Costumes do not have to be of characters from the show or original gargoyle characters, though we certainly wouldn't mind if they were. If you really want to dress up as a Klingon or Harry Potter, we won't stop you. Regardless of the costume you choose, the following rules apply.

• Costumes must be in good physical taste, meeting PG-13 standards. Please use your best judgment and common sense. The convention staff reserves the right to ask you to cover up a bit more if they deem it necessary.
• If your costume depicts an original character from someone's fanfic, please make sure it's all right with them first. We aren't going to require you to provide proof of prior approval, but please understand that costumes designed expressly to denigrate someone else's character will not be acceptable.
• If you're just entering the Masquerade and not the Cosplay, please limit your on-stage time to no more than one minute. That should be ample time for you to walk on, show off the features of your costume, and let people get pictures.
• Only one costume per person will be judged.
• Masquerade signup starts as soon as the registration desk opens on Friday. It will continue until 2 hours before the Masquerade, and no late Masquerade entries will be accepted. If you need to withdraw from the contest for any reason, you can do so until up to 15 minutes before the Masquerade itself, and we will take you off the schedule.

What is a Cosplay? Cosplay is short for "costumed play". Cosplay participants put together solo or group skits featuring the characters they're dressed up as, and the Cosplay awards will recognize the most entertaining skits. If you are entering the Cosplay, all the rules from the above section apply, and so do the following rules.

• Skits may last a maximum of four minutes. You will be introduced, and then your countdown will start. If you take more than four minutes, you will be ushered off the stage.
• You may only participate in one skit. If you participate in a skit, you may not enter separately as a Masquerade entrant.
• If you have music for your Cosplay skit, please provide a tape or CD when you sign up for the contest. Tapes and CDs must be clearly marked with your group's name. Tapes must be cued up to the beginning of the music you want. CDs must be labled with the track number you want played. If you want to start a CD track somewhere other than its beginning, please dub the song to tape and give that to us instead.
• Weapons are permitted, but if you plan to unsheath them during your skit, they may not have sharp edges or sharp points. Real firearms are not permitted, and replica firearms must be clearly identifiable as such. Failure to observe these rules will result in immediate ejection from the Cosplay and possibly also the Convention. Furthermore, by entering the Cosplay you accept full responsibility for any injuries sustained as a result of anything you do with a weapon. For example, if you whack someone's hand with a wooden sword and break their finger, you will be liable and will not hold the Convention or its staff responsible.
• Do not jump, backflip, handspring or otherwise hurl yourself bodily during your skit. Do not hurl anyone else bodily during your skit. You accept full responsibility for any injuries sustained as a result of breaking this rule, and even if no one is hurt, violation of this rule will result in ejection from the Cosplay and possibly also the Convention.
• If your skit involves throwing anything, it must be something that you can pick up and take offstage without having to stop the Cosplay for someone to get a broom. Pitching a tennis ball at someone is okay, if you take the tennis ball with you; throwing confetti, whether onstage or at the audience, is not. Failure to observe this rule will result in ejection from the Cosplay.

Our guest judges will give out awards for various categories in the Masquerade and Cosplay. All winners will receive a medal or ribbon, and some winners will also receive other cool stuff. Categories will include:.

• Best Skit (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
• Best Costume (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
• Best Canon Character
• Best Original Character
• Best in Show

Cosplay entrants are eligible for all awards. Masquerade entrants are eligible for all awards except for Best Skit. Other awards may be invented by our judges and given on the spot. Past examples of such awards include "Best Couple" and "The Gorelisa Award" (best cross-dressed costume).

Questions about the Masquerade and Cosplay?
Contact us at: staff@gatheringofthegargoyles.com