Cosplay Lip Sync Showdown

You asked for it and we're here to deliver! Join us for the Cosplay Lip Sync Showdown, where cosplayers of all ages get on stage and lip-sync for their lives.

New this year, we are creating a second event: 18+ Lip Sync Battle. Come sing, shimmy, shake, and strut your stuff.

Meet our hosts and judges

Momma Sammu

Showdown and 18+ Battle host

A PNW native, Momma Sammu was raised attending and dressing up at fantasy and sci-fi conventions, but didn't start cosplaying until their first anime convention, Kumoricon 2006, and has been hooked ever since. Sammu's specialties include corsetry, ballgowns, bodypaint, and making things as extra as humanly possible (rhinestones, embroidery, ruffles, oh my!) With over 16 years of cosplaying and over a dozen awards under their belt, Sammu has seen nearly every side of the cosplay space, most recently finding themselves as an MC for multiple events, able to encourage and cheer on future generations of cosplayers, truly the dream job.

When not at conventions, they love to share their knowledge, encouraging other creatives to pursue their passions through Twitch livestreams and other social media. They have done their best to create not only a space to share new skills, but a safe space for anyone who needs it, spreading the mindset that cosplay is for everyone.

Uptown Cosplay

Showdown and 18+ Battle host

Since beginning their journey in 2012, Uptown Cosplay has been combining their favorite hobbies into one—cosplay, acting, dance, and crafting—in bringing characters to life. They have been entertaining audiences with lively in-character panels, renowned lip sync performances, and event hosting for nearly a decade, including co-hosting Kumoricon's Cosplay Lip Sync Showdown since its debut. Uptown shares their work and experiences online so that anyone can enjoy them, regardless of whether they can attend conventions or not. Some of their best-known cosplays are from media such as Genshin Impact, Black Butler, Miraculous Ladybug, Soul Eater, and many more.

Kai Lockhart

18+ Battle host

Kai Lockhart is the loveable oddity once from the PNW and coming to you now from San Antonio, TX! A cosplayer and drag performer wrapped into one interesting package, bursting with fun, laughter, and a little sass to help you gain your daily dose of serotonin.

Rock M. Sakura

Showdown and 18+ Battle judge

Rock M. Sakura is a beloved fan favorite from RuPaul's Drag Race season 12, and is the current reigning Miss J-Pop SF. Sakura is usually found death dropping, hot-gluing, wearing short shorts, doing drop splits, working out her back rolls, and scratching her head in confusion when she can't thread her sewing machine. She is heavily influenced by manga and anime, which shows in her cartoonish louder than life makeup style. A beautiful mix of fierce, camp, and kawaii, this is a high energy queen you won't want to miss!

Black Bettie Cosplay

Showdown and 18+ Battle judge

Black Bettie Cosplay is a BIPOC nonbinary cosplayer, costumer, and photographer based in Portland, Oregon. For over fifteen years, they have been creating high quality costumes, props, and content—and love to bring characters to life by transforming themself with makeup, wigs, and detailed looks. They also use their experience in tailoring, building and styling wigs, foam work, resin, and utilizing unconventional/recycled materials as a veteran cosplay and lip sync contest judge for events around the country and online.

As a BIPOC queer cosplayer, they work hard to spread the message that cosplay is for everyone and encourage more diverse representation and support within the community as well as with the various brands they work with.

Dandy Ducky

Showdown and 18+ Battle judge

Ducky (Dandy Ducky) is a self proclaimed cosplay bard of the PNW stage. He has been part of the cosplay community for 17 years and has used that time honing their skills, entertaining their fellow peers, and making them feel welcome. They have won awards for their lip sync performances and have enjoyed sharing the stage light with their lip sync family. Often able to be found backstage playing hype-man for their fellow performers, Ducky is here for a good time, not a long time, and reminds you to hydrate before you diedrate.

