Please take note of the following rules for participation in the cosplay competition:

Contest Levels

Light Level

Middle Level

For cosplayers with some experience, focusing on more intricate and polished costumes, possibly with competition or convention participation.

High Level

Performance & Materials

• Performances must be at most 45 seconds.
• A maximum of three people per group can participate in group cosplay performances.
• The DJ will select music for the walk-on.
• Contestants are required to arrive in costumes and are responsible for their belongings. We do not have a dressing area.
• Entrants must provide a written description that the emcee will read during their appearance on stage. This description may describe the details of the costume or provide a story about the character portrayed. You can offer details about the construction process, materials, number of work hours, or anything that impresses the judges and fans. This description is limited to 100 words.
• You can cosplay anime, manga, comic, and video game characters. However, costumes that are obscene, offensive, or promote any form of hate or hate group are not allowed. Nudity is also prohibited.
• No profanity is allowed on stage. That includes messages on signs or clothes.
• Everything brought onto the stage during a walk-on must be removed at the end of the time limit. Messy substances, including confetti, glitter, flower petals, and water, are not allowed.
• Pyrotechnics or special effects such as fireworks, flash paper, or smoke machines will not be allowed.
• Contestants may not throw anything off the stage or into the crowd.
• No electrical power connections will be provided. If your costume requires power, it must be part of your costume design.
• All weapons will be subject to inspection before entry and at any point during the event.
  No functioning weapons are permitted, including guns, projectile weapons, knives, blunt objects, etc. This also includes any explosives (including firecrackers, caps, fireworks) and chemical weapons (mace, pepper spray, etc).
• NO LIVE STEEL will be permitted on the premises. Live steel is defined as swords, knives, bayonets, cane-swords, and/or other objects made of metal that can take an edge. This holds true regardless of whether the object is actually sharp. This includes star knives/shurikens.
• Replica firearms (including airsoft guns, BB guns, cap guns, paintball guns, and pellet guns) must be marked with an orange tip. Real guns and stun guns are NOT PERMITTED. Water guns are permitted as long as they are not loaded.
• Modern staff reserve the right to inspect and remove any weapon or prop at any time.
• No food, animals, or remote-control devices are allowed.
• All stage fighting or acrobatics must be limited to ¾ speed and quarter strength. One foot must always remain on the floor. Climbing onto the stage or leaping off the stage is strictly prohibited.
• Costumes cannot promote alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, firearms/weapons (or the use of any of the foregoing), any activities that may appear unsafe or dangerous, or any political agenda or message.
• No drunkenness or use of controlled substances, as determined by Modern security staff.

Prejudging

• Prejudging will be held for entrants for middle and high level contests.
• Once your online submission has been received, you will receive your judging time one week before the event.
• Please show up 15 minutes before your time slot.
• During your time slot, the judges of the contest will ask you to provide reference materials and ask specific questions about the process and appearance o your costume.

Judging

• All decisions made by the judges are final.
• Anyone who violates these rules will be disqualified from the competition and required to leave the museum. We reserve the right to remove anyone from this event at any time. If, for any reason, we feel that actions pose a threat or hazard to others, we will ask you to stop, or you will be removed from the event.

Limitations of Liability: Modern is not responsible for (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by entrants, typographical errors, printing errors, or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest; (2) technical failures of any kind, including, but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software; (3) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Contest; (4) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the Contest or the processing of entries; or (5) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant’s participation in the Contest or receipt or use or misuse of any prize.