General Cosplay Rules

Though some of the cosplay events at Tsubasacon are judged, and therefore have more specific rules, every cosplayer must abide by a basic list of guidelines:

• Outfits should not be so revealing as to warrant indecent exposure charges. All body parts should be covered and not require constant pulling, tugging, straightening, etc. of the outfit to keep them covered. A good rule of thumb is to not wear anything that covers less than what you would wear to the pool or beach.
• Tsubasacon is a family event; while we understand that some cosplay characters wear more revealing outfits than others, you may be asked to "cover up" or modify your outfit in some way that is more modest in public areas (see below about cosplay event exceptions).
• Some of the hallways of the convention center, especially near Artist Alley and during busy periods, are narrow and extremely congested. If your cosplay entails accessories which may hinder hallway traffic (e.g. wings), please design your cosplay so that the wings may easily be removed in case you are asked to remove them (see below about cosplay event exceptions). A good rule of thumb is a costume should be no more than 2 feet on all sides.
• While Tsubasacon may ask participants to modify their costume for various reasons in the public areas of the convention center, we realize that a lot of work has been put into the outfit. During cosplay events, such as the masquerade or costume judging, cosplayers are permitted to wear their cosplay in its original, unaltered form.
• Due to health code, shoes MUST be worn at all times. There must be an entire sole on the bottom of your feet. Just socks are not allowed.

Cosplay Craftsmanship Judging Rules

Cosplay judging will take place throughout the day on Saturday, beginning when the convention doors open, until an hour prior to the Masquerade. Participants will sign up for an appointment with the judges, at which time you will have your photo taken and your cosplay assessed by a panel of judges.

In order to conform to the rules of the cosplay craftsmanship judging, all participants entering must petition that their outfit is an original creation. An outfit is considered an "original creation" if 75% or more of the outfit's articles can fit the following criteria:

• Created from scratch using fabric
• Generic in nature (socks, undershirts, undergarments),
• Modified from pre-existing materials (shoes, belts, shirts).

Cosplay outfits are NOT considered to be an "original creation" if more than 25% of the outfit's articles fit the following criteria:

• Personally commissioned specifically for cosplay purposes,
• Purchased specifically as a cosplay or replica item (masks, accessories),
• Purchased items with no modifications (shirts, pants, jackets, shoes, etc).

Examples of items which are considered "replica" include items specifically marketed towards a series (Kingdom Hearts key blades, Death Note notebooks) or pre-created wardrobe (Naruto jackets or chuunin vests).

Wigs are considered an article of your cosplay. A wig which requires modifications in the form of styling, cutting, dying, etc. is considered an "original creation". Short, unaltered wigs of natural colors are items not specifically designed for cosplay use and fit under the "original creation" rules.

Long wigs (wigs that surpass the mid-back of the wearer) of natural color, or wigs which are of "unnatural color" (e.g. blue, bright red, green, etc.) are not considered part of an original cosplay unless they are altered or styled in some way.

Craftsmanship Participants MUST have adequate reference photos with them during their judging time. A good photo reference will assist the judges in their scoring of your outfit. Participants without a reference will receive a score of 0 in accuracy. Good references showing the front, back and side views are highly recommended. They may also have close ups of details and props. Examples of references include: screen captures, DVD covers, art books, manga, color printouts, etc. Please come prepared. The only exception to this is the original design category.

Cosplay Craftsmanship Judging Categories

Cosplayers wishing to be judged on their craftsmanship abilities may enter any of the following categories as long as they meet the eligibility requirements.

Craftsmanship (Beginner, Novice, and Expert)

All costumes entered in the craftsmanship category must pertain to Asian culture. This includes animation, manga, video games, visual kei, live-action films, and Asian street fashion. Costumes must be at least 75% original creation. Please see the Craftsmanship Competition Regulations for details.

The craftsmanship levels are determined by the following criteria:

• Beginner: No previous cosplay awards in any category or less than 3 constructed costumes
• Novice: 2 Major Awards/4 minor awards or less than 6 constructed costumes
• Expert: 5 major awards/10 minor awards or more than 8 constructed costumes

Original Design

Costumes eligible in Original Design category are of the cosplayer's original design. Costumes can be based on either Asian culture, such as an original Gothic Lolita outfit, or be of Western influence, such as a custom World of Warcraft character. Costumes must be at least 75% original creation. Please see the Craftsmanship Competition Regulations for details.

