Show off your cosplays at the fourth Geek/Art CONfluence COSPLAY CONTEST organized through Syracuse University on March 26, 2023.
The CON will mostly be in-person this year, but we will continue to have both in-person and online Cosplay Contests! See the separate rules for each type of contest below. You can see the current online entries here.
ONLINE CONTEST DETAILS
We have two separate online categories: Photos and Videos. Submit your Photo or Video entries here! You will have to sign in to Google to access the form.
Once you submit your entries, we will post them on this site for everyone to see!
Online submissions are due March 18 at 11:59pm Eastern.
During the CON, we will stream a slideshow of the online photos and videos so everyone can see all the entries. The judges will then announce the winners at the end of the CON.
We will be strictly following the rules below, especially regarding the total amount of photos and the total length of videos. Anyone who sends in too many photos or videos that are too long will be asked to cut them down.
Online Photo Category
Please fill out this form, including:
• your name and/or cosplay name—write it however you want it to appear on our website
• the name of your character
• the show/game/comic etc. that the character is from–also note if your costume is a particular version
• one photo that shows your full body/costume, from head to feet
• you may send up to 4 additional photos to show details or show how parts of your costume move (for instance: picture with wings open and picture with wings closed)
• a reference image of your character, unless your cosplay is an original character
• a brief textual description for each photo or image—this is so people who are vision-impaired can still enjoy your cosplays
Online Video Category
Videos can be skits/dances/whatever, with a single person or multiple people. Videos must be 1 minute or less and family friendly. Yes, that’s short. Less is more, pack in the greatness!
Please fill out this form, including:
• your name and/or cosplay name—write it however you want it to appear on our website
• the name of your character
• the show/game/comic etc. that the character is from–also note if your costume is a particular version
• a reference image of your character, unless your cosplay is an original character
• a brief textual description of your reference image and your video link, summarizing key features of video and image—this is so people who are vision-impaired can still enjoy your cosplays
• a link to your video–don’t email the actual video. Include a link to your video on Youtube, Dropbox, Google Drive, TikTok, etc. Videos that include someone else’s work (for instance TikToks where you react to someone else’s original video) MUST INCLUDE the original person’s name/username etc. so as to give them credit. Please be sure that your video has English subtitles, whenever possible.
IN-PERSON CONTEST DETAILS
The in-person contest will be held during the CON in the Shaffer Art Building on the Syracuse University campus on March 26. We will also broadcast it live on Zoom.
Anything that looks like a weapon must be kept under wraps except in the actual cosplay contest room.
Standard “safe weapon” rules apply–nothing that can actually shoot, nothing that would hurt somebody if we whacked or poked them with it. We reserve the right to temporarily confiscate any accessories that we deem to be too dangerous, solely on our judgement, and will return them after the show.
In-person contestants do not need to sign up in advance. They can just show up the day of the CON about an hour before the contest. Please be ready to give the judges this information:
• your name and/or cosplay name
• the name of your character a particular version or costume for the character
• the show/game/comic etc. that the character is from–also note if your costume is a particular version or costume for the character
• a reference image of your character, unless your cosplay is an original character
GENERAL RULES AND TIPS
Costumes can be from any genre, including original characters and mash-ups.
You must have made/altered at least 75% of your costume, unless it is a Closet Cosplay, in which case please label it as a Closet Cosplay.
You may participate in more than one category. However, if you do, you must enter different costumes in each category.
We recommend taking pictures/videos in GOOD LIGHTING and with GOOD FOCUS!
All images/videos that we receive will be publicly posted on http://www.geekartconfluence.com and other social media platforms. We will also photograph all participants at the in-person contest. By submitting your images/videos to us, or by allowing us to photograph you, you are granting us permission to post those images or videos publicly on these and other sites, and to use them as publicity and documentation for the CON this year and in future years.
We reserve the right to refuse cosplays that are offensive in nature, based on our judgment.
Once again, please include textual descriptions of your images, and subtitles on your videos, so they can be appreciated by an inclusive audience.
TL;DR: online contestants apply through this Google Form, in-person contestants show up about an hour before the contest and give your info to the judges!
PRIZES
Prizes will be awarded in the following categories. All prizes will be announced online and in person during the CON on March 26.
Online Photos
Grand Prize, $100; Judges’ Choice awards, $50 each.
Online Videos
Grand Prize, $100; Judges’ Choice awards: $50 each.
