The FIRST Fandom Convention of Crafton, PA! Featuring local artists, a costume contest, character photo ops, a Pokemon tournament, guest appearances, and lots of geeky fun!

Come one, come all to celebrate the fun of Fandoms! Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Anime - come on in! Whether you are a Whovian, a Browncoat, a Trekkie, or a Potterhead, if you're Team Cap or Team Stark, whether you're gonna call the Ghostbusters or shout "For Frodo!" at least once a day - our event is for YOU!

This Family-Friendly Festival welcomes fans of all ages, and is being held as a fundraiser for a special young lady going on a big mission trip this summer. Visit her Gofundme for details: Elana's Mission Trip to Hungary

Admission price includes entry for Cosplay Costume Contest. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.





ALSO:

- Meet local sci-fi authors and cosplayers

- Shop from the various fan art vendors; lots of fabulous creations to build up your collection

- Test your knowledge with our Fandom Trivia Contests

- Slot Car Race Track will be available for $1 a race

- Bring your cards to the Trading Post: Pokemon, MTG, YuGiOh, etc. Some tables will be left available in case any trading card games happen to form from the crowd!

- Try some new tabletop games at our demo spots: Machi Koro, Retro Loonacy, Lanterns, Code Names and more!

- Join the VGC Pokemon tournament for $1.00 - earn some big bragging rights (and a cool prize) by becoming the Pokemon Master for the day!

- Bring your loose change for a "Civil War Penny War" - earn points for Captain America or Iron Man by putting pennies in their jars, or sabotage the opposite side with silver coins and dollars!









COSTUME CONTEST RULES:

Entry Forms will be located at the show entrance and at key locations throughout the convention center. Please pick up and complete the form at the show to enter and to receive your contestant and line-up number.









RULES and Event Regulations:

Parents/legal guardians MUST accompany children 12 years old and younger, NO EXCEPTIONS.

All decisions by the Costume Contest Judges are final.





Contestants can only enter in one category, Individual or Group. Due to the unpredictable size of groups, a prize for each member cannot be guaranteed.

No political or religious statement during the catwalk. Anyone who violates this may be disqualified from the competition

No skits during judging or catwalk.

No nudity. No costume is no costume. NO adult related content. This event is rated PG-13, and we are a family-friendly event. Please use some discretion with your character, props and presentation.

Be careful onstage! Running-tackle-hugs (glomping) might not be very safe.

All Cosplay participants must be registered attendees of the event.

Staff members are not eligible to win in any category, though they can earn honorable mentions.

Entries with electric power requirements need to be self-contained. There will be no access to electrical outlets on stage.

CATWALKERS have a required minimum of 30 seconds to be on stage in any competing category. That way, the judges have enough time to actually do their job and see/judge your cosplay

No flashpots, explosive devices, or similar special effects are to be used. Anyone who violates this rule may be disqualified from the competition and may be asked to leave the convention area.For safety reasons, the following are not allowed:

Live animals

Substances which might damage or soil

Aerosol sprays

Projectiles of any kind.

No pyrotechnics will be allowed including but not limited to: fire, flash powder, explosives, smoke bombs or fireworks.

Entries that could potentially damage the facilities, other participants or the wearer will not be allowed.

Illegal weapons of any kind are not allowed.

Prop weapons used as part of the costume are allowed with restrictions. You are expected to act responsibly with your weapon. If you decide to carry a weapon, by attending you accept any legal and financial responsibility for damage your weapon may cause to persons or property. NO LIVE STEEL! This means No Swords, Knives, or anything that has real Steel in it!

All prop weapons must conform to the Weapons Policy, which is as follows: All weapons must be non-working and peace bonded. No functioning projectile weapons – including water pistols, silly-string guns, and ping-pong pistols. NO Bladed weapons will be permitted if you bring a real weapon you will be asked to leave with no refund! No clowning around or showing off in the common areas. Any weapon used in an offensive manner will be confiscated and not returned!. Anyone who violates this rule may be disqualified from the competition and will be asked to leave the convention area. We expect you to use good judgment; with your help, we can continue to allow peace-bonded weapons.

