SNAFU Con
Sierra Nevada Anime Fans Unite!
SNAFU Con is an anime convention in the Reno/Sparks area of Nevada. The 2023 con was November 17 - 19, 2023. The 2024 con has not been announced yet.
Read our full COVID-19 policy here.
Quicklinks:
Talent Show Rules and Information
Masks Index
The SNAFU Con Mask policy applies to stage events. All participants are required to wear a mask or a face shield at all times during the Talent Show. No exceptions will be made. If you are not able to perform your talent with a mask or face shield on, do not register this year.
Talent Show Index
Are you a singer, dancer, musician or magician? Enter our costumed Talent Show and show off your best talent to win great prizes!
Sign up online or at con to participate. All contestants must fill out a participation waiver (a parental consent form will be provided for entrants under age 18) in addition to the online form. Depending on runtime, a maximum of 20 entries may be accepted.
The Talent Show is scheduled to run on Sunday from 2:30-3:30PM.
Sign up online or at con to participate. All contestants must fill out a participation waiver (a parental consent form will be provided for entrants under age 18) in addition to the online form. Depending on runtime, a maximum of 20 entries may be accepted.
The Talent Show is scheduled to run on Sunday from 2:30-3:30PM.
Waitlist Index
All waitlisted entrants must check in at the Talent Show Rehearsal to see if a slot is available to participate in the talent show. Entrants not checked in by the end of the Talent Show Rehearsal are considered no-shows.
Performances Index
All acts must be PG and appropriate for an all ages show.
Acts must be safe and clean in nature- no pyrotechnics, messy substances (glitter, silly string, sand, feathers, etc), fire, live animals, batons, or acrobatics will be allowed. All items brought onto the stage at the start of the performance must remain on stage for the duration of the performance. All items brought onto the stage must be removed by the participant, or their helpers, at the end of the performance. Acts requiring more than 12 feet of ceiling height are also not allowed. All performances are limited to 4 minutes. Entrants are allowed to participant in one act only. Recorded accompaniment is allowed.
Music is allowed and encouraged but must be appropriate for an all ages show. For example, music cannot contain profanity, references to drugs, or reference to sexual acts. Entrants must provide their own digital song file, instruments, props, keyboard, etc if necessary. Audio files must be provided at or before the Talent Show Rehearsal. Microphones and a sound system will be provided.
Acts that include singing or any spoken word performance must submit lyrics/script at or before the Talent Show Rehearsal. Acts including music must also submit lyrics, even if for background purpose. Acts whose contents are not appropriate for an all ages show will be asked to change the content or withdraw their interest from the Talent Show.
No sexually explicit, vulgar, obscene or racially slurred content or actions will be permitted. No risqué costuming is allowed. If a majority of the Talent Show Contest judges consider the performance to be in poor taste, lower points will be awarded. Participants will be escorted off the stage if at any time the performance is unacceptable according to the rules and the discretion of the officials. Officials may ban the participants from future Talent Shows.
Setup time must be minimal. Suggested length of time for setup is one minute. Due to time constraints, bands are not allowed to participate.
Each person may only enter in ONE performance.
Professionals are NOT permitted to compete. This includes union musicians and anyone whose primary source of income is from their talent. Compensation for performing an occasional paid gig does not constitute primary source of income.
Acts must be safe and clean in nature- no pyrotechnics, messy substances (glitter, silly string, sand, feathers, etc), fire, live animals, batons, or acrobatics will be allowed. All items brought onto the stage at the start of the performance must remain on stage for the duration of the performance. All items brought onto the stage must be removed by the participant, or their helpers, at the end of the performance. Acts requiring more than 12 feet of ceiling height are also not allowed. All performances are limited to 4 minutes. Entrants are allowed to participant in one act only. Recorded accompaniment is allowed.
Music is allowed and encouraged but must be appropriate for an all ages show. For example, music cannot contain profanity, references to drugs, or reference to sexual acts. Entrants must provide their own digital song file, instruments, props, keyboard, etc if necessary. Audio files must be provided at or before the Talent Show Rehearsal. Microphones and a sound system will be provided.
Acts that include singing or any spoken word performance must submit lyrics/script at or before the Talent Show Rehearsal. Acts including music must also submit lyrics, even if for background purpose. Acts whose contents are not appropriate for an all ages show will be asked to change the content or withdraw their interest from the Talent Show.
