Valkyrie

I did see your feedback Vamp_Rouge, thank you so much. I was almost lost for words by the end of it because I agree with pretty much everything you said and you have made me very determined to make next year's so much better and better planned so as to not disappoint and leave people like you who decided to volunteer for the Photoshoots in distress at the end of the day and ruin the whole experience. Was trying to collect thoughts of what to say but have only just now noticed the thread has been deleted after reading Starbuck's dad 's post. I understand why you deleted it Jerry-Kay, some people were starting to be nasty towards our winners and contestants and that's unacceptable when everyone puts hard work into their outfits. I am already making notes for next year/event, so I hope to bring everyone a fantastic Cosplay Zone; well organised and with lots of improvements. :) Thanks to everyone who has left us lovely constructive criticism, which I'm so fond of! - Lise xx

I was the Poison Ivy by the Cosplay Zone Stage C and since I was nailed to my desk, apart from when I was frantically running back and fourth, I would love to see pics from the people who approached me and asked for a picture (thank you to all of those, btw) x

This is definitely something we will be looking into, we will probably be limiting the sign-ups on the day to be only non-judged and only until around 12pm, to leave us time to sort out everything. The Cosplaying Community is indeed growing and growing, it's amazing and lovely to see!

Hey, Lise - you compered very well (as in maintained interest!) - now how about getting someone technically savvy with a keyboard next time (re: the music mis-haps) - and who were the judges?! I found their runner up verdicts very poor in contrast to some spectacular costumes and performances that I saw .. were they watching the same show?! The Judges were Sean Bonnar, Priscilla Cho and Esti-licious. They were definitely watching the same shows, and probably - to be honest - saw them a lot closer up than you did. This is the reason for the pre-judging, where the judges can go through all the cosplays one by one and ask when questions on how they did theirs outfits and see the cosplays up close. I trust their verdicts 100%. In your other post on the Masquerade thread I have responded as well and asked what you felt was non tech savvy about our lady at the keyboard, I would love for you to elaborate. Did you mean Saturday here as well or Sunday? The Saturday everything music-wise seem to have went as planned to me, everyone who had pre-signed up got given their requested music. Any late sign-ups we did our best with downloading music in time. The Sunday we were asked by our Pit Boss to have generic music in the background for all acts as we were having technical difficulties and sorting out the music in time would take us a good time, so this was a decision made to prevent the Masquerade for being delayed as the day before.

Hi there. I'm so sorry you had such a bad experience with the Cosplay Zone. I was the one in charge of the Sign-ups and the Masquerade and will take full responsibility for any mishaps that happened. If you let me know which Cosplay you entered with, I might be able to cast some light on the whole thing. In regards to the delayed Masquerade I will try an explain what happened. I worked within the Cosplay Zone last LFCC and last EMS as well. The reason for the delayed show was a collision of things, but most importantly that we had so many more sign-ups than expected and it blew us away a little bit. It left us a bit unprepared; it might not seem it, but putting together the judged, non-judged and juniors and then the music and order for all of these is a lot of admin work and takes some time. Seeing how busy our Saturday was this weekend and how popular the Masquerade and Cosplay in general has become clear to us that we need to review our previous methods and we will be putting in a lot of effort to make sure next year runs a lot smoother and without delays. I really do hope you change your mind about not going again, there's a lot more to LFCC than just the Masquerade which will, quite honestly, always be a little hectic. I will appreciate any feedback you can give me. - Lise

If you want to be eligible for the main prize then it's always appreciated so our judges can see what character you are representing in case they are not familiar with the fandom.

That won't be a problem, feel free to bring it.

A note to all Cosplayers wishing to attend the Masquerade. Early Sign-ups have now closed so please come to the Cosplay Desk at least 1 hour before the Masquerade on each day and fill out a form if you wish to sign up. Please also brig with you your preferred Music if possible. Many thanks and see you there! - Lise x

A note to all Cosplayers wishing to attend the Masquerade. Early Sign-ups have now closed so please come to the Cosplay Desk at least 1 hour before the Masquerade on each day and fill out a form if you wish to sign up. Please also brig with you your preferred Music if possible. Many thanks and see you there! - Lise x

This would be just fine, not a problem. It does not need to be peace bonded. This is absolutely fine, thank you for your effort :) Of course! Email us your form tomorrow before 6pm and we will still be able to process it. :) Even though these might not be particularly sharp they would still be quite dangerous in crowded places. I ask that you take extra precaution when wearing them and would also suggest you try and keep your hands as closed and close to your body as you can whilst wearing them so the likeliness that you might poke or hurt someone when moving around is kept as low as possible.

