Rules

CONTEST RULES

NO. 1 RULE IN ALL CATEGORIES: Profanity or any indication of having been drinking or the use of drugs will ban you from participating on stage or competing. No refund on entry fee - NO EXCEPTIONS.

General Rules for All Contestants

1. No "OFFICIAL" (Chairpersons, Judges or Tabulators) may enter competition, but may play background for singers, or accompany fiddlers or pickers.

2. Contestants must be ready to perform when their number is called or will be automatically disqualified.

3. No time limit, but contestants will be penalized by judges for long and monotonous playing or singing.

4. Contest will be elimination to top 10 on 1st round.

5. Semi-finalists will eliminate to top 5 for Sunday night finals.

6. Contestants will draw for order of appearance in all rounds. Need not be present for drawing, but it is your responsibility to confirm your order of

appearance.

7. Registration will close at 11:00 a.m. Saturday. Phone and mail registrations will be accepted. Form will be available by mail or electronically.

8. No contestant may enter the same category more than once.

9. No shorts - Appropriate Attire.

10. Final Round-1 Song.

11. Contestants are not to delay the competition by telling stories and jokes. Judges will penalize your score.

12. Contestants competing as juniors or pre-teens may not compete in adult competition in the same category

13. JUDGES DECISIONS ARE FINAL!!!

Taped Music Division

1. Most importantly, The songs you pick, must be in a country western style and family friendly. Songs that depict drinking, smoking, partying, or that promote other types of inappropriate behavior will be cause for disqualification. THIS IS A FAMILY ENVIRONMENT!

2. Each contestant must sing one song for the first two elimination rounds 2^nd round will eliminate down to 10, and third to top 5.

3. Each contestant must sing a different song for every round

4. Contestants will be responsible for having their own background music. Please put each of your songs on a separate CD to make things simpler for the sound engineers.

Fiddlers - 3 Rounds

1. Each contestant must play 2 tunes of their choice..

2. Each contestant must play different tunes at each appearance.

3. Contestants will not use more than two accompanists.

Singers - 3 Rounds (Two Divisions - Male and Female)

1. Songs must be in a Country-Western style.

2. Each contestant must sing two songs for the first two elimination rounds.

3. Each contestant must sing different songs at each appearance.

4. Singer of any songs with profanity such as hell, damn, etc. will be disqualified. If you cannot change the disqualifying words, select another song.

Vocal Groups - 3 Rounds (Duets or Multiple Singers)

All Vocal Groups follow Singer Division Rules.

Pickers - 3 Rounds

1. Tunes must be in a Country-Western style.

2. Each contestant must play two tunes for the first 2 elimination rounds.

3. Each contestant must play different tunes at each appearance.

4. Contestants will not use more than two accompanists.

Pre-Teens -1 Round Only

1. Contestants must be 11 years old or younger. (As of Registration Date)

2. Pre-Teen division will have all categories together, but if contestant is a singer, he must follow adult singer rules; if a fiddler, he will play 2 tunes of his

choice; and if a picker, he must follow adult picker rules.

3. If a Pre-Teen enters adult competition, he must pay entry fee and follow adult rules.

Juniors - 2 Rounds

1. Contestants must be 12 years to 16 years old. (As of Registration Date)

2. Junior division will have all categories together, but if contestant is a singer, he must follow adult singer rules; if a fiddler, he will play 2 tunes of his

choice; and if a picker, he must follow adult picker rules.

3. If a Junior enters adult competition, he must pay entry fee and follow adult rules.

Country Music Bands

1. Presentations must be in a Country-Western style. Any deviation from this will subject band to loss of points (penalty up to judge).

2. Bands should concentrate on best possible 15 minute show. Not to exceed 15 minutes or 4 songs. (Electrically timed over 15 minutes will cost points,

as does loss of time during performance.

3. Produce the show with the least amount of lost time possible and the type of entertainment the audience and judges will enjoy most.

4. Quality, variety, vocalist, M.C. and appearance are all important.

5. This entry is ^$50.00 Cash - No Passes Can Be Used For This.

6. Judges' decisions are final -- no exceptions.

Song Writer's Contests - All Ages -- One Category - Preferably County Music Tunes

1. Pre-Song Writer's Contest - Thursday evening, performers will sing songs that they wrote prior to coming to Ainsworth.

2. Festival Song Writer's Contest - Thursday evening, the Country Music Festival Committee will release the theme that all contestants will write a song

to and perform it on Friday evening.!

Announcements Made During The Competition Take Precedence Over Pre-Printed Announcements

Good Luck Contestants!!!!