The volunteer masquerade organizers are responsible for your safe and successful performance at our masquerade. All performers are required to read and understand this Masquerade Code of Conduct in order to facilitate the best possible outcomes of your performances; the masquerade organizers have final discretion on admissibility of performances throughout the process from application to live performance. The Furnal Equinox Attendee Code of Conduct also still applies during any masquerade related activities.

Any questions or concerns can be sent to masquerade@furnalequinox.com – When in doubt, communicate with our volunteer masquerade team, our purpose is to maximize the success of our curated attendee acts, and we aim to be as inclusive as possible.

* ‘Volunteer organizers’ refers to the masquerade’s hosts and crew.

Overview

As a performer, you are encouraged to submit your unique performance, such as a skit, dance, musical performance, or stand-up comedy act where creativity and originality are strongly encouraged.

The volunteer masquerade organizers request that you rehearse for your performance to be within a time limit of 2 ½ – 5 minutes in length.

While performers are permitted to submit a single performance for consideration under their name, they may participate as part of other group performances. Typical participation of any individual is limited to one individual act, and one group act in order to allow the maximum possible number of attendees to participate.

Application and Selection Process

Participants are required to submit an outline of their act(s) which include song titles, drafts of scripts, lyrics, and an outline of props your performance requires. Outlines may be submitted no later than two full weeks prior to the first day of the convention, and adjustments may be made and submitted as late as rehearsals for final review.

Once outlines have been submitted, your performance will be invited to participate in rehearsals for final review and selection. Performances will be approved once deemed appropriate, and in accordance to length and technical constraints. We regret that no performance can be guaranteed participation until the conclusion of the rehearsals process.

Selection and sequencing of acts and performances are coordinated by the masquerade organizers based on time constraints, diversity across all selected performances, technical attributes, and other criteria in an objective manner. We welcome a dialogue with masquerade@furnalequinox.com to discuss and improve your performance. 

The Masquerade team and Furnal Equniox will be unable to provide items for the Masquerade besides basic audio support. We are unable to provide props, musical instruments, costume pieces or other specialty items for your act.

Rehersals

To facilitate an orderly process, the at-convention rehearsals are a CLOSED event. Only performers, their assistants, and necessary crew are eligible to attend.

Any participants intending to perform in the masquerade must without exception attend the rehearsal in advance of the main performance, or make alternate arrangements with the masquerade organizers. These rehearsals are essential to the preparations that volunteer organizers and stage crew make in order to make your performances the best that they can be.

All participants in rehearsal must rehearse using the fursuit, costume, and/or props (if applicable) that they will be utilizing in the masquerade. 

Once your performance is selected, no further alterations to your act are permitted, without express approval of the organizers to ensure smooth stage transitions and flow.

Staging and Technical Considerations

All necessary audio tracks must be submitted no later than the time of rehearsals and can be submitted in advance to the organizers in one of the following media:

• • Preferred Format: Google Drive shared folder, Or email of MP3 Audio..
  • PC Audio – MP3 format via USB key.  We can not guarantee that we will be able to open all flash drives.
  • We no longer accept CD audio at this time.

* For special technical requests such as stage crew assistance during the performance, Video playback or specific lighting cues, please contact us prior to rehearsals and our volunteer masquerade team will do our best to accommodate your performance group.

Show Etiquette

Performers, handlers, and your assistants participating in the masquerade are required to observe our 4 rules of backstage etiquette. 

1. 1. Our volunteer team performs their duties in good faith, to the best of their ability. We request that you treat our stage team with respect and dignity as they carry out their duties.
   2. Our volunteer masquerade organizers strive to put on the best possible show for attendees, and request that you aid them by notifying them of any relevant medical issues, safety concerns, or special needs so that they may best accommodate those needs.
   3. Our volunteer stage crew and masquerade organizers maintain confidentiality of performances outside of the rehearsal. We understand the efforts that performers and groups invest in their work, and as such we request that all performers, handlers, and assistants respect the efforts of their peers acts, and maintain confidentiality until after the masquerade has concluded.
   4. The AV and production team make great efforts to organize technical production for the convention. In order to maintain a safe backstage area, any horseplay or other unsafe behaviour are strictly prohibited due to the nature of the equipment in use. Backstage performers are also required to keep noise to an absolute minimum: microphones on stage will hear you, as will the audience!

