The Do Your Own Dub Contest is a live improv event - be ready to flex those acting and comedy muscles for the best performance! The top three performing teams will earn cash prizes: $50 for first place, $30 for second place, and $20 for third place. Entry is free and open to all attendees, with two versions of the contest - one for all ages and one for 18+ attendees!
Contest Schedule
- The first 30 minutes of the scheduled event time are dedicated to rules, rehearsal, and entry.
- At the start of the event, the Naka-Kon Contests Team will review the contest rules with the entire audience.
- The Naka-Kon Contests Team will then screen the clip options. Following this screening, the clips will be replayed on a loop onscreen throughout the rehearsal and entry period.
- Participants may choose team members, rehearse, and decide whether they will enter the contest.
- If participants wish to enter, they must approach a member of the Naka-Kon Contests Team facilitating the event to specify the team members participating, the team name, and which clip they have chosen to dub.
- The Naka-Kon Contests Team will provide the audience with 10-minute, 5-minute, and 2-minute warnings prior to the end of the rehearsal period. Once the entry period is over, no more entries will be accepted.
- The next 60 minutes following rehearsal are dedicated to live performances, judging, live audience voting, and awards.
- Teams will be called up to perform in a randomized order. This order will be presented to the audience at the start of the performance segment of the event.
- During their turn, each team will have one opportunity to perform their dub. No repeats will be permitted except in the event of a technical difficulty.
- Between performances, the audience will be permitted to rate the performance live while the Naka-Kon Contests Team prepares the next team to perform.
Entry
- All attendees with a valid Naka-Kon badge may enter the Do Your Own Dub Contest.
- All ages are permitted to enter the all-ages contest on Saturday afternoon.
- Only attendees ages 18 or older with an 18+ wristband may enter the 18+ contest on Friday night.
- Entries are accepted first-come, first-serve. No prior sign-ups are permitted. A maximum number of 15 teams may participate.
- Participants may enter solo or as a team of no more than 3 - 4, depending on the number of characters present on-screen within the selected clips.
- To enter, the following information will be required: Team name, team member names, badge number(s), and contact information for a designated point of contact for the team.
- In the event that there are no entries for the contest, the Do Your Own Dub Contest will revert to an improv dub open mic event without prizes.
Content Guidelines
- All performances, regardless of participation in the All Ages or 18+ versions of this contest, must adhere to the following standards.
- Entries may not feature content that is derogatory, demeaning, or designed to insult others on the basis of race, gender, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation.
- Entries may not feature content or themes that depict rape, sexual assault, child pornography, or other explicit and violent sexual acts.
- There are further content guidelines for each version of our contest.
- If participating in the All Ages contest, excessive violence, profanity, or content unsuitable for a general audience is not permitted.
- If participating in the 18+ contest, performances should not be intended purely for 'shock value.'
- Naka-Kon may take any action it deems appropriate in response to egregiously inappropriate performances that do not adhere to these standards, including:
- Revoking badges without refund (either temporarily or permanently)
- Expelling those deemed in violation of policy
- Refusing to sell memberships for all future conventions.
Judging
- The Naka-Kon Contests Team will judge each team as they perform, privately rating performances on script, performance, and creativity.
- Script: Does the script make sense?
- Performance: Does the group perform well?
- Creativity: Is the dub creative or unique?
- Following each performance, the audience will be permitted to rate performances live. These ratings will factor into the final outcome for awards.
- Following the end of all performances, the Naka-Kon Contests Team will announce the winning teams in a short award ceremony.
Awards
- Cash prizes are awarded to an entire team, and may be split among team members at their discretion.
- First Place: $50
- Second Place: $30
- Third Place: $20
- In the event that fewer than three teams enter the contest, unawarded cash prizes will not be added to the prize pool.
- Prizes may be picked up from the Contests Office (Redbud, Sheraton lower level) during operating hours; see convention hours for details.
- If prize(s) are not picked up by 12:00 pm on Sunday afternoon, Contests Staff will attempt to contact the winner. If arrangements are not made to pick up the prize(s) in a timely manner, they will be considered forfeit.
Last updated on February 22, 2026.