License attribution: Globe icon for web link from Material Design icons by Google, Apache 2.0

Cosplay Lip Sync Showdown

Eligibility

All participants must have a Kumoricon 2023 badge.
All participants must read and agree to follow all rules of the Cosplay Lip Sync Showdown.
Performances previously entered in a Kumoricon Cosplay Lip Sync Showdown are ineligible.
By registering for the Cosplay Lip Sync Showdown, all participants agree to allow Kumoricon to use their images for promotional purposes, both photographs and video. Photographs of winning entries may be shown at the Kumoricon Closing Ceremonies.
All convention policies must be upheld during the entirety of the Cosplay Lip Sync Showdown competition. Anyone breaking Kumoricon rules will be disqualified and reported to Operations or Yojimbo.
Kumoricon regular staff may enter the Cosplay Lip Sync Showdown as long as staff-related responsibilities are fulfilled.
Kumoricon board members may not compete in the Cosplay Lip Sync Showdown.

How to enter

Entries for the Kumoricon 2023 Cosplay Lip Sync Showdown have closed as of the deadline for online entry of September 30, 2023, 11:59pm. At-convention entries may be available should any open slots remain.
The maximum number that will be allowed this year will be 20 acts.
This year, participants will be required to audition for the contest. To do so you must:
- Submit a 1-minute video of you performing a lip sync. The video must contain a full view of your body majority of the time. All performing members must be in the audition video and listed on the application form.
  OR
- Submit a previous performance video from 2023. For example, it may be from another convention or a social media platform like Instagram or YouTube. It must be from 2023.
- Please do not use filters (TikTok, Snapchat, etc.) on your audition video. Any video with heavy filters will not be considered.
Entrants will be chosen by a small panel of judges and contacted within a week of the submission deadline. The top 5 entries not in the show will be put on the waitlist.
Entrants are required to attend the Check-In and Rehearsal and to show up at the requested time for the contest itself. Entrants who miss any of these events may be disqualified. This applies to waitlisted entries as well up until check-in. Please see the official Kumoricon schedule (once released) for times and locations of required meetings and activities.
There will be a 3-minute live lip sync performance on stage.
The top two entries will perform a final showdown lip sync to a pre-chosen song.

General information

Kumoricon is an all-ages-friendly event. Content should not go beyond a mild PG.
- Offensive language of any kind is not allowed—no racial or sexual epithets; no profanity, etc.
- No excessive violence.
- All sexual jokes must have a non-sexual interpretation that is at least as obvious as the sexual one.
- No nudity—all costumes must adhere to the official Kumoricon rules.
- Be clever, not crass! If you think your costume or presentation might be too risqué or offensive, it probably is.
- If you have a question about your content, please feel free to ask the Lip Sync Staff if it is allowable.
18+ Lip Sync Battle rules are stated below the Showdown information.
You may surprise the audience, but never surprise the crew.
No fire, flame, smoke, fog, dry ice, wind machines, lasers, pressurized gases, or liquids.
No messy substances—wet, dry, or oily—in the green room or on stage.
No jumping on or off stage—please use the officially designated stage entrances and exits.
Entrants must abide by the convention weapons policies. All weapons must be peace-bonded and approved. Pointing weapons at anyone not in your cosplay group will not be tolerated. The Lip Sync Coordinator must approve any actions involving weapons.
Contestants may not use stage time to make political, religious, insulting, or other demonstrations not related to their entry.
If for whatever reason one contestant is removed from competition for any violation, the entire group may be disqualified as well depending on the situation.
All decisions made by the Lip Sync Coordinator or Director of Programming are final and may only be changed by a formal challenge through Programming.
You must have some kind of foot covering. Shoes, sandals, or boots are required. Be aware of safety concerns. If your character does not wear shoes the lack of accuracy will be forgiven; consider flesh-toned or clear shoes.

Judging

Contestants are judged solely on their performance. Costume construction has no influence on the performance judging.

All entrants must give a performance.
Contestants will be assigned a numerical score by each judge based on showmanship and presentation. In addition, "Coolness Points" can be earned. Coolness Points can be earned for anything which, simply, in the judge's determination, is cool, and can add an additional bonus to the score. The scores from each judge are then tallied to come up with a total score for the contestant.
Each contestant will appear in only one stage performance.
The judges are free to give as many or as few awards as they choose.
- Awards may include: Judge's Choice, Coordinator's Choice, and the Ultimate Showdown Award.

