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    Cosplay area head(s) has final say! Period.

    All members of an entry must individually sign the SoDak Cosplay declaration (legal liability, publicity waiver).

    Participants can only sign up for one slot.  This means you cannot sign up for cosplay walk on AND a skit.  We don't mean to break your enthusiasm but to keep order it seems like the better option.

    Contestants may sign up for the category they think they belong in. However, the Cosplay area head(s) and the craftsmanship judges reserve the right to move contestants into a different category based on the work presented. If you are found intentionally entering a category below your level you may be bumped up or possibly disqualified from the contest. (Unintentional of course will just be bumped up.)

    Contestants may not enter a costume that has won at a previous SoDak event or convention, has won two or more awards or has won an award at a larger convention than SoDak. If you have any questions, please email the cosplay area head.  SoDak weapons policy will be strictly enforced. As per the weapons policy, if you wish to have a weapon allowed, please email the cosplay area head.

    No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service: This is the venue's policy. Please wear some form of shoes. Even barefoot characters must have shoes on for the contest. The lack of authenticity will be forgiven.

    All contestants must have a torso covering. Despite the double standard created by our society, in the interest of fairness to both sexes, we must insist that all genders wear appropriate torso coverings. This pertains to the chest area, not the stomach. Nudity, even the illusion of such, is strictly forbidden and will disqualify you. If you have questions, please ask!!!

    SoDak's Cosplay Competition is rated TV PG (Parental Guidance Suggested): This program contains material that parents may find unsuitable for younger children.  The theme itself may call for parental guidance and/or the program contains one or more of the following: moderate violence (V), some sexual situations (S), infrequent coarse language (L), or some suggestive dialogue (D).

    Here be the Changes! In the past we had sign up for cosplay online, but it never really worked out as smoothly as we'd hope.  What we are doing instead is that on Firday there will be cosplay sign up at a designated area. Sign up will only be allowed during this time, and sign up for craftsmanship judging will be available at this time. ALL master-class entrants must sign up for craftsmanship judging. If you sign up for master-class and refuse to do craftsmanship you will be disqualified from the competition.  Regarding Skits! -- If you have audio for a skit or walk on, you must bring it to the sign up on Friday (flash drives and burned disks accepted). You must also bring a script of your skit with you at sign up so that the Cosplay Area Head(s) can review and verify it's content.

    Total maximum running time is 60 seconds for walk-ons, and 5 minutes for skits.  Audio that is too long will be rejected and entrants will be asked to correct the audio or find a way to do without. Audio must be 7Mb or under in .mp3, .wav or .wmv format. We will not cut down any audio for anyone, this must be done by the contestant.  If you are entering as a walk-on and are planning on acting out a little scene you will need to send in a little script.If you need help getting on or off stage because of the size or intricacy of the costume you may have up to 2 handlers with you.  This same rule applies to children to keep space constraints under-wraps, a child can have only 2 parental or guardian escorts to accompany them back stage.

    You may not throw or whip props around. If you throw any props you will be immediately disqualified and if it causes any damage you will be held responsible for any and all damages caused. You may not take or use any sort of spray paint, silly string, fire works, water or any other items on stage that could mar the stage, potentially be harmful, or leave a mess. You may not run on stage. You must walk up/down the exit stairs or the ramp.

And always remember there is no crying in cosplay!

• General : There will be a total of 65 slots available to contestants entering in the beginner, intermediate, and masters categories during online registration.Categories are based loosely on International Costumer's Guild guidelines. Please note your category and enter appropriately! If you do not know what category you should enter,  please talk to the Cosplay area head or the craftsmanship judges. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask!
  
  
• Street Clothes: Street clothes are defined as any item that has been purchased off the rack. All requirements regarding this are given below in respective categories. Any costume containing street clothes that has not been approved by the cosplay area heads may be disqualified.
  
  
• Commissioned/Modeled Costumes: Modeled costumes are permitted only with prior consent given directly from the costume maker to the cosplay area heads. Costumes must be one of a kind costume created for the model, in other words no mass-produced costumes, Ebay or otherwise, will be allowed. Wigs and props are exceptions; however, credit must be given where credit is due. Any prizes won will go to the creator of the costume, not the model. If you fail to give proper credit, you will be permanently banned from the contest.Professional Costumer: SoDak defines a professional costumer as any person who earns 25% of their income from costuming commissions.
  
