Tekko | Cosplay & Masquerade

Cosplay Craftsmanship Contest

In the Craftsmanship Contest, cosplayers are judged on the construction and accuracy of their costume in a private, scheduled interview with a panel of experienced judges. Please review the all of the rules below before registering for this competition.

Info & Rules

Only handcrafted costumes are allowed to be entered into the Craftsmanship contest. Commissioned, store-bought or thrifted costumes cannot compete. Most of the costume should be handcrafted from scratch or heavily altered.
Please bring reference for your character to your judging appointment. Participants will be judged on accuracy in addition to craftsmanship.
Official designs or “fan art” designs of licensed characters are welcome to compete. Original characters will not be permitted. Art book variations or fan art reinterpretations (ex: gijinka) will be allowed with accompanying reference materials.
Participants may not enter a costume that has been judged in any previous Tekko cosplay contests.
If a costume will be modeled by someone else, the crafter of the costume will be the person who must submit the application, speak to the judges, and will be eligible for a craftsmanship award.
All craftsmanship awards will be presented during the Masquerade event. Attending the Masquerade is HIGHLY encouraged. If the entrant cannot participate for any reason, please notify a judge or staff member during the scheduled judging session.
Please arrive at least 5 minutes prior to the scheduled appointment. If the participant does not show up on to the time assigned, they will forfeit their right to compete.

Entrants may also participate in the Walk-On portion of the Masquerade, but it is not required.

Divisions

Junior : Participants 15 years of age or younger.

This category is meant to encourage young participants to develop their crafting skills. As such, Junior entries must have made most of their own costume. Costumes made by adults for juniors cannot compete at the Junior level and must compete at the skill level of their creator.

Novice - No more than 1 major* award received

Novices are new to costume making and competing.

Journeyman - No more than 2 major* awards received

Journeymen have some experience under their belts and have often competed before.

Master - 3 or more major* awards received

Masters are experienced costumers.

*Major award examples are: "Best Of…," "Best In…," "First Place," "Second Place," and so on.

**Judges awards do not count towards the participant’s skill level.

Craftsmanship Contest skill levels only take into account awards won on the merit of craftsmanship.

Participants may compete in a skill level higher than they are actually in, but may not compete lower level. We encourage entrants to challenge themselves! However, once the participant wins an award at a certain level, they can only compete at that level or higher from then on.

In a group, the skill level of that group is determined by the highest classed skill member of that group. For example, a group of Novices with one Journeyman must all compete as Journeymen.

Masquerade Contest

In the Performance Contest, cosplayers will take to the Main Stage and perform in front of a live audience. Performers are not judged on craftsmanship, only overall presentation. You may compete with bought or commissioned costumes.

Rules & Requirements

The Masquerade is open to Tekko attendees. Staff and guests are not permitted to compete.

You may not enter both Craftsmanship and Performance. Rehearsal conflicts with Craftsmanship judging. You cannot enter in both the Walk-Ons and Performance. You also cannot be in two different performance entries. Stage ninjas/helpers count as performers/entrants.

Being a cosplay masquerade, cosplay is required. No cosplay = no going onstage.

Skits have a time limit of 4 minutes. The time it takes for you to get on and off the stage does not count toward your time limit. Your audio track must be within the time limit.
Tekko is an all-ages event and the material in the Masquerade must reflect such. No explicit sexual references, explicit language, gestures or nudity. Make sure your naughty bits are properly covered at all times. All audio must be edited for content.
Pre-recorded music and/or dialogue is HIGHLY ENCOURAGED and PREFERRED. We cannot guarantee more than 1 microphone. You will be asked to submit your audio file via email before the convention.
Masquerade rehearsal is mandatory unless cleared with the coordinator before the convention. The exact time of rehearsal is to be determined.
Stage combat and other more physical things may need approval at rehearsal to ensure the safety of attendees and equipment.
Whatever comes on the stage with you must leave the stage with you. Confetti, silly string, and other “messy” props are prohibited. Your performance must also be limited to the stage area.
You will be required to submit a script of your skit for approval via email before the convention.

Divisions

Novice - No more than 1 major award received Novices are new to performing and competing.

Advanced - 2 or more major awards received. Advanced competitors have some experience under their belts and have often competed or performed on stage before.

Categories may be changed/combined depending on cosplayer turnout.

Major awards are awards that are considered “Best Of” , “Best In”,”First Place”, “Second Place” and so on. Honorable mentions, gag awards and Judges awards do not count towards your skill level.

You may compete in a skill level higher than you are actually in, but you may not compete lower than your skill level. We encourage you to challenge yourself! BE AWARE- Once you win at a certain level you can only compete at that level or higher from then on out.

In a group, the skill level of that group is determined by the highest classed skill member of that group. For example, a group of novices with one journeyman must all compete as journeymen.

Walk-Ons

The Walk-Ons are a non-judged exhibition of cosplayers during the Masquerade. You walk on the stage, pose a few times and that’s it! Perfect for just showing off or getting a taste of what it’s like to be in a Masquerade.

This portion is open to costumes from all genres as well as original designs. You do not have to have made your costume to participate.

You may not be a Walk-On and in a Performance entry.

Walk-Ons do not attend rehearsal.

Registration for walk-ons will be done at con. Please go to the Cosplay Repair Center to sign up! There are limited spots available and they will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Cosplay Repair Station

You are now entering Hangar Bay 16 aka Cosplay Repair! We are a highly skilled group of Cosplayers and enthusiasts here to help you fix your minor costume and prop mishaps.

This FREE service is available for all with badges to the convention!

You will recognize our staff by their aprons and CRC badges. We will also have a Cosplay Medic wandering the convention to help with on the spot needs.

We have dressing rooms and stations for Wigs, Glues and adhesives, Sewing, general repair and paint. Our staff is knowledgeable in all areas. We are a safe space where you can change outfits, fix items (yes, even your pants for you non-cosplayers!) and prepare for judging.

Cosplay Guests

Would you or someone you know make an amazing cosplay-themed guest at Tekko? Let us know who you want to see and why!