Otakuthon Masquerade Experience

I still have not recovered from Otakuthon, but I promise I will make a post on our costumes very soon. Since I did most of the work on our costumes the week before (who, me?), I barely took any evolution pictures, but I will be sure to take some detailed close-up pictures… soon. I am still working on my sleep deprivation. At least I have pictures of my daughter and me at the event this time, thanks to other people taking pictures and sending them to me. (Keep them coming people!)

Gwenyver & Daughter as Rosalina & Toadette, photo by Tanja Dorosh

Costume specific posts will follow shortly, but in the mean time, let me tell you about my Masquerade experience. Because I was accompanied by my daughter (or was it the other way around?), we got to go second, in the junior category (though I was to be judged as a journeyman because I asked for it and that is my Masquerade level). As soon as the MCs, Narf and Yaya Han, announced our entry “Rosalina & Toadette”, people started to scream and cheer. (Apparently, Marie-Ange-the-Celt screamed so loudly for us that the girl in front of her jumped out of her skin.) Once we walked onto the stage, the cheering doubled. My daughter was never afraid (I’m so proud of her!); she held my hand and walked on, following me to the middle of the catwalk where I suggested to her that she could wave to the audience, which she did, albeit shyly. We heard a general “Aww!” from the 700 people present, and then, on our musical cue, we walked off.

Headless Gwenyver and daughter on stage at the Otakuthon 2011 Masquerade

Of course, they do not make the toddlers wait until the next day for their prizes, and everyone gets one (there were just 2 anyways). Entry number one, a 2 year old boy dressed as some Pokemon creature I do not know, won for best TV Show recreation and my daughter, for best Video Game recreation.

My daughter as Toadette with her ribbon for Best Video Game recreation in the Junior category

Not only is that ribbon awesome, it is almost as long as her dress! I’ll say it again, my heart was bursting with pride at how well she handled everything. I had expected her to be frightened by all the screams/cheers and to want to hide in my arms, but she just went on. I even had people stop me on Sunday to tell me how adorable she was.

A happy Toadette!

Speaking of Sunday, I have news to share. I went to the Masquerade’s award ceremony, hoping that maybe I might win a ribbon of my own. There were many amazing costumes and I unfortunately did not manage to show and explain my costume and my daughter’s in detail to the workmanship judge (imagine bringing your toddler to a job interview and now imagine how well you would be able to sell yourself – NOT!). So either because they got mixed up because my registration form said both Junior and Journeyman, or because I was unable to sell myself and my work to the judge, or simply because my work was not that impressive to them compared to others, I did not win in my category. I will admit it, I was a little disappointed, but it happens and there is nothing I can do about it. Then, just before they were about to give the awards for best costume overall and best in show, the Masquerade director announced that the Costume Con 32 director had personally insisted that an entry get their membership to the 2014 Con in Toronto, and that entry was ME! I was super excited AND I got to be in the pictures with the Masters (heh!). So now I HAVE to go, and already my mind is starting to think of the costumes I will be making – the theme is "Myths, Monsters and Legends".

Gwenyver and Daughter on stage, photo by Samia of Geekbecois.com

But back to the Masquerade, it was a lot of fun to do it with my daughter and I am happy we did. It was worth all my hard work just for the audience’s reaction. I have to do this again sometime. Speaking of, Montréal ComicCon is coming up and they have a Masquerade; does anyone have any suggestions on a costume group I could whip-up in a month for my Sweetheart, my daughter and myself? I am strangely out of inspiration right now (must be from lack of rest in the previous weeks), and I want (make that need) a genius idea and fast!