For your safety and enjoyment of the convention, and for providing the same for others in attendance, please adhere to the following rules in order to ensure LouisiANIME is a fun and friendly place for everyone:

1. This is a family-friendly convention, please try to keep it as PG as possible.
2. Make sure your costume does not contour to private body parts. If it does, please wear extra undergarments as necessary.
3. Men must also wear proper undergarments (this includes dance belts where applicable).
4. If your costume requires a lot of exposed skin, consider wearing a nude bodysuit.
5. Ice Skates (with or without the guards) are not allowed as either shoes OR props.
6. No regular skates or roller blades allowed inside the event space.
7. Shoes may be removed for photo shoots only, and must be worn at all other times. Socks do not count as shoes. A sturdy covering on the bottom of your foot is a must.
8. Costumes that can be confused with local, state, or federal law enforcement of any kind are not allowed.
9. No accessories that you could use to attach yourself, even temporarily, to another person is allowed. This includes, but is not limited to: handcuffs, leashes, ropes, etc.
10. There is no profanity allowed on costumes or clothing during the convention.
11. If a complaint is received about your costume or outfit the matter will be investigated and you may be asked to change.
12. Make sure all pointy objects have been dulled so as not to cause harm to others.
13. If wearing a large costume with wings or other large pieces that extend beyond your reach, are difficult to retract, or impair your vision then make sure you have a handler or two to assist you and/or be more aware of your surroundings.
14. Make sure you get cool air or ventilation while cosplaying.
15. Stay well hydrated by drinking water or Gatorade, not soda and Ramune!
16. Don’t forget to eat a proper meal!
17. If you are asked for a photo, please make sure to move out of the flow of traffic. Blocking hallways/walkways is a violation of the fire safety regulations and you will be asked to move.
18. Leave the judging to the judges.
19. Remember we are here to have a good time and be respectful.
20. If you are concerned about if your costume meets the convention regulations, please email [email protected]

Regulations, Rules and Guidelines

• Registration forms are available on the Louisianime website and during the convention on Friday and Saturday at the Cosplay Sign-up booth. Sign up early, spaces are limited. Entry can be guaranteed by filling out an entry form from March 1, 2018 until April 30, 2018.
• Each entrant is allowed to have their own personal music. All audio must be turned into staff during online sign-up. Only MP3 files will be accepted and MUST be e-mailed by April 30th, 2018. No music will be accepted on site.
• There will be a limited number of skit entries for 2018. Skits must be submitted online, be pre-approved by the staff, and be pre-recorded. No skits will be accepted on site.
• Group entries are allowed, limit of 8 entrants. Competing in multiple groups is NOT allowed.
• We want to keep the competition fun and fair, so anyone found competing outside of their level will be moved or, depending on the circumstances, disqualified. Additionally, no sandbagging of costumes is allowed. In order to prevent sandbagging, entrants wishing to compete with costumes that have previously won a costume competition must declare this upon registration.
• Cosplays that have won awards at any other conventions may be allowed at the discretion of the judges. All awards that a cosplay has won must be disclosed at the time of entry for evaluation. Conditions that will increase the likelihood that an award winning cosplay may be allowed:
  • The cosplay has undergone significant alteration (approximately 50% changed).
  • The cosplay is entered as an exhibition piece
  • The cosplay is entered into a more experienced skill division.
  • The cosplay award was a judge's award.
Failure to inform the judges and staff of previous awards will result in being banned from future contests.
• 60% of the cosplay must be constructed or altered by the entrant. If you are modeling a cosplay that someone else made, to be eligible for an award the constructor MUST be present at pre-judging.
• Purchased or commissioned cosplays are NOT eligible for any awards and cannot be entered into the contest. Costumes that are less than 60% made but are mostly “found” items (from around the home, thrifted, etc) can be entered into the NEW FOUND OBJECTS category.
• Professional cosplayers are NOT allowed to enter. A professional cosplayer is anyone who makes a significant portion of their income from costume design, construction or sales.
• Skill division is strictly enforced. If an entrant is found to have entered a division below their skill level, they will be immediately moved to a higher skill division. If an entrant is found to have intentionally entered a class below their skill level, that entrant risks immediate disqualification.
• Cosplays that have won awards at conventions of a smaller size (calculated by attendance) are allowed. Any entrant found to be entering a cosplay which has previously taken a major award at a larger convention (without at least 60% of the cosplay being altered or remade) will be immediately disqualified and risk being banned from future Louisianime competitions.
• All props must be approved by weapons check. Cosplays with parts that extend beyond arm’s length (e.g. wings), cause trouble walking up and down stairs, or vision impairment: be sure to bring a handler(s) or address your concerns with cosplay staff.
• Cosplays must maintain a PG-13 rating. No excessive violence, sexual content, exposed bodies, etc. Please wear coverings under skirts or consider wearing nude body suits. Complaints will be handled at the discretion of the convention staff/security.
• Bring at least one color reference image of your cosplay for pre-judging (on paper, phone, tablet, etc). If entering with an original character cosplay, bringing a drawing is acceptable. Progress portfolios are HIGHLY encouraged, they include photo documentation of your work from start to finish. Email the cosplay coordinator for examples.
• Pre-judging is NOT open to the public. Only participants, handlers, and parents/guardians of those in the youth category are allowed. Each entrant will have five minutes with the judges.
• Participation in the Cosplay Contest Pre-meeting is required. Arriving after the pre-meeting will result in being removed from the contest.
• Do NOT leave debris or other items on the stage. Do NOT throw anything into the audience or at the judges. Examples include: props, glitter, confetti, petals, water, etc.
• For safety concerns, any battle or fight scenes must be done at ¾ speed and one leg must remain on stage at all times.
• Skits are limited to 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Times starts once all props are on the stage.
• Dance skits are allowed if the choreography is completely original.
• Be respectful to other cosplay entrants and the judges. Unruly or disruptive behavior during pre-judging, backstage, or during the contest is not permitted and entrants associated with this behavior will be disqualified. Entrants will not be notified if they have been disqualified, and judges are not permitted to discuss the judging process or the results. This is to protect entrants, judges and staff as well as to maintain the professionalism of the contest.

