Historical Masquerade
For more information:
Frances Burns Historical Masquerade Director
Email: historicalmasq@costumecon30.com
The Costume-Con 30 Historical Masquerade recognizes creativity, scholarship, stage presentation and workmanship skills in the context of historical clothing. It celebrates the history of clothing and costume, including all cultures, periods, and types of dress. Historical costume is costume based on clothing that was worn or could have been worn somewhere in the world.
The Historical Masquerade will limit entries to costumes based on clothing that was worn, or could have been worn, through December 31, 1961.
The Historical Masquerade will take place on Sunday of the convention. To enter the CC30 Historical Masquerade you must be a member of CC30, as must any models you may choose to use.
All entries are encouraged to pre-register. There will be at-the-con registration, but also pre-register even if you only think you'll have a garment completed in time is encouraged.
The Masquerade will follow the International Costumers' Guild Guidelines for International-Level Masquerades, or Competitions.
Competition Categories
Entries in all categories are eligible for Best in Class and Best in Show. The Historical Masquerade will have three categories:
A. Historical Dress
is for a costume that is intended to look like it came from a particular period of history. This includes costumes copied from a specific artwork or surviving garment, original costumes meant to look as if they were designed and made in a particular period, and everything in between. It is acceptable to use modern approximates for period materials for reasons such as availability, cost, or safety; these approximations should be noted in documentation. Modern Sewing is allowed.
B. Historical Interpretation
Is for a costume that intentionally and visibly departs from the period on which is it based. It ought to be obvious to the viewer that this costume was not intended to be totally authentic. If the judges have to ask what makes your costume an interpretation, it probably belongs in Historical Dress.
The distinction between these two categories is based on the costume’s intent, not its execution.
C. Ethnic Costume or Dress
may be of any period (including the present).
Skill Levels
Skill definitions:
A. Young Fan:
This level is limited to entrants younger than 13 years of age. It includes entries made by a young fan and entries made by an adult that a young fan models.
B. Novice:
The Novice level is to encourage beginners. You may not enter at the Novice level if you have
1. won three awards at the Novice level in a Costume-Con historical masquerade;
2. won Best-in-Class in the Novice category or a Best-in-Show at a Costume-Con historical masquerade;
3. won at a level higher than Novice in a Costume-con historical masquerade;
4. competed at the Master level in Science Fiction and Fantasy masquerades at Costume-Cons or World; Science Fiction Conventions (these are the ICG-recognized international-level competitions);
5. won a SCA costume Laurel or
6. are a professional. Professional is defined as someone who earns a majority of his or her income from fashion or costume, including college or university faculty members.
C. Journeyman:
The Journeyman level is an intermediate level to allow further development of costuming skills. You may not enter at the Journeyman level if, at a Costume-Con historical masquerade you have
1. won three awards at the Journeyman level;
2. won Best-in-Class at the Journeyman level or Best-in-Show;
3. won an award at the Master level;
4. won a SCA costume Laurel, or
5. are a historical costume professional (as defined above).
D. Master:
This is an 'open' level. Any one may enter and compete at this level if they wish. You must enter at this level if you are not eligible to enter as a Young Fan or Novice or Journeyman levels.
A contestant may enter at a level higher than the one for which he or she qualifies. However, an entrant who then wins at that level may not subsequently compete at a lower level. If in doubt about the level at which to compete, consult the Masquerade Director.
A group entry will be assigned to a skill level based on its most experienced member.
Awards:
Our judges may present awards in three areas:
- Documentation
- Workmanship
- Stage Presentation
Entries will be judged against what the judges see as the award-winning standard. This means that you will not be competing against anyone else. The judges are not obliged to award Best-in-Class or Best-in-Show if, in their opinion, no entry meets the standards for those awards.
A. DOCUMENTATION
Every entry MUST have some documentation.
All documentation must be turned in at the masquerade registration desk by 10:00 AM Saturday of the convention. If you are arriving at the con later than 10:00 AM, please contact me well in advance.
1. Basic Documentation:
The basic requirements include:
a. Title of costume
b. Name and address of the person responsible for the entry (or spokesperson for a group)
c. Name(s) of designer(s) and maker(s)
d. Brief identifying description of the costumer's historical period, geographic origin, social class, and so forth.
e. Bibliography of sources
The brief identifying description should include evidence of the historical basis for the costume. This could be as little as one photocopy of a single picture with an identifying caption or it could be more comprehensive. Assume that the judges are not familiar with your costume(s) and time period. You may wish to begin with a brief statement of what you are trying to accomplish and your rationale for choosing the project.
2. Advanced Documentation:
In going beyond the minimal requirements, your documentation might include the following:
a. Pattern sources
b. Photocopies of visual sources, such as artworks, costume drawings, and sketches that you used (no originals, please)
c. Swatches of fabric and trim
d. Your own photograph(s) of original historical garments or accessories
e. Brief descriptions of any special skills or tools you used, such as shoemaking, weaving, or welding.
3. Good Documentation: (Basic or Advanced): Outstanding documentation demonstrates a comprehensive knowledge of the historical source(s) on which a costume is based, with rationales for all elements of the costume, including undergarments, accessories, and minor details, and explanations for deviations from the norm of the period. Excellent documentation also is organized logically and neatly, and presented attractively. Some contestants even go to the length of designing documentation in a style consistent with the costume.
4. Length of Documentation: Outstanding documentation is brief; long enough but no longer than you need to demonstrate the historical basis of the costume. Please be concise. Text (exclusive of bibliography and captions on illustrations) is limited to no more than three sheets of 8 x 11 typed in minimum 10 point easily legible font (examples: Arial, Times New Roman) and double-spaced pages. There is a 10 page limit on captioned photographs and illustrations, fabric swatches or other samples, references, or bibliography. In a group entry each costume can have the same number of pages.
