What is this contest?
Who may enter the contest? Do you have to be a full-time or professional costumer?
Is this same as previous year's NC-17 contest? Why the name change??
What awards are distributed with this contest?
What are the age requirements for contestants in this contest?
Do the costumes have to be hand-made or can they be purchased?
Is this contest open to both men and women?
Are presentations allowed in this contest?
Who needs to attend the Pre-Qualification segment of the contest?
Why do I have to attend the Pre-Qualification?
Will there be time or space to make final adjustments or costume repairs
What limitations are placed on presentations?
Do I need to pre-register for this contest? Where is it done?
I pre-registered online. Do I need to bring a hardcopy of my entry form with me?

What is this contest?
Dragon After Dark is the Saturday evening, adult-oriented costume contest that provides an opportunity for designers and costumers to display and showcase their naughty or suggestive costumes in a safe and controlled environment. We see them in the hallways and at the bar, but this provides a chance to display them in a venue that does not compete with the noise or interruptions of the typical social setting.

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Who may enter the contest? Do you have to be a full-time or professional costumer?
The Dragon After Dark Contest is open to any and all registered attendees of Dragon*Con who are 18 or older. You do not need to be a professional costumer to enter this contest, but the better your skills and creativity, the better you will do overall. This contest is less about skills and more about the overall look and reveal of the costume.

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Is this same as previous year's NC-17 contest? Why the name change??
The Dragon After Dark contest is the same NC-17 style contest we have had in previous years. The intent is the same and the presentation will not alter much. The differences this year will consist of an R-rating as opposed to NC-17, cameras will be allowed in certain areas, and we will not be checking IDs or anything. The name was changed to reflect a different view from Dragon*Con as a whole. We did not wish to connect any one person to a specific type of contest nor did we wish to have one person or agency so intertwined with the convention that it would reflect directly upon them in any way. We felt it would be easier to simply offer the same venue but in a new format to give greater exposure and accessibility to all attendees and entrants.

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What awards are distributed with this contest?
This year, we will award simply a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place standing. Dragon*Con will make a physical award available for each category which will consist of Dragon*Con dollars, a trophy/certificate, or any combination of the above.

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What are the age requirements for contestants in this contest?
This contest is limited to persons male or female that are 18 years of age or older. Date of birth will be listed on the entry form and verified with the Dragon*Con membership application.

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Do the costumes have to be hand-made or can they be purchased?
Due to the nature of the contest, costumes can be either bought or fabricated by the wearer. There are no categories for creation or talent in actual costume construction. This is simply a chance for contestants to show off their costumes of this nature. On many web pages, we have discovered a growing trend toward "naughty" costumes and the like, so we opted in our 1st year to provide a venue and it has been growing year after year.

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Is this contest open to both men and women?
The simple answer here is YES. In the past, the name of the contest indicated a focus toward women in costume. We felt that this limited the number of entrants and the types of costumes we might see. That is another reason for the name change?...it is less gender-specific. Beginning this year, the costumes can be for singles, couples, groups, male, female, or other. We just want to have some fun and present some good entertainment.

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Are presentations allowed in this contest?
Unlike the Friday Night Costuming Contest, Dragon After Dark will allow for limited skits or presentations. We do not want a 20-minutes skit but you do not have to walk on and walk off either. Presentations will be limited to 3 minutes and cannot involve lewd, questionable, or distasteful actions, statements, or mannerisms. We must keep things in an R-rated format.

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Who needs to attend the pre-qualification segment of the contest?
Pre-qualification will take place in the hour timeslot before the actual contest. ALL contestants need to attend this portion in order to be judged in the contest. Due to the number of entrants it is imperative that all contestants arrive at the scheduled time and not 20-minutes into the pre-qualification. This is where you will show off your design and discuss your basic presentation, so come prepared.

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Why do I have to attend the pre-qualification?
Pre-qualification serves several purposes; primarily, it allows the staff to look at your costume and/or presentation to make certain that it conforms to GA state policy regarding nudity, exposure, and content-appropriateness. Another reason for the pre-qualification is to allow the staff to decide where to place you in regards to line-up. If you have a large group presentation or a bulky costume in this category (props, etc) we will have a better chance to place you somewhere that will be easier for you to get on and off stage in a timely manner.

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Will there be time or space to make final adjustments or costume repairs?
The staff will make every effort to get you in the Ballroom, lined up, and ready before the contest itself; but you also need to allow plenty of time to arrive at your final destination. Although we will have a limited supply of materials to make final adjustments or repairs, only YOU know what your costume needs and you need to bring the necessary materials. We will have space backstage for contestants and repairs can be made while you are waiting to go onto the stage. If your costume involves a degree of difficulty in moving, please supply handlers. How well you move is also a consideration that the judges will be looking at.

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What limitations are placed on presentations?
Presentations must not be longer than 3 minutes. In order to keep things moving and interesting to the audience, we have to keep things moving. You may have music or a recorded presentation but no special lighting effects will be available. You may NOT have any substances on the stage that will detract from other contestant presentations (i.e. trash on stage, confetti, whip cream, etc). No fire or smoke either. Obviously, we cannot allow any presentation that mimics a live-sexual act or anything or the like. Although the contest is listed as "bare-as-you-dare," we have to enforce some limitations to that as well. If you have questions regarding your skit, costume, or presentation, please feel free to contact the Costume Track Director and get a ruling from them.

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Do I need to pre-register for this contest? Where is it done?
Pre-registration is encouraged to help cut-down on having an onsite surge of last minute entrants that need to be judged. Pre-registration will occur via the Costume Track website or by contacting the Track Director. Pre-registration will include general information as well as a general look and/ or costume intent. When you register, you will receive an online confirmation but you will also need to stop by the Costume Track rooms in the Hilton to confirm your attendance at the convention and in the contest as well as receive any information regarding changes to location, policy or procedures.
You can also register for the contest at the Costume Track panel rooms during Friday and Saturday but you must have information present when you register. Registration for the Dragon After Dark Contest will close at 7PM on Saturday afternoon.

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I pre-registerd online. Do I need to bring a hardcopy of my entry form with me?
Yes. We do everything we can to make sure that all pre-registered paperwork makes it to the contest. However, we are human and on rare occasions things do happen. Please have a copy at pre-qualifications just in case.

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Where is the pre-qualification and contest held?
This year, both the pre-qualification and the contest are held at the Hyatt Regency Ballrooms.