Rules for the finalist Compatition at the Kern County Fair

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Congratulations on making it to the Finals!

Here is the schedule for the 25th of September

  • 12noon We do a quick run-through and sound check with Contestants at Frontier Stage.
  • 6:00 Call time for contestants, KJ, locations, and staff
  • 6:05 Meeting with all contestants, KJ, locations, and staff
  • 6:15 Dinner ready
  • 6:30 Check/call time for judges
  • 7:00 We go live
  • 7:45 Intermission (Approximate)
  • 8:30 announcement of location of the year, KJ of the year, and male & female winners.
  • 8:45 event over
  • 9:00 After party at Capones
  • 10:00  Ceremonial hand off of KJ of the Year trophy.
  • 11:00 official end of after party (party may continue until the dawn’s early light)

As a finalist, you must provide and approve your music no later than Friday, September 22th, 2023. You can have up to 2 back up songs in the unlikely event an issue arises with your song selection.

Once you have approved your song selection you cannot change it.

Entertainers are encouraged to provide their own music. Music must be on a store bought or legally obtained licensed copy.  Regular music with vocal tracks is not acceptable. The best way to ensure it is legal is to have a store-bought disc or have it provided by your KJ. Karaoke music is available online at BuyKaraokeDownloads.com

As a finalist you will be provided with 2 tickets to the fair 1 for you and one for a guest additional tickets must be bought through the fairgrounds. Only the finalist and 1 guest will be allowed backstage before, during and after the contest.

Backstage food and beverage must remain backstage.

Finalist rehearsals will begin after the order draw and you must stay until your turn is up. You need only sing as much of the song as is needed for sound check.  Soundcheck is at 12 noon on Wednesday the 25th of September.

We have to have your name and the name of up to 1 other person who may be coming to sound check with you.  You will be given instructions on where to enter for soundcheck and only the names on the list may enter.  You must have ID to enter for soundcheck.   Please arrive between 11:30 & 11:45am

Finalist are encouraged to bring as many, family, friends, and fans to the finals.

The finals are a family friendly contest (No foul language or questionable lyrics) if you are not sure please send an email to taylor@baoa.us with Karaoke Contest in the Subject and the following information. Your name, phone number, email address, the name of the song, artist, version if other than the original. Songs containing vulgar or explicit sex lyrics will not be allowed. Contestants who, during their performance, use vulgar lyrics or perform in an obscene manner will be disqualified from the competition

Leaving the stage area during a performance is not prohibited but contestants should be aware it does make it difficult for the judges, cameras, and audience to follow.

Performances will be limited to five minutes. Choose your song wisely. If it is longer than five, be prepared to give us a big finish at the five-minute mark.

Avoid song with big instrumental breaks. We’re not there to hear studio musicians; we’re there to hear from you.

There is no changing your song on the day of the finals

We don’t mind if someone else is doing your song. But if we see a duplicate we will give you the option to change before the show. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO CHANGE!

Any contestant that allows others to sing along with him/her by surrendering the microphone shall be disqualified. ( This DOES NOT include holding the microphone in the air for the audience or a group in the audience to sing along with the background vocals.) I ) Any contestant guilty of distracting any of the other contestants while they are performing shall be disqualified. II ) Any contestant guilty of insulting or starting any confrontation with any of the audience or other contestants shall be disqualified. III ) Any contestant found damaging equipment shall be disqualified.

Each contestant shall be judged on a scale of 1 to 100. 1 being the lowest and 100 being the highest score for each category.

I ) Any contestant that faces the dreaded malfunction of the equipment has the option of starting over. Examples: feedback or loss of microphone.

II ) This does not include the contestant bumping into the equipment causing a skip or turning off microphone while singing.

III ) If it is judged that the contestant purposely caused a malfunction of the equipment. This is grounds for disqualification.

Contestants will be judged in five categories: Physical presentation, crowd reaction, choreography/entertainment ability, vocal presentation, and overall performance.

The order of performance shall be decided by luck of the draw. Each contestant will have their name in a hat and will be drawing on September 29th at 12noon at the Fairgrounds

Each contestant shall be judged by the following categories.

I) Singing ability

II) Appearance

III) Stage presence

IV) Audience participation

V) Audience reaction.

Costuming is strongly recommended.

If you need a reminder, here are a few things to consider; as a rule, love ballads do not score well in the audience response category. Keep it short and up-tempo so you can get the audience involved. As you know the talent at this level is pretty even. Your stage presence and audience response will be the difference in the scoring

Contestants MAY NOT utilize live props. This will include back-up singers, dancers or animals. Non-human props such as costumes and other accessories are permitted. Musical instruments may be used as props, but are not allowed as an accompaniment to the contestants’ performance. Such musical instruments must be hand carried. Larger instruments that utilize the aid of others to bring them on stage, or are difficult to handle are NOT be permitted. An example of this type of instrument is piano, harp, etc… Any prop used by a contestant must be carried on stage or into the stage area by the contestant and must be completed in one trip onto or into the stage area

Contestants will sing one judged song. If at the end of the contest there is a tie, the judges will determine a winner.

Contestants, their family or associates are not allowed to have contact with a contest judge before or during any contest connected with KWB Entertainment Inc. Contact includes verbal conversations and handshakes. This rule applies only before and during the time contestants are performing. It is not reasonable to expect contestants; their family or associates from having contact with a judge directly after all contestants have performed. Breaks for judges during a contest shall be considered the same as the time during a contestant performance and judges are off limits for conversation or any other contact.

Contestants, their family or associates who exhibit offensive behavior during any portion of the contest will disqualify that contestant from further competition. If the contestant, their family or associates exhibit offensive behavior after the contestant has completed, and such behavior is in the host establishment, even after the winners are announced, that contestants score will be nullified. If the contestant whose score has been nullified is a winning contestant, the next contestant in scoring position for that particular category shall be the winner. If there is a tie for the next in line, the winner shall be decided by a toss of a coin.

Decisions of the judges are final. No arguing with judges is allowed. Any contestant, their family or associates who argue with a judge may be deemed to be using offensive behavior and the contestant may be disqualified from the competition

Don’t take someone’s word for it understanding all rules are your responsibility alone. If you do not understand any of these rules please contact Kyle or Taylor Brown 661.633.9200 for an expiation.