Western Influence 

Costumes entered in the Western Influence category must pertain to Western culture. This includes animation (Disney, etc), comics (Marvel, DC, etc.), video games (Halo, Left 4 Dead, etc), television shows (Dr. Who, Star Trek, etc), and live-action films. Costumes must be at least 75% original creation. Please see the Craftsmanship Competition Regulations for details.

Cosplay Craftsmanship Awards

The following awards will be presented for excellence in cosplay craftsmanship:

• Best Cosplay Craftsmanship (Expert)
• Honorable Mention: Cosplay Craftsmanship (Expert)
• Best Cosplay Craftsmanship (Novice)
• Honorable Mention: Cosplay Craftsmanship (Novice)
• Best Cosplay Craftsmanship (Beginner)
• Honorable Mention: Cosplay Craftsmanship (Beginner)
• Best Craftsmanship: Original Design
• Best Craftsmanship: Western Influence

Tsubasacon Cosplay Masquerade Information

The Tsubasacon Cosplay Masquerade is a chance for all of our cosplayers to perform for the crowd in a variety of ways. Cosplayers do not need to participate in cosplay judging in order to perform during the Masquerade. The Masquerade is split into two parts: performance and walk-on.

Cosplayers wishing to participate in the Masquerade are to be present during the setup session one hour before the masquerade. The official time and place will be announced at a later date.

Masquerade Performance Guidelines

In order to provide a quality show for all of our patrons and to maintain order and a family-friendly environment, the following guidelines are in effect for all Masquerade performers:

• Skits must be no longer than 3 minutes in length. Performers are allotted 30 seconds to set-up and 30 seconds to exit in addition to the 3 minutes.
• Skit content must have a rating no higher than "PG-13". Tsubasacon is an all-ages event. Explicit swearing, nudity, and obscene gestures and mannerisms are prohibited, and can result in disqualification. If there are any questions pertaining to your skit, please contact the cosplay department head.
• All pre-recorded audio must be presented on a playable CD at time of registration. CDs must be clearly labeled with the names of the performer(s) and the name of the performance. Audio will NOT be queued (it must be ready to go as soon as the track is played). CDs are not returnable.
• Weapons and props must abide by the Weapons Policy (see Rules and Regulations section on the Tsubasacon website). Projectile weapons, jumping from the stage, and throwing objects of any kind into the audience is strictly prohibited.
• Due to safety concerns, all stage combat and stunts MUST be cleared with the cosplay department head. This includes martial arts, gymnastics, fighting with props, etc.
• Performances are restricted to the stage area.
• No confetti, rose petals, glitter, etc.

Masquerade Performance Awards

The following awards will be presented for excellence in Masquerade performance:

• Best Performance
• Honorable Mention: Masquerade Performance

Cosplay Contest Registration

Registration for the cosplay craftsmanship and masquerade contests will take place on Friday from 12:00 PM until 9:00 PM and Saturday from opening until 2:00 PM.  There will be no registration for cosplay events after 2:00 PM Saturday. If you have not registered by this time, you will be unable to compete in the cosplay contests. The cosplay registration table is located at the convention center's entrance with admission badge registration.

Judging for the cosplay craftsmanship contest will be on Saturday and run from 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM. You will be given a designated time to appear for judging at your time of registration. In order to judge all cosplayers in a timely fashion, not appearing for judging at your designated time will result in disqualification from the contest.

Judging for the cosplay masquerade contest will take place at the Masquerade held Saturday at 7:00 PM in the Main Events room. Contestants for the masquerade contest must come to the preparation at 6:00 PM in the Main Events.

Hallway Contest

The Hallway Contest is an informal event where judges circulate the hallways Friday evening and Saturday before the Masquerade and hand out awards based on general presentation, craftsmanship, and likeness to character. Special registration is NOT required: this contest is open to everyone, regardless of how many awards have been won or costumes made. Attendees may only win once per costume, but the same person may win multiple ribbons for unique costumes. Non-Asian themed costumes (i.e Ghostbusters) are eligible for Hallway Awards.

Panel Policy

Tsubasacon's panels are fan-driven discussions and workshops on topics including anime and manga series, Japanese culture, cosplay construction, video gaming, and everything in between. Panels are a great way to learn about new topics and to meet new friends who have interests in the same topics. If you are interested in running a panel for the 2012 convention, please read the information below before filling out the application.

