The Fan X Live Cosplay Masquerade, hosted by the Guild of Nerds, is your chance to wow the audience on stage! Read on for all the information you need about getting involved with the show…
Sign-ups
The Guild of Nerds will be based in the Cosplay Area of Fan X LIVE. Sign-ups will be open from 11am, so come and find us when you arrive to sign up for the competition.
We’re excited to welcome as many interested cosplayers as possible to participate, though we recommend coming to the Cosplay Area early, as we may have to cap numbers as the show approaches.
All ages are welcome, and anyone can enter with self-made or bought cosplays. We will be running separate categories for bought costumes, and costumes that have been at least 50% made.
Judging
If you have bought your costume, you will not need to be judged in advance, only when you go up on stage. You’ll need to be back at the Cosplay Area approximately 15 minutes before showtime.
If you have made your costume, and would like to be eligible to win Best in Show, you’ll need to be judged by our team of judges just before the show. You’ll need to be back at the Cosplay Area approximately 45 minutes before showtime.
Audio & performances
If you would like to provide your own audio track to play as you come onto the stage, you may do so. Please bring your audio with you as an MP3 on a USB stick, or email the file, or a YouTube link, to guildofnerdscosplay[@]gmail.com before coming to the cosplay desk to sign-up.
If you choose not to provide your own audio, you can choose one from our playlist, or we can select one for you. Listen to the playlist of options here, and give us your chosen track number when you sign up.
If you would like to do a performance, we suggest you sign up as soon as you arrive. Cosplayers wishing to do a performance must be registered before 1pm so we have time to check the stage set-up for you.
Preparing for the show
If you’re looking for advice on cosplay masquerades, we have plenty of blogs you can read in preparation. We suggest the following:
- How to brainstorm performance ideas for cosplay competitions
- How to calculate how much of your costume you’ve made/modified
- Entering cosplay competitions as a group
- What is it like being backstage at a cosplay competition?
Rules – ALL ENTRANTS MUST READ.
- All cosplays must adhere to the convention rules with regards to dress and props.
- To enter the competition with a performance, you must sign up by 1pm on the
day.- Walk-on entries must be signed up at least 2 hours before the show begins.
- Entries will be taken on a first come-first serve basis for their category, and once the competition is full no additional entrants will be taken.
- All ages are welcome to enter. Those under 16 will need a parent or guardian with them during sign-up and backstage before the show.
- Both bought and made cosplays can be entered. These will be judged in separate categories.
- To qualify for the made category, you must have crafted or modified 50% or more of your cosplay. Read this blog for more advice on calculating the percentage made.
- Groups of up to 6 individuals are allowed.
- Groups that feature a mix of bought and made cosplays will compete in the bought cosplays division.
- Performances are limited to two minutes on stage; walk-ons are limited to 30 seconds on stage
- Performances must be family friendly and safe for the audience and performer. Cosplayers must be able to move on the stage unassisted.
- Audio will either be a generic track supplied by the cosplay team, or you can supply your own audio in the form of a YouTube link, MP3 file emailed on the day, or an MP3 file supplied on a USB.
- Audio cannot contain profanity or themes inappropriate for a general
audience.
- Audio cannot contain profanity or themes inappropriate for a general
- Use of a video screen cannot be supported, nor can lighting requests.
- Good sportsmanship is required, and mistreatment of fellow entrants, competition coordinators or judges will result in a ban from all Guild of Nerds hosted competitions.
- By entering the competition, you agree that your photo and video may be taken by attendees while onstage and in the stage area, and that FanX Events, Guild of Nerds, and other subsidiaries of these entities may use your image for advertising or sponsor purposes.
- Please contact Guild of Nerds if you have any questions at guildofnerdscosplay[@]gmail.com