In-Person Photos
Grand Prize, $100; Judges’ Choice awards: $50 each.
Audience’s Choice
In the week before the CON, we’ll post all the Online entries on social media and anyone can then vote for their favorite Online Photo and Online Video.
In the week after the CON, we’ll post images of all the In-person cosplays on social media and anyone can then vote for their favorite In-Person cosplay.
We will award an Audience Choice prize of $50 for the cosplays with the most votes in each of those three categories.
QUESTIONS?
Email Chris Wildrick, chris.wildrick@gmail.com, or message him on Facebook @geekartconfluence.
We’re also on Instagram and Twitter @geekartcon.
You can download the Cosplay Contest Rules here.
ONLINE JUDGES
Wendell Smith, Sr.
Wendell Smith Sr. is a Marine veteran; husband & father of 3; cosplayer; and costume designer. He is the owner of Scorpking Costuming. Having started cosplaying in 2008, he is in his 15th year of attending cons, and 13th year of making costumes for himself and customers.
Mr Smith is the former Vice President of HBCUCon, and currently supports local conventions in a number of ways. He’s successfully ran 2 cosplay based fashion shows for HBCU Con, and walked in the Cosmoda fashion shows during NYFW for 2021 and 22.
Lastly, Mr Smith has been a guest cosplay judge for this Con since March 2021, and is grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of this Con once again for 2023.
ScorpkingCostuming on Facebook.
Woman of Wonders
Woman of Wonders has been cosplaying since 2009. She enjoys cosplaying as female protagonists like Wonder Woman (Amor), Aveline de Grandpre (Assassins Creed), and Metroid’s Samus (Gravity Suit). But what she loves most about cosplay is building the costumes and sharing her process.
She started creating at a very young age – drawing things she would see around her, but mostly from images in books or magazines. Her first love was drawing and painting portraits. In middle school, she started designing her own clothing. With her self-taught seamstress skills, drawing, crafting and her 20+ years as professional graphic designer she has thrived in costume design. Learning new skills every commission she takes on and loves the challenge. Specializing in all costume customization from full garments, battle armor and prop making.
She had fully constructed her and her husband’s costumes for over 10 years before taking on costume commissions in 2018 for other fellow cosplayers or those who just wanted custom clothing or costumes. Her costume commissions with Woman of Wonders (WOW) Custom Designs have assembled over 60 costumes for herself, family, friends and referred clients. In 2022, she and her husband combined their talents to form Pics and Patterns, LLC, a photography and costume making service. Capturing special moments in time and making their clients look good doing it.
Woman of Wonders has been appeared in advertisements and invited as a featured guest at comic cons, judged and won cosplay competitions, featured in magazines, and attended numerous conventions around the U.S. She is a lifelong and professional creative in the areas of fine art, graphic design, interactive design, sewing, crafts, costume design, fashion design…and just about anything she can get her hands on. She continues to perfect her artistry with the motivation of making her clients say “WOW!”
Woman of Wonders’ Portfolio, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Linktree.
IN-PERSON JUDGES
Kate McKay/Andromeda’s Alchemy
Kate McKay has been judging cosplay contests for the last 9 years at some of the largest conventions in Central New York. This year, she has taken on the role of Cosplay Director for Nococon, a convention in Watertown that will be happening in June. She takes pride in not only assessing cosplayers, but encouraging others to try out cosplay, and her enthusiasm for it is infectious. When she isn’t judging contests, she has entered and won cosplay contests for her own work. Kate is also one of the coordinators for Syracuse Cosplayers, a large group dedicated to promoting community and growth of cosplay around all of New York. Kate owns and operates Andromeda’s Alchemy, where she specializes in costumes and other fabric arts. Her commission work spans a wide spectrum of clientele, ranging from dance studios to large nonprofit groups. She takes pride in not only her work, but her dedication to the cosplay community. Kate believes there is room for everyone, and she truly means everyone, to be a cosplayer in their own way.
Andromeda’s Alchemy on Facebook.
Vraskaa
Vraskaa Cosplay is a Cosplayer currently residing in Buffalo, NY after relocating from Austin, TX. They specialize in monster making and armor crafting and enjoy bringing weird otherworldly things irl. They have made wardrobe nationally for haunted houses, judged and competed cosplay contests internationally, hosted multiple makers panels and workshops, and been included in Entertainment Weekly. Don’t be afraid to say hello, they love talking about crafting and seeing everything you have made!
Vraskaa on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Geek/Art CONfluence 