Masquerade Competition

The Noreascon 4 Masquerade will use the Standard Division System in accordance with the current International Costumers’ Guild Guidelines ( http://www.costume.org ). The purpose of these guidelines is to encourage new and inexperienced costumers to compete in Worldcon and Costume-Con masquerades.

We hope many costumers will join us for this spectacular — new and experienced costumers alike.

The ICG Guidelines set out a division system, grouping costumers by age (Junior Division) or number of major award-winning costumes (Novice, Journeyman, and Master). A contestant is free at any time to compete up, that is, at a more experienced level.

Masquerade Divisions

Junior Division (formerly the Young Fan Division)

Any contestant under 13 years of age at the time of this competition may compete in the Junior Division, which is divided into two sub-divisions:

• Junior Self-Made: A Junior contestant who has largely or wholly constructed his/her own costume.
• Junior Adult-Made: A Junior contestant whose costume has been largely or wholly constructed by an adult.

Novice Division

This division is for any contestant who has not won a major award at a Worldcon or a Costume-Con Masquerade. Exceptions are made for awards as a Junior costumer, and for awards previously earned of Honorable Mention or Honored for Excellence.

Journeyman Division

Any contestant who has won a major award at the Novice level as defined above, or has won fewer than three awards while competing in the Journeyman Division at Worldcons or Costume-Cons.

Master Division

Anyone may compete in the Master Division but a contestant who has won more than three times in the Journeyman Division at Worldcons or Costume-Cons, or is a professional in a costume-related business must enter in the Master Division.

For the purpose of this competition, a professional is defined as making 50% or more of their income in the costuming business.

Out-of-Competition Division

Costumes made for business purposes or theatrical and professional events and purchased or rented costumes are not eligible for awards but also may be shown in this Division.

In addition, anyone who wants to show their costume without competing for awards in this Division may do so.

Costumes which have previously won a Best in Show at a previous Worldcon or Costume-Con must also be shown in this division.

Classes

In addition to Divisions, contestants will compete in two classes:

Original

Any costume other than a re-creation: these costumes will be judged on their own merits. Documentation may be used if you think it will enhance the judges’ appreciation of your costume. If you intend to be judged for workmanship, please bring two copies of your documentation.

Re-Creation Costumes

Re-creation costumes will be judged in the above Divisions with the original costume entries according to the skill and experience of the costumer.

Re-creation costumes are costumes copied directly from a live-action or animated motion picture, a television program, a stage presentation, a comic book or strip, or any form of artwork, including book covers. Judges will consider the accuracy of the reproduction, and contestants entering re-creation costumes are advised to provide documentation for the Judges to look at.

Workmanship Judging

Judging for Workmanship Awards will take place backstage prior to the start of the Masquerade. These awards, for excellence in construction, will be given out in addition to the Masquerade awards.

You can be judged on your costume or only on a specific piece or prop. Workmanship judging is optional, so please indicate on your entry form if you wish to be included in this judging.

Workmanship applies to entries in any of the Divisions, except the Out-of-Competition Division.

Quality is quality, no matter the Division, and a beautiful job deserves recognition. Our Workmanship Judge(s) will look for technical skill, finishing, fit, handling of fabric and materials, etc.

Documentation

Documentation can include any pictorial representation of your costume. Provide copies only; do not bring originals. It is strongly recommended that you provide documentation for re-creation costume entries. Documentation can also be provided for original Masquerade entries if you think it will enhance the Judges’ appreciation of your costume. If you are entering your costume for workmanship judging, bring two copies of your documentation.

In addition, the following rules will apply:

• The Masquerade is an amateur competition. Purchased or rented costumes may not be entered in competition for awards, but may be shown on stage in the Out-of-Competition Division.
• Costumes that have won any awards other than Best in Show at previous Worldcons or Costume-Cons may compete in the Noreascon 4 Masquerade.
• Any Best in Show winner from previous Worldcons or Costume-Cons may not compete unless significant changes have been made. (If this applies to your entry, please contact the Masquerade Director to discuss the situation.)

Judging

The Judges may choose not to give a Best-of-Show Award, a Best-of-Division Award or may not give out any awards in a division if they do not feel any costumes entered in that division are deserving of an award. The decisions of the Judges are final.

Consider that costumes seen in the halls prior to the night of the masquerade are no surprise to the Masquerade audience and the judges. If you choose to wear your costume out in the convention prior to the Masquerade, they will be considered for Hall Costume awards that will be handed out during the convention.

Notes

If you have questions, please ask your Masquerade Director.

Worldcon Masquerades do not have a Craftsman or Artisan Division, as this was designed for use at regional masquerades. Contestants who usually enter at the Craftsman or Artisan level should read the above guidelines to determine where they should compete at the Worldcon level. Please contact us if you have any questions.

A contestant may always compete in a Division higher than the one they are eligible to enter. Keep in mind that if the contestant wins in this higher Division, they may not return to their old Division in subsequent competitions.

A group costume will compete at the division level of the highest-ranked group member, unless special arrangements are made with the Director and the classes of each person in the entry are clearly noted.