The Baltimore Comic-Con and the Hard Rock Cafe Baltimore have once again joined forces to proudly present the 2022 Annual Costume Craftsmanship Contest. The Hard Rock Cafe Baltimore returns as the 2022 Costume Craftsmanship Contest sponsor, bringing back the internationally-recognized pop cultural brand and destination as the partner for one of the convention’s premier events.
This year, the adult costume craftsmanship contest is being held on Saturday, October 29th at 4pm. All participants must be in the judge room by 12:30pm or their deposit will be forfeit. Judging will start promptly at 1pm and be split into novice, journeyman-traditional, and journeyman-large build contests.
The children’s costume contest will be held on Sunday, October 30th at 2:30pm. All participants must be in the judging room by 12pm.
All entrants to the Costume Craftmanship Contest are strongly encouraged to bring reference material for their characters, as well as a build book showcasing their process, for the judging panel to reference.
In addition to the Craftsmanship Contest, this year’s event lineup includes, for the first time, the Cosplay Showcase. The Cosplay Showcase will provide an opportunity for all cosplayers, regardless of whether or not they made their own outfit, to have a moment up on the Baltimore Comic-Con stage to strut their stuff for the audience and for the cameras.
Costume Craftsmanship Contest/Cosplay Showcase Schedule:
October 29th
- 12:30pm – Adult Registrants to Judging Room
- 3:30pm – Cosplay Showcase
- 4:00pm – Adult Craftsmanship Contest (4th Floor Ballroom)
October 30th
- 12:30pm – Kids Registrants to Judging Room
- 2:00pm – Cosplay Showcase
- 2:30pm – Kids Craftsmanship Contest
This year’s contest will once again be split into several categories:
Adult – Journeyman-Traditional ($10 entry fee)
- Those working a job involving building or fabricating costumes, or
- Those who make costumes or accessories for sale (via eBay, Etsy, etc.), or
- Those who have won a major award at another costume/craftsmanship competition at any convention, or
- Those who have been invited to show in any official capacity based on their cosplay
- Costumes in this category must be primarily traditional soft/sewn garments and apparel
Adult – Journeyman-Large Build ($10 entry fee)
- Those working a job involving building or fabricating costumes, or
- Those who make costumes or accessories for sale (via eBay, Etsy, etc.), or
- Those who have won a major award at another costume/craftsmanship competition at any convention, or
- Those who have been invited to show in any official capacity based on their cosplay
- Costumes in this category must be primarily built from hard materials (plastic, worbla, foam, etc.)
Entrants into either Journeyman category may be re-categorized at the Judges’ discretion.
Adult – Novice ($5 entry fee)
- Any adult 18 years or older that does not meet the above requirements
Kids (Free)
Group – More than one person ($10 entry fee)
- Any group with more than one person choosing to enter and be judged as a single entity.
PRIZES
Overall Best Costume (Best in Show)
$1,000 Grand Prize in Cash for Adults
Prizes for Adult – Journeyman-Traditional:
$200 Cash for 1st Place
$100 Cash for Runner-Up
Prizes for Adult – Journeyman-Large Build
$200 Cash for First Place
$100 Cash for Runner-Up
Prizes for Adult – Novice:
$125 Cash for 1st Place
$75 Cash for Runner-Up
Group category (winning groups divide prize amount between members):
$200 Cash for 1st Place
$125 Cash for Runner-Up
Judges’ Awards:
$50 Hard Rock Cafe gift cards will be awarded to three adult contestants that the judges believe deserve special recognition
Kids Prizes in each of the Newborn to Age 11 and Age 12-17 categories::
$100 Grand Prize in Cash for Kids Best in Show
$75 Cash for First Place in category
$50 Cash for Runner-Up in category
Judges’ Awards:
$50 Hard Rock Cafe gift cards will be awarded to three kids’ contestants that the judges believe deserve special recognition
Each winner will also receive free admittance to the Baltimore Comic-Con in 2023!
