METROCON 2013 - YEAR 11

Florida's Largest Anime Convention!

July 26 - 28, 2013

Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, FL

Theme: East vs West

CONTESTS

COSTUME CONTEST

UPLOAD DIRECTIONS:

• Register for a MyConsOnline account or log into your account if you already have one.
• After you have logged in, click on "Contest Uploads".
• Select "COSTUME CONTEST"
• Click on "Submit COSTUME CONTEST entry"
• Fill out the form completely.
• Hit "Submit" and wait until the file has fully uploaded.
• You may now preview, edit or delete your file from this area.

2012 METROCON Costume Contest 

Thank you for showing interest in the 2012 METROCON Costume Contest! Here is everything you will need to know in order to qualify and compete.

We are accepting online entries for Costume Contest. Simply email your entry form to the Cosplay Director at natalie@ladysaiyuki.com with “2012 Metrocon Costume Contest Registration” as the subject. Online registration for the Costume Contest ends June 1st; any online entries after that date will not be valid.

2012 Costume Contest Entry Form

Also, you may print the form and fill it out before hand or pick one up at the convention. At the convention, registration and signups for the Costume Contest will occur at the Cosplay Booth located upstairs.

Cosplay Booth Hours of Operation:

• Friday: 10am – 5pm
  

• Saturday: 10am – 5pm
  

            There is a strict cap of 75 entries. After turning in your form, you will receive a number and a time to return for prejudging. We will try to accommodate those who preregister, but we cannot guarantee a prejudging slot. If you miss your prejudging time slot, the last hour of prejudging on Sunday is reserved for late or missed time slots. We cannot guarantee that everyone who missed their slot will be able to be judged at that time. Please do not use this as an excuse to skip your assigned time slot.

IMPORTANT: You must arrive half an hour before the contest starts to lineup for the competition in the main events room. (At 2:30pm Sunday) The Costume Contest will take place on Sunday at 3:00pm.

Prejudging:

• Saturday 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
  

• Sunday 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
  

There are three judges and the Cosplay Director at METROCON’s Costume Contest that will be examining your costume(s) up close and personal while comparing it to the reference photos you have available. You will also be asked a few questions about your costume.

Due to our limited time schedule we have a 3-minute time limit for prejudging. Our judges and staff will strictly enforce this. Planning out exactly what you want to say about your costume in advance can really help you during judging. If you’re worried about forgetting something or running out of time then a bulleted list of costume details that you can reference while being judged might be a good idea – and it can be left behind for the judges! We cannot guarantee that your reference materials will be returned to you.

Costumes are judged by:

• Craftsmanship
  

• Cleanliness
  

• Creativity
  

• Accuracy
  

• Technical achievements
  

Skill Levels:

 At METROCON these are how we divide skill levels.

• Youth: ages 12 and under.
  

• Novice: less than 2 Major awards.
  

• Journeyman: 2-5 Major awards. Never received a Best In Show or Best Journeyman award at METROCON.
  

• Masters: 5+ Major awards or has received a Best In Show or Best Journeyman award at METROCON.
  

If you are unsure of your skill level feel free to ask a member of Cosplay Staff at the Cosplay Booth when you sign up and they can help you figure out what level you should enter at! Or send an email to the Cosplay Director at natalie@ladysaiyuki.com. Judges may possibly move a cosplayer into a different category due to their discussion.

Award Categories:

• Best In Show
  

• Best Masters
  

• Best Journeyman
  

• Best Novice
  

• Best Group
  

• Best Prop
  

• Best Craftsmanship/Technical
  

• Best Character Likeness
  

• Best Junior (kids 12 and under)
  

• Judges Awards
  

• Cosplay Director Award
  

• *awards subject to change
  

Reference and In Progress Photos: These are not required but highly suggested. These will help the judges see the work you put into making your costume.

Props: Props may be entered with your costume. You must present progress photos AND reference photos for your prop to qualify for an award.

Models: If you are using a model for your costume, you and your model must be present for the prejudging. However, you do not have to walk on stage with your model during the catwalk style presentation.