Application

If you are interested in hosting a panel or workshop, you are encouraged to fill out the online application. Applicants are expected to fill the application out as accurately as possible with special emphasis on the applicant's contact information and scheduling preferences.

The deadline for submitting applications is August 31, 2012. Approvals will not begin until after July 31. Applicants must be pre-registered before submitting an application.

Compensation Policy

All panelists, and one assistant, that complete two or more hours of programming will qualify for reimbursement of their convention badges at the end of the convention. The rate of reimbursement will be $20 per badge for the first two hours and $10 per badge for each additional hour. Reimbursements will not exceed the value of the pre-registration fees paid by the panelist and their assistant.

Panelists who are volunteers will not eligible for badge reimbursements though this policy. However, their panel programming hours may be credited towards their volunteer hours.

Cancellation Policy

In the event that you cannot host your panel or workshop, please contact the Panel Coordinator at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to cancel your application. Panelists may freely cancel their applications by September 7, 2012 without penalties. Panelists who canceled after September 7, who fail to contact the Panel Coordinator directly about a cancellation, or who do not show up to host their panel or workshop may not be permitted to host a panel or workshop at the next convention.

Panelist Check-in

When panelists arrive at the convention, they are encouraged to check-in with the Panel Operations Desk. This allows the staff to take attendance of the panelists and review any equipment or technical needs for their panel. Panelists are also expected to check-in to the Panel Operations Desk at least ten minutes prior to the start of their panel.

Panel Room Information

Do to renovations to the meeting rooms, we are unable to provided any information about the rooms' size and capacity at this time. Each panel room will be equipped with a projector or television screen that can be hooked up to computers using a VGA cable. Projectors can also be hooked to gaming consoles using an S-Video or RCA cable. Please specify the desired connections under the technical requirements of panel application. No Wi-Fi service will be available to the panelists. Panelists are advised to have prepared presentations and screenshots before their panel. Whiteboards may also be available for each room.

Notes on Panel Length

When considering how long your panel will be, do not panic thinking that you must fill all of the time you requested. Give a best approximation of how long you believe your panel will take. If you have no idea how long your panel will last, then an hour is recommended. Set aside at least five minutes at the start and end of the panel's allotted time for setup and breakdown.

Notes on Panel Content

Tsubasacon prides itself as being a safe environment for children and teenagers. While Tsubasacon allows Mature-themed (inappropriate for children aged less than 18) material to be viewed and discussed at the convention, Tsubasacon utilizes a rating system in order to better inform parents of the content of an event. When applying for a panel, you will be asked to give an age rating for the content of your panel. Panelists are expected to adhere to the age rating which they have given their panel so that Tsubasacon can maintain its positive reputation.

• All ages: Content is appropriate for all ages.
• Teen (13+): Content is appropriate for children 13 and up with moderate violence, suggestive dialogue, infrequent coarse language, and/or some sexual situations. Persons under 13 should be accompanied by an adult.
• Mature (18+): Content is not suitable for persons under age 18 with intense violence, intensely suggestive dialogue, strong coarse language, and/or intense sexual situations. Picture ID with birth date must be show before being admitted into the event.

Notes on Equipment Compatibility

Do to compatibility issues experienced during 2010 between the projectors and certain laptops, Tsubasacon recommends all panelists use a laptop that is no older than five years running Windows XP or later (Windows 7 strongly recommended) and has the latest video drivers installed. Time may be available to check for compatibility between the panelist's laptop and the projector on Friday from 12:00pm to 12:30pm and Saturday morning from 9:00am to 9:30am.

Additional Information

If you have any additional questions, please contact the Panel Coordinator at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

Rules and Regulations

Tsubasacon has become a flourishing community over the past four years and hopes to continue this growth with continuously successful conventions each and every year. As Tsubasacon begins to make its transition from "small convention" to bigger and better things, it becomes imperative that our professionalism should grow too. Although Tsubasacon has always had some form of "core rules" for its attendees to follow, the need to expand these principles has always been on the horizon.

Registration and Badges

Attendance to Tsubasacon and the events within requires a badge. Attendees may pre-register for the convention online, or at sponsoring businesses and anime conventions (please note that all official registration points will be advertised clearly on the Tsubasacon website). Admission can also be purchased at the door on the day of the event. Badges will not be made available until the opening of the convention and proof of purchase must be presented in order to receive your badge.

