Guide For Cosplay Competitions

Participating in a cosplay competition, whether as a newcomer or a seasoned veteran, is an exhilarating experience that blends creativity, craftsmanship, and community. These events are more than just contests; they are vibrant celebrations of beloved fandoms, featuring diverse groups of participants from various skill levels, each given their moment in the spotlight to showcase their proficiency in cosplay crafting. Participants perform on stage, sharing their love for a given character through detailed costumes and craftsmanship aimed at impressing the judges while simultaneously delighting audiences.

In this post we go over some general guidelines and provide some pro tips to help prospective participants prepare for their next cosplay competition.

Handy Guide For Cosplay Competitions

Read The Rules

Every cosplay competition comes with its own set of rules, so your first move should be to read through them carefully to know what you can and can’t do. If anything’s unclear or you’ve got questions, just shoot an email to the event staff—they’re super helpful and are there to make sure everything runs smoothly. Remember, each event is unique, so really take the time to understand the rules. The staff are always more than willing to help out with any questions you might have.

Check The Schedule

When you’re in a cosplay competition, sticking to a schedule is key for everyone involved to keep things running smoothly. Each competition is a bit different—some might have you waiting around for hours, while others might give you a specific time slot. No matter how the scheduling is set up, just make sure you know what kind of time commitment you’re looking at and decide if it works with how you want to spend your day.

Prep Your Cosplay

Before you face the judges, make sure your cosplay is ready for prime time, and that means giving it a test run. Suit up in your costume, then take it off to see if anything might get damaged. Walk, sit, run—whatever you plan to do in your stage performance, try it out in costume. This helps you catch any potential wardrobe malfunctions before they happen in front of the judges or on stage. Better to have something break during a rehearsal than during the actual competition, right?

Also, remember if you’re planning to wear your cosplay all day, you’re going to be navigating crowds, dealing with heat, maybe getting a bit sweaty, and you’ll definitely need to eat and use the bathroom at some point. Plan ahead so you can stay comfortable and keep your costume looking great right through the competition.

Stress Test Props, Wigs And Accessories

Here’s a quick tip: make duplicates of small parts of your costume, just in case you lose or break something. Having backups means one less thing to worry about. Also, really put your props through their paces to make sure they won’t let you down on stage. And if they’re supposed to break as part of your act, check that they do it just right.Don’t forget to double-check the convention’s rules on props to make sure yours are all good to go. These guidelines are super important for keeping everyone safe.And if you’re rocking a larger-than-life costume, make sure you can actually move around in it. Think about getting through doors, climbing stairs, and maneuvering backstage and onto the stage. You want to be able to show off your epic outfit without any hitches!

Day Of The Show

Before the show, make sure to catch plenty of zzz’s, eat well, and stay hydrated. No matter which awesome character you’re dressing up as, remember, you’re still human at the end of the day. Your body needs rest and good nutrition to perform at its best, especially if you want to rock the competition. Be nice to yourself, know your limits, and don’t push too hard. There’s no point in stepping out of your comfort zone to the point where it’s no fun anymore.

Be On Time

This just goes back to sticking to the schedule. It’s really important to be where you need to be when you’re supposed to be there so everything goes off without a hitch. If you’re late, you might get disqualified because the show has to go on—with or without you.

Stay Informed

Getting ready for a live cosplay competition can get pretty wild. The green room is buzzing with activity, and it can be a bit overwhelming at times. But don’t worry—the staff is there to help, so don’t hesitate to ask them anything. While you’re hanging out in the green room with other cosplayers, it’s a great chance to chat, especially if you’re curious about how they put their costumes together or if you’re just a fan of the character they’re portraying. Sure, it’s a competition, but remember, it’s supposed to be fun, too!

Soundtrack

If your on-stage performance needs a soundtrack, make sure you get the lowdown on the audio rules. Some sound techs might have a bunch of audio clips you can use, but others might need you to bring your own. If you’re bringing your own tracks, double-check that they’re in the right format and not too long. Not sure about something or got more questions? Just shoot the team an email—they’re super helpful and will be glad to assist you.

Introduction Text

You might need to whip up some intro text so they can introduce you properly on stage. Crafting a little bio about yourself and your cosplay journey is a great opportunity to connect with the audience and stand out to the judges. Feel free to get as creative as you like with it. And if you’re stuck on how to tackle writing your intro, don’t hesitate to reach out to the event team. They’re there to help and would be happy to give you some pointers! Pro Tip: Try to keep your introduction short and sweet. Aim for just two sentences if you can.

Respect The Staff

Just a heads-up, it’s pretty common for event staff to be volunteers. They’re here to make sure everyone has a blast and that things go off without a hitch. If something’s bugging you, if you feel uncomfortable, or if something sketchy happens, don’t hesitate to flag down staff or event directors and let them know what’s up. It’s their job to sort out any issues. The best move is to report any problems as soon as they crop up. This way, the team knows what’s going on and can handle it quickly. Posting about it on social media after the fact doesn’t really give them a chance to fix the issue in the moment. So, help out the staff and directors by letting them know about any concerns right away. By doing this, you’re not only sorting out your current situation but also improving things for future events.

