BayCon 2011 - Carnivale Logo
-355 days until BayCon 2011 begins.

 

The Masquerade

The masquerade will be run in the same style as last year's, different than prior years. It's won't be as flashy as before, but also not as time-intensive for the folks entering. It doesn't have as much stage time, but it will provide everyone with a better opportunity to see people's wonderful costume creations up close and in all their glory. There's no venue for big, theatrical presentations -- but it's also not as daunting or intimidating for the first-time costumer who typically just likes to wear their outfits while roaming the halls. There are positives and negatives, both ways; we're hoping the focus will still be on what's important, which is giving the amazing Costumers who attend BayCon an opportunity to show off their imagination, innovation, and talent, and to allow the costume enthusiasts to show those costumers who enter just how much their work is enjoyed!

This year, anyone interested in presenting for judging at the masquerade Ball will be asked to show up at 6 PM at the Green Room off the Grand Ballrooms, where you will be given your number, have your name and costume title taken down, and meet with the judges if you wish to have your work included in the Workmanship category. During this time, you will also have the opportunity to have professional photos of your costume taken. We will not have specific entry lighting or sound cues this year- there will be appropriate mood music playing during the contest.

At 8 PM, the Masquerade Ball will begin, and we will have a Costumer's Promenade, where all entrants will make a circuit of the room, pausing at the fan photo area, and then stopping to make a flourish or brief introduction of your costume piece at the Judge's Table. When the Promenade is finished, the entrants will be free to circulate in the room, allowing people attending the Masquerade to see their costumes from an up-close vantage point, and giving the judges ample opportunity to watch as you present your costume and the character it portrays. All entrants will be required to be available at the Masquerade until Awards are given, which is planned to happen at 10 PM. Youth awards will be given earlier in the evening, allowing our young contestants to enjoy the evening.

After the awards have been announced, the Toastmaster will turn the evening over to the revelry of the Ball, and everyone is encouraged to mingle, drink, dance, and enjoy themselves! Tasty treats will be available in the Masquerade Foyer room once the awards have been announced and the Ball begins.

For those of you interested in attending the Masquerade to watch, the Foyer and Bar will be open before the Masquerade starts as in prior years, and seating in the Masquerade Ballroom will be at round tables, instead of theatre-style, with an open dance floor, to encourage mingling and viewing of the costumes.

Available Awards for the Masquerade will be in the Class Categories of Novice, Professional, and Open. There will be a Workmanship award, and a Presentation award. There will also be a Best Thematic Award, Youth Awards, and the Best In Show award.

The theme of the BayCon 2011 Masquerade Ball is "Carnivale Around the Worlds" where "worlds" includes worlds both real and imaginary, including science fiction and fantasy themes. Tonight, we celebrate masks, oranges, sponge cake, fools, doughnuts, and children (not necessarily in that order)! For ideas, you might wish to start at the Wikipedia page.

For questions about the masquerade or the rules, please email masquerade11@baycon.org.