Masquerade Rules

The Masquerade at Noreascon 4 will be held according to the following rules and regulations. Any exceptions to these rules require the permission of the Masquerade Director. These rules are subject to modification and additions in future updates, but the likelihood of the following being removed or amended is slim to none.

1. No open flame, fire, flash powder or flash paper is allowed. Sealed electronic flashes are permitted. If you are using a strobe effect, please note it on your form so the MC may warn the audience. No pointing of laser pens at the audience or tech crew. This rule is non-negotiable. When in doubt, please use common sense and don’t do injury to your fellow costumers.
2. All special effects must be reviewed with the Masquerade Director before or at rehearsal.
3. Costumes with electric power requirements must be self-contained. Connections to electrical outlets will not be available.
4. No messy substances on stage. If in doubt ask the Masquerade Director. The stage must be in as good a condition when you leave as when you enter. If you are leaving something on stage, it must be easily picked up by the stage crew, or else you should bring your own ninjas for clean-up.
5. The weapons policy of the convention must be followed. In addition, it should be noted that Massachusetts has very strict laws about weapon possession and transport. A good rule of thumb is that the less it looks like it is a real weapon, the fewer problems you will have. Please transport your weapons to and from the Masquerade in a bag or closed container if they do not conform to the convention weapons policy. While weapons will be allowed on stage, our weapons master must check them first. All weapons must be sheathed before leaving the stage. No real firearms and no projectile weapons are allowed. If your costume requires a bow, it must be unstrung when you are not on stage.
6. All pre-registered contestants must check in at the Masquerade Desk. Entries that do not check in may be eliminated. At-the-con registration will be available until Saturday afternoon, September 4, 2004.
7. All masquerade contestants must be attending members of Noreascon 4. If the maker and presenter are different people, both must be attending members. A costume maker need not have a membership if they will not be attending Noreascon 4.
8. No live animals are allowed on stage with the exception of service animals.
9. Each person may be on stage in only one entry unless they have received permission from the Masquerade Director. Otherwise, a contestant may compete with as many costumes as they like, so long as they wear only one of them. The others must be on other bodies. Should an exception be made, the contestant(s) should be warned that they might not be able to get special scheduling. In other words, it is highly recommended that you do NOT ask for an exception to this rule, but if you do and if you receive it, you are responsible for your own success.
10. Contestants must report to the Masquerade Green Room on time. Report times will be supplied at the convention. Failure to appear or to be ready to go on stage may result in disqualification. Note that Acts of God may, to an extent, mitigate this.
11. The Masquerade Director reserves the right to eliminate anyone from competition on the basis of taste, danger to the audience or other contestants, or for any other reason deemed sufficient.
12. Surprise the audience, not the masquerade director. If you are planning something particularly “unusual,” please let us know in advance.