Masquerade judging

[stephbg]

This won't be as detailed as I was planning, but if I don't do it now it won't happen.

If I were Queen: Steph's assessment techniques for masquerade judging. An off-the-cuff list which in practice would be developed with The Powers That Be and in reference to the actual prize categories for that year.

I'm *very* interested in feedback.


Was the costume:

* Made for this particular masquerade and thus on debut?
I feel quite strongly it should be something new to be awarded a major prize

* Made or at least assembled by the person wearing it?
Hired it? Got it made by a professional? Or your Mum? Not as good as DIY.

* Designed by the person wearing it?
Sometimes a good costume is assembled from ready-made componets, so I allow for this.

* Related to the theme of the masque and/or con?
Well obviously

* Made well or creatively?
Saftey pins are not a crime, but I'd like to see a certain amount of thought or effort go into it.

* Worn or presented well or creatively?
You don't need to be an extrovert, but it helps if it stays in one piece for at least an hour, and you at least try to pose for photos. Less critical.

* Either a good character copy or an interesting original?
I confess to a personal bias towards original creations rather than cosplay-type strict copies, but I am capable of putting that bias aside if necessary

* Imbued with X-, wow-, and/or oooooooh-factor?
'Cause sometimes it's just a gut feeling :-)

And this year? Based purely on low-res views of R&L's photos: My attention kept being drawn to The Weeping Angels from Dr Who: Blink.

However, I didn't get a close look at everyone's, and didn't get the chance to identify all the characters. I would never be a judge unless I got a chance to actually speak to the people.

You may fire.

Comments

[purrdence.livejournal.com]

Thank you :)

I was actually just posting something about the lack of judging rules for the masquerade to the swancon lj (as Russell B. Far has asked for suggestions). Perhaps you should add this.

The predmoinace of pro/quasi- pros winning every year is starting to get annoying. Some of us only costume for a)the fun of it and b)at Swancon.

-----------
And to answer your questions, regarding the Weeping Angels:

1)This was made for the express purpose of wearing it to this year's Masquerade. It was a trickier costume to put together than I anticipate, so I probably wouldn't do that one again.

2)I made the grey tunics and mixed up the body paint (couldn't find matte grey, had to mix it using white and black greaspaint). Drhoz made the wings (although the frame was fairywings bought at Spotlight).

3) I designed them, using the screen caps to Blink as inspiration. For time and monetary reasons, they are not exact copies.

4) Theme was 'Hereos and Villians'. IMO, the weeping angels were the scariest villians I have ever seen on Dr Who.

5. I did my best.

6)

[baby-elvis.livejournal.com]

it could be possible to have pro/ amateurs in different categories. or have something like the masters, journeymen and novice categories used at worldcon.

[stephbg.livejournal.com]

We're getting into the kind of fan/pro territory that I believe causes trauma in Ditmars and Tin Ducks. No wonder I've not heard of a set of masquerade rules before :-)

[baby-elvis.livejournal.com]

i think there is a place for the designer and/or maker to enter a costume, but not wear it. the designer and/or maker would win the prize (unless it was for performance.)

for example, i might design and make a costume based on the space armour from starship troopers - but get someone else to wear it because my body ttpe is wrong for it.

or i might make more than one of the costumes in a group entry but only wear one of them myself, or not at all.

[stephbg.livejournal.com]

I confess I'd not thought of the using-a-model scenario, but that would come out in the candidate interviews.

Me: Did you make it yourself?

Ze: No. Ze Did (points).

Me: Cool.

I was thinking of excluding designers/makers who were not members of Swancon. If they're members, no problem.

[anysia.livejournal.com]

I felt that the "Weeping Angels" from the Dr Who Ep Blink (I have a high res image if you would like me to email it to you) were the winners. Wings' and my costumes were gawd awful puns and were done for the "I can't believe you guys did that!" (worked too)

Wing was wrapped in 15 meters of layered mozzie netting, scrunched up to make it fluffy. Bald wig, and a tube of sparkly green "soap".

I was in a sandwich board elevator/lift doors(designed by me, cut, glued, pasted, painted taped by Wing). Even had a "In case of fire, use stairs" warning under the elevator buttons)

Lex Loofah (with his Kryto-soap and shower loofah) and his henchman Otis (for those who didn't get the joke, Otis was inventor of the elevator/lift).. arch enemies of "Soaperman"

I had a helluva lot of fun walking around asking "Did someone need a lift?" Then even worse puns flowed.

[stephbg.livejournal.com]

I liked you two for fun factor and effort. Definitely honourable mention material.

[drhoz.livejournal.com]

yes, the puns were truly painful

[anysia.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Muhahahahah Wait until NEXT year!

[pharaoh-katt.livejournal.com]

This is almost about this point, but not quite. I thought the judges this year were down right snooty. They glared at everyone during the parade (I believe my friend referred to it as a look of absolute disdain) and were rude to people who went to speak to them (as I found out after trying to speak to them). How are judges chosen?

Some sort of rule-thing should be devised, points for originality and keeping in theme at least (what is next year's theme?)

Having said that: The Weeping Angels should have won, they were absolutely brilliant and I could tell ho they were immediately. And they kept in theme. Weeping Angels for the win.

