Rules are subject to change at any time.

• All contestants must be registered attendees of the convention.

• Only one entry allowed per person for the cosplay contest.

• The maximum number of participants allowed in a group is 8; this number includes stage ninjas or other non-competing helpers.

• You may choose whether or not to come on stage with the stage dark or lit up. However, we will not change the lights during your skit, they will stay the same the entire time once the skit begins.

• We will only accept submissions in MP3 format. Please do not send youtube links.

• Music/dialogue submitted to Arise Con for the Competition must be within enforced time limits. Individuals have up to 1 minute, groups may have up to 2 minutes.

• Please be on time for your judging time and meeting. If you are not at the meeting or your judging time, you will be disqualified.

• Only participants, handlers, and parents of those in the Youth category may be present during Cosplay Judging.

• If 75% percent or more of your income comes from the crafting and sewing of costumes or garments, you are considered a professional/semi-professional. This means you are required to enter in the Master’s category.

• All contestants must be able to move their costume on their own.

• If your costume is made almost entirely by someone else, they must be present to win in workmanship and the prize will go to them, you will get some credit for being the model.

• The judges have the right to change your division to a higher division to create a fair competition. Consider this an honor. The coordinator and judges also have the right to not give out an award for any reason they see fit.

• Any costumes that have won a major award at another convention will be prohibited from competing unless 65% DOCUMENTED improvements have been made upon the costume.

• Major Awards are 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or Best of. Judge’s Choice and Honorable Mention awards do not count toward your number of awards won to define your division and eligibility.

• Costumes from Japanese and western media are allowed. This includes anime, manga, video games, comic books or film adaptations. Costumes outside these categories require pre-approval.

• The performance you bring to the stage must be unique to this competition and not a direct duplicate of one that already exists. (This rule does not apply to works of your own creation that were entered in a previous competition, but did not win anything.)

• Passing other people’s work off as your own original work whether it be crafting, designing, or performance, or not making the required percentage of your cosplay specified by your division (50-80%) is considered unethical and may have you disqualified or banned.

• Objects may not be thrown into the audience.

• Contestants are prohibited from using materials that leave residue or debris on stage. This includes, but is not limited to, loose paper, confetti, glitter, liquid, petals, or other small objects. If you cannot immediately and completely remove an item from the stage when you exit, you cannot bring it on stage.

• There will be no access to electrical outlets on stage.

• Surprises are not allowed. Any last minute changes need to be reported to the department coordinator before the day of the cosplay contest. If you want us to keep a surprise secret from the judges and audience, we can do that, but you MUST tell our cosplay coordinator what you plan on doing. Deviating from your described performance without any notice will get you disqualified.

• Profanity and obscene, lewd gestures, blatant nudity are NOT allowed. This is a family event and we ask that you 9se some discretion with your character, props and presentation. All music will be reviewed and edited by us if necessary.

• Shoes are required on stage.

• Participants will be required to sign a liability waiver for using the stage to perform and a release for use of any videos and photo images procured by the convention.

• For safety reasons, the following are not allowed: Live animals, substances which might damage or soil, aerosol sprays, projectiles of any kind. No pyrotechnics will be allowed including but not limited to: fire, flash powder, explosives, smoke bombs or fireworks.

• Prop blades must be fake and dull. Live steel is NOT allowed.

• Entries that could potentially damage the Convention Center facilities, other participants or the wearer will not be allowed.

• Prop weapons used as part of the costume are allowed with restrictions. You are expected to act responsibly with your prop weapon. If you decide to carry a prop weapon, by attending you accept any legal and financial responsibility for damage your weapon may cause to persons or property.

• No real weapons whatsoever, including airsoft guns. Prop weapons must be obviously fake. Prop firearms must have an orange tip with no projectiles loaded.