Historical Masquerade - FAQ's
For more information:
Frances Burns Historical Masquerade Director
Email: historicalmasq@costumecon30.com
What is a Historical Masquerade?
It is a series of short presentations showing off historical costumes. Usually the presentations are designed to educate and entertain you. They can be anything from modeling the garment while the Master of Ceremonies (MC) reads a description to an elaborate skit with a background set. Most presentations run under a minute, only with very large groups is the time limit over a minute.
After the presentations there is a break while the audience has fun taking pictures of the costume contestants and the judges are frantically debating who gets what award. Once the audience has more than enough time to finish taking pictures and starts wondering - what is taking the judges so long - the judges finally return and announce who has won what award in what category.
What is considered a historical costume?
For the purposes of this event it is anything from before December 31, 1961. Each historical masquerade director sets their own time frame. Since I was exposed to furniture collecting long before costume collecting anything less than 50 years old just doesn't seem that old to me, c'est la vie.
If I enter what should I expect to happen?
Sign Up
Either at the convention or before you will fill out a masquerade entry form. You can send the form to yours truly (the historical masquerade director) or fill it out at the convention.
Before 10:00 AM Saturday at the Convention you must check in, turn in your entry form (if you haven't already), turn in your documentation, and sign up for you technical rehearsal spot. If you are going to be late - let me know ahead of time!
The other check-in items are optional:
- drop off your sound track if you have one,
- drop off a script for the MC to read if you have one, and
- sign up for workmanship judging if you chose to.
Tech Rehearsal
The sign-up sheet for technical rehearsal slots will be at masquerade sign-up table. Each technical rehearsal slot will be for at a maximum of 15 minutes. Each group only gets only one rehearsal slot no matter how many people there are in the presentation.
You must be on time and you must go to your rehearsal! If you miss your rehearsal slot, at the masquerade director's option you can be eliminated from the contestant.
Why am I being such a hard-ass about this point? Your safety and making sure that your costume shows to the greatest advantage.
Your tech rehearsal is when you get a chance to walk the stage, talk with the stage ninjas, check with the lighting crew, talk with the MC, and make sure that they will not be getting any surprises during your presentation.
Remember: Only surprise the audience and the judges, never your stage people, MC, or masquerade director.
FYI - Your MC is really good, if your presentation calls for him to act surprised, he does a great job of it. I have seen him work as a foil or add an extra comedic punch to a presentation and he is really, really good.
If you are planning an especially vigorous performance or on using weapons this is the time to get that cleared. If you do not get them cleared you can again be disqualified at the masquerade director's discretion
If you included sound that will also be checked at the tech rehearsal
Optional: Workmanship Judging
You can sign-up for workmanship judging when you sign in for the masquerade The time slots are for 15 minutes, but plan on a maximum of 10 minutes to present your information to the judges.
Be on time, but don't be surprised if the judges are running late. If there is more than one person in your group who is going for workmanship judging, let the masquerade director know so that you have the appropriate number of time slots.
When you go for workmanship judging take the items you want to show the judges. You do not need to be wearing your costume. It is up to you if you start from the skin out or you just bring in a couple of pieces to display.
In judging chamber there will be the three judges and their clerk. Part of the clerk's duties is to remind the judges of the time, so the clerk is really not being rude when they break in and say how long you have been there.
At workmanship judging you get to point out the things you want the judges to take special note of. Things like you drafted the pattern yourself, you did all that embroidery by hand, you distressed the costume using paint so it would look more authentic, or maybe you made and fired all those beads by hand. You want to point out the things you are proud of and want the judges to notice.
The judges may or may not ask you additional questions. Remember the judges are not mind readers! You are the person showing them what you want them to consider.
The Night of the Masquerade
You report into the green room an hour and a half before time show time. There will be a table where you check in, get you entry number and are assigned a den and den parent.
You should be in your costume and have your make-up on. We do not have dressing rooms or makeup tables. You will have some pictures taken and wait for the show to begin. And then you wait.
Finally you will get up on the stage and give your presentation. Enjoy the audience reaction. And then wait to see what you have won!
The Next Day
You will pick up your documentation and music at a time and place specified by the masquerade director. I am really hoping that your documentation can be displayed where others can appreciate your work.
What are these class things? Novice, Journeyman, Master
Young Fan: Open only to people 13 or younger.
Novice: If you haven't heard these terms before and you are not an SCA costume laurel or don't make your living making costumes you are a novice. (Isn't nice to know that you will not be competing against people who have done this lots of times before?)
