Cosplay Skit Contest

The Skit Contest is a performance contest in front of an attendee audience with the important requirement that you be in cosplay.

Locations
Cosplay HQ – Ideation Room 1 (Check-In)
Main Events Room (Contest)

Awards

The number of awards may be modified depending on the number of qualifying entries.

Eligibility

You must be in cosplay - wearing a costume of a recognizable, referenceable character from a source material, such as an anime, manga, comic book, video game, movie, TV series, or similar source of media. Contact the cosplay team if you have any questions.
You don’t need to have made your own cosplay.
You are required to perform a short skit, monologue, song, dance, or anything else entertaining!
You need to pre-register and there is no day-of registration as we do not have time to accept day-of entries.
You are required to provide your music/audio as an MP3 either when you register, or by email before May 1st.
You can enter as an individual or a group, either way there is only one prize per entry.
Time limits for entries will be as follows: Every entry will be given a base time limit of 2 minutes. Every person beyond the first member will be given an additional 30 seconds. For example, a group of 3 people would receive a time limit of 3 minutes (2 minutes + 2 x 30 seconds). If you require an extension to your time limit, please contact the Cosplay Coordinators at cosplay@otafest.com.
All performances must be at least 50% self choreographed. You may take inspiration from existing routines or performances (e.g. using recognizable dance moves or re-enacting similar movements for the character) however the majority of your performance must be self designed and choreographed. The overall percentage of the choreography is at the discretion of the cosplay staff and the judges. If you have questions about this rule, please contact the cosplay team.
Spots in the contest are limited. Please submit your entry as soon as possible. If we receive too many entries, you may be placed on a waiting list. If you are added to the waiting list, we will provide you with as much notice as possible if a spot becomes available, up until the end of the check in window, so please be ready to compete on the day of the contest.
If you are unable to compete on the day of the contest, please contact the cosplay team via email or at the check in desk so we can give your spot to another group on the waiting list.
You will be required to select a stage prompt for the AV team on the registration form. This is used to indicate when to start your audio to the AV team and the contest coordinators. If you are unsure on which prompt to select, please contact the cosplay team for assistance.

All performers must be registered as part of your group. No member of the audience or unregistered person will be allowed on stage during the contest. You are not permitted to throw anything into the audience. Personal recording devices are not allowed on stage. You may have a friend come up to the photography area in front of the stage to record your performance if you like. Please contact the cosplay team if you have questions about this policy.

Audio

All audio you wish to use must be submitted via the registration form or emailed to cosplay@otafest.com prior to May 1st. Due to technical and logistical limitations no day-of audio will be accepted, no exceptions.

All audio for the contest must be free of any foul language, including swear words, slurs, and otherwise unacceptable content.

Only audio submitted on the form or via email will be accepted, we cannot accept other forms of audio submission (e.g. USB stick).

If you experience issues with submitting audio, please contact us prior to May 1st. We will not accept any last-minute changes, or changes submitted after this date.

Format

We will meet you at the main events room approximately 30 minutes before the scheduled show time (check the schedule for Call Time) in order to confirm entry, set up, and get everyone in performance order. Similar to a traditional cosplay contest, entrants will line up off stage in performance order and wait their turn.

You will be called up to perform in front of the audience and judges and then you will leave the stage and the next entrant will perform. Seating will be provided at the front of the room for you to watch the rest of the show. Once all entrants have performed, our judges will leave the room to deliberate, and when they’ve made their decision, will return and present the awards right away.