Handlers: You may use handlers for your costume if it is too big or cumbersome to walk on stage by yourself. If you do not have a handler, we may be able to provide one for you. Please let us know when you register if a handler is needed, as well as the name of your handler so they may be allowed back stage and through pre-judging with you. The handler must have a convention badge/ticket to go on stage.

Stage Presentation: You will have 15 seconds on stage. We have a catwalk style stage so prepare your best Runway strut. Make sure to do two quick poses before you leave the stage so everyone can see your costume!

Rules and Regulations:

• All costumes cannot exceed a PG13 rating. This is a family convention.
  

• Weapons and props must follow METROCON’s weapon policy.
  

• Please bring reference photos to show the judges. They are not required to participate but are strongly encouraged, especially for obscure costumes.
  

• Please bring at least 1 in progress photo to show the judges. They are not required but are strongly encouraged.
  

• Props MUST have in progress photos and reference images in order to be registered and judged.
  

• You must have made at least 75% of your costume to compete. In groups, all costumes must be at least 50% made by one or more of the members in the group.
  

• Group limit is 15. No exceptions.
  

• The cap off for contestants will be 75 entries.
  

• Anyone ages 12 and under will be judged as a junior, unless they’re part of a group.
  

• The judges’ decisions are final.
  

• Do not lie to or mislead the judges. If you are caught lying to the judges for any reason, you will be disqualified.
  

• You can only enter ONE costume and/or prop (and the prop must be part of the entered costume). If you want to enter as Edward Elric but you made your friend a staff for their Sailor Pluto costume, they cannot have the prop judged. If you want to enter in your Sora costume but also want to enter your Cloud costume, you cannot have someone else model the Cloud costume. The only exception to this is if you’re all entered in a group. If, for instance, you made all 5 sailor scout uniforms and you and your friends entered as a group that would be allowed.
  

FAQs:

I want to do backflips and stuff on stage! It would be cool!

NO. All that is done during the presentation is walking and posing.

Even with a handler, I can’t go up stairs with my costume or because of other reasons. What do I do?

If this is the case, you will be allowed to walk in front of the stage or next to it.

My reference photo/in progress photo is on my cell phone, is that okay?

As long as you have it ready for the judges and it is a clear photo, it’s okay. Figures, manga, playing cards, etc. are also acceptable. Also, color images are preferred for accuracy judging.

I’m late for my time block, so can I go in now that I’m here?

No, you must wait until the LAST 30 minutes of prejudging to be judged. This also goes for groups-the ENTIRE group must be present at the time block. If you do not show up at all for your time block, you will be DISQUALIFIED.

I was judged, but I missed line up and the stage presentation began. Can I still go on?

If you miss lineup, you’re DISQUALIFIED. We cannot hold off the show or rearrange entries due to one late entry. Also all members of a group must be present.

Our group was judged, but we found two more people and want them in our group!

Once you’re group is judged, you cannot add or subtract members.

I’m going to enter my prop and get it approved by the con later.

Unless you prop is registered, it cannot be entered, even if you have in progress photos. You must have a registration sticker on your prop. If you need your prop registered, please take it to the registration area and they will take care of it for you.

I don’t have my badge yet. I’ll get it after prejudging.

Unless you have your official METROCON badge on your person, you cannot register. This also goes for group entries, handlers, and models. Every person involved in the contest must have a badge.

I found a handler after I was judged. Can they come with me to the stage presentation?

Yes. Please inform the members of the costume contest IMMEDIATELY if you do.

Someone got the MC Award and another award! That’s not fair!

Actually, it is. The winner of the MC Award is chosen by the MC of the costume contest and has no affiliation with the judges’ decisions.

I’m wearing a few costumes this weekend, and I don’t know which to compete!

This year, choose your favorite or the one you’re most proud of for the contest.

I want to throw some really cool stuff out into the audience or to the guests.

We do not allow object to be thrown from the stage. This includes anything that might hurt people or damage the stage or carpeting: liquids, silly string, hard candies, and other cosplayers.

There was only a limited amount of people who could participate in the Costume Contest at METROCON and I didn't get signed up in time. What can I do?

We're sorry, but there’s a limit to the amount of contestants we can have in the contest as in we have a limited amount of time. If you didn't get in, please try again next year or sign up to perform you skit at another convention.