Badges must be worn and visible at all times while at the event (this goes for staff, volunteers, and guests as well). Your badge identifies you as a paying customer; the staff and security will approach anyone without visible identification. So avoid the hassle and wear it. The badge-holders come with an elastic neckband and are perforated to accept clips if the attendee prefers to use those instead (please note that clips are not provided by us).

General Information

Otaku of all ages will be attending the event and the majority of events will be for general audiences. We ask that you do your part in keeping the common areas as obscenity-free as possible—take into consideration the number of people who are also trying to enjoy the convention. The convention will be hosting events tailored towards mature audiences (17 years or older); these events will be clearly marked in the program and schedules as "17+" and will require picture identification in order to attend.

Tsubasacon occurs in the heart of the city of Huntington; Please keep in mind that your actions in the convention center, your hotel, and the city will reflect upon us. Please act responsibly and courteously around community members and other guests of the city. Security for the event is provided by Tsubasacon, Inc. as well as the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Security can be contacted by any of the staff members. Our Security personnel are responsible for the safety of all of our attendees while helping to maintain an enjoyable atmosphere. Please promptly adhere to all recommendations that Security provide.

Convention Center Policies

The Big Sandy Superstore Arena has been gracious enough to let us return to the convention center after last year's success. A lot of that success came from the fact that our staff and attendees complied with the convention center rules that Tsubasacon was required to follow during our occupancy. In order to maintain our partnership with the convention center, the following rules will be strictly enforced by Security:

• Smoking and alcohol are strictly prohibited inside the convention center
• No outside food or drinks are allowed inside of the convention center

Disruptive Behavior Policy

We want nothing more than to see happy and enthusiastic guests at Tsubasacon, but dangerous or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Our Staff and Security can and will counteract such behavior with actions ranging from a verbal warning, ejection from the convention, or criminal charges (The action taken is at the discretion of Tsubasacon, Inc.).

Things that may prompt such action include fighting (real or fake*), heckling, harassment (see Harassment Policy), impeding traffic flow, inappropriate waiting-line etiquette, offensive behavior, failure to observe basic hygiene, or any other failure to follow the rules. Also keep in mind that anything illegal outside of the convention center is illegal inside of the convention center. As long as you act appropriately, then our Staff and Security will have no problems to deal with.

Public inebriation, drug use, or any illegal form of substance abuse will not be tolerated at or around the convention center. Intoxicated individuals will be removed from the convention center and the appropriate law enforcement authorities will be notified.

*The only exceptions to "fake fighting" are Live-Action Role-Playing in controlled environments and skits pre-authorized by cosplay judges.

Harassment Policy

Harassment is defined any behavior that seriously annoys or alarms another person. This includes unwanted physical contact, following someone in public areas, verbal assaults, or threatening physical violence. Harassment is considered "Disruptive Behavior", and our staff has the right to eject any offender and have the matter referred to the proper law enforcement agency. If you are being harassed, immediately contact a member of Security or Staff.

Costume and Clothing Policy

Please keep in mind the local laws concerning public decency when planning your Cosplay or general attire for the event. Public exposure of genitalia, buttocks, or (female) breasts, accidental or otherwise, is not permitted. Costumes and clothing should fit reasonably well and should be in good repair.

Photography and Filming

"Filming equipment" is broadly defined as cameras (film or digital), camera phones, or camcorders. Regulations pertaining to photography and video recording vary depending on the room and the event.

• No filming equipment is permitted within the anime viewing rooms or any area designated as a "theater" for events.
• Filming equipment is permitted within the guest panel rooms at the discretion of the panelist/s
• Photos or video may be taken of artists and/or their work at the discretion of the artist.
• Filming equipment is allowed in the Main Events area unless otherwise specified.
• Photos or video of individual or groups of people (including, but not limited to, special guests, cosplayers, other attendees, or staff) is only permitted if those being photographed / filmed give their consent (the only exception being one's participation in a Main Event, such as a game show or Cosplay Contest).
• Filming Equipment and Bags may be Spot checked at ranom as deemed by Security.

Please be considerate when taking photographs by being brief and not blocking traffic. If you intend to use a photograph or film for anything use other than private viewing (e.g. online photo album, blog, online video archives, etc.), please ask the subjects for explicit permission to post their image, or video. Please note that photographs and footage of the convention and attendees will be gathered by our Staff to be used for various projects such as advertisements or future programming guides, and that purchasing admission for Tsubasacon constitutes consent to be filmed or photographed.

