There are several ways to participate in cosplay (“costume play”) while attending Glass City Con. You can simply wear a costume around the convention, meet fan girls and boys, and get your picture taken. You can also join the Cosplay Contest where you will get to strut your stuff on stage for the entertainment of an adoring audience. You may even win an award from the panel of judges if you are good enough!

Glass City Con offers two contests: one for costume craftsmanship and one for skit performances. Costumes will be pre-judged prior to the Cosplay Contest, and skits must be reviewed for content.

General Cosplay Rules & Restrictions

• All state and local laws apply to the convention. Any Weapons prohibited under Ohio law are prohibited. All federal, state, and city statues are in full effect in the college, convention area, and grounds.
  
  ABSOLUTELY NO:

• Metal swords or blades of any kind, even if they’re peace-locked.
• Loose chains over a foot long.
• Air soft or BB guns.
• Live firearms (this should go without saying).
• Fireworks or explosives (this should really go without saying).
  
  
• You are allowed to bring wooden training swords and bamboo training swords as long as you don’t wield it for anything but posing for pictures. Anyone caught sword fighting, swinging swords indoors, threatening or harassing anyone with a sword, or striking anyone or college property will have their swords confiscated and may be removed from the convention.
  
  Silly string, squirt guns, and any gun that shoots a projectile (safe or not) are not permitted to be used at the convention unless it's within a specified event (like Eaten Alive, for instance), as they may cause damage or injury. Please note there are other items that can come up that may be considered weapons. When in doubt, ask a Glass City Con staff member for help. These items should be left in your car or hotel room. If this isn’t possible, we’ll keep any objects deemed weapons safely stored in Con Ops until you’re ready to leave the convention.
  Prop weapons should be made of cardboard, light wood, or light plastic just to be safe.

• Bulky costumes, costumes that have odds and ends jutting from them, and costumes that limit your vision pose a safety hazard to you and others. Make sure you can move around without hurting anyone.
  
  
• We love our staff, but due to a potential conflict of interest, core convention staff aren't allowed to compete in the contest, though they can show off their costumes during the Walk-On. Volunteers are welcome to compete.
  
  

Craftsmanship Contest Rules

• Only costumes constructed by the wearer are allowed to enter the contest, or the artist needs to be present. No commissioned or purchased costumes will be considered for this contest, but are welcome to be worn during skits.
  
  
• Please limit your costumes to subjects originating from anime, manga, video games, or Japanese culture.
  
  
• Costumes and skits that have previously won awards at other conventions are not permitted to enter the contest for judging. They may be allowed during the Walk-On (time permitting).
  
  
• Nudity, intentional or unintentional, is not permitted and may get you removed from the con. Make sure your costume is secure.
  
  
• Show up on time for pre-judging. You'll be asked a few questions about your costumes, but don't sweat it, its nothing too intense. You will not be eligible for an award if you don't go through pre-judging. Please bring a reference picture of the character you are cosplaying.

Please contact the cosplay director if you have any questions.

Performance Contest Rules

• All skits must be reviewed prior to the Cosplay Contest. Scripts can be submitted electronically before the convention. All skits will be reviewed during the Cosplay Contest Rehearsal. Skits cannot be changed after the review or they may be subject to disqualification.
  
  
• If you want to use music, pre-recorded dialogue, or sound effects, please notify us before the con and provide us with the recording. All recordings will be converted to MP3 format for consistency. Once your sound file is played we will let it run until the end. If you have any concerns about this contact us and we’ll try to accommodate you.
  
  
• Skits should be around PG-13 rated or under. Avoid the Seven Dirty Words, and keep overtly sexual references and nudity out of it.
  
  
• Choreographed combat and stunts may be permitted upon review. Please contact staff to let them know you are considering this as a possibility for your skit.
  
  
• You are in charge of your own props. If you take them on the stage, you must remove them when your skit ends. Throwing items off the stage will not be permitted.
  
  
• Absolutely no pyrotechnics, fire, lasers, strobes, flash powder, or open flame of any kind.
  
  
• Five minute time limit per skit, unless pre-approved by cosplay staff. Going over this time limit will make your group ineligible for awards.

Please contact the cosplay director if you have any questions.

Walk-On (time permitting)

The Walk-On portion of the show is for cosplayers that want to show off their costume but not be judged. Consequently, they will not be eligible for any awards. The Walk-On is time permitting - if we get enough craftsmanship and skit entries the Walk-On may be removed from the show. You must have made your own costume or pieced it together from existing pieces to participate in the Walk-On. No store bought, commissioned, or eBay'd costumes allowed. Staff members are allowed to participate in the Walk-On, as are costumes that have previously won cosplay awards at Glass City Con or other conventions.