No sexually explicit, vulgar, obscene or racially slurred content or actions will be permitted. No risqué costuming is allowed. If a majority of the Talent Show Contest judges consider the performance to be in poor taste, lower points will be awarded. Participants will be escorted off the stage if at any time the performance is unacceptable according to the rules and the discretion of the officials. Officials may ban the participants from future Talent Shows.
Setup time must be minimal. Suggested length of time for setup is one minute. Due to time constraints, bands are not allowed to participate.
Each person may only enter in ONE performance.
Professionals are NOT permitted to compete. This includes union musicians and anyone whose primary source of income is from their talent. Compensation for performing an occasional paid gig does not constitute primary source of income.
Costumes Index
While not the focus of the contest, costumes are strongly encouraged in performances. Costumes can be based on video games, comics, animated cartoons, fantasy and sci-fi genres. The country of origin does not matter. Costumes may be purchased or handcrafted.
All props must conform to SNAFU Con’s Costume Prop/Weapons & Dress Code Policy. Limited exceptions can be provided in extreme cases such as large mechas, multi-person costumes or excessively large props.
Costumes should be self-contained and self-sufficient. Body paint must be properly sealed to prevent it from rubbing off. Connections to electrical sockets will not be available. Bulky costumes may require an aid to move or see. Please secure your own escort if this is the case as SNAFU Con will not be able to provide any assistance for you. Performers will have to go up a small set of stairs about 3 feet wide and about 6 stairs tall, in typical stair height. Please keep this in mind when making your costume selection.
All parts of the costume must stay on the stage at all times. It is strictly prohibited to throw items into the audience or behind the stage.
All entries must be registered for the convention, and have badges clearly displayed during contest sign-in.
This is a family friendly convention, and all costumes must comply with our PG-13 rating. No costumes that are derived from “adult content” sources will be allowed in the contest. If your costume is determined to be too skimpy, or inappropriate for children, you will be asked to cover the offending portion before participating in the contest. Failure to do so will result in disqualification and possible ejection from the convention.
In the event of a dispute, the Head of the Talent Show’s decision is final.
All props must conform to SNAFU Con’s Costume Prop/Weapons & Dress Code Policy. Limited exceptions can be provided in extreme cases such as large mechas, multi-person costumes or excessively large props.
Costumes should be self-contained and self-sufficient. Body paint must be properly sealed to prevent it from rubbing off. Connections to electrical sockets will not be available. Bulky costumes may require an aid to move or see. Please secure your own escort if this is the case as SNAFU Con will not be able to provide any assistance for you. Performers will have to go up a small set of stairs about 3 feet wide and about 6 stairs tall, in typical stair height. Please keep this in mind when making your costume selection.
All parts of the costume must stay on the stage at all times. It is strictly prohibited to throw items into the audience or behind the stage.
All entries must be registered for the convention, and have badges clearly displayed during contest sign-in.
This is a family friendly convention, and all costumes must comply with our PG-13 rating. No costumes that are derived from “adult content” sources will be allowed in the contest. If your costume is determined to be too skimpy, or inappropriate for children, you will be asked to cover the offending portion before participating in the contest. Failure to do so will result in disqualification and possible ejection from the convention.
In the event of a dispute, the Head of the Talent Show’s decision is final.
Scoring and Awards Index
Entrants will be judged on a number of factors during the Talent Show.
Entries may be individuals or groups. Group entries will be judged as an entire group.
Awards Include:
Entrants should be prepared to stay for the whole duration of the show. Prizes will be presented on stage at the end of the show. Unclaimed prizes will not be mailed to winners.
Entries may be individuals or groups. Group entries will be judged as an entire group.
Awards Include:
- First Place
- Second Place
- Third Place
Entrants should be prepared to stay for the whole duration of the show. Prizes will be presented on stage at the end of the show. Unclaimed prizes will not be mailed to winners.
Judging Index
Judging will be done using a point scale on four factors:
- Stage Presence & Attire 25%
- Poise, costume, costume as related to performance, showmanship.
- Skill 25%
- Talent, proficiency, ability, expertise.
- Preparedness 25%
- Practiced, precision, accuracy.
- Entertainment Value 25%
- Creativity, appropriateness, appeal
Rehearsal Index
Rehearsal for the Talent Show will be at Sunday from 12-1pm at the Second Stage. This will be the last time for submission of music. A tech person will be available to discuss musical need and any minor technical requests.
Sound Check/ Setup Index
A limited amount of time will be provided for a sound check between 2 PM to 2:30 PM on Sunday before the show. Full rehearsals will not be allowed at this time but any extra items needed for the performance may be stowed at this time. All sound files must be submitted before the sound check or entrants will be disqualified.