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What is a Masquerade?
Ever since there have been science fiction conventions, fans have loved to dress up, either as their favorite characters, or in elegant costumes of their own design. It was a natural progression for conventions to institute prizes for the best costume, and that in turn has led to the tradition of the Masquerade.
These days the Masquerade is one of the prime attractions at a Worldcon, rivaled only by the Hugo Award Ceremony. It is essentially a catwalk show in which costumers of all levels and abilities show off their skills and win prizes. Worldcon members are welcome to participate, either by producing costumes of their own or by joining the audience to watch the show. The pictures on this page, all taken from past Worldcons, will give you some idea of what to expect.
By the way, don't worry that you have to be up to this sort of standard. When showing photos we obviously like to feature the very best, but there are several levels of competition so even if you are only a beginner (or a child) you stand a chance of winning a prize.
Still have questions? No problem - we've put together a page of frequently asked questions about the Masquerade which should help.
How to Participate
To participate in the Masquerade you will need to register with Renovation's Masquerade Director. Ideally we would like you to do this before the convention because it helps us plan the show, but we may also be able to accommodate entries at the convention itself.
If you are thinking about participating, please start by reading our Masquerade Rules. The Rules include an introduction from Kevin Roche and Andy Trembley, our Masquerade Directors, along with information on divisional placement, entry rules and useful hints and suggestions.
The masquerade entry form will be published along with further useful information about the venue once we get closer to the convention. The entry form will explain exactly what information we need from each entrant, but mostly this will be simple things like who you are, what your costume is, and what sort of sound and lighting you want for your performance. The other thing we will need to know is what level of experience you have. Entries are grouped into novices, journeymen (regulars) and masters (experts) so that everyone has a fair chance at a prize. And of course kids get a prize category too.
On the day of the show the events hall will be open for rehearsals, so you will get a chance to test out your presentation on the stage and talk to our tech team. But bear in mind that there will be a lot of entries so you won't get a lot of time.
Getting in Touch
If you need to reach Kevin and Andy for anything relating to the Masquerade, you can contact them at masquerade@renovationsf.org.
Hall Costumes
Does going up on stage in front of a crowd of 2,000 adoring fans worry you? OK, we can see that it might be a bit intimidating. But we still want you to bring your costume(s) to Reno. Wear it (them?) during the day as you wander round the convention. Some of our staff will be prowling the halls incognito ready to give prizes to the best-dressed fans that they see. We call these "hall costume prizes", and we want you to win one.
Photography
Worldcon Masquerades always attract hordes of people with cameras. If you class yourself as a serious photographer we will be providing a special area with a proper backdrop and lights where you can get good shots of the contestants after they leave the stage. You may need to sign up in advance for this because space is limited. Look out for announcements much nearer to the convention.
For everyone else, happy snapping, but please remember that not everyone enjoys being photographed so ask first, OK?
More about Costuming
If you would like to learn more about costuming, and perhaps pick up a few tips before starting on your own costume, you may find the following web sites useful:
To see more pictures from Worldcon Masquerades try the following links:
- LoneStarCon 2 (1997)
- Bucconeer (1998) also here
- Chicon 2000 (2000) also here
- The Millennium Philcon (2001) also here and hall costumes
- ConJosé
- Torcon 3
Photograph Credits
All of the photographs on this page come from the 1987 Worldcon in Brighton.
Centre: "Gryphon, a Mythical Beast", James Steele, winner of a Workmanship Award for Featherwork and a Presentation award for Best in Class Novice.
Bottom: "The Iron Orchid", Alison Cook, winner of a Design Award for Best Design Detail, a Workmanship Award for Peacock Tails and Electronics and a Presentation Award for Most Beautiful Master.