Note: The cosplay directors reserve the right to refuse or revoke entry to any entrant for any reason.

Cosplay Entry Types and Skill Level Guidelines:

Entry Types:

Skits: Contestants perform on stage. Performance can be a skit, music, dancing, martial arts, etc. Skits are restricted to three (3) minutes on the stage.

Walk-ons: Contestants walk onto the stage and do several different poses for at least 30 seconds to show off their costume.
 

Skill Levels:

Junior/Youth:

• Contestants 12 years and younger are eligible to enter this category.
• A child wearing a costume designed and built entirely by an adult should be entered in either the appropriate skill division for the adult or as an exhibition piece.

Novice:  

• The Novice division exists to encourage people who are new to costuming and masquerades to compete.
• DO NOT enter the Novice division if:
  • You are a professional costumer.
  • You have competed or won an award in Journeyman/Masters/Advanced at Louisianime or any other convention.
  • You have won Best in Show, Best Novice, or Best Youth at any convention.
• DO enter the Novice division if:
  • If you are above 12.
  • You are new to costuming, have never competed before, or are not a professional costumer.

Journeyman:  

• The Journeyman division is an interim division for costumers who have consistently won awards in the Novice division, but who feel they are not yet ready to compete in the Master division.
• DO NOT enter the Journeyman division if:
  • You are a professional costumer.
  • You have competed or won in the Novice or Master divisions.
  • You have won Best in Show, Best Novice, Best Youth, or Best Journeyman.
  • You have won more than THREE major awards in the Journeyman division.
  • Minor awards may be counted at the discretion of the costumer.
• DO enter Journeyman if:
  • You are above 12.
  • You have been cosplaying for a number of years but do not yet feel like a master of your craft or are not a professional costumer.

Master:

• The Master division is open to any competitor who wishes to enter.
• DO enter Master if:
  • You are no longer a Youth, Novice, or Journeyman. Anyone may enter this category.
  • You are not a professional cosplayer.
     

Found Objects:

• Found Objects is for anyone who has made a costume mostly comprised of items they found at the store or in their home, but did little altering or sewing, therefore they do not meet the “% made” rule.
• These entries ARE NOT eligible for any awards given EXCEPT performance and Judges’ Awards.
• Found Objects entrants must still abide by all rules set forth by LouisiANIME Masquerade.