Hi Everyone Sorry for the delay in replies. I will reply to you all shortly. - Lisa x

We have a prop thread as well for any questions regarding weaponry and other props alike. This would be fine to bring, if you have any trouble at the entrance please ask for them to contact the Cosplay Desk to authorize. :) As long as it isn't sharp, it will be just fine to bring. Please try not to scare too many children.....

Thanks for the feedback, we always appreciate to hear what we can improve on. :) The way it's set up is this: Presenter introduces Cosplayer, music is started, cosplayer goes on stage. What usually happens is that people are so eager and excited to go on stage that they jump straight in as soon as their name is mentioned, and the music rarely gets a chance to start before they have reached the platform (since it's a rather small stage and area for our Masquerade). I always tell the queuing cosplayers to wait until the music starts but in the heat of the moment you hear your name called and you just want to enter! Because we never know how loud the music is going to be, we also cannot start the music until the Presenter is done talking. But I will make sure to enforce that our Tech team knows to play the music as soon as the introduction has been made and I will also be sure to mention to the Cosplayers that they should wait for their music to start until they enter for the stage. :)

Carrying around in your hands will be just fine, unless you wanna balance it on your feet.. Slightly more difficult, dozen times more entertaining, still absolutely OK with us. Thanks for sticking without our rules, very much appreciated :) Lise x

In general arrows will not be allowed unless the tip is made absolutely completely blunt (read: flat) or has a sponge for a tip (the kind you use with nerf guns and such) :)

Your flamer should be just fine, definitely no problem there. :) I see what you are saying about the bows at other events, bare with me whilst I check with our Organisers whether it would be okay to bring a proper stringed bow to the show, since it's been done at other shows as you mention. I might need to draw in some expertise since I don't know very much about bows or whether or not 20lb is dangerous or not in small spaces, so I might be a little while but I will let you know as soon as I do! Peace bonding only applies to actual heavy or sharp knives (wood, metal, plastic) where they need to be secured, and for replica weapons such as handguns to be brought to the Cosplay Desk for us to make sure they are not dangerous and add a tag on it if it hasn't been done by the attendee already with a bright coloured tape/paint on the tip.

Haha, I know those moments!

For weapons we ask that you remove the battery (if it has one) and obviously doesn't load it with whatever it might have been made to fire. For all replicas we ask you paint or tape the tip of your weapon in a highly visible colour (usually neon orange or green) so we can tell it is not a real weapon. Please be careful when bringing it to the event and make sure to only bring it out once you are inside the hall or upon inspection by security at the entrance. Carrying around replica guns in public is serious business. by Katniss I presume you mean from the Hunger games (as I am not familiar with the fandom and simply googled it). You are not allowed to bring a professional Bow to the event as this classifies as a full on weapon, whether you have arrows or not. If you have a bow which you would like to use, you would have to de-string it and re-string it with something less durable. (I suggest cotton string or very thin plastic) For 'things that don't have holsters' I'm afraid you will have to be more specific so I can advise. A lot of things don't have holsters, a lot of things don't need holster, it's the dangerous, sharp objects we are most worried about. Peace bonding means securing your sword to its sheath so that you are unable to draw it. It is also a way to show Staff that you are taking precautions with your weapon/prop.

Apologies for the mistake, the post has been updated now. My brain is still running on Earls Court as it once were. I just replied to your email. You of course don't have to be a part of the Masquerade, it's simply something a lot of us enjoy. You can cosplay/dress up as much as you like! Send us an email and we will forward you the form there instead! :) Lise x

Also please be aware that all Forms sent and received by us before this announcement WILL be accepted and if we haven't already, we will get back to you very shortly! :) - Lise x

NOTICE! Sign-ups have now opened for LFCC Cosplay Masquerade and Talent Show! Please go to our other thread here: http://showmastersonline.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=76255

NOTICE! Thank you all for being so patient with our Admin Team, the Cosplay Sign-up thread is now active here http://showmastersonline.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=76255 and more information for our events if needed plus a little on our Prob Rules here: http://showmastersonline.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=76254 Hope to see you all for yet another amazing LFCC! and Starbuck's Dad, can't wait to see more of Eleanor!! Lise x