To be judged for accuracy a visual reference, preferably a front and back color photo on paper, can be turned in with your application. Electronic media (i.e. CDs) will not be accepted nor will bringing a laptop or video device (i.e. iPods) to pre-judging. This is not required. However, you may not be eligible for accuracy points if the judges are not familiar enough with your character.

All judging will be done during the show on-stage.

Costumes must be self-contained. This means that your costume cannot have large wings and or other items that will block other event goers, with out them being able to retract. If you have any questions about this rule feel free to message one of us. That being said... Please keep in mind there is no place on site to change into certain costumes.

Do not enter or exit the catwalk except at the designated points.

Each contestant may only enter one costume into competition.

Large elaborate costumes must be handled by the contestant and/or assistants the contestant brings to help. WE WILL NOT be able to provide ANY assistants.

We will not change the lights during your skit, they will be on the entire time once you begin. Keep this in mind when preparing your act.

Please remember we do not supply participants with any of the following: make-up, make-up applicators and/or removers, paint, etc. Please come to the convention with everything you need to complete and/or assemble your cosplay





Your entry must be finished before you get to the Event space. No sewing, gluing, spray painting, welding, or other construction work is allowed backstage. There is NO COSPLAY FAIRIES ON SITE AND NO PLACE TO FIX IT UP! Space is Limited!!!! However, final assembly of large pieces and/or props and unexpected repairs will be allowed.

There is no place to change into different cosplays on site so please keep that in mind.





Smoking is not allowed PERIOD THE END! This includes, E-cigs, Vaping, and Smoking all like items on the event grounds. You must do that else where - NOT HERE! If your character requires a fake Cig, you can have a non lit cig ... but if you light it you will be asked to leave.

This is a DRY event No 21+ drinks on the grounds. Please do not even attempt bringing in alcohol, and do not show up even the tiniest bit drunk. This is a fundraiser for a 14-year-old, and we are very focused on a family-friendly atmosphere.

NO DRUGS, or Drug Symbols will be permitted. Keep that stuff at home. If You are caught, not only will you be asked to leave, but the police may be called. This is a Family event please remember the “Don't be Dumb” rule! ;)





All contestants must be able to move their costume on their own. So please no 80 lb. wings or giant mecha unless you can walk up stairs in it.

There will be no microphones available to cosplayers. Any and all music and/or skit audio must be pre-cut, pre-recorded and turned in (in MP3 format) on a USB Flash Drive at sign-up. Bringing back-ups is strongly encouraged to ensure you have working audio.

People can only enter as part of one costume or group. If a person has made multiple costumes, they must be entered as a group, otherwise you must select only one to compete in the Workmanship contest.

If your costume is made almost entirely by someone else, they must be present to win in Workmanship and the prize will go to them. It's okay for entrants in the inexperienced category to have help from a relative/friend, but they should have made most of the costume themselves. The helper does not need to be present, but the contestant must be honest with judges about the extent of the involvement anyone else had in the construction of their costume. Experienced and Master category contestants are expected to make their costumes. Just be sure to tell the judges when you sign up who made it; give credit where it is due.

Audience members should be courteous and respectful. Please do not boo or shout negative things to masquerade contestants.

The Cosplay Director has the right to change your division to a higher division to create a fair competition. Consider this an honor.

The Cosplay Director has the right to eliminate any entry from the competition on the basis of taste, danger to the audience, building or yourself, violation of any of the above rules, or any other reason deemed sufficient.

Audience are not allowed to run up to the stage area for any reason.

Surprise the audience, not the Cosplay staff. If you are planning something completely different, let us know well in advance. All information will be held in the strictest confidence. Also let us know well before the masquerade starts if there are any last minute changes to your performance!

Participants will be required to sign a liability release and a release for use of video and photo images.

This is a family show atmosphere. Any violations of these policies will result in disqualification and Banishment to the furtherest reaches of the Galaxy.

THESE RULES WILL BE POSTED AT SIGN UP FOR YOU TO REVIEW WHEN YOU SIGN YOUR WAIVER





GUIDELINES:

Mainstage Cosplay Contest Categories

Mainstage Cosplay has two categories: Performance & Workmanship. Entries may choose to compete in one or both categories if they qualify, or they must appear as an "Exhibition" if they do not qualify for or do not desire to participate in either category. There will be one winner chosen per skill level in each category as well as a "Best in Show." There may also be honorable mentions, however they will not receive any official award or prize. We will be using a point system.

