Frequently Asked Questions
We are always looking for more sponsors to help expand the event. Please contact us at [email protected] for possible inclusion in Overload.
Yes, we are always looking for people to volunteer to help with the event, any help you may offer would be most appreciated. Please contact us at [email protected] for more information.
The Cloud Convention Center has no public car parks at the venue. If you are driving to the venue you will need to find public parking nearby. There are parking lots throughout the city, such as the AT Downtown car park or Wilson REO Car Park.
Some sponsors or retailers may have Eftpos, but there are no ATM machines inside the venue. We recommend you bring enough cash for the day. Cash withdrawals are available up to $50 at the ticketing office (subject to fund availability).
Note: Entry to Overload can be paid with Eftpos or cash upon entry.
Yes, we offer a variety of food options with various vendors, as well as at the Cosplay Cafe within the venue.
Generally speaking, No. Photography is not allowed unless you have permission from the subject/person. Please ask the artists, cosplayers or organisers before you take any photos.
There are no age restrictions, but children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by a parent or care giver.
Overload primarily focuses on anime and manga styled art, but there is a wide range of NZ talent on display. Given this wide talent base, and the differing material produced each year, it can be honestly said that most people will find something that they like.
Overload is run by a volunteer committee of individuals that are selected by Anime NZ Ltd. Each year a new committee is assembled, and the process of preparing for that years Overload event is begun afresh.
This committee is led by Graphic Novel Cafe owner and Anime NZ Ltd representative, Seong Oh.
Anyone is able to register as an Artist at Overload, including overseas visitors, provided they bring only their own work.
Absolutely. Please visit and fill out the Online Registration form. Alternatively, please contact the committee by contacting us at [email protected].
Overload Committee has an ongoing assessment of our position regarding AI art policy. Our current consensus is that we do not accept AI generated art due to its unethical and uncredited data mining of artists’ work globally.
Yes you can, so long as all items have been created / designed by you and are not commercially available.
No, commercial goods are not allowed to be traded at Overload Artist Tables (Standard/Special Table).
Yes, we welcome Portrait Artists at Overload but you must provide clear access to your neighbour artists’ tables. If you are a table at the end of a row, you will be allowed a queue of up to 5 people. If you are in the middle of a row (and surrounded by other artists) you can only have two people in your queue. Failing this will mean that your service may have to be suspended. A ticket/number system is the preferred method of queue control.
Generally the playing of music at your table is prohibited due to the number of Artists in close proximity. The only exception to this is if you are using music to showcase an animation or game. We ask that you notify your adjacent Artists beforehand. You may be asked to turn the volume down if it is deemed too loud.
Yes, with the requirement that explicit content is hidden or covered. Please keep visible content all-ages friendly.
To meet the electricity access requests from artists, we’ve created an area where this is possible. Simply book an Overload Special Table ($200) when purchasing your artist table. Being at the side of the venue, these tables have access to electrical supply as well as more space behind your table.
Friday 19th April (recommended)
From 10am-5pm. Please go to the Registration Desk at The Cloud and present your Eventfinda QR code or Eventfinda Order ID to enter venue setup to collect your entry pass/enter venue. Only 2 people per table may enter each day – either you and your helper, or you and the artist you’re sharing a table with, unless otherwise organised.
Saturday 20th April
From 8am-10am. Last minute set-up is allowed, however, all artists must check-in at the Registration Desk at Shed 10 to gain venue access. No wristbands = No entry. No exception. This applies to your helper as well.
Sunday 21st April
You can enter the venue from 9am. No set-up or pack-out is allowed on Sunday morning. Again, no wristbands = no entry. No exception.
You must bring and wear your own high-visibility vest, and closed-toe shoes at all times during set-up. This applies to helpers. Please keep fire exits clear and do not block them with your vehicle, goods or furniture.
Visit the Artist Setup Guidelines and Healthy & Safety form for more details.
Yes, you will need to bring your own hi-vis vest.
As specified in our terms and conditions, the original creator of any art exhibited at Overload must be present at their table. However, if due to unforeseen circumstances, you cannot make it to the event and need an assistant to manage your table on your behalf, please contact the committee. We may be able to process the late application for an assistant on your Artist’s registration. Please be aware that this is at the committee’s discretion and available only in exigent situations.
As the principle registered Artist you remain responsible and liable for any infringement of terms and conditions within the vicinity of your table space. If you cancel your registration, there is no refund.
Artist Registration is a contract. As long as you are the registered artist, you are deemed legally responsible and liable for any infringement of terms and conditions within the vicinity of your table space. If, due to unforeseen circumstances, a registered artist cannot attend it may be possible to transfer your table to another artist you nominated, however this may only be done under Overload Committee’s approved procedure (contact [email protected]). Otherwise, you can be held responsible for any infringements by the artist who takes over your table.
Your registration is a legal agreement between you and the Overload Committee which can not easily be transferred to others. Due to the administration costs, we can cancel your registration but will not refund your registration fee, as per our Terms and Conditions.
No. There are no locker rooms or storage spaces available, other than the area under your table. You are responsible for all your own belongings.
Do not store your belongings between the two rows of tables as this is a Health and Safety concern, and a risk to your fellow artists. Please keep fire exits clear and do not block them with your goods or furniture.
There are no age restrictions, but the person registering must be at least 16 years or older unless consent is provided by a parent or guardian. Anyone who is younger than 13 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Overload Cosplay
Cosplay, a portmanteau of “costume play” – dressing up to portray your favourite character, showing your passion for a fictional work. Although Overload is an Anime-focused event we welcome all cosplayers whatever your costumes may be.
