CONTEST RULES AND REQUIREMENTS

The 9th Annual Rural American Idol Competition is designed to find the most promising country music talent in America and to give these performers a chance to launch their professional music careers.

REQUIREMENTS:

1.       A completed entry form;

2.       A non-refundable registration fee of $25.00. Make check or money order to: “People Organizing Ideal Neighborhoods Today, Inc.”

3.       List of song selections already performed. From among the list, choose two songs (plus an alternate) to be performed for the competition.

4.       Submit a short personal data about yourself, to include highlights of your accomplishments in your past performances and your aspirations in your singing career. 

5.       The requirements, listed on 1 to 4 above, must be mailed or submitted on or before two (2) weeks before the desired competition date. (Mail to P.O. Box 123, Point, Texas 75472   Attention: Program Coordinator).

6.       Contestants must pay for their own expenses, i.e. transportation to and from the performance venue, meals and lodging.

7.       No personal motion videos or audio recorders will be allowed at the Cotton Pickin' Theatre during the entire production.

PERFORMANCE:

1.       Each contestant will perform live, vocally and/or instrumentally. No prerecorded music is permitted.

2.       The only music backup allowed for each act is the live band provided by P.O.I.N.T.

3.       No additional back-up vocals will be allowed.

4.       No special lighting, props or special effects may be used.

5.       All performances must be done in good taste; no music or lyrics that P.O.I.N.T. considers to be offensive may be performed.

6.       Song selections for competition performance will be allowed on a first come – first serve basis. A song selection can only be performed once during the specific event. 

7.       The amount of performance time given to each contestant is a maximum of 7 minutes from the first musical note you sing of your first song until the last note of your second song. We do not stop our stopwatches in between songs.

8.       Contestants may perform their own music and receive extra bonus points from the judge. Music eligible for bonus points will be defined as any piece of music written or co-written by the contestant (either individual or member of group). Any contestant (either individual or member of group) who claims to be using his own music may be disqualified at any level of the contest at the discretion of P.O.I.N.T. if a musical copyright for the music exists which does not name the contestant as author or co-author.

Acceptable documentation to prove ownership of your music shall include either a certificate of copyright, proof of song registration with BMI, ASCAP, etc., or a notarized copy of the application applying for the copyright with a signed statement by the contestant as to its status.

The music chart for this original song must be submitted along with the other required submittals. A “Nashville numbered music charting” of the song is recommended.

9.       If you are unable to perform on the scheduled date, call Minda Painter at (903) 598-3809 or email point_inc@msn.com. Two weeks prior notice is required so you can be rebooked, otherwise, your entry is cancelled.

10.    Scheduled contestants MUST be at the Cotton Pickin' Theatre for practice time with the band at 4:00 p.m. Rehearsal time  is limited no more than 15 minutes.

11.    Proper attire is recommended.  Dress like a STAR!

12.    The production of the Rural American Idol Contest will start promptly at 7:30 p.m. 

COMPETITION LEVELS

The contestants are grouped in three divisions based on age at time of initial competition in 2011.

·     Division I    -  Through 12 years of age

·     Division II   -  13 through 25 years of age

·     Division III  -  26 years old and up

Contestants compete within their respective divisions.

In the semi-final competition level, the top 2 winners from each division move on to the finals.

In the finals, the first place winner from each division will have their face-off competition to win the title “Rural American Idol”

Different songs must be performed at each level. 

VOTING AND JUDGING

To ensure fairness, the judging system applied is by a combination of scores:  audience votes account for 30% of the score and the judges' tally of points account for 70% of the total score.  Each member of the audience with a ballot will cast their one vote for a favored contestant in each division.

Audience Voting:

a.   Each ticket holders will be given a ballot at the gate upon surrender of the perforated segment of the ticket.

b.   The data required on the ballot must be fully filled out to be a valid vote.

c.   The ballot will contain a list of the contestants from each division.

d.   A selection of only one contestant for each division will be marked on the ballot, otherwise, the ballot is nullified.

e.   Audience must cast their ballots after the last contestant in each division. Announcement for the collection of the ballots by designated P.O.I.N.T. members will be announced by the emcee. After the last call announcement for the ballots by the emcee, any remaining not submitted ballots will be nullified.

f.    The ballots will be collected and counted only by P.O.I.N.T. appointed committee members.

JUDGING CRITERIA:

An optional bonus of up to three points may be awarded for acts performing their own music.

 Maximum score on each of the above categories is 20%; perfect score by a judge to a contestant is 100%