IBM Ring 1
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June 27,2006

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Ring 1
St Louis, Mo

Contest Rules

General Rules for Stage and Close-Up Contest

1) To enter a IBM Ring 1 contest, you must notify the contest chairman by a date chosen by the contest chairman and published in the Spirit. If you should win the contest, you, at the discretion of the Ring President chair or emcee the contest for the following year.

2) Contests will have two contest categories, Youth (under 17 years) and Senior (17 years of age or older) divisions. Division is determined by the contestant's age on the day of the competition.

3) The total number of contestants, including both youth and senior divisions, will not exceed 20.

4) The contest must have five (5) or more entries in order to award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes. If there are four entries 1st and 2nd prizes will be awarded. If there are 3 entries 1st place only will be awarded, and if there are fewer than three entries, a certificate of participation will be awarded.

5) Contestants are accepted on a first come first-served basis. Date that applications are received will prevail. A back-up list is maintained.

6) Contestants must appear at the set-up location at the time designated by the contest chairman. Late arrival may be disqualified.

7) All contestants are responsible for placement and removal of all their own equipment.

8) Performance in ALL contests must be between 8 minutes and 10 minutes in length. Points will be deducted for times that are under 8 minutes or over 10 minutes. One point will be deducted for every 30 seconds over 10 minutes or under 8 minutes.

9) All contestants must be members in good standing in Ring 1 and the International Brotherhood of Magicians. Performer’s assistants need not be members of Ring 1.

10) Contestants may be disqualified for using “blue” material at this family-friendly event.

11) The contest chairman will determine the order of the performance. Detailed questions, comments or considerations should be directed to the contest chairman.

12) Since the contest is meant to be a learning experience, judge’s comments and criticisms may be noted on the contest form, this is done strictly for the benefit of the contestant. Summaries will NOT be mailed to contestants.

13) Decision of a Winner of a contest is never easy, therefore judge’s decision of the outcome will be considered final.

14) The announcement of the winners for all contests will take place immediately after all judges critique sheets have been tallied and verified.

15) If there are too few Youth Contestants to hold a contest, they will be allowed to perform in the Sr. Contest but will not be considered in the award process.

16) I.B.M. Ring 1 will have the right to use the likeness of contestants for publicity purposes of promoting the I. B. M. or Ring 1.

17) The first place winners of the previous year’s contest are not eligible to compete within the same division the following year; however, they may perform an act at the contest show and have their performance evaluated by the judges if time permits. This option is at the discretion of the Contest Chair. The Contest Chair is inelegible to compete also .

18) Judging criteria outlined will be applicable to both stage as well as to close up contests.

19) The minimum number of judges required to constitute an official judging panel is three. The panel will be guided by a Chair appointed from within the panel. The judges will evaluate the performance/s on the basis of criteria and the form that follow.

20) One Lay judge will be chosen and will only judge the Appearance, Stage Presence/Audience Appeal and Entertainment Value.

21) There will be a timer who is responsible for timing each performer. A minimum of 8 minutes and a maximum of 10 minutes is acceptble. Penalties of 1 point for each 30 seconds over or under the time allowed.

22) Performers are required to sign up for contests no later than one week prior to the event. Those signing up for performances will not be informed of who else is signed up to perform until after the sign up cut off date. Last minute entries, (day of the event) will be allowed at the discretion of the contest chair.

23) Sufficient time between acts will be provided to allow the judges to adequately evaluate and rate each performance and to provide appropriate comments.

Judging criteria terms and definitions:
· Appearance: Personal appearance, with emphasis on costuming, apparel and grooming. The contestants costume shall be appropriate to the act.
· Stage Craft: The appearance and handling of the apparatus, special lighting effects, use of the microphone. Stage technique, movement on stage, use of stage space, etc.
· Stage presence / Audience appeal: Is the contestant comfortable, at ease, confident? Was the performer able to hold the audience’s attention? Does the contestant control the show?
· Ability and Technique: The dexterity and extra skill used in performance. Was the audience surprised? Was the technique concealed in the delivery or by the use of miss direction? Where there any errors or flashes? How well did the performer handle technical difficulties or mistakes?
· Presentation: Was the act routined? Was there a theme or continuity to the program? Choice of material, handling of the props, and/or assistants, use of the available stage space?
· Entertainment Value: The most important of all the qualities because a performer could be “Perfect” in all other criteria and fall short on having an entertaining act. Was the reaction spontaneous and/or prolonged? Was the response appropriate to the situation?
· Originality: Was there originality in effect, method, or presentation? Covers standard as well as novelty presentations, new principles, concepts, or ideas displayed in the act.
· Time: One ranking point will be deducted for each 30 seconds above the performer’s allotted ten minute maximum. Only one judge will record the score for the Time category.
· Rating Method: Contestants will be evaluated individually, in each of the above categories using a 10 point rating system as follows:
1. = Bad
2. = Very Poor
3. = Poor
4. = Mediocre
5. = Fair
6. = Good
7. = Very Good
8. = Excellent
9. = Outstanding
10. = Perfection

· Judges should offer constructive commentary to entrants, give them feedback of what, in the judges’ estimation, the entrant did well or not so well and explain the scoring given. The post event workshops provide an opportunity to expand upon comments made during the contest.

Click here for Specific Rules for Stage Contest and Close-up Contest.

 

Specific Close-Up Contest Rules

1) There are no microphones in the close-up competition room. You may be performing for up to 60 people.

Specific Stage Contest Rules

1) Time allotted for stage set-up is 3 minutes.

2) All music, light, and sound cues are limited to playing your music, operating the spot light, flood lights and minor cues. Special lighting will NOT be handled by our staff. You may bring your own light and sound personnel.


Click here for the Contest Judging Form in MS Word format.

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Midwest Magic Jubilee
St. Louis, MO
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