Con Nichiwa 2023 Masquerade Rules

General Rules

• The Con Nichiwa Masquerade is an amateur costume and skit competition. Contestants may either perform a Walk-On or a Skit.
• Costumes related to Anime/Manga, Asian Origin Video Games, and J-Rock are allowed to be entered in the competition. Entrants may also enter costumes from comic books, movies, television shows, cartoons, and video games if entries are available in the Masquerade.
• All Masquerade contestants must comply with Con Nichiwa’s Code of Conduct.
• The Masquerade will have a limit of 50 entries.
• Each person may only participate in one entry.
• Each entry may only appear on stage one time.
• Groups are limited to 10 members.
• Each contestant or group contact person must check in at the Cosplay Desk before the Masquerade. Times for the Cosplay Desk will be given at a later date.
• Contestants must report to Craftsmanship Judging on time. Times will be given at a later date.
• Contestants must report to the Masquerade Green Room on time. Times will be given at a later date.
• Online registration will close on Sunday, October 29^th at Midnight.
• At Con registration will be available if entries are available.
• Personal Items- We will have security in the green room to watch your personal items while you are on stage or in the audience during the masquerade and half-time show.
• Masquerade Judging- Please show up for your Masquerade Judging time no more than 10 minutes before. We only want a certain number of groups lined up for Masquerade Judging.
• Dialogue/Music- It is highly suggested to submit your audio online at https://form.jotform.com/232765514780158 by Sunday, October 29^th at Midnight.

Performance Rules

• All Skit entries must be 3 minutes or less and all Walk-On entries must be 1 minute or less.
• There will be no microphones on stage for contestant use.
• All audio for the performance must be prerecorded. 
• All performances must be PG-13. 
• Any performances with stunts must receive approval from the Masquerade Director before the event.
• The use of open flame, flash powder, fireworks, lasers, smoke machines, etc. is prohibited.
• Any props used on stage must be able to be removed easily and must leave the stage in the same condition as it was before the prop was used.
• Interaction with the MC is prohibited.
• The Masquerade Director reserves the right to eliminate anyone from competition on the basis of taste, danger to the audience or other contestants or for any other reason deemed sufficient.
• Please provide an MC narration for your skit or walk-on performance. If a narration is not provided, a generic narration will be provided for you and/or your group. Narrations are only for the description of the costumes, characters, and performances. Narrations are not to be used for advertisements or any other type of descriptions that do not fall under your performances. If your narration does not fall under these guidelines, then a generic narration will be provided for you.

Costume Rules

• Costumes related to Anime/Manga, Asian Origin Video Games, and J-Rock are allowed to be entered in the competition. Entrants may also enter costumes from comic books, movies, television shows, cartoons, and video games if entries are available in the Masquerade.
• 80% of costumes and props must be made by either the contestant wearing the costume or by other members of the contestant’s group.
• All Props must conform to ConNichiwa’s Weapon’s Policy.
• Costumes that have previously won awards at other conventions are prohibited from entering ConNichiwa’s Masquerade.

Costume Judging Guidelines

• Any costume being presented for Craftsmanship Awards must attend Craftsmanship Judging.
• Costumes are not required to be worn during Craftsmanship Judging but it is highly encouraged.
• Reference pictures of costumes are highly recommended for Craftsmanship Judging.
• Progress pictures of costumes are highly recommended for Craftsmanship Judging.

Audio and Music Rules

• Music will not be provided for entries.
• Recordings that run over the 1-minute Walk-On time limit or the 3-minute Skit time limit will be cut short.
• Dialogue/music must be submitted in an audio CD format or USB Flash drive.
• Dialogue/music must be the only track on the CD or USB Flash drive.
• Music must be an audio file. Movie files, jpegs, web links, URLs, YouTube videos, etc. will not be accepted.
• CDs and USB Flash drives will not be returned to the contestants.

MC Narratives

• MC Narratives are for the contestant's walk-on/skit only. No outside advertising is allowed. All MC Narratives must be approved by the Masquerade Director. If the narration is not approved, you will be contacted beforehand and will be able to change the narration.

Judging/Skill Divisions

Youth Division

• Any contestant 12 years of age and under at the time of the masquerade may compete in the Youth Division. The Youth Division is divided into two subdivisions.
• Youth Self-Made- A Youth contestant who has constructed the majority of their own costume.
• Youth Adult-Made- A Youth contestant whose costume has mostly been constructed by an adult.

Novice Division

• A contestant who has competed and won in any division other than Novice may not enter in the Novice division.
• A contestant who has won "Best in Show" or "Best Novice" at any masquerade competition may not enter in the Novice division.
• A contestant who has won three or more major awards in the Novice division at masquerade competitions will need to enter in the Journeyman division.

Journeyman Division

• A contestant who has competed and won in the Master division at any masquerade competition may not enter in the Journeyman division.
• A contestant who has won "Best in Show" or "Best Journeyman" at any masquerade competition may not enter in the Journeyman division.
• A contestant who has won three or more major awards in the Journeyman division at any masquerade competition may not enter in the Journeyman division.

Master Division

• Any contestant may enter in the Master division.

Any questions about Con Nichiwa’s Masquerade can be sent to masquerade@con-nichiwa.com.

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