Hall and craftsmanship judging

A beginner's guide to hall and craftsmanship judging at cosplay competitions, explaining how each type works and how to prepare.

Many conventions run more than one kind of costume judging. Hall judging happens out on the convention floor, where roving judges or a judging station look at costumes as people walk around. Craftsmanship judging is a closer, more structured look, often backstage or in a side room, where you show your work to a panel and talk through how you made it. Knowing which kind you are entering, or whether you are entering both, shapes how you prepare. In hall judging, first impressions carry a lot of weight. Judges are looking at how the costume reads from a distance, how well it moves with your body, and how consistently the whole look holds together. Small finishing details that might not be visible from several feet away matter less here than overall silhouette, colour accuracy, and presentation. Staying in character or simply carrying yourself with confidence can also help, though this varies by event. Craftsmanship judging rewards the work you put in behind the scenes. A panel will typically ask you to explain your construction choices, the materials you used, and any problems you solved along the way. This is where a build book and progress photos become genuinely useful rather than just a nice extra. Judges want to understand your process, not just the finished result, so being able to point to a photo of a tricky seam or a failed first attempt at a prop actually works in your favour. You do not need to have used the most advanced techniques, but you do need to be able to talk clearly about what you did and why. When working with materials common in costume construction, such as heat-formed thermoplastics, contact adhesives, resins, or power tools for prop work, take safety seriously at every stage. Work in a well-ventilated space, wear the right respirator for fumes or dust, gloves and eye protection, and follow the manufacturer's instructions for any product you use, since cure times, temperatures and handling requirements vary between brands. Younger makers should work with an experienced adult present. Before the event, also check the convention's own rules about props and materials. Each convention's own rules decide the divisions, the judging criteria and what documentation to bring, so always read the specific event's guidelines well before the day. What counts as a beginner or master entry, whether bought components are allowed, and how judging time is shared can all differ from one convention to another. If anything is unclear, ask the event organisers.