Contest Rules

Fashionably Undead 9: An Experiment in Terror Costume Contest – Official Rules

IMPORTANT: Please read these official rules before entering the Fashionably Undead 9: An Experiment in Terror Costume Contest (this “Contest”). By participating in this Contest, you agree to be bound by these official rules and represent that you satisfy all the eligibility requirements below. You hereby waive any right to claim ambiguity regarding the mechanics of the Contest or interpretation of these official rules. No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter or win in this Contest.

ELIGIBILITY: The Contest is open to legal US residents who are 21 years of age or older at the start of the Contest. Directors, officers, employees, volunteers, and representatives of the Experience Learning Community dba Museum of Pop Culture (“MoPOP”), its affiliates, and any of their agents, community partners, vendors, or sponsors, immediate family members (children, spouse, parents, siblings), and individuals residing in the same household, whether or not related, are not eligible to win any of the prizes. This Contest is void outside of the United States and where prohibited by law, and subject to the applicable federal, state and local laws. By participating, you agree to be bound by these official rules and the decisions of MoPOP’s designated representatives, judges and staff for the Contest (“Contest Staff”). IF YOU DO NOT MEET ANY OF THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS IN THESE OFFICIAL RULES, YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO WIN ANY PRIZE.

CONTEST PERIOD: The Contest starts at approximately 8:00 pm PST on October 31, 2019 and ends at or around 12:00 am PST on November 1, 2019 (the “Contest Period”). Contest Staff will keep the official time for the Contest.

HOW TO ENTER: All eligible persons attending Fashionably Undead 9 on Thursday, October 31, 2019 at the Museum of Pop Culture (325 5^th Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109), and who are wearing costumes that meet the costume requirements will be automatically entered into the Contest upon admission. All entrants must be properly checked, timely admitted and present during the Contest Period, and comply at all times with venue and facility rules, policies and terms and conditions.

COSTUME REQUIREMENTS: All costumes must adhere to MoPOP’s policy for costumes and costume weapons, available here. There are four (4) costume categories that will be judged in the Contest (each, a “Costume Category”):

• Most creative costume
• Scariest costume
• Best couples/group costumer
• Best “evil science” themed costume

SELECTION PROCESS: During the Contest Period, Contest Staff will select semi-finalists for each Costume Category to participate in the judge presentation round of the Contest (“Final Round”). Semi-finalists will receive a wristband and a ticket that states: “Congratulations! You’ve been selected as a semifinalist in the Fashionably Undead Costume Contest. Meet a MoPOP staff representative with the COSTUME CONTEST SEMIFINALISTS sign at the Sky Church stage at 10:50pm PST in preparation for the final on-stage judgement and a chance to win $750, courtesy of Champion Party Supply!” Participation is not mandatory, and anyone may decline or opt-out of participating at any time. Contest Staff will have the sole discretion to make any selections or decisions on the semi-finalists, including the number of semi-finalists and the applicable Costume Category for each semi-finalist.

FINAL ROUND: All semi-finalists will be required to sign an Affidavit of Eligibility and a Liability/Photo Release Form prior to participating in the Final Round. All semi-finalists must be present side stage next to the Sky Church Stage or an area designated by Costume Staff by 11:00 pm PST or the cut-off time announced by Contest Staff. Semi-finalists who are not present for the stage line-up may be disqualified for the Final Round at the sole discretion of Contest Staff. MoPOP and Contest Staff will use good faith, commercially reasonable efforts to fulfill any special requests or accommodations for semi-finalists to participate in the Final Round, but makes no guarantees on the availability or sufficiency of any specific accommodations that may be requested, or that any accommodations will be ADA-compliant.

JUDGING CRITERIA: All semi-finalists will be presented by an emcee on stage to display their costumes to the audience and a panel of three judges. The judges will use a rubric to judge each semi-finalist on craftsmanship, originality/accuracy and presentation based on the applicable Costume Category. Each semi-finalist will be given a score on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being poor and 10 being excellent. Scores will be tallied by Contest Staff and one (1) finalist will be selected for each Costume Category (each, a “Finalist”). The Finalists will be called to the stage one last time to present themselves to the judges and the audience. The judges will evaluate the Finalists and add points for overall excellence, which will be added to each Finalist’s original score. Contest Staff will tally overall scores and the winners will be confirmed by the judges. Contest Staff will have the sole discretion to determine any criteria in the event of any disputes or tie scores. All decisions by Contest Staff are final and binding.

PRIZES: The Finalists will be ranked and one (1) winner will be selected for each prize level below based on the final scores. The prizes for each prize level are set forth below. The prizes are provided by notated prize sponsor.

