Science Fiction and Fantasy masquerades are hardly a new phenomenon. It is generally agreed that the concept was launched
in July 1939, when famous fan Forest J. Ackerman showed up at the first Worldcon dressed in a costume inspired from the then recent movie Things to Come.

From that moment forward, fans have enthusiastically taken to
wearing various disguises at conventions. To the point where it is difficult to imagine a good con without at least a vampire, two
Klingons, three wizards, four Jedi Knights, five elves and an
unspecified number of scantly clad slave girls - showing up skin
tones ranging in all colours of the rainbow.

Hall Costumes
As their name implies, they are worn in the hallways, and contribute a lot of atmosphere. Some conventions, like Con*Cept, award prizes to wearers of hall costumes even if they decide not to enter the formal Masquerade. We do, however strongly urge you to register for the competition. Don't be shy, it is a lot of fun for everybody!

The Masquerade
Traditionally held on Saturday night, it is a marvellous occasion for costumers to show up their skills not only at design, but also at acting. Some dedicated practitioners of the art spend the whole year building up their garb and presentation, and the results are nothing less than spectacular!

Do not worry about facing those experts if you are just starting in the trade; for judging does take experience into account, and prizes are awarded according to levels of skill. Remember that even the top winners all started at the bottom!

If you wish to participate in the Masquerade, we ask you to please register in advance during the con, as early as possible. This is to give us a chance to properly organise the line-up. Some people try to register as close to the deadline as possible - thinking that they will thus step on stage last and leave a stronger impression - but we actually shuffle the entries to avoid strings of similar costumes.

You will be requested to fill a special form in order to facilitate presentation and judging. Click here to download the PDF form.

1-Character Name. This is the name of your fictional alter-ego. If it is something a tad unusual, like "Gwlülgzd of Zksytlaarglkx", we advise you to provide a phonetic translation…

2-Your Real Name. The one on your school pass, driver's licence or criminal record.

3-Theme. Does your costume lean towards Science Fiction? Fantasy? Something else in the field of Imagination? We ask mostly in order to be able to regroup contestants in various categories when there are lots of entries.

4-Your Category. Most masquerades recognise five distinct classes of skill, and they are judged accordingly.

Junior
Usually reserved for contestants less than twelve years old. Parents generally give a helping hand, which is why this is a separate class. Have no fear of being patronised, we have met quite a few impressive Juniors over the years.

Novice
You are a novice only once: when you enter a masquerade for the first time. Do not be afraid; some novices get the knack right away and do better then many costumers with lots of experience.

Journeyperson
A contestant who have entered a masquerade more than once, but has won less than three major awards.

Artisan
A person who has won three major awards or more. They get their own class because it would be unfair to pit them against newcomers.

Master
Somebody who has won at least three major awards in a high level competition, such as a Worldcon. Masters are few and far between, but always welcome.

Because we do not get many Juniors or Masters at Con*Cept, and space is limited on the form, we have not pre-printed those categories. You can, however, enter them next to the blank box.

5-Inspiration. Where did you get the idea for your costume? We ask this so that proper credit can be given. Originals and Re-Creations are also often given separate awards if the number of entries warrants it.

6-Music. We have the possibility of playing a soundtrack during your presentation. You can write playing instructions here. If submitting a tape, please make sure that it is already queued to the starting spot. For CDs, be very clear about the track that is to be played.

7-Text. You may wish the Master of Ceremony to read a special introduction to your entry or respond in some way to a comment or action. This is where you should write those special instructions. Please be clear and concise.

To make the decision as objective as possible, we usually have a panel of three judges. They are requested to evaluate the contestants' performance according to the following criteria:

Originality. How novel is your creation? Did you make it up all by yourself? Did you put a new twist on an old theme? This aspect favours those who have lots of imagination, and demonstrates that not all costumes need to be perfect copies of something else.

Workmanship. Closely re-creating some of the costumes seen in comic books, movies, or on television requires considerable skills. People good with their hands get most of their points there. If you are reproducing a somewhat obscure costume, like some anime-inspired ones, we suggest that you bring a few pictures so that the judges can see how close you are to the original.

Presentation. To be, or not to be? This one gives actors a fighting chance, and some contestants are famous for their ability to give an enjoyable performance while wearing very plain and simple costumes.

Questions?
Do not hesitate to get in touch with the Masquerade Director
Sylvain St-Pierre at sylvst@total.net

Pictures of past Con*Cept winners coming soon!