REMEMBER the judges only have a short time to review your documentation!
5. The following will not be accepted as part of documentation;
a) original sources, including books and paintings (make copies),
b) slides,
c) computer files,
d) video (tape/CD/DVD etc).
6. Copies: Submit 3 copies of your documentation – 1 in color and 2 BW Xerox is OK. We have 3 judges and Xerox is your friend.
A general note on documentation – the easier and clearer it is, the more likely the judges will see what you are trying to emphasize. They only have a short time to review your documentation so remember the KISS principle!
B. WORKMANSHIP
This part of the competition is REQUIRED of all Historic Dress entrants, and is OPTIONAL for Historic Interpretation and Ethnic Costume or Dress entrants. Again, all entrants may sign up for Workmanship and Detail judging but are not required to. However, IF YOU OMIT WORKMANSHIP JUDGING, YOU WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN AWARD IN THE WORKMANSHIP CATEGORY.
This is your opportunity to let the judges admire your work up close. Each entry will meet by itself with the panel of judges to show off the costume. Entrants will be expected to show the judges all necessary parts of the costume. If there is an item or element of the costume you want the judges to note especially, be prepared to point it out to them. We recommend that you bring, rather than wear, the costume to the prejudging, so that the judges may handle and examine your work inside and out. However, if you decide to wear the costume to pre-judging, be prepared to have the judges look down your cleavage, under your skirt, or at your underwear.
Pre-judging time will be strictly limited to approximately five minutes and certainly no more than ten minutes per person. The schedule will depend on the number of entries received by close of registration. Contestants will have an opportunity to sign up in advance at masquerade registration for appointments with the judges.
C. STAGE PRESENTATION
ALL ENTRANTS, REGARDLESS OF CATEGORY, MUST APPEAR ON STAGE. Here is your opportunity to complete your illusion before an appreciative audience.
1. Entries with one to six persons will be limited to a maximum of 60 seconds on stage.
2. Entries with seven or more persons will be allowed up to 90 seconds.
Please keep in mind that these are maximum, not minimum, lengths of presentation. Feel free to use less time. If you feel that the maximum allowed will not be enough time to show your presentation, the Masquerade Director will be willing to listen to your argument and possibly allow more time, but that is at my discretion. The Masquerade Director strongly believes in brief presentations-30 seconds normally should be sufficient to present a one-person entry to the judges and the audience.
Other Rules:
1. All the general stage presentation rules for Costume-Con 30 masquerades will apply.
2. Each contestant may appear only once on stage. You may enter another costume, but it must be on another body.
3. There must be some display of skill in creating and executing a design. No flagrant nudity; the masquerade is rated PG-13. The Judges will not award what Mother Nature created. Remember: no costume is no costume.
4. No purchased, rented, or inherited costumes may be shown in competition in the masquerade.
6. Costumes that have won major awards for presentation or workmanship at previous Costume-Con or Worldcon competitions (excluding Honorable Mention) are ineligible to compete for an award, but may appear out of competition.
7. No live animals (other than guide animals) may be used in the masquerade.
8. Your costume may not be made of or trimmed with messy substances (the no Peanut Butter rule). Nor may it use any other substance which could cause harm to another entry in the green room or following you on stage (ex: no handfuls of loose glitter). If it cannot quickly be removed by a stage ninja do not bring it on stage. Check with the Masquerade director if you have questions.
9. No fire, flame, flashes, firecrackers, or explosions will be permitted. - no exceptions.
10. Costumes with electric power requirements must be self-contained - no extension cords.
11. Small children must be under the control of a responsible adult at all times (back stage as well as on stage).
12. Your costume must be completed before you get to the Green Room. No sewing, gluing, soldering, welding, or other construction work may take place in the Green Room except the final assembly of large costumes and props or unexpected repairs.
13. No Live microphone is available for entrants' use; pre-recorded dialog or a script for the MC is encouraged. Please keep a script for the MC to no more than about 100 words. (Details on card size to come later.) Do not expect to be heard 'live' from the stage; you won't be.
14. The default music format will be announced later.
15. The default lighting will be announced later.
16. Following a presentation, the entrant(s), roadies, or ninjas must remove all props left on stage in a single quick pass.
17. Use of weapons on stage, including caring/wearing weapons, must be approved in advance by the Director. No exceptions. If you intend to use a weapon on stage you must have the Masquerade director's approval in writing. Unless you have been formally trained in stage weapon work do not expect to get approval.
18. Entrants and their roadies will be required to attend a tech rehearsal. Further information on schedules, including times for rehearsals and presentations, will come in future PRs.
19. The Green Room and back stage area are intended for entrants, roadies, and masquerade staff only. Entrants are asked not to invite other friends or family into the Green Room. Small children must be under the control of a responsible adult at all times (back stage as well as on stage).
20. Surprise the audience, but NEVER surprise the Masquerade Director, MC, or Crew!!! If you are planning something unusual or unique, or if you would like to request an exception to any of the rules above, please contact the Masquerade Director well in advance of the masquerade.
21. If you feel any or all of these rules don't apply to you, you are wrong. You must convince the Masquerade Director to make an exception long before the masquerade. Offers of cash and/or chocolate will not help here.
22. The Masquerade Director has the full authority to eliminate anyone from the competition on the grounds of bad taste, danger to self and/or others, violation of the above rules, or any other reason deemed sufficient by the Director. There is no appeal. Offers of cash, chocolate, and/or shiny things will not help. Not even sharp pointy objects.