Sunday evening I judged a Halloween costume content held at the Neptune Hose Fire Department in the Village of Dryden. I was asked to be one of three participating judges and I accepted - mostly because I forgot the effort required from my 2008 experience.
There were a record number of kids in a remarkable assortment of costumes from animals to vampires to soldiers to princesses. The pressure to decide on 16 winners (5 categories with first, second, and third place; and the judge's choice award) was incredible. The was a cash prize ($10, $5, $4) so there was a chance to make some little kids very happy or somewhat upset. There were at least 50 kids - so no matter what we did - a majority of the participants were going to be unhappy with our work.
Here are some tips on how to win a costume contest. I'll probably bow out of the 2011 contest judging, but I'm sure these ideas are universal.
1. Arrive early - The contest ("parade") started at 6:10pm. People rolled in from 5:55pm to 6:10pm. All of the participants circled up and walked by the judges table three times over the next 15 minutes and by 6:25pm we had our selections. It was a long 15 minutes. At least six of the 16 winners arrived between 5:45pm and 6pm. Including the first family to arrive (at 5:40pm) with one excited bat who placed in the most original animal category. It is easy to stand out in a crowd if you are the only one in the crowd. Arrive early. The judges will remember who they see. With 50 or 60 kids you want to be seen more, not less.
2. Don't arrive late - As I was leaving the fire station at 6:45pm I saw a family arriving. It was all over.
3. Do something yourself - but spend some time doing it. Two winners that stood out made talented use of cardboard, scissors, tape, markers, and paint. There was a lot of effort and it showed.
4. Do something original - there were a dozen zombies and vampires. They are all the rage, but it made it difficult to award one as being scary when they had 11 others that looked the same.
5. Do something cute - this was a kids costume party and three of the winners were in the 6 month to 2 years range. It was had to ignore cute little animal kids.
6. Show us your face - Only one of the 16 winners was wearing any kind of a mask that covered the face. The judges like to see that you were enjoying the holiday and not participating by obligation. We can't tell that if there's a mask.
7. Know the categories ahead of time - Our categories were: Most Amazing Animal, Most Original, Funniest, Scariest, and Prettiest. We also had one "Judge's Choice". If you are batman, boba fett, a police officer, fire fighter, soldier, or storm trooper - there isn't much room in the given categories. There really should be a cutest category (for the little little kids) and a toughest or most traditional category (to balance out the 'prettiest' category which eliminates all the boys). If you want to win something - know the categories - and get a costume that is in line with the ways to win.
8. Try to be patient - a few kids were leaning on the judges table. That's not going to help.
9. Be sure to show us your number - each participant had a number on a pumpkin shaped paddle. Some made it really hard for us to know their number.
10. Hope for a mistake. 50 kids, 75 parents, candy, cider, donuts, 3 judges sitting side by side, a conductor trying to wrap things up before total chaos, and somewhere along the communication confusion between the three judges a winner or two snuck in who only had the support of one judge. It might happen.
Overall the costume party was great. Kids tried really hard to come up with costumes that were an escape from their daily life.
And really I only saw one kid crying, so that made me feel ok. Good luck in 2011!
