The Skit Contest is all about putting on a show! Seasoned performer or a first-timers alike have a chance to share a short skit, monologue, song, or dance with our amazing audience and judges. All you need is a costume, a great idea, and the courage to perform. You can join as an individual or bring your friends for a group performance in the spotlight!
Awards
- Fan Favorite
- Best Dance Performance
- Best Skit Performance
- Most Creative Performance
- 3x Judges' Choice
The number of awards may be modified depending on the number of qualifying entries.
Eligibility
- You must be in cosplay - wearing a costume of a recognizable, referenceable character from a source material, such as an anime, manga, comic book, video game, movie, TV series, or similar source of media. Contact the cosplay team if you have any questions.
- You don't need to have made your own cosplay.
- You are required to perform a short skit, monologue, song, dance, or anything else entertaining!
- You need to pre-register and there is no day-of registration as we do not have time to accept day-of entries.
- You are required to provide your music/audio as an MP3 either when you register, or by email before May 1st.
- You can enter as an individual or a group, either way there is only one prize per entry.
- Each entry is permitted up to 4 minutes of performance time, regardless of group size. Skits that exceed 4 minutes will be shortened to fit within the allotted time.
- All performances must be at least 50% self choreographed. You may take inspiration from existing routines or performances (e.g. using recognizable dance moves or re-enacting similar movements for the character) however the majority of your performance must be self designed and choreographed. The overall percentage of the choreography is at the discretion of the cosplay staff and the judges. If you have questions about this rule, please contact the cosplay team.
- Spots in the contest are limited. Please submit your entry as soon as possible. If we receive too many entries, you may be placed on a waiting list. If you are added to the waiting list, we will provide you with as much notice as possible if a spot becomes available, up until the end of the check in window, so please be ready to compete on the day of the contest.
- If you are unable to compete on the day of the contest, please contact the cosplay team via email or at the check in desk so we can give your spot to another group on the waiting list.
- You will be required to select a stage prompt for the AV team on the registration form. This is used to indicate when to start your audio to the AV team and the contest coordinators. If you are unsure on which prompt to select, please contact the cosplay team for assistance.
- Staff and Volunteers may not participate if they have a shift that overlaps with the contest or with check-in.
All performers must be registered as part of your group. No member of the audience or unregistered person will be allowed on stage during the contest. You are not permitted to throw anything into the audience. Personal recording devices are not allowed on stage. You may have a friend come up to the photography area in front of the stage to record your performance if you like. Please contact the cosplay team if you have questions about this policy.
Audio
- All audio you wish to use must be submitted via the registration form or emailed to cosplay@otafest.com prior to May 1st. Due to technical and logistical limitations no audio will be accepted after this deadline (including day-of), no exceptions.
- All audio for the contest must be free of any foul language, including swear words, slurs, and other content unacceptable for an all-ages show.
- Only audio submitted on the form or via email will be accepted, we cannot accept other forms (e.g. USB stick) of audio submission.
- If you experience issues with submitting audio, please contact us prior to May 1st. We cannot accept any changes after this date.
Format
Check-in & lineup
We’ll meet you at the Main Events room about 30 minutes before the scheduled show time. You can check the schedule for the check-in time. This is where we’ll get everyone registered and in the right order for the show. You’ll be lined up off-stage in your performance order to wait for your turn.
Your performance
Once it’s your turn, you will be called up to perform for the audience and judges. After your performance, you will leave the stage, and the next entrant will be called up. Seating will be provided at the front of the room for you to watch the rest of the show!
Awards
After all of the entrants have performed, our judges will leave the room to make their final decisions. When they’ve finished their deliberations, they’ll return and present the awards right away!