All participants must have an Anime USA member badge (this includes Associate, Dealer, Press and other Specialty badges). Currently, members of AUSA staff are ineligible to compete in the Hall Costume Contest ("Hall Contest").

There will be an online registration form for the 2010 contest. Those who register online will still need to come to register a judging time slot at the convention on the day they have registered for. All time slots not claimed will be open at con registration on that day. All judging time slots will come on a first come, first served basis.

You may not register or check-in for Saturday's contest on Friday.

Entries will be separated into five categories:

Costumes that have won any major awards at any convention may be entered in the Hall Costume Contest. Awards of ranking, including but not limited to "Best in Show", "Best in Division", "Best Performance", or "First Place", "Second Place", etc. in any type of cosplay competition are considered major cosplay awards. "Honorable Mention", "Judge's Award", and similar forms of recognition are not considered major awards.

Each entry's appropriate category will be determined by its participant with the highest number of cosplay awards won out of the group. For example, an entry consisting of three participants with zero major awards won and one participant with three major Novice awards won will be placed in the Journeyman division.

Children 13 years of age or younger will be judged separately in the Youth division.

Entries which include participants who do not qualify for the Youth division, such as parents or guardians, in addition to qualifying youth participants may request to be judged in the Youth division, at the sole discretion of the Hall Costume Contest Coordinator.

All participants will be required to sign a permission/release/waiver form ("waiver form") to participate in the contest. Minors under 18 years of age may only participate in the Hall Contests only if a waiver form signed by the minor's legal guardian is provided. Forms are available at the contest registration desk.

All costumes must pertain in some way to a character, object, or otherwise, that is depicted in Japanese anime, manga, anime-style video games, or some other facet of East Asian culture. Original costumes will not be permitted, as the accuracy of the costume is impossible to judge.

All costumers must abide by the rules of the convention. If a costume is deemed acceptable for the convention according to established policies, then it will be allowed in the Hall Contest. Please review the dress code, weapons policy and other important rules. If a policy violation is discovered in a costume competing in the Hall Contest, that entry will be disqualified.

Purchased, professionally-made, or rented costumes are prohibited. Costumes consisting mostly or entirely of store-bought items are also ineligible. Participants should be prepared to briefly explain the process through which their costume was created.

No electrical power connections will be provided. If your costume requires power it must be part of your costume design.

Registered participants will be scheduled for judging upon check-in. Once you are registered, you will receive a special Hall Contest badge with your entry number and judging time on the back. Please be on-time for judging! If you miss your time, your entry will be dropped from the Hall Contest.

Each contestant may present (wear) one and only one costume, or a group of people may wear one costume at the same time (i.e., a large costume that requires several people inside to move it). The same costume may not be entered in both the Masquerade and the Hall Contest. One or more designers may design and construct costumes for an individual or a group who serve as model(s); the group will be considered as one entry. The designer(s) must be present at the judging to explain the construction techniques used. If this is a group presentation, the designer(s) may also wear a costume.

Costumes will be judged on a variety of criteria, including craftsmanship and overall effect. The winners of both contests will be announced during the Masquerade Awards ceremony.

All entries are strongly encouraged to bring reference material for their costume(s). While we will not turn away entries that do not bring reference material, the absence of reference material could greatly affect your final score. Not all judges know all characters, so it is in everyone's best interest to bring a color picture (or several) if at all possible. Judges will not be responsible for conducting research for unfamiliar costumes and/or characters. The reference should depict the details of the costume you are presenting.

Hall Contest judging is not open to the public. Only entrants, designers, and parents or children will be allowed inside the judging room.

Costumers may enter both days for the Hall Contest. Contestants for Saturday's Hall Contest are discouraged from entering Saturday's contest and the Masquerade (the Saturday Hall Contest conflicts with rehearsals for the Masquerade). Remember that participating in both the Friday and Saturday contests means you will be competing against yourself for "Best in Weekend".

The Hall Costume Contest Coordinator has the full authority to request a change to a costume for any reason. Refusal to make the requested change will disqualify the person or group from the competition.

All decisions of the Hall Costume Contest Coordinator are final.

While no changes to these rules are forseen, certain circumstances may require that the rules be changed. Any changes to the rules will be marked with a notice icon such as the below.

A complete set of current rules will be posted at the Hall Contest check-in tables at all times on Friday and Saturday.