Masquerade

Welcome to the MarsCon Masquerade Contest, and thank you for entering.

Please fill out the form(s)—include any presentation music/voice over, etc.—and return bring to the Bridge before 3PM on Saturday or to the Masquerade Orientation meeting.

Contest signup, and Masquerade Orientation will be held at 4 pm Saturday in the Masquerade Lounge. If you are entering, this is mandatory attendance.

Here we will go over “tips and tricks” for stage presentation as well as small repairs and Tech (not a rehearsal). If possible take a look at the stage before orientation.

Rules and Guidelines

1. HAVE FUN!
   
2. In case of Emergency see rule #1.
   
3. The MarsCon Masquerade contest follows, for the most part, the guidelines of the ICG (International Costumers Guild), following their categories of competition:
   • Beginner / Novice: Never have entered a costume competition, or have never won in that category. >
   • Advanced / Journeyman: Have entered several competitions, or have won in Novice category elsewhere.
   • Expert / Master / Professional: Have won in Advanced/Journeyman categories elsewhere, or have done costuming for a long period of time, or are a professional costumer/prop/make-up artist.
     
     In addition to the category awards presented above there will be at least 2 more awards presented outside the above categories.
     
     You also can opt not to be judged and enter just as an “Exhibit” – this gives you a chance to show off that fabulous costume, without the tension of competition.
   Even if you have never competed before, it is at the discretion of the judges as to what category you will be placed in. If they place you in a higher category, consider that as a compliment to your skills!
4. EVERY contestant MUST be registered, BY 3PM on Saturday of the con.
   
   The registration form included here, will ask for your name, your badge name and number, contact info (phone, e-mail and address). It will also ask for the name of the entry character’s name/source (i.e comic book, movie, book, anime, etc.)
   
   It REALLY helps to include pictures/documentation, as not all judges are acquainted with ALL characters out there.
5. There will be a Masquerade orientation meeting on Saturday at 4pm. There the Masquerade Director will go over the rules and regs, answer questions, etc. and collect registrations. This won’t take too long, and afterwards there will be a bit of instruction for newbies (those who haven‘t entered a costume contest before), tips and tricks about being on stage, etc. (“old pros” need not stay, unless you want to stay and help encourage the “newbies”.)
   
   You don’t have to have a skit, or act, etc. BUT, if you do, Masquerade contest skits will run NO MORE than 30 seconds per single person, 2 minutes per group (up to 4 – see Masquerade Director if you want to add more). Note: a skit or act will add points to your judging score.
   
   If your presentation includes voice and/or music, record it beforehand. Trust me, even if you have an “operatic” voice, most Main Stage areas are horrible for acoustics, and you’re usually not heard past the first row or two.
   
   Record your material on a labeled flash drives (as an .mp3 or .wav) and hand one copy in with your registration BY 3PM ON SAT. This will be given to our sound tech who will set it up further. There will be no mikes, and no allowance for dialogue, songs spoken from the stage. (period).
6. No liquids of any kind, no thrown props/objects will be allowed on stage. This is for safetys sake. NO live weapons allowed (even peace bonded – make a prop version please), no pointing anything at the audience.
7. Remember, by participating you are already reaching and improving your skills and bringing life to your creation, HAVE FUN!

Trophies will be awarded.

MarsCon is a fan-run science fiction convention for all ages held every March (sometimes in late February) in the Twin Cities area. At MarsCon you’ll find panel discussions, parties, guest of honor presentations, music of many kinds, our art show, film/anime room, science room, dealers room, charity auction, and masquerade. The Dementia track is virtually a con in itself, and attracts a nation-wide audience.

MarsCon 2020

“Visions of the Future”
February 28 - March 1, 2020
Hilton Minneapolis/St Paul Airport/Mall of America
3800 American Blvd. E.
Bloomington, MN 55425

Send questions about MarsCon to info [redacted; use the online forms] @marscon.org, we’ll do our best to send answers!

More about MarsCon may be found at...
  • Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarsconMpls
  • FaceBook: www.facebook.com/Marscon
  • Dementia: marscondementia.wordpress.com

If you are searching for the Marscon in Williamsburg, VA click here.

© 2020, FenSF