I) Group Size: Each performance group is limited to no more than eight (8) persons on stage at any given time. Groups may have more than eight (8) members, but only eight (8) of them will be allowed on stage at any given time. Please plan accordingly. Exceptions may be made on a case by case basis at the discretion of the Genericon staff. Please see a staff member at Cosplay Info or contact the Cosplay Coordinator(s) for more details.
II) Special Effects: Special effects (e.g. strobe lights, smoke, fog machines, etc) will not be allowed. No exceptions.
III) Stunts/Acrobatics: All stage stunts/acrobatics, including, but not limited to, flips, martial arts, “fake fighting”, gymnastics, wrestling, “falling” techniques, MUST be pre-approved by the Cosplay Coordinator(s). Failure to notify and seek approval before performing is grounds for disqualification and further action if necessary. As a condition of participation, you are required to submit your script for a review of any planned stage stunts or acrobatics. Please contact the Cosplay Coordinator(s) with any questions or concerns.
IV) Maturity Rating: All performance dialogue and audio must be rated PG-13 or lower. Excessive profanity, violence, nudity, or any other acts which do not meet this standard are strictly prohibited. Violation of this rule WILL result in disqualification, removal from the convention, and further action as necessary. As a condition of participation, you are required to submit your script for a review of content. Please contact the Cosplay Coordinator(s) with any questions or concerns.
V) Submission of Scripts: Participating performance groups must submit their scripts for a review of planned stunts/acrobatics and for a review of content.
- Scripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word or PDF format and must include the name or alias of all participating group members.
- You must submit an initial draft of your script including all dialogue (recorded or otherwise), song lyrics (recorded or otherwise), and any planned stunts or acrobatics with your entry form.
- A final copy of your script must be submitted to the Cosplay Coordinator(s) no later than 11:59 pm the Friday two (2) weeks before the convention. The exact submission deadline will be announced by the Cosplay Coordinator(s) in an email.
- Failure to submit a final copy will mean you intend for your initial draft to be used as the final copy, and thus any large deviations from the initial draft will be grounds for disqualification. Please plan accordingly.
VI) Microphones/Technical Equipment: Up to four (4) microphones will be available on stage for use during the performances. You may use your own microphones or technical equipment only in limited circumstances:
- You must notify the Cosplay Coordinator(s) for approval. Your equipment will not be allowed if you do not have this approval.
- You must be present in DCC 308 at least forty-five (45) minutes before the Masquerade in order to use your equipment. Please plan accordingly.
- Your personal technical equipment must be compatible with the current systems in place, as determined by the Genericon Tech Crew. Genericon, its Tech Crew, and its other affiliates are NOT responsible for any lost, stolen, and/or damaged equipment.
VII) Audio and Sound Tracks: Any recorded audio, dialogue, music, intro/exit songs, etc required for your performance MUST be submitted to the Cosplay Coordinator(s) no later than 11:59 pm the Friday two (2) weeks before the convention. The exact submission deadline will be announced by the Cosplay Coordinator(s) in an email.
- Audio submissions received after this deadline will be ignored and you will NOT have any recorded audio for your performance. NO EXCEPTIONS. Please plan accordingly.
- During your performance, once the recorded audio starts playing, it CANNOT be stopped. Therefore, all necessary breaks, pauses, or other background effects should be included in the recording.
VIII) Time Limit: The time limit for each Performance group during Cosplay Performance is not to exceed seven (7) minutes (420 seconds). The recommended time for a performance is between three (3) and five (5) minutes.
- No time extensions will be allowed. NO EXCEPTIONS.
- If you exceed the time limit, you WILL be cut off.
- Performances will have a one (1) minute (60 second) grace period for setup and cleanup, if necessary. Please plan accordingly.
IX) Number of Performances: A maximum of twenty (20) Performances will be accepted on a “first come, first serve” basis. Performance groups MUST pre-register before the convention. Please plan accordingly.
X) Judging Process: The judging process will be as follows.
