Open to ages 22 and over
Registration: 6:30 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.
Free Entertainment Pavilion

Rules and Regulations

Organization of Contest

1. Group acts must compete in the division determined by the ages of the majority of the group. No one older than 14 may compete in the Junior Division. 
2. All participants must be Indiana residents.
3. Solo Acts must be Noble County Residents. Group acts must have a majority of the contestants be Noble County residents.
4. The Adult Talent Contests open to non-professionals only.  "Professional" is defined as anyone who is a union member, who has a professional manager, or whose principle and/or self-supporting income is derived from performing.
5. The Contest Coordinators reserve the right to assign acts to what they determine to be the proper categories.  Any questions shall be resolved by the Contest Coordinators and their decision is FINAL.
6. Limit of 10 entries per category.
7. A contestant may enter in more than one category of competition at the Noble County Adult Talent Contest.
8. An entry fee of  $10 for each act is required to enter the Noble County Adult Talent Contest. 
9. Cheerleaders and Baton twirlers or similar acts using batons, machetes or sharp instruments will not be accepted in the Adult Talent contest.  No fire, dry ice or fog will be allowed on the stage. Any attempt to circumvent these terms and conditions shall result in disqualification).

Performance Rules

1. Each act will be allowed a total of three (3) minutes performance time.  An official timer will be present at each competition during the County contest.  Ten penalty points will be deducted from the score of any act that exceeds the three-minute time limit.Timing begins: a) When music begins, when music is used, OR b) At first movement or vocal utterance of performer without musical accompaniment.  Set-up time for all props, including mats, is 2 minute only. Ten penalty points will be deducted if set-up time exceeds two minutes. All music must end under the three-minute performing time limit. (Sound equipment may vary.)
2. \The contest committee does not provide any equipment (including gymnastic mats or a piano), except for the lighting and sound equipment.
3. All acts will use only the sound system and sound operator provided by the Contest committee; however instrumentalists may bring their own amplifiers if  needed.  All music must be on a cassette tape or CD and labeled with the act's name and address.  This tape/CD is to be brought to the Youth Talent contest on the evening of competition. Be sure only competition song is on cassette tape/CD.   Mis-cueing will result in a penalty deduction of 10 points.  Be sure to bring on night of competition.  Original music from sanctioned contest must be used at State Competition.   
4. NO ONE OTHER THAN THE PERFORMER(S) WILL BE ALLOWED BACKSTAGE.THIS DOES INCLUDE ALL PARENTS AND TEACHERS. Failure to comply with this rule may mean disqualification.
5. Tumbling moves are as follows:  one split, or one cartwheel, one round off, or one flip or aerial, etc. are considered as 1 TRICK EACH.
6. NO loud noises or interference backstage or in dressing room allowed.
7. THE EXISTING STAGE SETUP MAY NOT BE CHANGED.Props are defined as follows: anything hand carried or separate from costume used in  routine.            
8. Entries will be accepted in the following 10 categories:

1. Vocal Solo           
2. Vocal Group
3. Instrumental Solo
4. Instrumental Group
5. Dance Solo
6. Dance Group
7. Novelty Solo
8. Novelty Group
9. Clogging Solo
10. Clogging Group

The following descriptions are to be used as guidelines and are subject to interpretation by the contest Coordinators.

VOCAL SOLO: Shall consist of a solo performance by a vocalist.  Instrumental accompaniment by contestants or others is allowed, but must assume the pure character of accompaniment.  The test shall be whether the performance would stand alone if the accompaniment were removed.  Any background vocal on tape must be minimal. If composition is written by performer and he or she wishes this judged as part of the act, it will be placed in the novelty category. (No props allowed.).

VOCAL GROUP:  Shall consist of a performance by two or more vocalists, male and/or female.  Instrumental accompaniment by themselves or others is allowed, but must assume the pure character of accompaniment. Any vocal background on tape must be minimal. If composition is written by performer and he or she wishes this judged as part of the act, it will be placed in the novelty category. (No props allowed.)

INSTRUMENTAL SOLO/GROUP: Shall consist of a solo/group instrumental performance by a male/female without vocal utterance.  Accompaniment is allowed, but must assume the pure character of accompaniment.  The test shall be whether the solo performance would stand alone if the accompaniment were removed.  No instrument of the same nature may be used for accompaniment.  If composition is written by performer and he/she wishes this judged as part of the act, it will be placed in the novelty category.

DANCE SOLO: Shall consist of a solo performance by a male or female dancer. Accompanists are permitted on stage. Ballet, pointe, tap and jazz will be judged in this category. Acts may use acrobatics or tumbling moves such as cartwheels, round-offs, flips and aerials. A limit of two acrobatic or tumbling moves will be permitted. (Props must be part of costume.)

DANCE GROUP: Shall consist of a performance by two or more dancers, male and/or female.  Accompanists are permitted on stage, but must not assume visual importance in the performance. Ballet, pointe, tap and jazz will be judged in this category. Acts may use acrobatics or tumbling moves such as cartwheels, round-offs, flips and aerials. A limit of two acrobatic or tumbling moves will be permitted. (Props must be part of costume.)

NOVELTY SOLO: Shall consist of a solo performance by a male or female in any act that has not been previously described (such as comedians, mimes, skits, etc.)  This category will include acts using a combination of skills from two different categories where one skill does not stand alone (such as singing and dancing, playing an instrument and singing, lip-synching and dancing, and the use of props). Hand carried props only.  2 MINUTE SET-UP TIME ONLY.

NOVELTY GROUP:  Shall consist of two or more performers, male and/or female, in any act that has not been previously described  (such as comedians, mimes, skits, etc.)  This category will include acts using a combination of skills from two different categories where one skill does not stand-alone (such as singing and dancing, playing an instrument and singing, lip-synching and dancing, and the use of props). Hand carried props only. Props must be used as an integral part of the act. 2 MINUTE SET-UP TIME.

CLOGGING  SOLO AND CLOGGING GROUP: Two or more cloggers are considered a group.  The same rules as for other categories apply to clogging (No props allowed.)

Judging

1. A panel of two or more judges will serve at the Adult Talent contest competition.
2. Scoring will be based on the following criteria:

(a) PERSONALITY & POISE - 10 points possible (confidence-Smile-Showmanship)
(b) EXECUTION & ORIGINALITY - 10 points possible (Body Lines-Correct Technique-Balance-Projection)
(c) RHYTHM & SOUND - 10 points possible (Timing-Style-Musical Range-Choice of Music)
(d) COSTUME - 10 points possible (Appropriate – Fit – Appearance)
(e) GENERAL IMPRESSION - 10 points possible (Difficulty – Effect)
  3.     Any ties will be broken by all judges.        
  4.     The Noble County Talent contest is conducted under the auspices of the Noble County Community Fair Board, Noble County Extension Office 4-H Exhibit Corporation and Community Volunteers.
  5.     All winners will receive awards at the end of the competition.