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.

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."