Online registration is available up until 24 hours before the start of convention. No registrations within the 24hrs prior will be accepted. However, registration will open up in-person and on site at check in during the morning hours if spots are still available. Registration will fully close and remain closed once we reach 50 participants and/or groups or once pre-judging is underway.- Each group counts as 1 participant. Groups can have no more than 10 people in them. Group prizes will be awarded to the group as a whole, not to each individual within the group. Participants can compete in either the individual OR the group category, but cannot compete in both.
- To compete in this event, each participant must have their own ticket and/or volunteer access to JoMoCon and have agreed to the attendee policy by check in.
- If a contestant is 12yrs old or under, please have a parent or guardian fill out this form along with you.
- 1 parent or guardian who is 18+ must accompany any child backstage if the child is 12yrs of age or under. This includes for groups as well. It is the parent's or guardian's responsibility for their children(s)' behavior. Parents and Guardians must also be ticketed attendees or have volunteer access.
COSTUME GUIDELINES
JoMoCon is a family friendly event.
- Cosplays should cover the pelvic area, buttocks, and chest.
- There should be no obscene, rude, or inappropriate images, words, or gestures.
- No discriminatory or offensive outfits are allowed.
- Anything too graphic, bloody, gory or potentially too frightening for younger children will need to be approved in advance by the cosplay committee.
- For safety reasons, wheeled items like roller skates, Heelys, bikes, etc. will not be permissible on stage or within the venue.
- Items that make messes like confetti, loose glitter, silly string, etc. are also not permissible.
- Guns or other projectile weapons and devices, water guns, items that create sparks or fire, knives or other types of metal blades, practice swords, bats, or other objects that can obviously be used as weapons will not be allowed.
- Some exceptions for prop weapons may be acceptable, but only after getting approval from staff and security at check-in.
- As long as you are following JoMoCon's rules and policies, your cosplay can be from any show, fandom, comic, video game, etc. that you want! You are also welcome to come up with a creation entirely of your own!
Security and the JoMoCon Committee reserve any and all rights to have prop items confiscated or to have anyone removed from the convention at any time if it is deemed necessary for the safety and well-being of all attendees.
If you are unsure about any component of your cosplay, please first check
JoMoCon's Attendee Policy. Or reach out in advance to the JoMoCon Committee at jmcadmin@jomocon.org and we can help you determine if your costume meets these requirements. It will be up to the JoMoCon Committee and the Judges if any cosplay is deemed too inappropriate or unsafe. If a costume is deemed too inappropriate or unsafe, that participant will be given a chance to make corrections. If corrections are not made, the participant may be disqualified, unable to perform, and/or asked to leave the convention.WHAT TO EXPECT
On the day of JoMoCon, it will be required for each participant to be present at check-in, orientation, their judges' session, and the cosplay contest itself. Schedules will be emailed out closer to the date of JoMoCon. Those who are not present (without prior notice) could be disqualified. Participants/their parents or guardians will be responsible for knowing and sticking to their schedules.
The cosplay contest will consist of each participant (or group) being announced individually and will be expected to be onstage under lights and with music for 30-60 seconds. This is your time to shine, pose, and show off your cosplay! Don't rush it! Wow the judges and audience, wave to family and friends, etc! But most importantly, HAVE FUN!
Award categories:
Note: This list is based on JoMoCon 2023 and is subject to change.
- Best Cosplay Group
- Best Individual Cosplay
- Best Individual Cosplay (12&under)
- Best Hair and Make up
- Best Prop
- Best Costume Creation
- Most Creative
- Best in show
- Judge's Award
All participants should note that both home-made and store-bought cosplays and props are allowed within our competition! HOWEVER, store-bought and commissioned cosplays and props may not be eligible to win certain categories. Professional Cosplayers (those who do cosplay for a living), Staff, and JoMoCon Committee members are ineligible to win awards, but may participate in the on-stage event.
Home-made will be defined as having either sewn, crafted, and/or designed the majority of the cosplay or prop from scratch and/or buying or thrifting individual items not originally intended as costume pieces and assembling them together to create a cosplay outfit or prop.
Ready to register?!? Please fill out the entirety of the required form below to the best of your knowledge.
We look forward to seeing all of your wonderful cosplays!