Overload is a family-friendly event so any costumes with excessive exposure or indecency are not permitted. Overload staff reserve the right to deem a costume you are wearing as unacceptable and request that you immediately make required modification as necessary. Failure to comply may result in your removal from the venue. Please also check the FAQ regarding military style costumes.
Cosplayers must ensure that their activities do not harm or inconvenience anyone, or be unreasonably frightening or intimidating. Be aware of your surroundings, for instance it must be clear to any onlookers and bystanders that a weapon prop is being held as posing for photography.
Please check below FAQ for specific requirements.
Family friendly cons and what that means for cosplayers:
- Booties are covered
- Side-boob and under-boob is covered, and all cleavage is safe and secure from potential nip-slips.
- If legs are out, they are covered by skin-toned tights.
- Costumes that look like underwear need to be altered in such a way that is more modest. Think “togs togs UNDIES” – what might look like togs at a beach to you, looks like undies to event goers.
We don’t want to heavily restrict what costumes you wear nor your creativity, we just want everybody to feel included in a family friendly event. This means minor alterations need to be made on some costumes for modesty reasons.
Overload defines a weapon prop as any item which looks like a weapon or a commonplace item which could be used as a weapon, for instance, like a baseball bat.
No authentic real-world weapons of any sort will be allowed.
No item which significantly resembles a real-world weapon will be allowed. (Common sense rule of thumb for this criteria is that any member of the public should recognise a weapon prop as not being a real-world weapon, if it is not immediately obvious to anyone that it is not a real world weapon, it will probably not be acceptable.)
Only weapon props made of safe materials such as foam, plastic, fabric, rubber, lightweight wood or mdf will be permitted. (Rule of thumb, no weapon prop should be able to cause any worse injury than might be caused by normal everyday attire or accessories.) A weapon prop should be designed to break before it would cause injury if inadvertently striking anyone.
You must attach a bright orange tag/tape or stopper to the barrel or point of your weapon props to ensure they are publicly identifiable as props. Staff in the ticketing booth will examine your weapon props. They have sole discretion to approve weapon props and may revoke that approval at any time if any weapon prop is altered or used inappropriately.
In general, props should not be more than 2m in height and 1.2m in width and not weigh more than 5kg, with the exception of props created exclusively for use in the Cosplay Competition and only for use on stage.
Yes, you can cosplay genuine fictional military characters, however costumes which could cause distress to attendees by significantly resembling any present-day real-world militia will not be allowed. Your uniform should be immediately recognizable for the character it represents.
Assessment of this will be entirely at the discretion of Overload staff. You may remove, or reconfigure/alter, your costume to comply in order to attend Overload, however you will not be allowed to bring any prohibited items into the Venue with you.
Please also check our weapons props FAQ above.
As a cosplayer, you will often be asked for photographs, as people are just as enthusiastic about your series as you might be! You are under no obligation to agree – if you are busy politely decline and say “not now”.
If someone continues to harass you for photos, attempts to take them without your permission or make you uncomfortable please seek an Overload staff member for assistance, as such behaviour will not be tolerated.
When having your photos taken, please kindly refrain from using spaces that will hinder or obstruct others.
Please contact Overload staff or security guards immediately. We will respond to all serious matters promptly. All Overload staff wear hi-vis jackets and security guards wear uniforms. You will be able to identify them easily.
Madman National Cosplay Championship
Please visit https://www.madman.com.au/cosplay/how-to-enter/ for additional instructions on entry and the rules about the competition.
No – the cut-offs are final and no entries will be accepted after the cut-off date.
Yes – this is part of the competition rules and therefore strictly enforced.
You must be a NZ/AU resident, or hold a valid NZ/AU student/work visa valid until December 2019 in order to be able to enter.
Overload staff will attempt to provide facilities for contestants to prepare for the competition. Contestants will be notified when more information becomes available.
No – the rules state that you can only enter as individuals or as a group of two. The promoter of this competition has the final say and it’s very unlikely to be changed.
No – there are no other Cosplay Competitions being planned currently.
Terms and Conditions of Entry
These rules apply to all who attend Overload, including exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers and visitors/members of the public. Please keep these rules in mind and help make Overload a pleasant and special experience for all.
All attendees to the event must adhere to the following rules:
- Do not engage in activities that interfere with other attendees.
- Weapons, dangerous goods, alcohol, drugs and animals are prohibited at the event.
- Do not block or place items in front of fire exits.
- When taking photos please ensure you have the permission of the subject.
- Follow the directions of Overload staff or designated volunteers.
- The Overload Committee reserves the right to deny entry to the event or remove any persons considered a nuisance. If anyone acts in a manner which other Overload attendees find unpleasant, upsetting, offensive, dangerous, intimidating or frightening, they will be immediately required to cease, and if the behaviour is repeated they will be removed from the venue by Overload staff and entry fee will not be refunded.
- Any apparel or costume featuring offensive or rude images are prohibited. (i.e. Ahegao, Hentai apparel)
- Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult or guardian at all times.
- Any and all transactions between an artist / vendor and customer are the responsibility of said parties.
- No filming allowed without express permission from the Overload Committee.
- Please note filming by the Overload Committee or permitted persons will be taking place at the event.
*For enquiries and information, please feel free to Contact Us.
