All Rules & Regulations Apply to Every Level of the Competition from the Preliminary Contest through the Finals)

1. Under no circumstances may an act run more than four (4) minutes. ANY ACT RUNNING OVER 4 Minutes WILL BE DISQUALIFIED … NO EXCEPTIONS! The act is timed from the first vocal utterance in any vocal category; the first musical sound in any instrumental category; the first body movement in any dance category; the first movement, gesture, utterance or musical sound in any variety category.  Timing does not include a spoken introduction.
2. Baton twirlers may enter, but acts using machetes, knives, etc., will not be accepted. No fire, smoke or smoke-effect will be allowed on stage at any time.
3. In the Vocal categories, instrumental accompaniment by the person in the act or others is allowed, but is not judged.   It must assume the pure character of accompaniment. The test shall be whether the performance would stand alone. Note:  Recorded backup may be used, subject to the restrictions in rules 4, 5 & 6. A recording (except C.D’s) must contain only the piece of music required for the performance, and must be cued properly. We cannot be responsible for any material which is not picked up following your performance. Please label each CD or tape with your name for identification.
4. No voice or voices, vocal utterance or synthesized vocal utterance may be used for accompaniment by contestants entered in the Vocal categories. This includes recorded live voices and voices that are produced and recorded synthetically (i.e. synthesizers or digitally sampled).  ANY BACKGROUND VOCALS = DISQUALIFICATION.
5. In the Instrumental categories, live or taped accompaniment is allowed, but must assume the pure character of accompaniment. The test shall be whether the performance would stand alone. The use of any instrument(s) for accompaniment of the same type as instrument(s) being judged is not allowed. If the playing of an electronic keyboard is to be judged, no pre-programmed music is allowed; the contestant must create all sound live on stage.
6. In the Dance categories, accompanists are permitted on Stage but must not assume visual importance in the Performance. There must be no taps or tap effect (e.g. “rimshots”) on a taped recording used by a dancer or dancers.
7. In the Vocal and/or Instrumental Group category, any combination of vocal and/or instrumental performance will be accepted, including bands with or without vocals.
8. Solo performers who wish to be judged on any combination of singing and playing, plus all performers who wish to be judged on any combination of singing & choreography, singing & drama, etc., as well as all comedy or novelty acts, magic acts, ventriloquism acts, etc., must enter in the Variety category. While a combination of categories is allowed, the individual rules will apply, and contestants must give sufficient prominence to each element of the performance for the judges to properly evaluate the individual talents.
9. Contestants must be available for all dates shown for YTS or JTS competitions. No exceptions.
10. Organizers reserve the right of final decision on any matters pertaining to the Youth or Junior Talent Search not covered by the rules.

The contest is open to non-professional residents of Ontario only. An individual cannot be part of an act at the Western Fair if he or she did not appear and place in the act at a Preliminary Contest.

• An act may NOT run MORE THAN 4 MINUTES.
• A VOCAL ACT may not use BACKGROUND VOCALS OF ANY KIND
• A DANCE ACT may not use BACKGROUND TAPS OR TAP EFFECTS.

RISE 2 FAME: Youth Talent Search

• Youth Talent Contestants must be between the age of 13 and 21 years.
• The performer must be at least 13 years old and must not have reached his/her 22nd birthday on or before the opening day of the Western Fair they may be advancing to.
• Proof of age may be requested.

RISE 2 FAME: Junior Talent Search

• Junior Talent Contestants must be between the age of 6 and 12 years.
• The performer must be at least 6 years old and must not have reached his/her 13th birthday on or before the opening day of the Western Fair they may be advancing to.
• Proof of age may be requested.

NOTE:  If a group (band/dance) is entering and the ages are split between Youth and Junior, the entire group will be placed and judged in the Youth Talent Search.

 

Performance Categories

Categories of competition are:

1. Vocal Solo
2. Instrumental Solo
3. Dance Solo
4. Dance Group
5. Vocal and/or Instrumental Group including bands
6. Variety Solo
7. Variety Group

Categories of competition are for the purposes of scheduling performers, clarifying eligibility and determining judging criteria. Each act will be judged against each other act, regardless of category of performance.

Preliminary Competitions

• Preliminary competitions for the Youth and Junior Talent Search will be held in various locations in Ontario (see complete listing)
• A contestant may enter any preliminary competition he or she chooses and may enter only once in any one category.
• If a contestant was chosen from the first preliminary to advance in any one of the categories of competition, he or she is not eligible to compete in the same category in a second preliminary competition.
• The judges will choose a predetermined number of acts to advance from both the Youth and Junior classes to advance to the competition at the Western Fair District.  This number will be bases on entry numbers.
• If a group (band/dance) is chosen at the preliminary to move forward to Western Fair and one of their members are unable to perform on the confirmed date, they cannot substitute a member.  Their choice is to play/dance less that member or forfeit their turn.  We will try to reschedule to allow all members to participate but cannot guarantee open dates will be available.

Judging

All contestants will be judged on the following basis:

1. Natural Ability 25%
2. Quality of Performance 25%
3. Showmanship 25%
4. Audience Rapport 25%.
5. Audience rapport is the judges’ evaluation of how the act would be received by an appropriate, impartial audience in an appropriate setting, and is not based on the size or enthusiasm of an act’s “fan club”.

The decision of the contest judges is final, and no discussion regarding any decision shall be entered into by Youth Talent Search organizers at any time. 

Youth Quarter-Final, Semi-FINAL & Final Competitions

• All Youth Talent Acts selected from each Preliminary Contest will compete together as semi-Finalists and 20 Finalists will be chosen by the judges.
• At the youth final show the judges will pick a winner and 1st runner up only.

Junior Semi-FINAL & Final Competitions

• Junior Talent Acts selected from each Preliminary Contest will compete together as Semi-Finalists.
• From the semi-finals the judges will pick 15 acts to move to the finals
• At the junior final show the judges will pick a winner and 1st and 2nd runner up.

Entries

• READ THE RULES THOROUGHLY AND CAREFULLY, AND BE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND ALL OF THEM. WHEN YOU SUBMIT/SIGN THE ENTRY FORM, YOU INDICATE YOU HAVE DONE SO!
• Entries for all preliminaries’ can be made on-line at www.westernfairdistrict/rise2fame
• All required information must be filled out.
• Once the completed entry form is received it will be forwarded to the proper coordinator.
• Please note all closing dates for each preliminary is different.

Entries for all preliminaries can be made on-line at http://www.westernfairdistrict.com/western-fair/rise-2-fame