Costume competitions and variety shows are the highlight of many conventions…

• Add “karaoke” to music search terms to find an instrumental version of a song where you can add dialogue or your own alternate lyrics.

• Practice your routine with all participants repeatedly so they know their parts and cues.

• Request the stage layout ahead of time so you know the available space for movement, and information on backstage setup for your mobility and vision needs. Well-run cons know, they make this available on their web site.

• Use the full stage, and move to the front so everyone can see you. But not too close…accidents happen all the time.
• Take your time. Seems like forever, but time moves faster on stage.
• But not too much time. 60 seconds is good for a single costume presentation, 90 for a small group.
  
• If you have no act prepared, do a simple “X” walk…back corner to opposite front corner, across front of stage, front corner to opposite back corner, stopping for 10 second poses at each point.
• Move BIGGER! Get the attention of that person in the far back.

• Stage fright: the trick is to be shameless. “Picture the audience in their underwear” is tired, old school. No…picture yourself in your underwear and just go all out!

• Be friendly and professional, even when things run poorly. Do not “social media rage” about other contestants or the judges.

• Host or MC:
  • Never say “hope I’m pronouncing this right…” (or worse, “sorry if I’m butchering this…”). Take a moment to meet each participant, ask and repeat back their name, and add notes in your own handwriting, whatever phonetic spelling you require to say it correctly.
  • Rather than announcing a costume as “worn by [name],” say “performed” or “presented” by. Costuming is not a passive act!

• Costume contests are incredibly subjective, can seem almost random sometimes. Don’t be too emotionally invested in any particular outcome. The best part of the experience truly is the camaraderie with other costumers!