Hey all, thought I'd share some insight on how to put together a good skit for your next masquerade! Many cons have costume contests where only costume craftsmanship is really judged and maybe you do a brief jaunt on stage in character, but some cons have full masquerades where contestants are expected to do a 1-3 minute well planned and practiced performance for the audience in costume in order to qualify for best in show.

These skits can be really fun and wonderfully creative! If you've ever thought about doing a skit and were not sure where to start, or have done some in the past but wanted to know more behind the judging process feel free to ask your questions here!

Cons that I've attended with masquerades like this are those in New England including Anime Boston, Connecticon, and AAC. I've participated in masquerades at all three conventions, won several awards including best in show at Anime Boston and now I am a performance judge for Anime Boston.

So what exactly do we look for in a good skit? Some basic scoring categories include

- concept

- technical ability (this often includes any sound or video effects involved in the skit as well as stage blocking or choreography)

- creativity

- audience reaction

- overall presentation and quality of acting/dancing etc

Things to remember when planning a skit:

- Keep it simple, be relatable!

Not every one in the audience or the judges for that matter will recognize your character or series. The skit still must be somewhat relatable to those unfamiliar with the original show/game! It cannot be purely inside jokes and references.

- Sound is everything!

If your skit is prerecorded you need to do this with a good microphone and audio editor! Audacity is a good program to start with. If your audio is cracking the entire skit or mumbled and difficult to hear then the entire thing is lost to both the audience and the judges regardless of how recognizable your costumes may be.

If your skit has live audio be sure you're familiar with how to use a mic, how close to hold it, and how loud/balanced the sound system is. If your are singing to music or have a band try to practice with a sound check beforehand so that the levels are good and the audience is hearing everything balanced and not just the bass.

- Use all of the tools available to you!

Anime Boston allows the use of the video board backdrop as part of the masquerade skits. This means you have the opportunity to do some incredibly cool effects during your skit including an entire music video, motion scenery, funny memes to compliment your jokes or even just subtitles- whatever you can think of! If another skit chooses to use the video and you do not then you are simply not competing on the same level as that skit and missing an entire element at your disposal.

-Look neat!

Can't stress this one enough. Your skit may have a beautiful choreography or hilarious script, but if your costume is wrinkled or your wig is tangled and falling off throughout the entire thing it is very distracting and can ruin the effect. Take time before the show to tidy up, and do last minute adjustments backstage before getting up in front of the audience. Always use wig clips or bobby pins to keep your wig in place. Iron your costumes the night before or morning of. These finished details can really take a good skit to an amazing one.

-Only use original material!

Pleeeaase do not get up on stage to simply reenact a dance, music video, or scene from a show or game. Instead use those source materials for inspiration to do something of your own. It's a fun pastime to think how silly it might be to see your favorite character do the gangnam style dance or carameldansen, but we've seen it all before and you may not be the only skit in the show doing that song/dance which can be a real drag for the audience and judges.

If there is a scene you really want to capture then be sure to add something new- new dialogue, new music, some creative license, or build the scene in a creative way with props to bring it to life on stage.

Use the entire stage!

Whether your a one man show or all of the sailor scouts, you must fill the entire stage and bring out the depth of your blocking skills. Obviously for one person this can be a challenge, but you must incorporate motion and props in a way to fill the stage and make your skit more visually appealing and appropriate. If you're a large group you must block accordingly to not block out another performer or overcrowd one area. Keep things fluid and in motion to make it all more interesting.

Finally-practice, relax, and have fun!

Nothing is more obvious than a group that is getting to do the entire skit for the first time on stage. Be sure to practice beforehand and be confident when you get in front of the audience. Know your lines, know where you should be, know the timing of your audio as best as possible.

Remember this is all about having fun and sharing all your hardwork with us! If you get on stage terrified, miserable, and unsure we will all spend more time worrying about you than focusing on your performance and hard work. Be happy and confident even if you may be nervous. Just dive in and the audience will dive in with you, and will be less likely to notice any mistakes!

That's the main things I can think of for now! If you have any questions or want to know more please ask below!

Here is a video of our best in show performance from Anime Boston 2013

Skyward Sword: How Stella got her Groose Back

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