The Cosplay Zone 2012 is back! If you have any Cosplay Related questions then feel free to read our little post and if that doesn't help, let us know with a comment below! * * * The word cosplay comes from mixing 'costume' and 'play'. It basically means the hobby of making and wearing costumes of your favourite characters from films, anime, books or video games. Cosplay is all about bringing characters to life, so many cosplayers also try their best to look or act like the character. Bigger and Better than Ever! The Cosplay Zone is back bigger and better than ever! Not only do we have the masquerade on each day with a massive £100 prize to each winner, but we also have a series of cosplay talks and presentations on stage and displays! If that was not enough there's the Talent Show, themed cosplay days, a chillout area for meets, lots of sweets, cosplays and much more! Cosplay Masquerade (Saturday & Sunday 3pm) The Masquerade is taking place on Saturday and Sunday at 3.00pm on the second stage. There is a £100 first prize to the winner of this highly anticipated event! This is the event where you can show off your costume to the public and compete to win some great prizes! All types of costume are welcome, including anime and manga, film and TV, video games, comic book characters, original costumes and others. More details on how to register can be found at the bottom of this topic! If you do register be sure to Check-In by the Cosplay Desk at least 30 min before the event so we can put you into a lovely little line, ready for the stage. All entries who have constructed their outfits themselves and wishes to be eligible for the Big £100 prize need to show by the Cosplay Desk at 2pm on respectively Saturday and Sunday to be judged by our judges! The Talent Show (Saturday 5pm) If you can sing, dance, do a skit, do stand-up, magic tricks or any other talent you may have (within reason, it's a family show and only a small stage) the this is just for you! The judges will be making notes of your performance and by the end we will collect notes and points from all Judges to find the winner! Acts should last no longer than three minutes and if you want to use any music, please send it in advance! You can find the form at the bottom of this topic! How To Signup for the Masquerade, Skit-Show & Talent Show You can register via email until 2 days prior to the show (registrations close midnight on the Thursday prior!) and on the day of the event, between 10am and 2pm at the Cosplay Desk. Entries will NOT be accepted without reference picture (with the exception of Original creations). Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first serve basis so please book or arrive early to avoid disappointment! Cosplay Talks Cosplay Guests Tab Kimpton and Kelly Jane shall be hosting a range of cosplay talks and workshops throughout Saturday and Sunday! Be sure to come along if you would like to know more about cosplaying from the Experts in the field! Cosplay Chillout & Groups Come take a seat, chill-out and get to know fellow cosplayers. As always, we will have supplies in case you have to make any last-minute alterations or repairs to your costume. Whether you will need tape, thread, glue, safety pins - we've got it all! Facilities for Cosplayers 2 Changing rooms will be available for Cosplayers if you need to change into your outfit mid-day or before the Masquerade. The Cosplay Zone is not available to provide cloakrooms or storing facilities, but the Olympia venue will be providing this for a small fee by the entrance. (if in doubt as a member of staff on the day) Please also see our thread for Prop Rules and further Cosplay Event Information here: http://showmasterson...showtopic=76254 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Cosplay Masquerade Form --> https://docs.google....dyJrFoG2ptM2xUA Talent Show Form --> https://docs.google....6eKgxqGV8yeY3c0 Please send your forms to showmasterscosplay@googlemail.com by Midnight on Thursday 5th July the latest! ----------------------------------------------------------------- Looking forward to seeing you at this year's LFCC! - Lise x Cosplay Zone Crew

