Cosplay Contests 101: Types of Contests

After a long Saturday, you sit in a green room, surrounded by fellow competitors holding each other's hands in anticipation. After many have been called up to accept an award, you sit there hoping your name is next, and then it’s called. The stage lights are blinding not to be outdone by the hundreds of camera shutters as you accept an award for best in show. The judges are praising your craftsmanship and performance, the competitors shaking your hand, and asking countless questions. Months and months of work have been spent for this one moment.

You then snap out of your daydream to realize that you have sewn your lining in wrong.

Although winning best in show in a cosplay contest can seem like a daydream for some, it can become a reality. By knowing the ins and outs of cosplay contests, not only can you feel more comfortable throughout the process, but it will give you a leg up on your competitors.

This series will focus on not only entering contests and how to have a good stage presence, but also how to make a process book, how to not freak out in front of the judges, what should you be doing for a cosplay contest before you even start your cosplay? It will also explain what judges are looking for, the types of levels, and the competition etiquette. Each of these blogs will walk you all through the process and mindset of a competitive cosplayer and how you can win at your next con.

In this first installment, I will be discussing the types of cosplay contests, what to expect from them, and which one fits best for you! To preface this, I am located in the United States. Competitions can differ depending on the circuit or country you reside in. If you are not in the United States and want to enter a cosplay contest, please look carefully at the rules to make sure you know what that contest entails.

Types of cosplay contest: Pick Your Poison!

Your cosplay is almost ready, the hotel is booked, you have pre regged, and you go to sign up for a contest only to realize there’s more than one and the explanation for each does not make any sense. So what is the difference between a walk-on, and craftsmanship? What’s this late-night contest? And what on earth is a masquerade? I promise we are not in a

ballroom dancing for the last one.

Depending on the convention you may be attending, they can have multiple different contests to suit everyone’s needs. All of them have prizes as well as give you a chance to show off your cosplay whether it be made or bought. Having many options for these contests allows anyone of any age or skill level to compete.

Walk On/ Runway

For those who don’t have the skillset to make a cosplay, are afraid of the judges, or just want to have fun in your bought cosplay, the walk-on contest/ runway can be a great choice. This can take many forms such as the late-night cosplay contest or an event during a masquerade. Kid’s cosplay contests can also be in the walk-ons category, however, kids are also allowed to enter other competitions if they desire. The main point of this contest is to get on stage and flaunt your stuff. Judging is based on performance and stage presence. They are looking for how well you can embody the cosplay/character. Flashy or well-known/popular characters can do well here. For this contest, all you do is get up on stage, have three poses ( usually), and then walk off. There is no judging and little to no rehearsal. Sign-ups can be done at the convention or before. Due to its more laid-back nature, it can be popular so check to see how many spots are open occasionally. Another type of walk-on is the late-night cosplay contest. These have the same rules as a walk-on except they are late at night and tend to be more 18+. Usually, adults are the only ones who can enter these types of contests as stripping is not uncommon. Although you can win without showing off too much or any skin, be prepared for some competitors to go to the extreme and win a prize for their performance.

How to win at walk-ons: Although anyone with any costume can potentially win at a walk-on, closet cosplays, cosplays that are falling apart, very very low-effort cosplays, etc, do not tend to win. Having well-made ( this can be bought), flashy ( light up, special effects), popular ( marvel, League of Legends), cosplays have a better chance at winning. The judges have about 30 seconds or less to see you. To quote Haymitch in the Hunger Games “ Make sure they remember you”. This does not have to mean stripping down such as in the late-night cosplay contest but instead of striking three poses and just walking off, make it a little show. When you are on that stage, become your character, utilize your props. If you are evil, slink across the stage, a hero, do some action kicks and punches, a mad scientist who is too into their work, pretend you walked onto the stage by accident while keeping your nose in a book or potion. Make sure whoever you are, be obvious, not only by your cosplay but by your motions. Although picking a cosplay is important, they are looking at how well you embody your character. Do not be afraid to get on stage and go all out!

Craftsmanship

Worked months and months on a cosplay? Want to show off your sewing, armor, 3D printing talent? Tempted by that $1,000 best in show prize? Then this is the contest for you! Craftsmanship contests are one of the main events of the convention, easily packing an entire ballroom full of people straining to get a glimpse of this year’s contestants. Craftsmanship contests are categorized by being judged based on your hand-crafted cosplay i.e. how well it's made. The rules usually state that an entrant has to make between 80% and 90% of their cosplay ( the 10%-20% encompasses things like base wigs, shoes, contacts, and

other things that can be hard to make alone). Competitors can range anywhere from a new novice, to a professional master cosplayer, which can be fairly daunting. Entrants can be either single or in a group. Advanced signups are usually required as you may need to submit your progress book and/or schedule a time slot for judging. This competition is less likely to fill up but be aware of how many spots are available if you choose to sign up late. Entrants will go on stage similar to a walk-on to show off their cosplay one more time to the judges.