This year’s contest is once again being headed up by Carrie Wood, who will be joined at the judging table by ChibiTifa and Amanda Cadavid to round out the panel for another convention.
Carrie Wood brings with her 20 years of cosplay experience to the judges’ table, having attended her first convention in 2002. A veteran of the mid-Atlantic convention scene, she has cosplayed dozens of characters from comics, anime, video games, and more, and has previously helped run contests at other local events. In 2015, she merged cosplay with her day job when she penned The Overstreet Guide to Cosplay for Gemstone Publishing, a book that provided an insider’s view of the hobby. Outside of cosplay, she’s active in the local video game music scene as member of the band Quick Save. As Baltimore native, she looks forward to bringing her unique perspective on cosplay back to this year’s event.
ChibiTifa is a cosplayer and seamstress from Maryland who has been in the hobby for more than 15 years. She has made a vast array of costumes and has been a cosplay craftsmanship judge at several conventions across the country. As part of Team Stellar Rose, she was chosen to represent the United States as Team USA 2021 at the World Cosplay Summit. She makes it her mission to make the cosplay world more welcoming and diverse to all newcomers.
Amanda Cadavid, also known as Bluucircles, hails from New York City and has nearly two decades of cosplaying under her belt. Starting by hand-sewing her first costume in 2003, she’s taught herself as many techniques as she’s had time to learn, and has made everything from ballgowns to bodysuits. In addition to her personal cosplay work, she has taken on a number of outside commissions as well, and always enjoys the satisfaction of seeing someone feel their best in their new costume. She’s more than happy to share crafting tips, tricks, and advice – but she’ll be just as glad to talk your ear off about her favorite video games!
RULES:
- All participants must have Baltimore Comic-Con admission wristband or badge (this includes Associate, Dealer, Press, and other specialty badges). Members of Baltimore Comic-Con staff are ineligible to compete.
- Participants can register at any time up to 12:30pm on Saturday or 11:30am on Sunday for the respective Costume Craftsmanship Contests by visiting the Costume Craftsmanship Contest Booth located in the lobby at the entrance to the show floor.
- All participants will be required to sign a permission/release/waiver form to participate in the contest. Minors under 18 years of age may participate only if a permission/release form signed by the minor’s legal guardian is provided. Forms are available at the Costume Craftsmanship Contest Booth (see #2 above). Participating minors (including those aged 12 and under) requiring adult supervision must be accompanied by their parent or guardian at all times.
- Participant category (Amateur or Professional) shall be determined by a set of 3 judges during the judging portion of the contest.
- Pictures will be taken during judging of all participants and throughout the costume contest and will be the property of Baltimore Comic-Con.
- All costumes must abide by the rules of Baltimore Comic-Con, including but not limited to the Baltimore Comic-Con Weapons and Harassment policies. If a policy violation is discovered, that entry will be disqualified.
- Professionally made, purchased, or rented costumes are prohibited.
- Costumes that have won any major awards at any convention may not be entered in the Baltimore Comic-Con Costume Craftsmanship Contest unless major (50% or more) work has been improved or worked over with photographic proof of the changes.
- No glitter, confetti, pyrotechnics, live flame, or smoke generators of any kind are allowed in the Baltimore Convention Center.
- No electrical power connections will be provided. If your costume requires power, it must be part of your costume design.
- Groups from the same series are welcome to enter, but random characters from different series are discouraged. Groups will be considered as one entry and the winners will receive one prize to share.
- Each contestant may present (wear) only one costume, or a group of people may wear one costume at the same time (i.e., a large costume that requires several people inside to move it).
- All entrants are encouraged to bring reference material for their costume. Not all judges know all characters, so it is in everyone’s best interest to bring a color picture (or several) if possible. The reference should depict the details of the costume you are presenting. Please do not ask to e-mail or print out references at the convention.
- Costumes will be judged on a variety of criteria, including craftsmanship and overall effect.
- All judges’ decisions of the Costume Craftsmanship Contest are final.
