Masquerade Rules

A masquerade is a non-professional costume competition featuring costumes from comic books, movies, Japanese animation or video games.

*** The 2024 Pre-registration is full***

There are two different entry categories:

1) A Skit is a short presentation that can be performed solo or in a group. The time allowed on stage is one minute (60 seconds) for groups of 1 to 3 people, and one minute and thirty seconds (90 seconds) for groups of 4 or more. If the sketch exceeds the time limit, the lights and sound will be cut and the participants will be escorted off stage and disqualified.

2) During a Walk-On, the contestant or the group walks on the stage, strikes different poses to show their costumes’ every angle and walks out of the other side of the stage. Background music is permitted and strongly encouraged.

Here’s how to enter the masquerade:

1. Please read the Masquerade rules below.
2. This year’s edition includes advance registration and on-site registration.
3. Starting on September 1, 2024, please follow this link to register (note that the number of online registrations is limited). If you want to add your name to the waiting list, please email mascarade@comicconquebec.com.
4. A limited number of entries will be available through online registration. This WILL GUARANTEE you a spot in the masquerade and you will not need to line-up for registration on Saturday.
5. IMPORTANT: A valid Quebec City Comiccon ticket is required to participate in the masquerade on the day of the event and for the award ceremony the next day. Please be mindful when registering online and commit to attending. If you use the online registration to reserve a spot and don’t show up, you’re taking away from other participants who would have loved to compete but couldn’t because the show was fully booked.
6. If more online applications are received than there are available spots, you must email mascarade@comicconquebec.com to be placed on a waiting list.

NEW!

This year, access to the Greenroom is by appointment only. You’ll need to reserve your time slot in the calendar when you register online or at the registration table (on Saturday), and show up at the appointed time to have your costume judged, and then talk to the master of ceremonies, sound technician and ninjas. Photos will be taken on site in the masquerade foyer (Green room). You’ll then be able to enjoy your day at your leisure.

If your online registration form is incomplete or blank, you will have 48 hours to correct it. If you fail to do so, your application will be cancelled and the space will be made available again. Please ensure that you have filled in your form correctly before clicking on “Submit”.

Registered participants who fail to keep their appointment will be disqualified.

A total of 57 places will be available; this number includes online registrations. Be sure to arrive early for on-site registration if you were unable to register online!

Gathering will take place one hour before the masquerade begins. Please arrive at the Foyer/Green Room (200C) on time, or you may be disqualified. Please note that you will not be able to leave the hall until after your on-stage presentation. We therefore recommend that you finish your activities beforehand.

Rules:

1) Microphones are not supplied. The use of a pre-recorded soundtrack is strongly recommended. You can submit your soundtrack in advance when you register online. Only MP3 files on USB keys will be accepted. No soundtracks on CDs, cell phones, YouTube, Dropbox or other digital sharing platforms will be accepted. There will be no wireless connection for downloading music. The masquerade team will not provide participants with a music library. If you do not provide a soundtrack, your performance will be silent. Please submit your audio file at the time of your foyer appointment, if you have not already done so when registering online. We recommend that you bring your USB key in case of technical problems.

2) The maximum number of contestants in a group is twelve (12). No group over twelve people will be accepted.

3) Entries with minors (under 18 years of age): Participants below the age of 16 MUST have a parent or guardian physically present at time of judging, photos and onstage in order to be eligible to compete. Children between 16 and 18 must have signed parental consent form, or a parent present to be eligible.

4) No open flame, liquids, powders, smoke machines of any size (including vapes) or “flash” paper are allowed on stage. If you want to use an electronic flash or any other visual effect, you need to mention it on your application form so the host can warn the audience. No laser pointers are allowed. No loose glitter is allowed either on stage or in the Green Room.

5) No slippery or messy substances are allowed on stage. In doubt, ask the masquerade direction when you submit your form. The stage must be in the same condition before and after your number. If you have to leave anything on the stage, the objects need to be easy to pick up by the tech staff. Otherwise, you need to have your own ninja to pick it up.

6) No gratuitous nudity. The masquerade is rated PG-13 and can be seen only by people ages 13 and up. However, children 12 and under with an adult can watch the masquerade.