Performance

Performance will be judged based on the performance of the contestant/whole group.
Performance awards are granted to the entries that have shown excellent stage presentation.
Costumes do not have to be self-made.
Contestants must provide their own music.
- File uploads are preferred for online entries.
- You must also deliver your file by USB thumb drive at Check-In.
  - For this method, please include your person/group name and performance name in the filename.
  - One track is preferred; we cannot change tracks or start in the middle of a track.
- We can accept MP3, M4A, and other common file types. We strongly prefer 128kbps or higher.
- Bring backup copies of your audio on a USB thumb drive to ensure it's not lost. Kumoricon is not responsible for damage to or loss of USB thumb drives or any other media.
- Clearly label your back-up USB thumb drive with person/group name and performance title.
- We will not play or rip music off portable MP3 players, such as iPods or cell phones.
Leave the stage as clean as it was when you set foot on it. Arrange to remove all items you brought on stage at the end of your presentation. If you have a particularly intricate presentation, we recommend you recruit your own stage ninjas.
No entry may be a repeat of an entry from any previous competition at Kumoricon.
Don't plan for complex lighting. The default lighting cue is: lights go up, music starts, you come on stage right, you leave on stage left, music stops, lights go down. If you desire anything other than default lighting or music cues, discuss it with the Lip Sync Coordinator before the convention.

Song selection

Entry is limited to one (1) entry per person/group.
Songs may be from any category, but are limited to 3 minutes.
You must include the lyrics for the song you are using so that we may review for approval. If the song is not in English, you must include lyrics in the original language and the English translation.
No heavily edited audio (added voice lines, original medleys, etc.). Editing for time is okay.
Be prepared to perform at least two different songs. If two people have the same song, one or both will be asked to sing an alternate song.

The "Showdown"

You can't have a true showdown without a face off! Contestants will be given a song prior to con to practice for the final lip sync performance! The top two contestants will face off at the end of the event for the Ultimate Showdown Award!

18+ Lip Sync Battle

Eligibility

All participants must have a Kumoricon 2023 badge and be 18 years old or older.
All participants must have an age 18+ hand stamp.
All participants must read and agree to follow all rules of the 18+ Lip Sync Battle.
Entries for the 18+ Lip Sync Battle have closed as of October 6, 2023, as all slots have filled. At-convention entries may be available on the chance that any slots re-open.
Performances previously entered in a Kumoricon Cosplay Lip Sync Showdown are ineligible.
By registering for the 18+ Lip Sync Battle, all participants agree to allow Kumoricon to use their images for promotional purposes, both photographs and video. Photographs of winning entries may be shown at the Kumoricon Closing Ceremonies.
All convention policies must be upheld during the entirety of the 18+ Lip Sync Battle competition. Anyone breaking Kumoricon rules will be disqualified and reported to Operations or Yojimbo.
Kumoricon regular staff may enter the 18+ Lip Sync Battle as long as staff-related responsibilities are fulfilled.
Kumoricon board members may not compete in the 18+ Lip Sync Battle.

General information

This is an age 18+ event.
- Explicit language is allowed up to coordinator's discretion.
- No excessive violence.
- No nudity—all costumes must adhere to the official Kumoricon dress code.
- Be clever, not crass! If you think your costume or presentation might be too risqué or offensive, it probably is.
- If you have a question about your content, please feel free to ask the Lip Sync Staff if it is allowable.
3-minute song performance for each entry.
There is no showdown. Entities will choose the level that best suits them.
All other rules unless otherwise stated are the same as the Cosplay Lip Sync Showdown.
The 18+ Lip Sync Battle will be run in three levels:
- Beginner, Intermediate, and Master.
- There will be an award for each category winner and an overall Best In Show.

Audition guide

Check-in

Important: If chosen, you must check yourself in at Main Events (time to be determined—see schedule once it is released) to confirm your spot in the Cosplay Lip Sync Showdown.

18+ Lip Sync Battle location and check-in time are to be determined. Please check the Kumoricon official schedule for location and time.

Contact

Please email our Lip Sync team with any questions at lip.sync@kumoricon.org.

Entry form

Online entries for both the Cosplay Lip Sync Showdown and the 18+ Lip Sync Battle have closed for Kumoricon 2023.