COSPLAY PROP & ACCESSORY RULES
It is each attendee’s responsibility to read the conventions policies beforehand and to enquire with Q-Con staff directly if any problems, confusion or misunderstanding occurs regarding the following. Failure to comply with these policies may result in attendance being revoked, with serious breaches potentially leading to permanent exclusion. These policies are in place for the safety and wellbeing of all of our attendees and ignorance of them can’t be accepted from anyone cosplaying at the event.
COSPLAY AT Q-CON 2024
While not mandatory at Q-Con 2024, cosplay is welcome and very much encouraged! Q-Con 2024 is one of the largest events of its kind on the island of Ireland and is a great place for you to cosplay as your favourite character.
The design of your cosplay and the clothing/materials you use to bring it to life must be suitable for a general audience of all ages, as such some artistic liberties may be required depending on the character. Nudity or walking barefoot are not permitted in the convention even if it’s part of your character’s design. Obscene clothing and offensive cosplay are not permitted in the convention and anyone dressed in such will be excluded from the event by organisers.
No skates, rollerblades, skateboards, scooters, “heelies”, or any other form of bladed or wheeled footwear is permitted for use at the convention for health and safety reasons. These may be used as props or accessories for your cosplay but they must only be carried, without any dangerous bladed or sharp edge exposed, and if put down should not be left unattended.
Cosplay shouldn’t be painful, and your costume shouldn't cause you any physical discomfort, pain, or injury whilst you wear it. If your cosplay is too large in size, is difficult to manoeuvre, restricts vision, has a mascot type headpiece or has projecting shoulders then please have a designated companion to escort you around the convention at all times. If you require aid to be transported or walked from one part of the convention to the other then please have a companion to accompany you, especially in high traffic areas of the convention such as the Trade Hall and Artists Alley.
“Cosplay is NOT Consent”, so please respect other attendees and any boundaries they set. Be polite, ask for permission to take photographs first, and do not touch other cosplayers’, their costumes, or their props. No harassment or inappropriate behaviour of any kind will be tolerated by the convention, and doing so may result in your attendance being revoked.
Props and Accessories Rules at Q-Con 2024
All props and accessories must follow the official Q-Con Cosplay, Accessories and Props rules! As every prop is unique and made using different construction techniques and materials, certain props may require inspection by Q-Con volunteers to ensure that it cannot easily cause injury to others and that it is appropriate for an open to the public event.
Individual props and accessories may be challenged or permitted on a “know-it-when-you-see-it” basis, however no exceptions will be made in regard to the following:
Very large or unwieldy props are not permitted in any indoor part of the convention for health and safety reasons. Your costume, props and accessories must be able to fit through a normal door unhindered and should not be of a size or weight that would encumber yourself or others.
Larger props and ultra-realistic / realistic-style prop weapons are only allowed into the convention at the discretion of the Q-Con organisers, and may be required to be kept out of public areas to be used only for costume judging or photography.
All attendees carrying large props or prop swords, daggers, bat’leths, bats, prop replica firearms or other prop weapons must present them to be inspected and judged as safe by convention volunteers at the convention Registration desk before being admitted into the convention.
To make Q-Con as fun and smooth as possible for you and others, Q-Con volunteers may require that certain authentic looking prop weapons judged as safe are visibly and non-permanently “tagged” to prevent the need to repeatedly check that prop; any person who refuses to reasonably allow a prop to be tagged will not be permitted to bring that prop into the convention.
No edged weapons with live blades or points are allowed into the convention. Any blunt edged objects heavy enough to cause bludgeoning damage — wooden and steel bats included — are also not allowed into the convention.
All firearm-type prop weapons must not be capable of discharging a projectile, propellant, or accelerant. Firearms, airguns (both working and deactivated), paint guns, water guns, sprays, torches etc. are not allowed into the convention under any circumstances. Nerf guns are permitted into the convention but must be unloaded at all times. Nerf guns which require batteries to be operated must not have any batteries installed whilst attending the convention.
All handgun and other firearm related replicas/props must be easily recognised as a replica from a distance – such as feature bright orange caps/markings on the edge of the barrel, be a fluorescent bright colour, etc. Any replica firearm prop that does not have anything to immediately distinguish it from a real firearm will not be allowed into the convention.
Actual archery equipment such as compound or recurve bows, crossbows etc. are not allowed in the convention. No loose arrows or darts, either tipped or blunted, are allowed in the convention and any bows (either bought or homemade) should not be strung tightly enough to be able to hold tension.
All prop weapons must be able to be holstered, sheathed or slung in an approved, controllable fashion.
Due to venue policy, the use of e-cigarettes, vaping devices or lighters is not permitted inside any indoor area of the convention.
Signs and similar accessories with contentious wording to the effect of “free hugs”, “step on me”, any other sign inviting physical contact, etc. are not permitted to be worn or displayed within the convention.
All props and accessories must be reasonably suitable for a general public event; they must not be of a sexually explicit or suggestive nature and must not reference events or ideals of an offensive or inflammatory nature.
