Cosplay Competition

How and When to Enter:
Pre-judging is NOT open to the public. Only participants and handlers will be allowed in the pre-judging area.

Division pre-judging is defined as:
You have created a cosplay and wish to have it judged in a craftsmanship division and will participate in the Cosplay Parade and walk across the stage for final judging. You will be eligible for prizes.

Please check your Craftsmanship Division for pre-judging times to make sure you are here for the time allotted for your judging time. Special arrangements MAY be made case by case.

Age: 13+ (13-17 years old needs contest from legal guardian)
To enter, the cosplayer  is required to register in person on Saturday, October 11th.

Craftsmanship Judging Times:

Craftsmanship pre-judging will take place in the “Cosplay Room.” Please arrive early in order to check in. All cosplay will be first come, first served.

Please be courteous to your fellow cosplayers and to your judges by keeping your presentation brief! Your slot is limited to 5 minutes.

Please provide:
In progress photos and/or reference photos. (No: Photos on electronic devices)
Any special techniques used.
Printed and presented in a folder or binder in an orderly fashion and easily readable.

Novice:

This division is intended for costumes with little to no prior experience in making costumes and no formal training in costume or fashion.

• Novice Division entrants must not have won more than one award of any level at previous conventions.
• 25% of the costume must be made by the contestant. (This is a minimum).
• Reference/progress binders are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. These may help with any decisions the judges may need to make.

Intermediate:

• Anyone who has previously won awards in the Novice category or anyone who feels that they have graduated beyond the Novice category.
• 50% of the costume must be made by the contestant. (This is a minimum).
• Reference/progress binders are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. These may help with any decisions the judges may need to make.

Master:

• The Masters division is intended for people that feel that they meet above
  expectations
• Anyone may choose to enter this division.
• Professional costumes must enter this division.
• Anyone who has previously won awards in Master or Intermediate.
• 75% of the costume must be made by a contestant. (This is a minimum).
• Progress/reference photos will help with any decisions the judges may need to make.

In all cases, if the Cosplay Lead or judge feels that you should be placed in a higher division based on the craftsmanship and presentation of your costume, your entry may be changed to that higher division. If ANY part of the cosplay, including but not limited to clothing, props, weapons, electrical props, wigs etc. is made by someone else, then proper credit must be given. The costume must be made by the entrant(s) or credited to the appropriate creator(s) on the entrant’s entry form. Creators not entering in costume must be present to receive awards. Reference images and progress binders used as part of craftsmanship presentations, but must be picked up from Cosplay table IMMEDIATELY following your judging. Enteries wishing to compete with costumes that have previously won a costume competition must declare this upon registration. Entrants may not compete in a costume that has won a major award at another convention.

IF ANY PARTICIPANT IS FOUND TO HAVE FAULISFIED OR LIED ABOUT THEIR COSPLAY BEFORE OR AFTER THE COMPETITION IN ANY WAY WILL BE DISQUALIFIED, NOT ELIGIBLE FOR PRIZES OR HAVE THEIR PRIZE REVOKED AND GIVEN TO THE NEXT ELIGIBLE WINNER.

No microphones may be used by the contestants at any time.

Messy substances including confetti, glitter, flower petals, and water are not allowed to be brought on the stage. Pyrotechnics or special effects such as fireworks, flash paper, or smoke machines will not be allowed on the stage or backstage area. You may not throw anything off the stage or into the crowd.

Non-firing toy weapons will be allowed on-stage without peace bonding, but any live weapons will result in immediate removal from the stage. No food, animals, adult-themed props or remote-control devices are allowed on stage.

One foot must remain on the floor at all times. Climbing onto the stage or leaping off the stage is prohibited.

 Be at judging/cosplay room at 12 noon
There will be a half-hour panel before the parade “HOW TO WALK ACROSS THE COSPLAY STAGE 101” It is HIGHLY recommended for all participants. The panel will include information about the 3 X’s marked on the stage, striking a pose, and interaction with the crowd to get them fired up, and other helpful information.

Line up in rows according to your judging number, this is the staging area for walking the stage. A staff member will move one row at a time to walk onto the stage. You MUST stay in this order so the MC calls out the correct name for walking across the stage.

*All contestants will line up in sign-up numerical order.

All costumes must provide as much body coverage as a bikini. Underwear and/or supportive garments must be worn underneath revealing or skin-tight costumes. If your costume does not meet these criteria you may be asked to change or not permitted to walk the stage. Body paint is not a costume. Also, no nudity or adult- themed props are permitted. Laws of public decency apply. SoDak Circuit staff reserves the right to make final judgment calls on what is “decent”. If staff feels that your costume is indecent or inappropriate in any way, you will be asked to change or cover up.

Appropriate footwear is required at all times. If your costume calls for bare feet, you may wear flip- flops or ballet slippers, but the soles of your feet should not come in contact with the floor.

Inline skates (i.e. Rollerblades), roller skates, Togo skates, sneaker skates (i.e. Heelys ), and the like may not be worn or used in the convention area or on the contest stage.

You must have a clear line of sight that also includes peripheral vision, being only able to see through a tiny eye slot does NOT constitute a clear line of sight. If this is unavoidable, cosplayers MUST have a handler at all times. Other cosplayers with masks or heads do not qualify as a handler.

Entrants must be able to enter and exit the stage quickly on their own or with the assistance of a handler.

Candles, fireworks, sparklers, liquid fuels or other fire hazards are strictly prohibited.

Please avoid loose materials such as sand, glitter, confetti, flower petals or other items that are designed to fall, scatter, or otherwise spate from your costume.

No fake blood that can be smeared, squirted, dripped, sprayed or otherwise be transferred to another person or surface is allowed. This includes any type of dye, food coloring, or makeup.

Body makeup that easily smears or transfers to any person or property cannot be worn. Please properly seal and set all makeup so that does not happen.

Clothing or signs that display messages deemed to be inappropriate or offensive to others (including, but not limited to, explicit language, homophobic, sexually suggestive or racially offensive material) will not be permitted. Convention staff reserves the right to ask attendees to change or cover offensive clothing. Failure to comply will result in your badge being confiscated. SoDak Circuit is an all-inclusive event and encourages diversity and respect.

ALL PROPS RESEMBLING WEAPONS must be inspected, “Peace Tied”, and approved by Staff and/or Security prior to being carried or displayed in public areas. If you are found to be in violation of this policy, you will be asked to take it back to your hotel room or vehicle. If there are continued violations with the same prop, your weapon will be confiscated and you may be ejected from the convention.

ALL projectile weapons are prohibited.

Prop guns will be permitted, pending inspection by Security, only if they meet the following criteria:

• They have no clips or moving parts.
• They have a non-removable orange safety tip on realistic weapons.
• Remain “Peace Tied” at all times.
• No Airsoft/ BB guns/ Painball/ Cap Guns

**No live steel (edged metal weapons) will be permitted. Bladed replica weapons must be made of a non-metal, non- sharp material, must be no longer than 72 inches in length, and must be approved by Security.

If the convention staff feels that your prop poses a risk to others, you will be asked to remove the item from public areas, or it may be confiscated.

***SoDak Circuit staff are not able to pre-approve weapons and props before the convention. A determination can only be made after it is inspected by Security at the convention.***

Please remember that SoDak Circuit is subject to the venue’s policies and the judgment of the venue’s management. The venue reserves the right to ban props or costumes from the premises.

**Please do not bring in props that resemble drugs or alcohol.