depends on each competition!
Once deliberations are done the Masquearde Director will take all the judges notes and shred them for confidentiality reasons.
AWARD CEREMONY
The following day the Judges along with the Masquerade Director will announce the award to the winners. The masquerade director typically starts by giving the awards in the novice division and finishes with best in show if there is one awarded.
TIP: At the end of the award ceremony it’s highly recommended for participants to see the judges if they are available to get pointers on how to improve or to get additional tips. |
STAGE PERFORMANCE
The stage performance is one of the events of the conventions where you present your Cosplay to an audience. To help start and introduce each cosplayer on stage is our great Master of Ceremony (MC). The MC will present you on stage with a little introduction text that you created and shared with them before the show. If you are new and don’t know how to present your cosplay on stage the MC will help you during your registration process in the greenroom,to introduce your cosplay character on stage to set the tone for your presentation.
That being said, there are two types of stage performance; Walk on and Skits. Which will be described below:
WALK-ON
Walk-On is a Stage performance like the title said, it’s basically you walking on stage, posing and walking off.
That being said you can still make an impactful Walk-On by doing the following as the judge will notice them:
HAVE MUSIC
Make sure to have background music that will go with your cosplay (in example: If your cosplay is from the World of Warcraft Video Game. Play the epic music in the background) as it will give ambience to your cosplay. (Make sure to have the audio as a MP3 and on a USB Stick ready for the masquerade)
ACT LIKE YOUR CHARACTER
Even if it’s a walk on you can still act like the character and pose as them. In other words, if your character acts like a drunk, walk on stage like a drunk. But if your character has a high class/pompous attitude walk the same way the character will do. Lastly, if the character you are cosplaying is pure evil or good, walk on stage like how they walk and pose in their unique ways.
THE FIGURE 8 FORMATION
What does it mean? Well, it means the Judges will want to see all four sides of your cosplay on stage. Don’t walk just walk on stage pose and then walk off. Be like a model on a runway. When you walk on stage you’ll want to pose in 3 different areas of the stage where you’ll be able to show the front, sides, and back of your cosplay. This will allow the photographer in the audience to snap a few pictures of your cosplay. Here’s a video below to explain the technique.
TIP: Make sure you have your music ready as an MP3 on a USB key or CD to share with the sound tech for the masquerade and tell them when to play the music when it’s your turn. |
SKITS
Skits are stage performances. As the name says, you re-create, dance, improvise, or fight as the character you are cosplaying.
That being said you can still make an impactful Skit entry, by doing the following below as the judges will notice them:
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE:
If you’re planning to make a skit, practice your stage performance weeks before the show. If you’re planning to do some lip-sync of a voice line or song; or doing combat and that every strikes you make is on par with a sword sound make sure to practice so your sound cues match your actions. The judges will notice those little details.
This Skit I've made, shows the practice I've done to make sure my spins works and sequence to be aligned with my audio - Montreal Comiccon 2024
USE NINJAS
They are individuals that can assist you on stage. You can use them for the following:
Set up your stage decor if you have some;
Be the enemy soldier you need to slay to save the princess or;
Be your mortal enemy that you need slay on stage for glory;
To be behave like little animals;
To behave like furniture if you need;
The sky is the limit – within reason!
Tip: create roles that are simple for them as don’t forget they are there to help you show your cosplay and make you the star. |
Also, you may get the chance to win a Ninja award in “Best Ninja Kill” or “Best Ninja Prop”! These awards are fun gag awards. Which are always fun.
THE FIGURE 8 FORMATION
Same as the walk on as mentioned above embed this strategy in your skit, as the judges will want to see all sides of your cosplay. If you just walk on stage and make a speech like your character and stay in one spot it doesn’t show much of your cosplay. You have the whole stage to use, so use it all to show your character. Watch the Video below of a skit I made in which I blended this technique.
This Skit won Best in Class Presentation in the Artisan Division at the Ottawa Comiccon 2018
In Conclusion, every masquerade is a different experience and always fun to participate in. You can make new friends, discover new cosplayers and learn new techniques along with your fellow cosplayers.
I wish you good luck at your next Masquerade competition!
FAQ
Below are frequently asked questions regarding the masquerade.
IF I BOUGHT MY COSPLAY CAN I COMPETE?
No, the masquerade is an amateur competition that aims to showcase handmade costumes made by participants.
IF MY FRIEND MADE MY COSTUME CAN I COMPETE?
CAN WE ENTER GROUPS IN MASQUERADE?
DO I HAVE TO USE NINJAS?
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T HAVE AN AUDIO TRACK?