We will continue to have both in-person and online Cosplay Contests this year! See the separate rules for each type of contest below.
ONLINE CONTEST DETAILS
Submissions for our Online Cosplay Contest are now closed. See our amazing entries here!
We have two separate online categories: Photos and Videos.
We will stream a slideshow of the online photos and videos, and announce the winners on the day of the CON so everyone can see all the entries.
IN-PERSON CONTEST DETAILS
The in-person contest will be held during the CON in Goldstein Auditorium in the Schine Student Center on the Syracuse University campus on March 23.
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. For instance, you can enter both the Online Photo and Online Video contests, but you can’t use the same costume for both categories.
If you won a contest last year, you have to wait another year to participate in that category again. For instance, if you won a prize in the Online Photo category last year, you can’t enter Online Photo this year, but you can still participate in the Online Video or In-Person Cosplay contests, and you would still be eligible for an Audience Choice award.
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 online; 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 23.
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 @geekartcon.
You can download the Cosplay Contest Rules here.
ONLINE JUDGES
Wendell Smith, Sr./Skorpking Costuming
Wendell Smith Sr. is a Marine veteran; husband & father of 3; cosplayer; and costume and fashion designer. He is the owner of OHIOH Enterprises LLC, which has the subdivisions Scorpking Costuming LLC, OHIOH Studios LLC, and OHIOH Cares LLC. Having started cosplaying in 2008, he is in his 17th year of attending cons, and 15th year of making costumes for himself and customers.
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 2025!
ScorpkingCostuming on Facebook.
Harry Crosland/Bishop Cosplay
Bishop Cosplay has been cosplaying since 2009. He has cosplayed many unique characters such as Bishop from The X-men (thus his moniker), Superman and recently Dr. Voodoo. He enjoys cosplay because it enables him to breathe life into characters that don’t always get the same amount of attention that many mainstream ones get.
He also specializes in photography, especially cosplay photography. His work has been featured at the Reginald Lewis Museum in Baltimore, Star Wars Insider Magazine and recently he became the first Black cosplayer and photographer to have his work of other cosplayers published internationally in Men’s Health Magazine. Since he has started, he helped with the creation of #28daysofBlackCosplay as well as #365DaysofBlackCosplay, both of which promote cosplayers of color.
He along with Woman of Wonders has appeared in advertisements for New York Comic Con, been invited as a featured guest at comic cons locally and internationally, has judged cosplay competitions, and moderated numerous panels at conventions around the U.S. He has been at the forefront of ensuring that cosplayers, no matter their background, have their voices recognized and has done his best to be a positive influencer in this community.
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. 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 