I'm not sure this is the right section for this, but I wanted to bring up the issue of documentation since it is so important to have on hand in the masquerade. I'm hoping we can open a discussion about what format you've used for your documentation in the past, how creatively you've presented it, and what you've been able to do when you're trying to document a recreation costume that has limited views of the source material? Did you include swatches or in-progress photos as you worked on the costume? How thorough were you?

If you've judged workmanship, what are some of the best examples of documentation you've seen?

When I presented my documentation at Balticon, I typed it up as a missing person's flier, with Dracula seeking information on his missing son, Alucard. I included multiple views of the costume in the back and a 2-3 page description from Alucard's tailors describing the outfit I was wearing. I had several copies of documentation on hand for the workmanship judge(s) and included 3 copies of 2 full colour pictures for the presentation judges, so they could judge the accuracy of my costume andits flow/movement when it appeared onstage.

Now that I've bored you with what I did, what about you?

wow o_o

i have to admit, while i have won awards in 3 of the 4 masquerades i've attended, masquerades are not really my forte and i usually only enter them if i have a group as an excuse... and 2 of the 3 have been original or interpretive.

so i have to admit, the only documentation i've used consisted of the only reference picture that exists, on a folded-up piece of paper from my printer. plus my mumbled explaination of "the bottom wasn't in the picture, so i extrapolated from the style of the top that it would be a 1700's ballgown type thing" but i don't think many other people in that masquerade brought documentation since our workmanship award ended up being "most accurate to documentation" or something like that. ;P

i kinda suck at masquerades. i cried before i went on stage that year -_-;;; masquerade stress = lame-ass xio. of course, after that year i just decided not to care THAT much, since i didn't ever want to feel that stressed out before a masq again coz getting upset in front of people isn't fun, and if *i* like my costume i'd rather not worry so much about the judging. so... my planning is pretty lame. :P

your documentation sounds cool though... i've only done stuff like that for school projects ^^;;

Ahh, documentation. If you are doing reproduction costumes it is vital.
Not everyone watches the same shows you do, and if they do, do they remember what they saw.

I have been a judge and it can be vital.

My advice, do three sets.

Set #1, attach to your entry form. Make it basic pictures, fast information to read. This is what the presentation judges will see. [They don't have a lot of time to read] [Don't assume that the sheet you hand the workmanship judge will make it to the presentation judges, I have been in competitions where my workmanship judging took place AFTER the contest had started there were so many entries]

Set #2 -take it to workmanship. This can be more detailed. If you have reproduced particular details have photos of them.

Set #3 - keep it in you kit, dup. of set #2 -in case it vanishes.

What the judges need to see is clear, or as clear as possible, pictures of the source for your costume. Ideally from all angles. If there is a written description include that. Do not hand them your reference books, make a copy of the page. Put your Costume title on each page. If there is more than one, staple them together.

Your material sounded really interesting but it can take time to read [in a small contest that isn't too much of a problem, but if it is a large one .... ] Costume con historical documentation, which is required, now is limited to 6 pages of typed material.

This is excellent advice, and pretty much the rule of thumb I have followed for all of the Guild cons I have competed at.

I would be interested in hearing what your thoughts are about creating attractive, but effective documentation for a historical masquerade, such as Costume Con's.

you know..i'm in the same boat as Xiola!! it's just been a folded piece of paper with the picture on it...and at AN the workmanship judge just started right away looking at our costumes so we never got the chance to show her our pics!!
then we're shy...we should have...

but yeah...i think it's easier for the judges if they have some good documentation of your reference pics

I always make sure the judges are looking at my references as I speak to them to avoid problems with the judge putting the documentation aside and not looking at it. At Balticon, I was showing the judge the respective illustration when I told her "we were able to determine the exact number of rows of studs on his vest and get them lined up symmetrically".

I've never been asked for a reference ever until a couple months ago x_X; I was like "... muh? when did this start?"