Journeyman: You have done this before; in fact you have won three CC historical masquerade awards or 1 best in class as a novice so you have moved up a level! You are not an SCA costume laurel or don't make your living making costumes.
Master: You have so done this before, you have won three awards as a journeyman or 1 best in class as a journeyman and moved up to Master level or you are an SCA costume laurel or make your living making costumes.
The point of classes is so that people who are on about the same level of experience are competing against their peers. Of course there is no way to weed out the overachievers
Why Documentation?
No matter how good your judges they cannot know everything about every era. Documentation gives you the chance to give the judges the information they need to accurately judge your costumes historical accuracy.
Example: Do you really expect the judges to know off the top of their heads what insignia and uniform a Colonel in the Civil War from in a volunteer unit raised Boston during the second year of the Civil War would have on their dress uniform. (It is not as clear cut as you would expect based on current US military practice.)
Documentation looks very intimidating to put together - I am not sure where to start.
Remember the 5 W's of writing. Who, what, when, where, and why. OR
- When was this garment in fashion?
- Where was this style of garment worn - including country?
- Who would wear this garment?
- What is the basis for my design?
- reproducing a garment from a picture,
- an extant garment
- by mixing several designs from the period for my own unique creation,
- starting from the period and made significant changes (Historical Interpretation)
- or this is an ethnic costume
Why did I make the design choices I did? This is a good spot to also put in information about fabric substitutions, like - I used rayon velvet instead of silk velvet because of availability and cost.
Find pictures, samples, and other information to back up your research. And document it: think classical bibliography here.
Now that you have all that wonderful information together comes the hard part - getting it down into 3 double spaced typed pages and 10 pages of pictures or less.
Damn - now it sounds even more intimidating!
You can cover the 5 W’s with a page photo copied out of a book, especially if the book has good captions, along with hand writing the bibliography information on the photo copy.
You really don't have to write a term paper. How much detail you need to go into depends on your costume.
Believe me the judges will appreciate brevity! After all they are reading the documentation and doing the workmanship judging during the convention, and they really would like to get a chance to also see a little of the convention.
Why do you want copies of the documentation, I have never done that before.
I am asking for one original and 2 black and white copies to make it easier for the judges to look at your documentation, after all there are 3 people trying to look at the same material.
I promise that all the judges will get a chance to look at your original documentation so they can appreciate it.
What are the dimensions of the stage?
The sketch of the stage is now out on the website for your perusal. The ceiling is 12 feet tall, the stage height will be at least 1 foot or maybe 2 foot. You will not have to go through any doors between the green room and the stage. I would suggest not planning on a costume that is taller than 8 feet, just so you have a little head room. Keep checking back on the technical details they are still being worked and are subject to change.
What format do you want the sound track in?
TBD - also something that we are still working out with the tech crew.
How important is a sound track?
Although you are not required to have a sound track, I highly recommend having one. A sound track really helps you to remember your cues on stage and pace your presentation so you do not go too fast or too slow.
I want to talk while I am on stage, can I use the microphone?
The microphone will NOT be available to the contestants. If your presentation includes your talking record it onto your master sound track.
Can I use fire, pyrotechnics and or weapons in my performance?
No fire or pyrotechnics are allowed, we want to keep the fire marshal and hotel happy.
Weapons, stage combat and vigorous presentations must be discussed with the Masquerade Director PRIOR to technical rehearsal.
Weapons, stage combat and vigorous presentations must be approved by the Masquerade Director (or their delegate) at the technical rehearsal.
I am not sure my costume will be done before the start of masquerade,
should I still enter?
Yes, if you are not done we can always pull your entry number. You a just following the grand old tradition of not being ready until the last minute. Just be sure you go to your technical rehearsal.
Are there any unwritten rules I should be aware of?
Since this convention was derived from the Science Fiction side of the universe there are two unwritten rules:
- Do not wear your costume as hall costume before the masquerade.
- If you have won with it at a SF World Con you cannot enter it for competition.
Are there any other things you would suggest I do?
Yes - eat something before getting dressed for masquerade. I know a lot of people get really busy the afternoon before masquerade, I certainly do, just don't forget to take care of yourself. And remember you are in this because it is fun, enjoy the experience and remember your sense of humor.
Who is the CC30 Masquerade Director?
The Masquerade Director is Frances Burns. She is the president of SWCG and usually works either back stage or as the Masquerade Director at local conventions. Frances started sewing more years ago than she cares to remember and got involved with the SF costuming community in the mid ‘80s. And does not do a good job of writing up stuff about herself.