Credit to TurkFox for the original rules and information which this topic is based off of. - If you have any questions, please ask them in this topic, or alternatively email us on showmasterscosplay@googlemail.com 1. WEAPONS/PROPS & CONDUCT All weapons and props should be brought to the cosplay desk upon arrival at an event to be checked by the organiser, even if you are not participating in any cosplay events. This is to prevent anyone wandering around with anything potentially dangerous. Weapons and props should be no longer than 5ft (1.5m) to be carried around - anything longer than this can be stored at the cosplay desk at your own risk until the masquerade. They should be constructed of foam, plastic, balsa wood, cardboard or other lightweight materials. They should have no sharp edges and any dangerous things removed. Wooden or other solid (LEGAL) replica weapons must be peace-bonded (unable to be drawn). The organiser reserves the right to confiscate any weapon considered to be dangerous. Mock battles or 'play fights' are not allowed inside the event area. Please be safe with your weapon or prop. Anyone found behaving in a way which endangers themself or the public will have their weapon confiscated and/or be escorted immediately from the event without refund. During the event, you may be approached by a member of the cosplay team or security to check your weapon has been approved. If this happens, please be co-operative. Finally, remember to be extra vigilant when transporting items to and from the event. 2. ELIGIBILITY The competitions are open to all ages, but entrants aged under 15 must have their entry form signed by a parent or guardian - no exceptions. If you look young, please bring proof of age. All types of costume may be entered within reason. Costumes from film, anime, video games, music, TV, comics, books, theatre and even original costumes may be entered. We regret that bought costumes (as a whole or seperately-acquired outfit from a shop or from e-bay) are not allowed for entrants over 12 years in the Cosplay Masquerade if you wish to be Eligible for Prizes. If you haven't made at least part of your costume (or modified something bought heavily), it is not eligible to win a prize. If you have previously won a Showmasters Cosplay Masquerade with a particular costume, you cannot enter that costume again without prior arrangement with the organiser. If you have previously entered a Showmasters event with a costume but haven't won a prize with it, you will probably be allowed to enter it again if it shows signs of being improved/worked on, but please check with the organiser in advance. 3. REGISTRATION Registration will be available online in advance for all events. You should fill in the entry form and email it by the date given in the thread. There will also be limited spaces available on the day, but pre-registration is preferred (and essential if you wish to provide your own music). You must report to the desk on the day to sign in and be pre-judged. All Masquerade entries must provide a reference picture if they wish to be judged for the Main Prize. This should be emailed in advance. If it is an original costume that you are entering, a drawing/sketch or concepts will be accepted. You should also provide your own music, attached with your registration or emailed shortly after. We don't accept music on the day, even for pre-registered entries. 4. MASQUERADE CATEGORIES Under 12 - This category will no longer be judged. It is simply to show off costumes and be part of the masquerade experience! If an under-12 is wearing a costume you wish to have judged, it must be entered into the appropriate category for the age of the person who made it, regardless of the age of the child wearing it. However, there will be a special surprise for all Under 12 participants so don't be shy! Junior - This category covers the ages of 12 - 17. Costumes entered into this category should be mostly made by the entrant, though we understand they may have had some help. Adult - This category is for 18+ entrants, plus any entrants wearing a costume made by an adult. Entrants will be held strictly to the rules. 5. MASQUERADE PERFORMANCE From the moment you walk onto the stage, you are trying to impress us. Show us the character's movements, personality etc. and pose as the character would! You have around a minute to pose and show your costume off. The longer you are on stage for, the more time you have to score points in this area, so it's better not to just rush on and rush back off again. If you are performing a skit, all sound must be pre-recorded and emailed before the closing date for entries. We can't provide microphones, so all dialogue should be pre-recorded. You should describe your skit on the entry form so we can allow/disallow things based on their suitability for a general audience. Staff have the right to stop a skit at any time if it becomes inappropriate. The maximum skit length is two minutes for an individual entry and three minutes for a group. You may use any song for your walk-on or skit, as long as it is suitable for a general audience (eg. no swearing or other explicit content). We don't accept music on the day so if you haven't sent in anything beforehand, something will be chosen for you from what we have. This includes on-the-day entries. 6. MASQUERADE JUDGING Costumes will be judged in three areas - the quality of the costume and how well made it is; how much of a resemblance the costume and contestant have to the original; and how well you present the character's movements/mannerisms. Pre-judging will occur on the day. If you are entering to win a prize (ie. you have made at least part of your costume), the judges will ask questions, take a closer look at the costume etc. This is compulsory if you wish to score any points in the "craftsmanship" category. The masquerade will take place in front of an audience and a panel of judges. The Pre-Judging will take place exactly 1 hour before the Masquerade is supposed to begin and all participants are to meet by the Cosplay Desk. 7. MISC You may be filmed or photographed during the masquerade, talent-show or skit-show, and Showmasters or its associates may wish to use your image. By entering these events you agree to this. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Looking forward to seeing you at this year's LFCC! - Lise x Cosplay Zone Crew

Sorry for the delay! If you are OK to hang on for a few more days we will be getting the updated active for you shortly! :) Lisa x