GENERAL COSPLAY & SAFETY POLICY
1. Have fun – This is the most important rule, but in order to maintain it, we must have a few more below.
2. Weapons – No functional weapons allowed on premises. This includes airsoft guns, cap guns, real guns, knives, swords, daggers, etc. Your prop weapon should be clearly fictional, or demonstrably fake.
Any prop weapons will be inspected upon entry and be tagged with a zip-tie to ensure permission onto the premises. You may be spot-checked for this ON THE SHOWFLOOR BY SHOW STAFF if not plainly visible.
3. No overly realistic first-responder or professional uniforms — this could create confusion or safety hazards for attendees and staff.
4. No Nudity or Sexually Explicit Costumes- This show is for ALL AGES, which means there will be young children in attendance. Try to keep cosplay garb PG-13 or better. We ask that you keep all explicit parts of the human anatomy covered to an appropriate degree.
5. No Inappropriate Language or Gestures – Don’t cuss at kids or throw up the finger. Just be cool. Your costume looks awesome.
6. No glitter, confetti, smoke, live flame, or pyrotechnics.
7. Fake Blood – The convention center show floor is carpeted. Be sure that your fake blood is suitably dry before entering for the day.
8. Age – Cosplayers 13 and Under MUST be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
9. Cosplay is NOT Consent – Cosplayers are not to be hugged, touched, groped, hit, or photographed without their explicit permission. Respect personal boundaries of ALL attendees, including those in cosplay.
Reminder – All attendees, cosplayers or not, are required to abide by the PGX Code of Conduct. Failure to do so will result in removal from the event.
PGX 2023 | COSPLAY CONTEST
COSPLAY CONTEST RULES
1. Cosplay Showcase will take place from 2:30PM to 4:30PM on Sunday (10/1/2023).
Cosplayers MUST have a valid badge for the 2023 Pittsburgh Gaming Expo to enter.
2. Cosplayers wishing to enter the Cosplay Contest can do so at the Cosplay booth during show hours.
Entries will be taken until 2:00PM on Sunday (10/1/2023).
There will be an Adult Division (Age 17 and up) and a Youth Division (Age 16 and under).
3. There will be a QR code to scan from your device to fill out the Contest form, which will ask the following questions:
Are you entering the Adult or Youth Division?
Participant Name (Legal or Pseudonym, we just need to identify you somehow):
Cosplayer Preferred Pronouns:
Who/what are you cosplaying (Character/Other name):
The franchise that your character/other is from (if this original, please list it as such):
Anything you like us to say when you come on stage?
Social media handle for promotional purposes (optional)
Acknowledgement for Media and Conduct.
4. Please Note: Judging for the contest will take place on both Saturday and Sunday to accommodate the comfort and safety of cosplay attendees, however-- due to scheduling constraints, the official contest showcase will be held on Sunday, meaning participants must have an attendance badge that day to participate in the showcase. You may still enter the contest on Saturday, but understand that receipt of a prize may only happen on Sunday. Prizes will be awarded on a per-division basis and failure to claim prize(s) by 5:00PM on Sunday (10/1/2023) will be considered a forfeiture, and no prize will be awarded.
5. Contestants will be called individually on stage by Name listed on form, and given an opportunity to show off the outfit, strike a pose, declare a quote (no vulgar/explicit language, please)-- any and all are welcome to really give us the vibe of your cosplay! Contestants will be instructed to then move to our judges on stage to allow a final look to determine their final scores.
6. Contest Entries will be judged on three (3) criteria:
• Craftsmanship (How well the costume is constructed- materials used, manipulation of materials, sewing work, assembly, paint, etc.)
• Concept (Accuracy of the character/creature/other OR Originality of the costume, how frequently do you see this type of costume?)
• Presentation (How the portrayal of the character/creature/other is executed, poses, dialogue, movement, attitude, mannerisms, etc.)
Each category will be scored on a one to ten (1-10) scale, with a total maximum of thirty (30) points.
This will determine placement of winners.
7. There will be six (6) total winners, consisting of a First Place, Second Place, Third Place, one (1) Youth Division Winner, and (3) ‘Judge’s Choice’ Winners.
8. All Costumes MUST adhere to the PGX Code of Conduct, and should be PG-13:
(No nudity, vulgarity, profanity, excessively rude gestures, etc.)
9. No glitter, live flame, vaporizers, smoke/fog machines, pyrotechnics, confetti, still-wet fake (or real) blood, streamers or silly string are permitted.
10. No functional weapons (guns, knives, swords, rifles, airsoft rifles, etc.) are permitted. These props must pass inspection upon entry, and you may be asked to return them to your vehicle if they do not pass a safety inspection.
11. No overly realistic first-responder or professional uniforms.
(No police uniforms, fire-fighter, medic, EMT, security guard, etc., as these could create confusion/safety hazards.)
12. Judge decisions are final. Any untoward behavior towards the judges can/will result in disqualification and/or removal from the event.
13. Violation of any rules/unbecoming behavior may result in disqualification and/or removal from the event.
14. Prizes will be awarded after the Contest Showcase has ended**. All prizes must be received and signed for by a legal adult/guardian. Failure to claim prize(s) by 5:00PM on Sunday (10/1/2023) will be considered a forfeiture, and no prize will be awarded. Prizes to be awarded are as follows:
• First Place Adult Division winner will receive a $250 cash prize and a weekend badge to the Pittsburgh Gaming Expo 2024*.
• Second Place Adult Division winner will receive a $125 cash prize and a weekend badge to the Pittsburgh Gaming Expo 2024*.
• Third Place Adult Division winner will receive a $50 cash prize and a weekend badge to the Pittsburgh Gaming Expo 2024*.
• Youth Division (16 and under) Winner will receive a $50 cash prize and a weekend badge to the Pittsburgh Gaming Expo 2024*.
• Each Judge’s Choice winner (three in total) will receive a weekend badge to the Pittsburgh Gaming Expo 2024*.
* Dates TBD
**Categories may be changed/combined depending on cosplayer turnout.