7) No real firearms, real firearm replicas or throwing weapons are allowed. No cold weapon, no metal blade, be it sharpened or not are allowed. If your costume needs a bow, the bowstring must be removed when not on stage. Any weapon used during the masquerade must follow the Quebec City Comiccon Weapons and Large Props Rules and Regulations. Exceptions are at the direction’s discretion only.

8) Every contestant can only go up on stage once during the masquerade. However, anyone can present as many costumes he/she wants, but he/she can only wear one of them. The other costumes must be presented by other contestants (they can be in the same group or not).

9) Contestants must be in the Green Room at the required time. Ask the masquerade table for any details. If you are not present on time or you are not ready to go on stage when it is your turn, you will be disqualified. Any exceptions are at the direction’s discretion only.

10) The masquerade is a non-professional competition. Costumes bought online or rented are not eligible for any award, same as professional or theatrical costumes. However, these costumes can be presented on stage in the “Out of Competition” category. Please note that priority is given to costumes created by non- professional contestants. The “Out of Competition” applications will be allowed only if available slots remain after registration.

11) Commissioned costumes will be allowed IF AND ONLY IF the costumer (the one who made the costume) filled out the application form themselves. He/she doesn’t have to appear on stage, but his or her presence in the Green Room is mandatory. Wigs, little props and jewels are exempted.

12) The Masquerade Director reserves the right to remove anyone from competition for any reason deemed sufficient that can include but is not limited to: inappropriate, indecent, rude, racist or sexist behavior. Threats and/or violence of any kind to staff, attendees and volunteers will not be tolerated and can result in immediate expulsion from the convention. The decisions of the judges are final. Awards are selected for workmanship, presentation or a combination of both. The judges may not give out a ‘Best in Show’ or a ‘Best in Division’ award, or any award in a division if they feel none of the costumes entered are deserving of such award.

Standard Judging Division System

The Standard Division System exists to promote fairness and ensures both novices and experienced costumers have reasonably equal chances to win awards in masquerades using divisions based on skill and experience. Any participant can choose to enter a division higher than the one they belong to, if they feel that their experience is greater than that of their current division. For example, a contestant that has made more than a dozen costumes in the past but has never participated in a masquerade may enter at a higher level than novice, depending on the overall level of the competition he/she is looking to compete in. Keep in mind that if the contestant wins in that higher Division, they must compete in that Division in future competitions.

The Standard Division System, in accordance with the International Costumers’ Guild Guidelines, will be used as follows:

Junior Division

(Also known as the Young Fan Division)
Any contestant less than 12 years of age at the time of this competition may compete in the Junior Division. The Junior Division is divided into two subdivisions.

• 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

A contestant who has not won a major award at a masquerade other than as a Junior costumer or has some awards but does not feel ready to register in a higher category. A contestant who has won numerous awards in the Novice division is encouraged to enter in the Journeyman division.

Journeyman Division

A contestant who has won major awards in the Novice division at Masquerades and wishes to challenge themselves or who wishes to enter this division if they do not belong in a higher division in use in the competition.  A contestant who has won numerous awards in the Journeyman division is encouraged to enter in the Artisan division.

Artisan Division

A contestant who has won major awards in the Journeyman division at Masquerades and wishes to challenge themselves or who wishes to enter this division if they do not belong in a higher division in use in the competition.  A contestant who has won numerous awards in the Artisan division is encouraged to enter in the Master division.

Master Division

A contestant who has won major awards in the Artisan division at Masquerades and wishes to challenge themselves or who wishes to enter this division.

Out of Competition Division

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 made for business purposes, theatrical and professional events are not eligible for awards but may also be shown in this Division. In addition, anyone who wants to show their costume in this Division may do so.

Workmanship Judging

Judging for Workmanship Awards will take place 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 on a specific piece or prop. Workmanship judging is mandatory for Artisan and Masters only. It is optional for all other divisions (except for the Out of Competition Division), but highly recommended. Quality is quality, no matter the Division, and a beautiful job deserves recognition. Our Workmanship Judge(s) will look for technical skill displays, tailoring, execution, finishes, fit, fabric and materials manipulation and much more! The judges need to know what parts of the costume were constructed by you and what parts (if any) were purchased.

Documentation

It is strongly recommended that you provide documentation for re-creation costume entries if you feel the judges may not be familiar with a particular reference. Documentation can include any pictorial representation of your costume. Provide copies only; do not bring originals.

Updated August 20, 2024