Craftsmanship Contest Description
The Game and Geek Expo Craftsmanship contest is a contest for those who would like their handmade costumes to be judged and inspected closely by a panel of judges and show off their costume on stage. Contest signups are available online and in person at the convention.
The contest will take place on Sunday June 8, 2025. So break out your build book and your reference photos and get ready for an awesome craftsmanship contest!
For questions regarding these rules, signups or anything related to cosplay contests at Game & Geek Expo please email: [email protected]
Category Descriptions
Youth – Any entrant aged 13 years and younger. For safety reasons, children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult during pre-judging.
Novice – Any cosplayer who has won 2 or fewer awards. This is the category you select if you have never cosplayed before, or have not won any contests.
Intermediate – Any cosplayer who has won 3 – 4 awards.
Advanced – Any cosplayer who has won 5 or more awards.
If you have a group, determine who has the highest skill level and use that when registering.
Example 1: You have a group of 4 Novices and 1 Intermediate. You will be entered at Intermediate level.
Example 2: You have 3 Advanced and one Novice in your group. You will be entered as an Advanced level.
Craftsmanship Contest Rules:
Follow all venue and convention rules and guidelines.
1) Please, do not attempt to bribe, entice, offer favors, or otherwise influence the judges in your favor.
2) Poor sportsmanship is grounds for disqualification from future Game & Geek Expo contests. Be a gracious winner and loser. Additionally, bullying another contestant or cosplay staff member is strictly prohibited. If the contest coordinator finds out that bullying has occurred the bully will be disqualified. Be kind to your fellow contestants.
3) No entries may contain religious, political, insulting or offensive statements. We utilize the following definition of offensive cosplays: cosplays that incite violence, racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, transphobia, ageism, and bigotry. This includes race-facing (e.g. blackface/brownface/yellowface) as well as costumes that replicate or make light of historic or current international or national tragedies (this includes depictions of the novel coronavirus in any way).
4) Lying to cosplay staff about your costume’s eligibility (including cosplay judges) may be grounds for disqualification from future Game & Geek Expo contests.
5) You must have a Convention badge to participate in the Cosplay Contest. Game & Geek Expo staff are not permitted to enter, conventions volunteers are eligible to enter if they do not work directly with the cosplay contests.
6) Bring reference pictures for the costume you are entering. You MUST have a reference image in order for the costume to be judged. Fan-art costumes are allowed for existing characters. Costumes from all media are allowed. No original characters are allowed. Book and Podcast costumes are permitted with proper documentation from the source material and any visual references used. Genderbent versions of characters are permitted. References may be digital and shown on a phone or tablet. We will not accept emailed references.
7) In order to compete you must have made 75% of your costume, or the person who created the costume must be present. (Example: If you wish to make a costume and have someone wear it for the contest, you must be present to explain the construction and the awards will go to the creator of the costume, not the model.)
8) Costumes that have won a major award at a previous contest are not permitted. (“Major award” is defined as a first place award in any category or a ‘best’ i.e. best in show, best weekend, etc)
9) The judges’ rule is final.
10) While we all do enjoy a good martial arts sequence, we must insist that your act does not include any action that would put yourself or others at risk for injury or harm. This includes brandishing weapons. If your presentation absolutely requires any of these things, you must clear it with the Cosplay staff prior to stepping on the stage. We are not responsible for injury or harm during the costume contest.
11) Everything brought on stage by your group must leave the stage with the individual or group.
12) Please keep your costumes PG-13. Dance tights, nude body suits, dancer’s belts, ect must be used where appropriate to keep costumes PG-13. For more information please see our event rules and regulations.
13) No foul language please! Usage of any foul or abusive language on stage is grounds for instant disqualification and removal from the contest.
14) No use of projectiles, glitter, silly string, bubbles, fake blood not on your person or other messy items.