Rules & Regulations
1. Entry Procedure:
You must complete an APPLICATION FORM and return it to the Midwest Artist Search with your registration fee before the deadline date of February 20, 2009. Payment can be made via Paypal online at www.midwestartistsearch.com.
2. Submission Fee:
A registration fee of $25.00 and a signed entry form per act is required – U.S. Currency only.
3. Contestant Fee:
A contestant fee of $50.00 will be required – U.S. Currency only – for those selected to compete at live elimination level.
4. Disputes:
Midwest Artist Network is the sole authority in resolving all disputes over competitions and to disqualify any contestant at any level of the contest for failure to comply with the rules and regulations, including errors and omissions. Midwest Artist Network decisions are final.
5. Performance:
The following applies to any Midwest Artist Search contest:
A. All acts in current competition will be accompanied by live performance tracks provided by contestant. No live instrumentation allowed for current competition.
B. Each act must perform their vocal live. No props or special effects may be used.
C. All performances must be done in good taste: no music or lyrics that Midwest Artist Network considers to be offensive may be performed.
D. Current competition open to all US Citizens 18 years and older. Age restrictions will be at the discretion of Midwest Artist Network and/or its venue.
E. The same song will be allowed to be sung by different competitors at the submission level. Once contestants are selected, each contestant must submit the song they choose to sing for the Contestant Elimination. A specific song can only be sung by one contestant or finalist per night of elimination (granted on a first come, first serve basis). This provides a more unique entertainment experience for the audience base, and stretches the range of the performers. Finalists must perform two separate songs for the consecutive nights of Showdown: Elimination Round. (granted on a first come, first serve basis) Song selections must be confirmed by no later than 9am, the date of competition.
F. Performances will be awarded 0-10 points in each of the following categories: 1) Musicality (Pitch, Timing, Phrasing, Tone); 2) Vocal Ability (Quality, Expression, Interpretation); 3) Performance (Stage Presence, Style, Charisma, Impact on Audience); 4) Audience Ballot; 5)Judge X-Factor (personal reflection on performance).
G. In the event of a tie, the first tie-breaker shall be the highest number of points given in the Musicality category. The second tiebreaker shall be the highest number of points awarded in the Performance category. The third tiebreaker shall be by a secret vote of the judges based on overall performance style and impact.
6. Contest Prizes:
The only official prize offered at the Contestant level is the opportunity for 5 Finalists from each Live Elimination to advance to the Showdown: Elimination Round competition. Contestants and Finalists must pay their own expenses during the competition. In signing this Entry Form, the Midwest Artist Search contestant acknowledges that Midwest Artist Network and Lodge at Geneva Ridge are only responsible for the prizes promised or offered at the finalist level (Showdown: Elimination Round competition).
7. Live Auditions and Showdown, Elimination Round:
Any contestant must complete a new entry form and pay the entry fee when entering another Midwest Artist Search competition. Only the Grand Prize winner from any Midwest Artist Search is restricted from entering another Midwest Artist Search competition for one year. Each contestant will have four minutes to perform at the Live Audition level and six minutes to perform at the Showdown: Elimination Round level. All expenses not specified shall be the responsibility of the contestants.
Showdown: Elimination Round will be held on April 10th -11th, 2009. Winners will be announced live, at the conclusion of the contest. Prizes are nontransferable.
The Grand Prize Winner will receive a 10 song recording project, 200 CD copies for his/her own distribution, and the opportunity to purchase additional CDs at a wholesale cost of $3.00/unit, custom MySpace web design, promotional materials design, professional sound gear, and mentorship in career development, Lodge at Geneva Ridge Relaxation Package, and a feature article in True Woman magazine. 9 Midwest Artists earn the chance to professionally record a song that appears on a sampler CD, 25 CDs for his/her own distribution and the opportunity to purchase additional CDs at a wholesale cost of $3.00/unit. Only the Grand Prize winner from any Midwest Artist Search is restricted from entering another Midwest Artist Search competition for one year.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR PRIZES
All prize winners will receive in-house art and design, composition, arrangement, musicianship, recording and production services. The production of the prize package projects will reflect the artistic desires of the finalists and winner, but will be directed by MWAS to accomplish the collective goals of the network, its sponsors and contributors. MWAS will make all final artistic decisions for artwork, design, repertoire and production for the resulting products.
All prize winners will be required to provide a quality vocal performance for recording purposes and comply with production schedule as deemed mutually convenient and expedient to create the resulting products in a timely fashion, and are required to participate in photo, recording and production sessions. Any failure to comply will be documented and result in forfeiture of all prizes and benefits. In the event of forfeiture, MWAS reserves the right to finalize all remedies.
Winners shall be solely responsible for all personal taxes, royalties and legal fees, not excluding mechanical song clearing royalties with regard to their prize package.
All resulting intellectual property and resulting products will remain the ownership of Midwest Artist Search and Midwest Artist Network.
8. Promotional Authorization:
By submitting an Entry Form, the act (and each individual member thereof) grants to Midwest Artist Network the right to utilize the act's (and each individual member's thereof) name, likeness, image, voice, appearance, and performance in perpetuity worldwide for advertising, trade or any other lawful promotional purposes whatsoever, in any and all media now known or thereafter developed, without compensation. I/we grant Midwest Artist Network the right to broadcast, market, sell and otherwise distribute my name, image, likeness, voice, appearance and performance, either in whole or in parts for commercial, non-commercial television, close-circuit exhibition, home video distribution, internet, or any other purpose Midwest Artist Network, in their sole discretion may determine. I/we hereby give all clearance, copyright or otherwise, for the use of my name, likeness, image, voice, appearance embodied in my/our performance/state presentation. The resulting art, sound recordings, arrangement, production and all intellectual property remain the sole ownership of Midwest Artist Network. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of the resulting products is expressly prohibited by law.
9. Assumption of Risk:
By submitting this entry form, the act (and each individual member thereof) assumes all risks of property damage or bodily injury (including death) that might occur during the Midwest Artist Search or Network events. The act (and each individual member thereof) agrees not to bring against Midwest Artist Search or Midwest Artist Network or other national sponsors any claim for property damage or bodily injury (including death) that might occur during these events.
10. Good Character:
The individual/act agrees that it may be disqualified immediately from any level of Midwest Artist Search competition if the individual/act (or any member thereof) commits any act or becomes involved in any situation that would adversely reflect on the Midwest Artist Search or any party furnishing a prize, or tend to bring it into public disrepute.
11. Eligibility:
Submit any questions regarding eligibility to Midwest Artist Network.
A. I/we have not performed on a record listed in Billboard, Radio and Records, or the Gavin Report within eighteen months preceding local competition.
B. I/we have (each) paid the $25.00 registration fee and the $50 contestant fee, submitted Midwest Artist Search Contest Application before performing live at Midwest Artist Search.
C. I am/we are not an owner, controlling stockholder or employee of and I am/we are not related by birth or marriage, nor do I/we live in the same household as the local Midwest Artist Search judge, radio stations sponsoring the Midwest Artist Search contest, or any employee, controlling stockholder, owner, officer or agent of Midwest Artist Search or Midwest Artist Network.
D. I am in no other way legally or contractually bound making myself ineligible to fulfill any of the requirements, restrictions or conditions of the MWAS rules or guidelines.