[stephbg.livejournal.com]

I was casually threatened with the job having won the last two years and announced my un-intention to run this year (just as well in the end, since I didn't make it on the night). Nothing official, I was just mildly prepared and willing to be one of the people to do it this year. Judging (particularly in the absence of guidelines to date) has been very difficult for some, leading to actual tears of frustration. By the judges.

In the past I've noticed previous winners as judges but I've not been privvy to any particular selection process.

I don't know who it was this year (or even who won what, and on what basis) but it's not really relevant.

As for next year we (the committee) haven't yet discussed a theme for the Masquerade, but the main theme of the con is Contact, so AFAIAC I'd like to see lots of aliens :-)

[anysia.livejournal.com]

Oh good, I'm not the ONLY one who noticed the 'tude of the judges on the night. The next day, a group of us were discussing what had happened, and we notice two people almost bending over backwards to eavesdrop. It was the judges. Guess they didn't like 10+ people all agreeing that they dropped the ball/ignored the theme/misawarded the prizes, and that the Angels should have won. And no, the Angels weren't in at this discussion.

[delicious-irony.livejournal.com]

I honestly think it would be good to have some sort of guidelines for Masquerade judging.

This year a couple of sweet cosplay girls in a fairly amateurish dual costume of Jareth and Sarah from the movie Labyrinth got one of the major prizes because the DJ put on a song from the soundtrack which they danced to, then did a dip-and-kiss. Not very interesting or accurate - no facial makeup either. The judges said that the dip-and-kiss had captured their hearts. *eyeroll*

And a couple of judged costumes were reruns from last year, like the Kaylee and River from Firefly.

Being a person who cannot sew at all, I don't really value the DIY by the wearer as terribly important. I think that it would at least be important for the costume to be constructed for and debuted at the con, however.

Guidelines would definitely be good.:)

[stephbg.livejournal.com]

"Sewing" doesn't always have much to do with it. You do alright :-)

BTW was the icon on purpose? ;-)

[delicious-irony.livejournal.com]

Kinda on purpose.

I didn't like the fact that they didn't have any honourable mentions. I know firsthand that if you get a shout-out you're more than happy to not have a prize. There were a lot of people who put in a helluva lot of effort this year and didn't get any recognition or acknowledgement at all.

I loved the 'Blink' angels, and the steampunk sandwich board man, and the Jack Sparrow. I didn't think the Jedi troupe were really eligible for the judging, and were mainly showcasing themselves to promote the workshop the next day.

Fans love a good try, especially if it succeeds to any extent. Effort should be rewarded.

[stephbg.livejournal.com]

I'm a big big fan of effort and fun, and I think the honourable mentions are *very* important if a costume is outstanding in some way but not enough to win overall. 2007 did it well I thought with mentions for "Best workpersonship", "Best performance" (one Jessica Rabbit IIRC), "Cutest", "Best group" etc.

BTW I really missed getting a good look at your costume (which bit did the glowing?) and some general conversation. I think it's been a couple of years now since we've actually laid eyes on each other.

[delicious-irony.livejournal.com]

Yeah. 'Twas truly unfortunate and sucky that your recent misfortunes meant you weren't able to have a good time at Swancon. I wasn't really there, due to flying out that weekend, but I did manage to catchupchat with a few friends, and attend the Masquerade.

My costume this year was Agatha Clay from Girl Genius, a comic by Phil and Kaja Foglio. The character can be seen here, the one with the glasses.

I had a cartoony-steampunk raygun, with a screw-in cartridge vial full of lightstick fluid. Unfortunately I didn't realise that the fluid is actually quite oily, so I was leaking little glowing droplets all through the hotel....:P The glow faded after about 36 hours, though, and the actual stuff was clear and didn't stain. Which was good. Just itched and stung something fierce on skin.

We should catch up sometime, over appropriate warm beverages. My email is in my userinfo, if you ever want to chat.:)

[anysia.livejournal.com]

Just because you can't sew, doesn't mean you don't put a lot of effort into your costume for the Masq. If you find, adapt, alter something and add to it, you have 'made' your own costume.

And yes, I thought the Labyrinth dance duo was 'cutsie', but worthy of award? Not really.

Recycling previous winners as new just isn't right. And it's kind of a slap in the face for all those who busted their backsides to make something new (Space Marine, Cruella DeVille, Evil Mr Potato Head just ot name a few).

[purrdence.livejournal.com]

Evil Mr Potato Head was cool.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_gilligan_/]

Was the costume: Danger Mouse

* Made for this particular masquerade and thus on debut?
Yes I made this cosume just for Swancon this year

* Made or at least assembled by the person wearing it?
I made it all, despite alot of people seem to think I hire the costumes I wear..It reasons like that where I think I get judged differently.

* Designed by the person wearing it?
yes

* Related to the theme of the masque and/or con?
yes

* Made well or creatively?
I thought so, made in 3 days so could have done with more work.

* Worn or presented well or creatively?
I thought I did ok, can't find many photos though.

* Either a good character copy or an interesting original?
I like both but this year I went with an good character copy

* Imbued with X-, wow-, and/or oooooooh-factor?
I think my character costume got a wow factor, which i'm happy with.

[(Anonymous)]

Who won this years Masq?

From the comments they didn't deserve to win?