Performances

We recommend costumed performers bring a “handler” to assist in your back-stage costume and wardrobe changes if you feel the need. Our stage crew team typically will be occupied with transitions between performances, and be unable to assist with wardrobe changes.

All performers and handlers must arrive 60 minutes before the beginning of the masquerade in order to organize and settle-in backstage prior to doors open. Any performer absent at final call (30 minutes prior to doors open) may have their act withdrawn from the show by the volunteer organizers. Performers are required to remain backstage both before and after their performance for final credits, and the announcement of the winning act.

All performers are required to remain backstage before and after their performance.  All performers will be recalled to the stage at the end of the show to announce the winner(s).

We request that performers remain on-stage for their own safety due to the height of our stage. Performers wishing to interact directly with judges or the audience must contact the masquerade organizers to discuss these special arrangements.

Performers are required to inform the masquerade organizers regarding any special effects, and by entering into the masquerade are liable for any special cleaning charges on equipment or staging as a result of their performances. When in doubt, contact masquerade@furnalequinox.com to discuss your ideas with us

Performance Judging

The winning performance act, or group will be engraved on the Masquerade Cup in alphabetical order. Engravings will be as per names provided on the sign-up form, and winners must contact the organizers for any alterations prior to the end of the convention. The cup will be available for photos with your group at the next physical convention, however the cup remains in the permanent care of SoulWolf as a lasting record of your performance and accomplishment for years to come.

In the spirit of growing the performing arts within the fandom, winners of the masquerade are ineligible to compete the following year with a 1 year cool-down period.

• If you perform as an individual, you are only eligible to participate in a group the subsequent year.
• If you perform as part of a group, you are only eligible to participate as an individual the subsequent year.
• If you participate in the masquerade with winning performances for 2 consecutive years, you will only be eligible to perform in a non-scored showcase act, time permitting.
• Non-judged showcase acts remain an option for masquerade winners after only 1 year.

Performances are judged on a broad set of criteria, such as originality of your performance, entertainment and audience appeal, performance handicap (in-suit vs out-of-suit), aesthetic appeal, use of space, and technical performance. Judges are selected based on their experience as performers.

Performance Judging

he winning performance act, or group will be engraved on the Spirrow Masquerade Cup in alphabetical order. Engravings will be as per names provided on the sign-up form, and winners must contact the organizers for any alterations prior to the end of the convention. The cup will be available for photos with your group at the convention, however the cup remains in the permanent care of SoulWolf as a lasting record of your performance and accomplishment for years to come.

In the spirit of growing the performing arts within the fandom, winners of the masquerade are ineligible to compete the following year with a 1 year cool-down period. 

• If you perform as an individual, you are only eligible to participate in a group the subsequent year.
• If you perform as part of a group, you are only eligible to participate as an individual the subsequent year.
• If you participate in the masquerade with winning performances for 2 consecutive years, you will only be eligible to perform in a non-scored showcase act, time permitting.
• Non-judged showcase acts remain an option for masquerade winners after only 1 year.
• You can opt out of your act being part of the judged competition. 

Performances are judged on a broad set of criteria, such as originality of your performance, entertainment and audience appeal, esthetic appeal, use of space, and technical performance. 

Judges may offset those performing in Fursuit based on varying abilities or characteristics of the competitor, in order to equalize their chances of winning.

Judges are selected based on their experience as performers, Past participants in the Masquerade as well as the convention’s guests of honour.

Contact and Submission Form

Submission deadline: Tuesday February 28, 2023 at 11:59 PM ET

 The masquerade organizers have final discretion on admissibility of performances throughout the process.

The Furnal Equinox Code of Conduct still applies to all performance.

Any questions or concerns can be sent to

E-mail: masquerade@furnalequinox.com