  
• Craftsmanship: Craftsmanship will be on a first come, first serve basis. Masters must sign up for a judging time when you sign up for the contest. If you don't we'll assign you a time, one that might not be convenient for you. Everyone else has the option to sign up for a spot on site on Friday evening during sign up. 
  
  
• Children's Restrictions: All children 12 and under are in this category. Children of age 10 or over, who have made their own costumes, may elect to enter in the Beginner category. Any entrants wishing to do so will need to bring their costumes to the craftsmanship judges during Friday sign uptime although they are not required to have Craftsmanship Judging.This is not a judged category.Waiver (to be signed by parent upon check-in)
  
  
• Beginner: Number of entrants allowed per entry is 6. Open to entrants 13 and over who are not professional costumers and/or who have not won awards. All audio that you want played during your skit must be sent via email or submission form the same day you fill out the online registration form.Street Clothes Entrants must alter any street clothes 25%or more to be considered. Alternately, unmodified street clothes must consist of less than 25% of costume.The lenience of this requirement is for those who have costuming skills other than sewing.If you have street clothes in your costume, please email the cosplay area head! Contestants in any group may be from different series, games, or musical groups. However, all contestants in a group must be at the same skill level. If there is a member of the group that is at a higher level than other members your group will be bumped up to the appropriate level.Contest Declaration (to be signed by contestant upon check-in) * We will have these on hand.
  
  
• Intermediate: Number of entrants allowed per entry is 6. Open to entrants 13 and over who are not a professional costumer and/or have not won 2 best in shows, or any master level awards.All audio that you want played during your skit must be sent via email the same day you fill out the online registration form. Street Clothes Entrants must alter any street clothes 50% or more to be considered. Alternately, unmodified street clothes must consist of less than 10% of costume.If you have street clothes in your costume, please email the masquerade area head! Contestants in any group may be from different series, games, or musical groups. However, all contestants in a group must be at the same skill level. If there is a member of the group that is at a higher level than other members your group will be bumped up to the appropriate level. Contest Declaration (to be signed by parent upon check-in)
  
  
• Masters: Number of entrants allowed per entry is 6. Open to entrants 13 and over.All audio that you want played during your skit must be sent via email the same day you fill out the online registration form.Street Clothes Entrants are not allowed to have any street clothes. Any props not made by the contestant must be approved by the masquerade area heads.Contestants in any group may be from different series, games, or musical groups. Contest Declaration (to be signed by parent upon check-in) Workmanship Judging Questionnaire All Masterclass participants must go into Craftsmanship judging, if you forgo Craftsmanship Judging you will not be able to compete.
  
  
• Cosplay Skits: There will be a total of 10 cosplay skit slots available. All skits must be pre-approved with the submission of both a full script with stage directions and if applicable, any sound accompaniment during the sign up time on Friday, June 15th,2012. Significant deviation from approved skit will result in being disqualified. All audio that you want played during your skit given during the cosplay sign up on Friday. Your registration will not be complete until you send in your script and your audio! Street Clothes Entrants must alter any street clothes 25% or more to be considered. Alternately, unmodified street clothes must consist of less than 25% of costume.The lenience of this requirement is for those who have costuming skills other than sewing.If you have street clothes in your costume, please email the masquerade area head! Contestants in any group may be from different series, games, or musical groups.
  
  
• How to Enter: Cosplay Sign Up will be in a designated area on Friday June 15th,2012 from 1pm-7pm only. At this sign up time you will have the option to sign up for craftsmanship judging. Craftsmanship will be held at a separate time at the convention which will be revealed later.  On Saturday there will be a time to check in for the cosplay competition and you will be responsible for showing up on time and in full dress ready to go on before the competition.   
  
  

Failure to follow any of the above will most likely result in disqualification from the competition.  No exceptions will be made for anyone to keep things fair.

Please, if you have any questions, no matter how silly they may seem, ask!  Cosplay@sdcon.org