- A panel of three judges who have extensive experience in Cosplay shall be chosen by the Cosplay Coordinator(s). The Cosplay Contest Coordinator, should one exist, will be one of the three judges.
- You will be called to perform on stage and the judges will watch and enter their score on the official judging forms.
- The judges will remain unbiased when judging performances. If, for any reason, a judge feels unable judge the performance in a fair and unbiased manner (e.g. because of a current or former relationship, or they helped to choreograph the performance, etc.), they are expected to voluntarily abstain from the judging process for that performance.
- If a judge abstains from the judging process for this reason, they may not comment or ask questions or in any other meaningful way participate in the judging of that performance.
- In this case, the average score for each category of the remaining judges will be entered in place of the abstaining judge’s score.
- Each judge’s score shall be independent of the opinions of the other judges. In other words, each judge will make their own determination on the score the performance deserves without interference or input from the other judges.
XI) Judging Criteria: The criteria for the Performance Contest is as follows.
- Judging will be divided into three categories: Creativity/Originality, Synchronization, and Immersion. They are defined as follows:
- Creativity/Originality refers to the imagination and original ideas used in your performance. This primarily looks at how cliches/tropes are incorporated in your performance and how original your interpretation of the idea is. Bonus points may be awarded for exceptional originality or thinking outside the box.
- Synchronization refers to how together your group is and how group members interact and “bounce” off of each other. For instance, in dance routines, choreography would be a big part of this category. Rhythm would be important for music or song based performances. For individuals, the overall cohesion in your performance from beginning to end will be judged for this category (i.e. how connected was the performance and did it logically follow through with the major themes that were presented?). Bonus points may be awarded for exceptional cohesion and/or teamwork.
- Immersion refers to how well you are able to pull the judges and the audience into the performance. This category primarily looks at judge and audience reaction with regard to laughs, clapping, cheers, etc as well as how immersed the judges are in your performance. Bonus points may be awarded for attracting exceptional excitement and interest on the part of the audience and/or judges.
- Points for Performance: Each Judge may independently award up to ten (10) points for each of the categories for a total of thirty (30) points.
- The total overall score will be the total summation of each judge’s scores for the categories for a total of ninety (90) points.
- After all Performance entries have been judged, the judges will review all entries and by unanimous consensus, may then award up to ten (10) bonus points to exceptional performances for a maximum total overall score of one hundred (100) points.
- All judges must agree to award bonus points or no bonus points will be awarded.
- All judges must agree to the amount of bonus points to award, not to exceed ten (10) points, or no bonus points will be awarded.
- If a judge abstained from judging a performance, the remaining judges will determine how many bonus points, if any, to award.
- These points/scores will be recorded and compiled along with any notes and critiques the judges have for you. If you wish to receive your compiled overall score and any comments, please see a Staff member at Cosplay Info before the end of the Convention on Sunday. We cannot guarantee the return of these scores and comments after the convention has ended. Please plan accordingly.
XII) Selection of Performance Winners: Depending on the number of entrants in each Division, there will be six (6) prizes for the Performance Contest: Best in Division (Youth, Novice, Journeyman, Master), Best in Show, and Judge’s Choice. The number of prizes available may change dependent on the number of contestants in each division. Winners for these prizes shall be selected as follows.
- The entry with the highest overall score within each Division shall win first place in that Division. If there is a tie, the judges shall discuss and make a determination. This decision is FINAL.
- The “Best in Show” winner shall be selected from among the the top three (3) highest-scoring entries in each division. The judges shall discuss and make a determination. This decision is FINAL.
- The judges, by majority vote, will choose their favorite entry for the “Judge’s Choice” prize.
- Prizes MUST be claimed in person at the Awards Ceremony following the Cosplay Masquerade.
- A single contestant may not win more than one (1) prize for the Cosplay Performance Contest. The judges will discuss any ambiguous situations and make a determination. That decision is FINAL.
- Runner-ups may be chosen and announced, but are not guaranteed prizes.
If you have any further questions, please see a staff member at Cosplay Info or contact the Cosplay Coordinators. Thank you for your cooperation, and we hope you enjoy Genericon!!!