If you’re umm-ing and aah-ing about whether or not to enter the Cosplay Masquerade at the next MegaCon Live event in Birmingham, we think you should!

If you don’t believe us, see if any of these reasons tickle your fancy… and scroll to the bottom to sign up!

1. You’ve finished your costume and now really, really want to show it off to the world.

Okay, so you’ve made your costume. Now what? If it feels like there’s something missing for you, try entering a competition to see if you enjoy the atmosphere of being on stage and showing off to an audience. It’s a great way to share your crafting with the judges (you get 3-5 minutes to talk non-stop about your project and word vomit about all the cool things you’ve made!) and your costume with a broader audience than the Instagram algorithm will give you.

2. You’d like to get some recognition for both your costume AND your stage presence.

Some competitions will judge based exclusively on costume, and some will be exclusively on performance. The Performance Square and Cosplay Showcase at MegaCon Live events is completely non-judged! But if you like the idea of showing off both that you’ve made your own costume and that you can wear it on stage, MegaCon Live is a great competition for you. 70% of your marks come from how you made it (ie. construction and accuracy), and 30% come from how you wear it (ie. your stage presence).

3. You want to make new friends.

Ask any entrant and they’ll tell you that they’ve met some lifelong cosplay friends backstage at competitions. The atmosphere is electric, with everyone excited for each other – it’s a truly great place to be. We run an entrants-only Facebook group where you can get to know your fellow entrants and share worries and advice before the show, and make connections with the judges if you’re looking for feedback, crafting help, or just an experienced ear to talk to.

4. You’d like a shot at winning some prize money.

Let’s not lie: cosplay is an expensive hobby, so it’s no bad thing to want to enter competitions with money prizes. There are only a few competitions in the UK where you can win actual cash money, and MegaCon has £250 up for grabs on each day at each of their events! Craftsmanship and Performance awards will also win custom medals, certificates signed by the judges, and a host of other goodies.

5. You’re an experienced entrant, but you want the chance to try something new on stage.

We’re passionate about performance, so MegaCon Live masquerades, run by the Guild, are unique in that they allow certain things that many competitions don’t! For example:

• You can use the big video screen to play your own backing video, a clip from your media, or have a still image projected to use as a backdrop, or something to interact with;
• If you and your friend want to perform together, you don’t have to be cosplaying characters from the same media;
• We actively encourage own characters, genderbends, mash-up designs, gijinkas, and anthropomorphic designs, and judge them based on creativity rather than accuracy;
• You can bring a stage ninja on with you to set up your scenery, work your stage props for you, or be an additional pair of hands during your performance;
• If you want to bring set pieces and props to use on stage, you can store them for free in the Guild’s cloakroom for the day.

6. You want to get some great photos of your costume.

Photographers from the community volunteer their time to capture performances from the audience, the atmosphere backstage, and sometimes even the behind-the-scenes goings-on in the pre-judging room at MegaCon Live events, and they’re always happy to share these photos with you. We promise, you’ve never looked more awesome than you will do on stage stage!

7. You’ve never done it before, and you want to prove to yourself that you CAN.

Anyone can join the masquerade, but not everyone does – it would be great to see you up there. We know that nerves put a lot of people off doing something they really want to, so we’re doing all we can to help! All the information is available in advance, so you know exactly what to expect. We’ll have support available on the day for nervous competitors, and we’ll be more than happy to walk you through the whole experience if you’re anxious.

8. You like a challenge, and you fancy trying something new at a convention.

If you’ve been attending conventions for a while, they can get a bit samey. If you’d like to see the convention hall from a different angle, entering a competition could be a great opportunity for you. You’ll be needed for a 30-minute pre-judging slot, where you talk to the judges for a few minutes, then a couple of hours at the end of the day for the stage portion. The rest of the day is yours, as usual!

9. You’d like to get some advice or feedback about your costume.

If you’re looking for help with some part of the crafting process, but have no idea where to turn, entering a competition could be a great foot in the door. The judges will have time to look at your work close-up, and, after the competition, we’ll give you an email address to get in touch with them personally, so you have a direct link to ask some crafting experts all your burning questions. If you don’t know where to start reaching out to the community for advice, having that connection made for you can be a great help.

10. You want to have the opportunity to judge with us one day.

The Guild love platforming judges who are also competition entrants or performers; we think it’s really important to know that the judges understand how it feels to be in your shoes. If you like the idea of being a cosplay competition judge, or helping to run a panel or a workshop with us, you’ll want to get yourself some competition experience! MegaCon Live Birmingham is a chill show with a comfortable stage, and would make for a great first-time entry.

Ready to submit your application?

All the information you need is right here! You can also check out some of our recommended blogs for application and performance advice here.