Cosplay Judge Instructions

Judges' Policies

• The judges do not have to give out all the awards. If there are not enough entries to warrant an award, then an award need not be given.
• That being said, providing there are enough entries, please try to give out the following awards (ordered by priority): Best in Show; Best in Division; Best Performance; Best Workmanship; Best in Theme.
• Be serious when granting an award. A serious award with a funny name is fine (Example: "Best Use of Duct Tape"), but please don't grant an award if you don't think the entry has any real merit.
• Every judge will have an award to give to whomever they feel deserves it, regardless of the other awards given out.
• A great joke is not automatically a great costume.
• Only judge a costume against what is in this particular masquerade.
• Judges are to be impartial in their judging. If a judge feels that they can not be objective in their judging please talk to the director and your fellow judges about the problem and we will come up with a reasonable course of action.
• Judges are NOT to judge their fellow judges. If you feel that another judge is not qualified to be a judge, keep it to yourself. If you cannot keep it to yourself, please only tell the director.
• Judges are to retain a professional demeanor while they are judging or doing anything related to the masquerade.

Awards

We have the following awards:

• Best in Show - best combined craftsmanship and performance
• Best in Division (Best Master, Journeyman, Novice, Youth) - best combined craftsmanship and performance that did not win Best in Show
• Best Performance - best performance that did not win Best in Show or Best in Class
• Best Workmanship - best craftsmanship that did not win Best in Show or Best in Class
• Best in Theme - A merit award given to the best overall "in theme" performance/costume.
• Merit awards given at the discretion of the judges possibly including but not limited to "Judge's Choice," "Best Use of Sheet Metal" or whatever you would like to name your award.

Judging

How to Judge the Masquerade

While there is a point system on the judging sheet, this is best used as a guideline for individual preference. Judges should still discuss awards, especially the "best in" awards and entries, and come to a general consensus as to what entry wins each award.

If the judges can not come to a consensus with a reasonable period of discussion, then the majority will decide. In the event that the judges are tied and can not come to any reasonable decision, the director will serve as a tie breaker (Please come to a reasonable and civil decision. The director does not want to be a tie breaker).

Merit awards may be given by individual judges without any discussion or input with the other judges. There are a finite number of trophies for merit awards which are equal to or greater than the number of judges. Each judge will be allocated one trophy. Additional trophies may be given based on group consensus and trophy availability*.

*The two MCs are also each allotted one trophy to give. The director may also give out a director’s choice award at their discretion.