SiliCon Costume Contest
SiliCon Costume Contest Rules
All participants and assistants must have a SiliCon admission badge. Purchased costumes are prohibited from entering the contest. However, exceptions can be made for costumes that contain “found” pieces, “modified” or altered from their original design or purpose; although this may affect the total craftsmanship score of the participant, it is not meant to discourage participants from entering the contest. Costumes that are considered “kits” are allowed so long as the kit was assembled by the participant. All participants should be prepared to briefly explain the process through which their costume was created, altered, or modified. Costume(s) should be 70% “hand-made.”
Costume Contest Registration: Registration will be on-site at the SiliCon Cosplay Information table. Participants can register until 4pm on Saturday afternoon. Youth entries are those who are under 16 years of age.
Note: Costumes do not have to be worn by the creator of the costume. Costume creators may have a “model” for their costume but the costume creator MUST be present at the pre-judging portion (in the case of craftsmanship entries) as well as the entire costume contest. Creators must be prepared to explain the creative process behind their costume.
Group Entries: Entries may be by individuals or groups and may be of an existing character from any television show, film, comic, or literary property, or a custom creation by the entrant.
Dress Code: All costumes must abide by the rules of the convention dress code and weapons policy. All costumes should provide enough coverage to be worn in public and should be in good taste and appropriate for a family-friendly show.
Other Restrictions:
- No profanity will be allowed on stage. That includes messages on signs or clothes. Violators will be removed from the competition.
- No glitter, confetti, pyrotechnics, live flame or smoke generators of any kind are allowed in the convention center.
- No electrical power connections will be provided. If your costume requires power, it must be part of your costume.
- Costumes that have won a major award at any past SiliCon may NOT be entered into the Costume Contest. “Major awards” include but are not limited to, “Best In Show”, or “First Place.”
Policy Violations: If a policy violation is discovered by any of the SiliCon staff or judging panel, that entry will be disqualified.
Entries will be separated into three categories:
– Novice – Contestants who have never entered a prior contest or won any awards.
– Journeyman – Contestants who have won at least one but less than 2 major cosplay/costume awards at any convention.
– Master – Contestants who have won 2 or more major cosplay/costume awards at any convention.
Note: Judges reserve the right to move any contestant into a different category should they feel their skill level exceeds the category for which they initially signed up.
Groups are allowed to enter the contest but will be judged as if the entire group were one person entering.
Regarding group entries, each entry’s appropriate category will be determined by the participant with the highest number of cosplay/costume awards. For example, an entry consisting of 3 persons with 2 participants having won no awards, and the third participant having won 3 or more major awards will be placed in the “Master” category.
Pictures and video may be taken during both the Pre-Judging as well as Performance portion of the judging process of the participants. These pictures/videos are the property of SiliCon for the purposes of advertising and promotion of future events and contests.
You must remain in the main Ballroom for the entirety of the contest. Please listen to the directions given by the SiliCon volunteers and be respectful to your fellow contestants. If you have special needs, please let the judges’ panel be aware at the pre-judging portion of the contest or during check-in at the Cosplay Table.
Each participant will have 60 seconds of time to perform on stage. This is your time to shine, so make the best of it. “Skits” are allowed but not mandatory.
Your costume must allow you freedom of movement so that you can go up and down steps. Should assistance be needed, you may have up to two assistants help you, but they will not be provided by the SiliCon staff. Should a costume be deemed as “excessively large” some accommodations can be made so that the contestant no longer is required to go up or down steps.
When each contestant/group checks in, they will be asked to write an “introduction” for their performance. This is not mandatory but highly suggested. Contestants/groups are allowed to bring pre-made introductions which will be attached to their entry form.
How do I participate?
Registration will be on-site at the SiliCon Cosplay Information table. Participants can register until 4pm on Saturday afternoon. Youth entries are those who are under 16 years of age.
Is there a dress code?
SiliCon with Adam Savage is a family-friendly event, and costuming worn should reflect that basic premise. The minimal dress standards are full-coverage bikini top, and full-cheek coverage swimsuit bottoms. In all cases, local and state decency laws will be applied. Male attendees are strongly encouraged to wear dance belts under any thin-fabric pants (bodysuits, tights, etc.). Precautions should be taken against costume malfunctions (e.g. double-sided tape, pasties, etc.). Footwear must be worn at all times; stocking feet without shoes are not sufficient. Convention staff reserves the right to insist on modifications of costumes.
What is the weapons policy?
No functional weapons are allowed at the SiliCon with Adam Savage Simulated or costume weapons are allowed as a part of your costume, subject to prior approval by security and compliance with the following:
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- All costume weapons must be inspected by Security.
- All costume weapons must conform to city, state, and federal law.
- Projectile costume weapons must be rendered inoperable.
- Nerf guns are allowed, but ammunition of any kind (foam or otherwise) is prohibited.
- Airsoft guns must be rendered completely inoperable beforehand, that is the gun shall not have any batteries installed, nor gas/propellant in the chamber and the chamber must be filled with wax or similar material. All airsoft guns must have a clearly visible orange tip on the barrel. All airsoft guns will be marked by security at weapons check and have their triggers zip-tied to ensure that the gun is incapable of firing.
- Functional (real) arrows must have their tips removed and be bundled and zip tied to a quiver.
- No wooden or aluminum/metal bats are permitted. Items such as bullwhips, ropes and lassos are allowed, but must remain rolled and secured at all times.
- Incendiary or flammable weapons are prohibited, including any items that are capable of igniting sparks or flames, burning, exploding or combusting.
- Do not display your weapons or props in a threatening or menacing manner. (For instance, it’s ok to pose for a picture, but cosplayers should not brandish weapons while walking the event floor.)
- Keep prop weapons in convention areas. If you leave the premises or go out into public for any reason, please put away any and all prop weaponry immediately.
- Any real weapons purchased at the convention that would normally be prohibited by the weapons policy, such as pocket knives, swords, etc., must remain in their original packaging and/or taken out to the car as soon as possible.
- Costume swords must be tied to your costume in such a way that they can’t be drawn.
- After each person’s costume weapon has been checked, it will be tagged by security to designate that your weapons have been checked.
- Security will escort you to the Security Desk for inspection if your costume weapon is not tagged.
- If you do not want to have your costume weapons inspected or tagged, or if you are not willing to comply with these policies, please do not bring your costume weapons to the convention.
What are the different award categories?
The following list is an example breakdown of the awards that may be awarded.
– Best In Show
– Best Master
– Best Journeyman
– Best Newcomer
– Best Group
– Best Performance
– Best Youth
– Audience Favorite
– Judge’s Choice