Celebrate Young Talent 2010

Rules and Regulations

Version 1.01

1. 1.CYT is an event that showcases the talents of young performers in music, dance, drama, or a
   

unique talent as approved in advance by the CYT Lead Judge. The event is open to children and teens ages 5 to 17 from two geographical areas:  Otero County and Lincoln County.The event celebrates young talent and provides an opportunity for participants to pursue their dreams.

2. CYT is free to participants.  Events will provide the opportunity for donations of food items for the Casa de Libertad Orphanage of Juarez, Mexico or donations to support Fountaingate Children's Home/Casa de Libertad operations.  Donations by participants or their families will not influence the outcome in any way.

3. CYT event will consist of Preliminaries, Semi-Finals in each geographical area in order to narrow the talent to the best in three age groups:  Elementary, Middle, and High School.  Top winners in these three groups from each area will proceed to the Grand Finale competition.

4. The Preliminaries will determine four Semi-Finalists in each age group in each area.  These will compete in the Semi-Finals.  Some areas may choose to conduct a contest which combines the Preliminary Event (auditions) with the Semi-Finals.  The 12 Semi-Finalists in each area Semi-Finals will compete to determine one Finalist in each age group. These three performers will proceed to the Grand Finale event.  The Grand Finale will consist of the Finalists from each area’s three age groups for a total of nine performers.  The Top Performer in each age group will be chosen. After a second performance by each of these three Top Winners an Overall Grand Prize winner will be chosen.

5.  For simplicity this first year of CYT, we will restrict performances to either solo or duets.   In the following years, the number may be increased as determined by the CYT organizers.  The performing arts categories that students include the following:

  

    Vocal (solo, duet)

    Instrumental (solo, duet)

    Theater/Drama (dramatic or poetry reading, monologue, comedy routine)

    Dance (tap, jazz, modern, ballet, hip hop)

    Other--as approved in advance by the CYT Staff

6.  Prizes will be awarded to as many winners as possible in amounts based on donations with a goal of having over $1000 in prizes.  The purpose of prizes is to reward the talented young performers for their efforts, to encourage them to pursue their dreams, and to help them further their study of the arts.   Sponsorships by businesses, churches, and individuals will fund prizes and overhead for the event. Please contact businesses you know to encourage sponsoring CYT; large donations will receive advertising in the CYT Program.

7.  Each act must be five minutes or less.  Acts over five minutes will receive significant deductions for each partial minute over that limit.  The act is timed from the first vocal utterance in any vocal note or sound or the first body movement.  Contestants must present themselves to event Stage Manager an hour before the program commences.

8.  Baton-twirlers or similar acts using batons, machetes, knives etc., will not be accepted. No fire, smoke or smoke-effect will be allowed on stage at any time. In musical categories, instrumental accompaniment by the person in the act or another performer is allowed; this act would be judged as a Duet/Team.  Any combination or vocal and/or instrumental performance will be accepted (both might play and/or sing).  Digital/recorded accompaniment may be used and each song must be supplied on a separate CD or Flash Drive. This media must be a copy and considered expendable.  Please label each CD/Flash Drive with your name for identification. No voice(s) or synthesized vocal utterance may be used for accompaniment.  This includes recorded live voices and voices that are produced and recorded synthetically. (i.e. synthesizers or digitally sampled.)  If using an electronic keyboard, no pre-programmed music is allowed (e.g. drum beats).  In the Dance category, accompanists are permitted on stage, but must not assume visual importance in the performance. There must be no recorded taps or blatant tap effects to enhance the dancer’s routine.

9.  All acts must be void of profanity and must meet a standard of professional and public appropriateness.  The lyrics, actions, and dress code of any entry must comply with all good policies for student conduct to match local public school system standards of dress, speech, and conduct. The Sound Manager and Light Manager will be instructed to shut down the stage if directed by any judge or the Stage Manager at any time during the performance.

10.  CYT is not to be held responsible for theft/damage or injury of any kind, to persons or instruments, props, clothing etc., during, before or after the performance.   One parent or guardian may remain with each performer during the event for assistance in setup and security.

11. Contestants must be present at all meetings, rehearsals and shows and must be present during the entire show period. Any exceptions must be approved by the CYT Chairman.

12. By selecting “Media Release” on the application, CYT is given the right to use contestant's name and/or digital movies and/or photos for any and all publicity purposes.

13. Rehearsals will be scheduled several hours prior to the Semi-Finals and the Grand Finale. These will be open only to contestants, accompanists, and one parent/guardian and the event coordinators.

14.Contestants can not converse or communicate in any way about the show to any of the show's judges at any time during the season.

15.  All contestants should perform a different piece for the Semi-Finals than the one they performed for the Preliminary Event. This means a dancer must choreograph a new dance, an actor performs a different monologue, a vocalist sings a different song, an instrumentalist plays a different piece, etc.  The Top Winners of the Grand Finale will compete for the Overall Grand Prize; each performer or group should have a different piece ready and pre-arranged with the Sound Manager.

16. Contestants will be judged on the following basis: Presentation, 20%; Creativity, 20%; Clarity, 20%, Ability, 20%, Audience Response, 20%. A penalty of 20% of the overall points will be deducted for each partial minute over 5 minutes.  Contestants will be presented with awards and/or certificates the night of each show with all monetary awards sent by mail as Cashier’s Checks to the parent or guardian.   CYT has the right to wire monies to the parent/guardian account less the fees if deemed appropriate based on their judgment.

17. CYT reserves the right to approve or disapprove entries based on social and APS standards.  Duets need only submit one entry. Put the second name & info in the Description column.   CYT reserves the right to add, delete or change AGE categories depending on registration results. If less than four performers are entered in any one AGE category, CYT holds the right to modify the category or combine these performers with other age groups.  CYT reserves the right of a final decision on any matter pertaining to all CYT event & circumstances.

18. CYT is seeking donations of food for the orphanage we sponsor, monetary donations for  operations, and scholarships plus other non-monetary awards for as many of the participants as possible.  Sponsors, donors of monies, and donors of gift-in-kind awards will be recognized at the events and in the program as appropriate and feasible.  Donations are tax-deductible; we will provide a letter-of-donation for cash gifts of over $100.  All donations will go to support children in this event and children at Fountaingate Children’s Home, and Casa de Libertad Orphanage of Juarez, Mexico