Author: Sara K. Weeks

Junior & Senior Division
Sunday, July 10, 2016
2:30 pm (reg @ 2)

Youth Talent Contest
RULES AND REGULATIONS
Organization of Contest
The Indiana State Fair Youth Talent contest consists of two divisions:
Junior Division (Ages 12 or less of age)
Senior Division (Ages 13 through 21), if you are 13 years of age anytime during the 2014 you must enter the Senior Division.
Each act will be assigned to the appropriate division at their county contest and at the Indiana State Fair based on the contestant’s age.
2. 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.
3. The highest-placing eligible act in the Junior and Senior Division will represent Noble County at the Indiana State Fair. Every contestant in the Youth Talent Contest MUST BE AN INDIANA RESIDENT.
4. All acts in the Indiana State Fair Youth Talent contest must first compete in and win their County Fair Talent Contest.
5. Solo Acts must be Noble County Residents. Group acts must have a majority of the contestants be Noble County residents.
6. The Youth 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.

7. 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.
8. Each division will be limited to 10 entries per category.
9. A contestant may enter in more than one category of competition at the Noble County Youth Talent Contest. If contestant wins in more than one category they must decide at time of contest which category they will compete in at the State Fair. Second place winners will be allowed if the 1st place is forfeited on the county level. Written Notification must be received from the County Coordinator.
10. A contestant may enter only one category of competition at the Indiana State Fair Youth Talent Contest. Indiana State Fair Youth Talent contest Entry Forms will be provided to eligible winner of county talent contest by Contest Coordinator.
11. Entries will be accepted in the following 13 categories for both the Junior Division and the Senior Division.
Vocal Solo—Female 2. Vocal Solo—Male
3. Vocal Group 4. Instrumental Solo
Instrumental Group 6. Dance Solo
Dance Group 8. Novelty Solo
Novelty Group
Tumbling Solo (free X only)
Tumbling Group (free X only)
Clogging Solo
Clogging Group
The following descriptions are to be used as guidelines and are subject to interpretation by the contest Coordinators.

VOCAL SOLO-FEMALE/VOCAL SOLO-MALE: 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 judges 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 judges 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.
TUMBLING (FREE X ONLY) SOLO: Shall consist of a solo performance by a male or female tumbler. This category was created for the dance routines that incorporate more than two acrobatic tricks. Everyone is responsible for his/her own mats and runners. Two people per mat may place mats on stage. Tumbling moves are as follows: cartwheels, round-offs, flips or aerials. These are considered as one trick each. 2 MINUTE SET-UP TIME.
TUMBLING (FREE X ONLY) GROUP: Shall consist of two or more tumblers, male and/or female. This category is for Group Dance Routines that incorporate more than two acrobatic tricks. Everyone is responsible for his/her own mats and runners. Two persons per mat may place mats. 2 MINUTE SET-UP TIME ONLY.
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.)

12. An entry fee of approximately $20 for each act is required to enter the Indiana State Fair Youth Talent Contest. Entry fees will include any applicable admission fees of participants. Check or money order must be made payable to the Indiana State Fair, and must be submitted with the Indiana State Fair Youth Talent Contest Entry Form. Entry must be postmarked no later than 3 days after county talent show ends.
13. A group act in the preliminary competition may drop a member who is listed on the Youth Talent Contest Entry Form but MAY NOT ADD OR REPLACE any member that wasn't listed on the original entry form submitted to the Indiana State Fair. Any group act that performs in the Finals competition must be the same act with same participants that won in the preliminary competition; however, if necessary, a group act performing in the Finals competition may drop a member but MAY NOT ADD OR REPLACE any group member.
14. Cheerleaders and Baton twirlers or similar acts using batons, machetes or sharp instruments will not be accepted in the Youth 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. (NOTE: The Indiana State Fair has a separate competition for cheerleading and baton twirling.)
PERFORMANCE RULES
15. 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 and State contest. Ten penalty points will be deducted from the score of any act that exceeds the three-minute time limit.
16. 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 minute. All music must end under the three-minute performing time limit. (Sound equipment may vary.)

17. The contest committee does not provide any equipment (including gymnastic mats or a piano), except for the lighting and sound equipment.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. NO loud noises or interference backstage or in dressing room allowed.
22. THE EXISTING STAGE SETUP MAY NOT BE CHANGED.
23. Props are as follows: anything hand carried or separate from costume used in routine.

JUDGING
1. A panel of three or more judges will serve at the Youth 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.
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/certificates at the end of the competition.

Indiana State Fair
Youth Talent Contest
August 2016