Although judges have an idea of who would win at this point, it should not be overlooked as it can be the final decision-making factor. Make sure you are representing your character just like above. Due to this being one of the most common types of contests, it will be what these series will mostly cover so I will not be going too in-depth about it today however there are a few things that should be kept in mind for craftsmanship.

How to win at craftsmanship: BE CLEAN! Make sure all those seams are surged, no odd tugging or pulling, make sure that armor is properly sealed and your 3D printing sanded. Judges are not looking for complexity, they are looking at how well you made your cosplay. Countless times I have seen a simple dress win over a large build just because it was clean. Although it is great to experiment, for craftsmanship, stick to what you know until you get good at a new skill. A good progress book can go a long way. Document and take pictures of everything. If you forget to say something during judging? No worries! Your progress book has got you covered.

Hall Costume Contests

Tending to be at smaller cons or in addition to a masquerade, hall costume contests are for cosplayers who want to be judged on their cosplays but do not want to go onstage ( unless being called up for an award). This is a great alternative for those who have a bit of stage fright but are okay with talking in a small room with the judges. If your convention is packed full of panels and events, this is also a good contest to choose as it does not take nearly as much time as the others. All you have to do is make a progress book, and talk to the judges about your cosplay. No going on stage, no green room, no hassle! Sign-ups can be either in person or online and rarely if ever fill up. This can be single or groups but tend to be more single competitors.

How to win at a hall costume contest: Many of the tips that are used for craftsmanship can be applied here such as being clean. Have a well-documented progress book. Other than that, this is your only time with the judges so make sure you have a good impact on them. Smiles, say "hello" and "thank you for your time", etc. Remember, the judges do not owe you anything, you are there to impress them. When in front of judges, slow down your words and make sure you plan what to say in whatever time you are allowed. Have some note cards and do not take your phone out. Be professional and get ready to answer any questions knowledgably.

Masquerade

Masquerades are a perfect marriage between performance and craftsmanship. Entrants will not only be judged on craftsmanship but also performance which could be almost 50% of your score. These contests require the contestant to go up on stage and perform a skit based on the character. The skits are around 1 minute long for single entrants and can go up from there depending on how many people there are in a group. This contest does not have to be solely craftsmanship-based either! If your skit is more of a comedy than a craftsman, there is usually a category for that. This means you can bypass the judges and go straight to the performance. Be prepared for a long day in the green room. This contest required signing up before the con, choosing music, lighting, and making sure your skirt is perfect as well as your costume. Not only will you need to choose a judging slot, but rehearsal on stage is also required. You will also want to practice your skit a few times as well so prepare for your Saturday to

be shot. If you enjoy performing as your character, this is the contest for you!

How to win a masquerade: This is a combination of a walk-on and craftsmanship. You need to be that character. Write a funny skit about the show, recite a speech the character said that really moved you, recreate a scene entirely. This is the time to be creative and imaginative. Try and think about what made you choose this character to cosplay in the first place and make that a skit. Practice, practice, practice the script. Have a backup plan for when something goes wrong. Knowing the stage and your partners inside and out can make for a less awkward and more professional show. For craftsmanship, be clean. Remember, a clean garment is better than a giant build.

Online Cosplay Contests

Although this can be considered an offshoot of craftsmanship, becoming popular during COVID, these contests are very self-explanatory, they are just online cosplay contests. Judging is usually done via a video chat or sending a set of photos as well as a progress book. They tend to be more inclusive due to there being no stage, no location constraints, and no convention fee. This allows contestants to not have to get over their stage fright or if they have money issues. They can also have many more categories such as a bought category, half bought, etc in addition to novice, journeyman, and master. Although this contest can have a lot of upsides, the main problem is that it can be inaccurate because the judges are just not in the same room as the cosplayers. Photos can be edited and clips can be pulled together to paint a perfect picture. Although it is a great alternative, nothing beats an in-person competition.

How to win an online cosplay contest: Hall costume contest tips can be used here. You must have a clean cosplay as well as a good progress book. Because these are just pictures or a video chat, make sure your personality comes through in either your writing or submission. Be nice to the judges, try and enunciate due to being on a video call. Make sure to have a decent quality camera or use your phone if necessary. If you are sending in a video or photo, have it be as high quality as possible. Splurge on a photographer or videographer. If not, the judges will not be able to see your details.

I hope this article helps you choose what cosplay contest to enter next and know what each one entails before entering. Please remember that these explanations are from MY personal experience, and although this is a general explanation, ALWAYS READ THE RULES. This can be the most important part of entering a contest. The rules the convention sets are final no matter what you have previously experienced. Go through each rule one by one, making sure you understand it in its entirety. You can also find how much of your cosplay must be made, how many awards do you need to win to be a master or journeyman, and so on.

Still, having questions about progress books, what does a clean cosplay look like, and others? Make sure to stick around for my follow up blogs!