Children at Tsubasacon

We encourage parents to bring their children to Tsubasacon, but like any other event with many people attending, it is important to be able to keep track of your children. We ask that all parents or guardians accompany any child under the age of 12 at all times during the convention, and that every child carry some form of written identification and parent/guardian contact information so that the staff can help reunite the child if the need arises.

In the case that you are separated from your child, make sure that your child knows important information, such as your name, what you are wearing, what hotel you are staying at (if any), a cellular phone number, and a home phone number. Also instruct your child to look for a Staff or Security member (Tsubasacon personnel wear shirts that are easily identifiable) in case they need help.

If you are with children who are 12 or older, it is a good idea to designate meeting times and places with them since cell phones may be either restricted or have no service in some areas of the convention. Suggestions for landmarks in the area include the fountain outside of the convention center, the registration desk at the front entrance, or in one of the gaming rooms.

The Big Sandy Superstore Arena has no convention-wide PA system; however, most Staff and Security personnel are equipped with two-way radios. If your child is missing, please inform us so that we can alert the rest of our team.

Buying, Selling, and Solicitation Policies

Currently, only vendors or participants in Artists' Alley, with appropriate vending permits, are allowed to sell goods at or around the convention center.Any Item, Including those bought at the Convention may be Checked by Security at any time, Also, Unattended Packages will be Checked and then turned into lost and found. Panhandling and other forms of solicitation are prohibited. Examples of panhandling and solicitation include the following: asking for food or money, offering to exchange any sort of sexual favor (kisses, hugs, glomps, etc.), musicians or performance artists requesting tips, and selling anything inside of the convention center without the consent of Tsubasacon, Inc. Offenders can and will be removed from the convention center if they do not comply with these policies.

Weapon Policy

Firearms of any type are not permitted inside of the convention center. "Firearms" include, but are not limited to, real guns, replicas of real guns, stun guns, tasers, pellet guns, BB guns, air guns, crossbows, dart guns, blowguns, water guns, and water pistols. The only exception to the above are prop guns or resin models that are easily identifiable as toys (i.e. no moving parts, non-removable orange tip, etc.).

Live steel (any piece of steel or metal which can take an edge) is not permitted. This includes unsharpened weapons, sheathed weapons, and smaller edged items like throwing stars or shuriken. Steel weapons, whips, or other items construed as weapons for use as part of a Cosplay outfit must be peace bonded in order to be permitted inside of the convention center.

Explosives or chemicals of any kind are not permitted. All illegal weapons will be reported to the appropriate authorities.

Weapons such as staves, bo sticks, boken, and wooden swords are permitted. Fake, prop, or made-up weapons (i.e. constructed of cloth, plaster, cloth, etc.) are permitted if they are safe and not dangerous to others around you (dangerous conditions including, but not limited to, wires sticking out, tripping hazards, etc.).

Misuse of any weapon or prop, such as swinging in public areas or causing hazards to others, will result in the weapon or prop being deemed unsafe for the convention. Unsafe weapons are required to be removed from the convention center to your hotel, vehicle, or home. Any weapon purchased in the Vendor's Room that violates Tsubasacon's weapon policy must be removed from the convention center immediately and should not be removed from their packaging while on convention center property unless it has been deemed safe by a staff or security member. All props or weapons brought into the convention center may be inspected by Tsubasacon staff at any time, including those which may have had prior approval.

Assistance and Other Questions

If you have any questions, complaints, or requests for assistance during the convention, feel free to ask the Staff or Registration Desk. We will do our best to either answer your question or forward your request to the most appropriate Staff member. Please note that some Staff might not have much time to spare when answering questions, but they will help you to the best of their ability. Questions can also be directed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tsubasacon Volunteer Policy

Overview

The Tsubasacon Volunteer Policy is a collection of guidelines set forth by Tsubasacon, Inc. concerning the acquisition, selection, assignment, and reimbursement of Volunteers who wish to assist the Tsubasacon staff with convention duties and responsibilities.

Volunteer Responsibilities

If you have any additional questions regarding the Tsubasacon Volunteer program or Volunteer Policies, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

If you have a concern that involves the Volunteer Coordinator, please contact the Convention Operator at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for assistance.