Workmanship - Entries are judged on both the overall appearance of their cosplay, and the quality of the construction of the costume. Purchased costumes may not compete in this category, but outfits do not need to be worn by the creator so long as the costume creator is present at the convention. Contestants are encouraged to bring reference pictures and in-progress photographs to show the judges during sign up before the on-stage presentation. Groups or individuals that are doing performances for the Performance category may request to be judged on Workmanship as well, but no one can go on stage a second time to be judged separately for Workmanship.

Max Valued: 50 points

If an outfit includes a combination of created and purchased items, any purchased pieces must be disclosed to the judges on your entry form. Judges will determine your eligibility, which generally requires that at least 75% of your costume has been created or altered in a significant enough of a manner. Judges have the exclusive ability to determine a costume’s eligibility in the workmanship contest.

Max Valued: 10 points

Performance - Entries are being judged on their acting, memorization, representation, and presence. In short, how well they can act like a certain character, or how well they perform a skit, how well they present themselves in their cosplay, etc. Purchased costumes may compete in this category. Groups or individuals that are doing performances for the Performance category may request to be judged on Workmanship as well, but no one can go on stage a second time to be judged separately for Workmanship.





Maxed Valued: 10 points

Exhibition - Exhibition is for those who do not wish to compete, or for those with purchased/commissioned cosplays that do not desire to perform. Because convention staff members may not win, they are included in this category. Contestants in this division are ineligible for any awards.





Max Valued: 25 points (For Childrens Division ONLY)

Judging Divisions:

Lvl 1 Human: This is for our Newborn to age 4 Category. They are strictly walk-ons with an adult.

Jr: For our Little Crafters. Ages 5-10 who are walk-ons with adults

Newb(Inexperienced): If this is your first Cosplay experience or you have never won a Cosplay award, this is your division.

Experienced: If you have ever won a Cosplay award, you, my friend, are experienced.

Master: If you have won two or more Cosplay awards, you are a master.





AGE Divisons:

This is for the judges awards which hold no value in anyway for future competitions.

Ages:

Amethyst: 0-4

Garnet: 5-7

Pearl: 8-11

Ruby: 12-15

Sapphire: 16-20

Diamond: 21+

Silver and Gold: 65+





If not enough ages are entered into a select catagory then we reserve the right to combine age categories.

If you are uncertain which division is best for your entry, our staff can assist you!





We would love to be able to give everyone prizes! However, to do that we would need a head count before the event, and we aren’t doing that this time around. All prizes are donations, so we will have what we have and CANNOT promise you will walk home with anything ... although bragging rights are worth quite a bit!





Audio Guidelines

AUDIO WILL MAKE OR BREAK YOUR SCRIPT. IF YOUR AUDIO IS NOT "GREAT", YOU WILL NOT DO WELL.

Sound for your entry is not required but is highly recommended for the Performance category. You should plan to record any dialogue for your entry as there will be no microphone available. Any words spoken from stage will not be heard by the audience.

There will NOT be audio editing software/machine on site. Please have all audio prepared ahead of time.

For pre-recorded sound, we highly recommend you work very hard on getting quality audio. Record multiple times, if necessary. Every individual should be the same level of volume. You can easily make even bad audio sound great by importing your sound into Audacity and running the compression effect. You will have to play with the settings and do it five or six times until you understand what it does, but it may help. We CAN NOT answer questions about how to make your audio sound better, this is just a tip. Consider finding a friend with experience in audio.

We will only accept submissions in MP3 format on a flash drive. Not accepted: cassette tapes, CDs, DVDs, etc. Bring your laptop or other backups of your audio files.

The pre-recorded music/dialogue submitted to the Cosplay staff must be 2 minutes or less. There will be no exceptions to the "2 Minute" rule, unless you request permission prior to the convention. Any entry over the 2:30 mark will be stopped at that point. This means you have a 15 second set up and a 15 second break down! THAT IS IT! You will be disqualified if you go over time and we have to escort you off the stage.