Welcome to the Westercon 61 Las Vegas Masquerade

"Presentation" and "Workmanship" judging are entirely separate. There is one judging panel for Presentation and another judging panel for Workmanship. Each panel selects and gives its own awards. Workmanship judging is not required for anyone, and the decisions of the Workmanship panel have no influence on the Presentation panel.

There will be a mandatory contestant meeting prior to the Masquerade. If you are not represented at the meeting you cannot enter. This will also be the last chance to file an entry form for the event if you have not pre-registered. Groups may send a representative of the group.

Division Placement

Master

This class is not for sissies, but if you've got what it takes, go for it.

Any competitor may enter in the Master division.

Journeyman

This class is for the mid-level costumers.

Any competitor may enter in the Journeyman division, except for:

• Professional costumers;
• Those who have won an award in the Open/Master division;
• Those who have won Best Journeyman in a previous competition.
• Those who have won three or more awards in the Journeyman division.

Novice

Everybody starts somewhere.

Any competitor may enter in the Novice division, except for:

• Professional costumers;
• Those who have won an award in the Journeyman or Open/Master division;
• Those who have won Best Novice in a previous competition;
• Those who have won three or more awards in any kind in regional competitions;
• Those who have won any award at any international competition (WorldCon, Costume-Con, San Diego Comic-Con International).

Young Fan

The Young Fan division is only open to competitors under the age of 15 who have participated in the design and construction of their costumes. (If a costume is entirely adult-designed or entirely adult-constructed, it may not be entered in the Young Fan division)

Exhibition

You've spent 120 hours working on this stuff and you want more people to see it.

Any presenter may enter in the Exhibition division.

The Exhibition division is presentation-only. Exhibition entries will not be judged, nor are they eligible for any award.

Entries that have already won awards at other conventions and have not been significantly modified should enter in the Exhibition division.

If you're not sure whether you should consider a past competition to be a major regional competition or a local competition, please ask the directors. The size of the event and number of entrants in the prior competition will be considered.

The Rules

If you violate any of these rules, you may be disqualified and dropped from the competition. You may even be escorted to a remote spot in the Nevada desert.

All contestants must be attending members of Westercon 61 Las Vegas.

You should not wear the costume you are presenting at Westercon 61 Las Vegas prior to their appearance in the masquerade, other than on the way to the Green Room.

The Westercon 61 Las Vegas Masquerade is a celebration of the art and craft of costuming, and the makers of the costumes must be member of the Convention. You are welcome to wear purchased, rented, and borrowed costumes as Hall Costumes, but not in the Official Masquerade. If you have questions as to wether your costume has enough "original content", please ask.

A costume may not be entered in this competition if it has won "Best in Show" or "Best in Division" at another competition, but it may be entered in the Exhibition division (not in competition).

Each presenter may only appear on stage in a single entry. One body, one presentation.

This is Las Vegas, but this is a PG Masquerade. Please do not wear any costume (or lack thereof) that one would ordinarily expect to pay a cover charge to see.

No live animals on stage. Las Vegas is still a bit touchy about the Bengal tiger attack.

No pyrotechnics, explosives, or open flames.

No materials or effects that will leave a mess on stage or in the green room are allowed. No materials or effects that may ruin another entrant's costume are allowed.

All special effects, acrobatics, and weapons must be reviewed by the Masquerade Director, at or before the mandatory contestant meeting (the earlier, the better).

Attending the contestant meeting is required. You need it to get a feel for the stage. We need it to double-check your tech, and to make sure the crew knows what to expect from your entry.

You will not have access to a microphone on stage. You are welcome have material read my the Masquerade Master of Ceremonies, and you are welcome to bring a CD. If you bring a CD, make sure it only includes the material you wish to use on track 1 (no commercial CDs!) and nothing else. If you are using commercial music (you didn't write & perform it) you must fill out the information on the entry form for ASCAP. This is required.

Entries of one or two will be granted 60 seconds for their presentation, plus the time it takes for travel on and off the stage. Exceeding the limit, may void any awards.

Entries of three or more will be granted 90 seconds for their presentation, plus the time it takes for travel on and off the stage. Exceeding the limit, may void any awards.

You are here to have fun. That's what Las Vegas is for.

Revised May 29. 2008
watch for further updates