* Provided by Champion Party Supply
** Provided by Emerald City Comic Con
*** Provided by Crypticon Seattle
**** Provided by MoPOP

VERIFICATION OF POTENTIAL WINNERS: EACH POTENTIAL WINNER IS SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION BY CONTEST STAFF, WHOSE DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND BINDING IN ALL MATTERS RELATED TO THE CONTEST. AN ENTRANT IS NOT A PRIZE WINNER UNLESS AND UNTIL ENTRANT’S ELIGIBILITY HAS BEEN VERIFIED AND ENTRANT HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT VERIFICATION IS COMPLETE AND NO FURTHER ACTION IS NEEDED.

PRIZE RESTRICTIONS: ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAXES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECEIPT OR USE OF ANY PRIZES ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNER. No substitutions or exchanges of any prizes (including for cash) are permitted, except that MoPOP reserves the right to substitute any prize of comparable or greater value for a different prize. MoPOP will not replace any prize or any components thereof if it is lost or stolen. Only the number of prizes stated in these official rules are available to be won in the Contest. No travel, costume or other expenses of winners or their guests will be reimbursed. Except for applicable manufacturer’s standard warranties, all prizes are awarded “AS IS” and WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, express or implied, including without limitation, any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. 

DISCLAIMER: MoPOP, its affiliates, and their directors, officers, employees, professional advisors, consultants, contractors, legal counsel, public relations firms and marketing agencies (collectively, the “Released Parties”) will not be responsible for: (a) any late or unqualified entries; (b) any disruptions, injuries, losses or damages caused by events beyond the reasonable control of MoPOP or the Released Parties, including by non-authorized human intervention; (c) any deficiencies or failures to meet participant accommodation requests, or (d) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Contest.

RELEASE: By participating in the Contest, you hereby release all Released Parties from any liability whatsoever, and waive any and all causes of action, related to any claims, costs, injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Contest, Contest participation, or delivery, misdelivery, acceptance, possession, use of or inability to use the prizes or any components thereof (including claims, costs, injuries, losses and damages related to rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light, whether intentional or unintentional), whether under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty or other theory.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT WILL THE RELEASED PARTIES BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF USE, LOSS OF PROFITS OR LOSS OF DATA, WHETHER IN AN ACTION IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE, ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROMOTION OR USE OF ANY PRIZE, EVEN IF A RELEASED PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THE AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF THE RELEASED PARTIES (JOINTLY) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROMOTION OR ANY PRIZE SHALL NOT EXCEED $10. THE FOREGOING LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY DO NOT APPLY TO NY GROSS NEGLIGENCE, INTENTIONAL MISCONDUCT, OR FRAUD BY THE RELEASED PARTIES.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY NOTICE: The names and associated logos of Museum of Pop Culture and MoPOP are trademarks of MoPOP. The names and associated logos of the prize sponsors are trademarks of the applicable prize sponsor. All rights not expressly granted herein are reserved.

GOVERNING LAW; DISPUTES: These official rules are governed by the laws of the State of Washington, without regard to choice of law or conflict of law rules. Each entrant agrees that any disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest or any prize awarded will be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the state and federal courts located in King County, Washington. You hereby waive any and all objections to jurisdiction and venue in these courts and hereby submit to the jurisdiction of those courts.

MISCELLANEOUS: These official rules and decisions of Contest Staff and judges, which are final and binding in all respects. MoPOP reserves the right to change these official rules at any time, in its discretion, and to suspend or cancel the Contest or any entrant’s participation in the Contest should any causes beyond MoPOP’s reasonable control affect the administration, security or proper management of the Contest, or MoPOP otherwise becomes (in its sole discretion) incapable of running the Contest as planned. Participants who violate these official rules, violate any law, rule or regulation in connection with participation in the Contest, tamper with the operation of the Contest, or engage in any conduct that is detrimental or unfair to MoPOP, the Contest or any other participant (as determined in MoPOP’s sole discretion) are subject to disqualification from the Contest. Any attempt by a participant or other individual to deliberately damage any website associated with this Contest or undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest may be in violation of criminal and civil law and MoPOP reserves the right to prosecute and seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. MoPOP reserves the right to remove persons from the premises or the Contest for violation of any Contest requirements or venue rules or policies. MoPOP reserves the right to disqualify any participants for inappropriate or offensive costumes, behavior or content. MoPOP’s failure to enforce any term of these official rules will not constitute a waiver of that provision. Any provision of these official rules deemed unenforceable will be enforced to the extent permissible, and the remainder of these official will remain in effect. The use of the terms “include” or “including” in these official rules is illustrative and not limiting.

For any questions about the Contest or these official rules, please contact RobertR@MoPOP.org.