Meeting The Judges

When you get the chance to show off your cosplay to the judges, remember you’ll probably be on the clock. Have prepared a list of the highlights of your costume that you really want the judges to notice. Kick things off with the most crucial detail you want to highlight. If there’s something about your costume that isn’t super obvious or even visible at all, point it out right from the get-go. Also, be ready for questions. Some judges might have a bunch, others not so much. Either way, be prepared to chat about your work.


Pro Tip:
Don’t point out any flaws in your costume to the judges. There’s a good chance they might not even notice them, so why draw attention to them? Unless you’ve got a cool story about how you turned a mishap into a win while making your costume, it’s probably best to keep those little imperfections under wraps.

One On One With Judges

When it’s your turn to be seen by the judges, really go for it and show them what you’ve got! Make sure you’re front and center, where they can get a good look at all your hard work. Stand tall and proud—you’ve made it this far, so own the moment and strut your stuff with confidence. This is your chance to shine and show off all that amazing craftsmanship!

Portfolio To Show Judges

If you’ve got a portfolio, bring it along. Just make sure to tell the judges if you need it back. While it’s not always a must-have unless the rules say otherwise, a portfolio can be handy. That said, many judges prefer to focus on you and your costume in person rather than flipping through photos. But a portfolio can be really useful for showing off parts of your costume that aren’t immediately visible, like any undergarments you crafted yourself. It’s a lot easier—and less awkward—than trying to show those details in person by partially undressing.

Reference Picture For Judges

Keep in mind, judges might know a lot about various fandoms, but they can’t possibly know every single one out there. There’s a chance they might not recognize who you’re cosplaying as. To help them out, it’s a good idea to have a picture they can look at while they’re checking out your craftsmanship. Ideally, bring a printed color image. A black and white print is fine too. If you’re in a bind, showing them an image on your phone can work, but printed images are definitely preferred.

On Stage Performance

Make sure to give us a good look at all angles of your costume when you’re up on stage. Take your time striking a pose—there’s no need to rush off. We really want to see and appreciate your hard work! Stand a comfy distance from the edge of the stage, facing the audience, to take your poses. Also, keep in mind that the front of the stage is usually better lit than the back, so try to stay near the front where everyone can see you clearly.


Pro Tip:
If you’re feeling jittery about being on stage, here’s a little trick: look at the exit signs at the back of the room instead of staring into the crowd. It’ll look like you’re confidently scanning the audience, but really, you’re just focusing on something less intimidating. No one will know the difference!

Bring the energy when you’re on stage! Big, bold movements really stand out to the audience way more than smaller, everyday ones. Since there’s a bit of distance between you and the crowd, larger-than-life gestures are what make the performance fun and engaging. So don’t hold back—go big and make it memorable!If you’re doing a Walk On, remember it’ll zip by quicker than you think. One trick to help pace yourself is to count out “Mississippi’s” when you hit your poses. For example, head over to one side of the stage and mentally count, “one Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi, four.” Then stroll to the other side, strike another pose, and count out those Mississippi’s again. After that, head back to center stage, do one more pose with a final count before you exit. A neat pattern to follow is the infinity symbol—imagine a number 8 lying on its side. It’s a smooth way to move so the judges get a great view of your costume in motion, from every angle.

Awards And Feedback

The awards ceremony that usually follows the cosplay competition is a real highlight and happens either on the same day or the day after. Whether you snag a trophy or not, this part of the event really brings out the community vibe of cosplay. It’s a great chance to clap for the winners and, if you’re up for it, chat with them about how they put their amazing costumes together.

If you didn’t win this time, no worries—there’ll be other chances. Remember to keep it classy and show respect for those who did win. Judges are typically around and are pretty approachable; they’re often seasoned cosplayers themselves and are there to give feedback. This feedback is gold—it’s all about helping you do better next time. So, take it in stride, keep an open mind, and soak up their advice.

If you happen to get feedback that doesn’t hit right or comes off as a bit off-putting, it’s important to let the event organizers know right away. They’re there to help and can handle the issue directly. Venting on social media won’t really solve much; talking to the staff or masquerade directors on the spot is the best way to get things sorted. They’re all about making sure everyone has a good time.

Side Note: many competitions are very accommodating of any special requests you may have. Simply inform the staff and they will be more than happy to adapt to your request or particular needs.

Conclusion

Cosplay competitions are a super cool part of fan conventions. They really showcase everyone’s creativity, skill, and sense of community, giving you a fun way to dive into your favorite fictional worlds. The main thing to remember? Come as prepared as possible! And, as always, be nice to everyone and have a blast while you’re at it.

Masquerade at Anime Ottawa 2024

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How NOT to Fail at Cosplay Contests!

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