Props and accessories which would require cleaning up after use such as confetti, flower petals, water or anything that will litter the convention is not permitted within any area of the convention.
Any illegal, criminal or prohibited-to-carry property must not be brought near or within the convention.
All Masquerade contestants planning to carry prop weapons at Q-Con 2024 as part of their costume must also present their prop weapons for inspection upon arrival at Convention Registration.
If your costume, prop or accessories would feature sharp edges, points, or any other factor that could cause injury to others, you MUST sand, file or smooth off the edges or it will be deemed dangerous and will not be allowed into the convention.
Actions which could cause injury with prop weapons, props or costumes such as horseplay, duelling, fighting, running, swinging etc. are not tolerated and may result in you being asked to leave the event.
Any potentially dangerous actions involving weapons or props at the Convention (including on-stage/backstage at the Talent Show or Cosplay Masquerade) will result in automatic disqualification from Q-Con cosplay events.
Venue security staff have final authority over whether any item/article/weapon can be brought into the building. Anyone found attempting to circumnavigate their decisions may have their attendance revoked.
Any weapons which fail to meet safety criteria must be immediately and discreetly returned to non-accessible storage (e.g. your home, hotel room, vehicle or cloakroom) for the duration of the convention. Q-Con will not keep or accept any responsibility for props not allowed into the convention.
General Cosplay Events Rules
To participate in Cosplay Events at Q-Con attendees must clearly display their wristband from Q-Con 2024 at all times. It is convention policy that all attendees must visibly display their wristbands at all times whether in or without cosplay. Failure to do so will result in delay or rejection of you being signed up for Cosplay events throughout the weekend. This also applies to someone who is in possession of, but not wearing their wristband.
Q-Con 2024 is an all ages convention and Cosplay events will have an audience of both children and adults alike. Some material may not be suitable for children or make some people uncomfortable, so please be aware and moderate your behaviour and language at all times. Q-Con event organisers reserve the right to moderate submitted material if required.
Participants Under 13 must have their adult guardian present with them at the cosplay desk and event orientation if they are applying for any cosplay event participation, to confirm they are happy for the child in their charge to participate in cosplay events (subject to event age restrictions), and must be present during the event to supervise them.
Acrobatics are not permitted on stage, regardless of the performer’s skill level. Such examples being front flips, backflips etc. This is due to the inherent risk of injury from acrobatics and the height of the stage. Any act that includes such stunts in their performance will be disqualified from any cosplay competitions and asked to immediately leave the stage.
Use of fire or substances that could accidentally cause injury or damage if spilled, even if it is used in a stunt, is NOT Permitted and will lead to immediate disqualification.
All entrants who have signed up for ANY cosplay event that involves a stage performance must participate in a mandatory safety orientation prior to the event. This orientation will take place at a predetermined time and will not be repeated for any late entrants. Failure to attend or be punctual will result in immediate disqualification from event participation.
Cosplay Masquerade
Entry into the Newcomer category of the Cosplay Masquerade requires that at least 15% your Cosplay must be your own work and not made or commissioned for you by someone else. Allowances can be made in special circumstances at the discretion of the Cosplay Manager.
Entry into the Intermediate category of the Cosplay Masquerade requires that at least 30% your Cosplay must be your own work and not made or commissioned for you by someone else. Allowances can be made in special circumstances at the discretion of the Cosplay Manager.
Entry into the Artisan category of the Cosplay Masquerade requires that at least 60% your Cosplay must be your own work and not made or commissioned for you by someone else. Allowances can be made in special circumstances at the discretion of the Cosplay Manager.
If you are not eligible to enter the competition for awards and prizes, you are still able to take part in the Masquerade as a Non-Judged performance.
Participants must follow the instructions of the event staff at all times during the Cosplay Masquerade, including stage directions such as how and when to proceed onto the stage and where the boundaries of the stage are. Failure will result in disqualification and any further actions deemed necessary by the Q-Con 2024 Cosplay Manager and/or Venue Security, up to and including attendance being revoked.
There is a maximum of 60 seconds of stage time per person for Masquerade Catwalk entries. For timekeeping reasons there can be no exceptions to this rule.
You may still take part in the walk-on Masquerade or the Performance category if you didn’t make your cosplay yourself; your cosplay itself won’t be judged however.
Only a signed and fully filled out form will allow entry into the event. A Masquerade sign-up form must be completed fully for anyone looking to participate in cosplay masquerade both for showcase and competitive entry and talent show sign-up form must be completed per group if you wish to do a performance skit.
All performances and Cosplays must be tasteful and appropriate for a general audience. Any activity on stage must be within the boundaries of the stage as shown by the Cosplay manager and must not involve rowdy play. Failure to comply with these will result in disqualification and any further actions deemed necessary by the Q-Con 2024 Committee and/or Venue Security, up to and including attendance being revoked.
Any breaches of the above rules may result in disqualification from the cosplay competitions. Severe breaches may incur any further penalties deemed necessary by the Q-Con 2024 Committee and/or venue security, up to and including attendance being revoked.