2013 Laker Idol

    A Lakefront Day Event

    Entry Rules/General Information

Entry: Participants must submit an entry form along with the entry fee.  The fee is $10.00 per participant and includes an original 2013 Laker Idol t-shirt if application received by July 1, 2013.  Checks should be made payable to Prior Lake Chamber.  Returned checks are subject to a service charge.  Entry fees are non-refundable.  Entries should be mailed to:                                   

Laker Idol

Prior Lake Chamber, 4785 Dakota Street SE, Prior Lake, MN  55372

Each division will be limited to the first 20 participants to register.  Registrations will be accepted through the date of contest as long as the division does not have 20 participants.  Upon receipt of a signed entry form and fee, you will be confirmed by e-mail (or phone) as a participant in the contest.

Divisions: Participants will compete in one of four divisions.  The Little Laker Idol Division is open to participants age 9 and under.  The Junior Division is open to participants age 10 to 12.  The Teen Laker Division is open to participants ages 13 to 17.   The Adult Laker Division is open to participants 18 and older.  Participants must provide documentation of age – driver’s license; school ID, birth certificate at auditions in July.

Eligibility: The contest is open to all amateur entertainers.  Professionals (union musicians or those whose talent is a principle source of income) are not permitted to enter.  Participants that have competed in the past are welcomed again.  Laker Idol first place winners in each division can only compete once every 3 years in the same division (ex. 2012 Laker Idol winner cannot compete again in the same division until 2015).  Participants must either provide an online address to instrumentals, a CD with limited background vocals, or sing a cappella.  No guarantee that submitted CDs will work on equipment provided.   Instruments that can be carried on by the participant and do not require electricity are allowed.  Any submitted CD’s must be picked up at the end of the participant’s division contest.  The Laker Idol Committee is not responsible for lost or stolen CDs.  Participant’s music selections and behavior will be reviewed for appropriateness.  The Laker Idol Committee reserves the right to ask participants to select another song in the event their selection is deemed inappropriate for their age and/or their selection does not allow the judges to hear participant’s vocals clearly.  Inappropriate behaviors or dress may be a reason for a participant to be disqualified.

Judging Criteria: Participants will be judged primarily on vocal and stage presence.  Judging criteria and helpful suggestions for participants will be posted at www.LakerIdol.com.

Schedule/Location: The contest consists of three parts:  Auditions at Fong’s inPrior Lake,MN.  Semi-finalists will be notified by e-mail (or phone) within 24 hours of auditions.  Semifinals and finals are at Lakefront Park Band Shell in Prior Lake, MN.  No media presentations of performance will be allowed at any time during the competition.

Division                                                 Audition                                                  Semi-finals/Finals

Little Laker Idol                    Wed., July 17             6:00 pm                       Sat., August 10         1:00 pm

Junior Laker Idol                    Thurs., July 18            6:00 pm                       Sat., August 10         2:30 pm

Teen Laker Idol                      Wed., July 17             8:00 pm                       Sat., August 10         4:00 pm

Adult Laker Idol                     Thurs., July 18            8:00 pm                       Sat., August 10         5:30 pm

Directly after the division’s semi-finals on August 10, the judges will select 3 finalists to sing off for the division’s title.  The judges’ decisions are final

Awards: The following monetary awards will be given in each division:

1^st Place      $100.00                2^nd Place        $  75.00                 3^rd Place         $  50.00

Monies will be distributed in “Chamber Bucks” that can be used at any Prior Lake Area Chamber business.  1st Place Winner in each division will also be given a professional photo shoot and may appear on promotional items related to Laker Idol the following year.

Additional information and a list of our sponsors can be found at www.LakerIdol.com.

Laker Idol

Lakefront Days Event

2013 Entry Form

Please submit entry form along with $10.00 no later than July 1 to Prior Lake Area Chamber, 4785 Dakota Street, Prior Lake, MN 55372.  Applications will be taken after July 1 as long as there are openings in the division (Limit 20 per division).

Participant’s Name_____________________________________________________________________________

Occupation/School_____________________________________________________________________________

Age as of Finals (August 1, 2013)_________________________________________________________________

Participants must provide documentation of age (driver’s license, school ID, or birth certificate) at auditions.

Address______________________________________________________________________________________

City_____________________________________State________________________Zip Code_________________

Phone Number________________________________________________________________________________

Alternative Number (Cell Phone)__________________________________________________________________

E-mail address_________________________________________________________________________________

Failure to provide a valid phone number and e-mail address may result in participant being automatically disqualified.

Idol Division (Read carefully):

Please mark your T-shirt size: Youth YM, YL or Adult size AS, AM, AL, XL, XXL, or XXXL on line provided for your division.  Early registrants will have better chance of getting requested size.  T-shirts will be distributed at auditions.  Size of shirts available not guaranteed after July 1.

 _____Little Laker                   _____Junior Laker                    _____Teen Laker                  _____Adult Laker

           (9 and under)                         (10 to 12)                               (13 to 17)                              (18 and over)

Song Selection*:

For auditions at Fong’s, participant may sing acapella, with a CD, and/or by providing an online address to instrumentals.   Instruments that can be carried on stage by the participant and do not require electricity are allowed.

            Song title ______________________________________________________________________________

            Artist_________________________________________________________________________________

            Song length (4 min. max. allowed**)________________________________________________________

            Bringing CD:    Yes______No______ Online Address__________________________________________

*Please note that if you are selected for the semi-finals on Saturday, August 10, you will be asked to provide two song selections (which could be your audition song) for the semi-finals and finals (if in the top 3 after semi-finals).  Background vocals and instrumentation must allow the participant’s voice to be clearly heard by the Laker Idol judges.  Participants may be asked to sing a different song if the judges cannot clearly hear the participants’ voice.

**Song length is determined by when the participant begins to sing to the last word sung.  Lengthy instrumentals at the beginning and end will be faded in

and out during competition due to event time constraints.  1 point for every 15 seconds over the 4 minute time limit will be deducted from participant’s Total Points Earned during auditions, semi-finals and finals.

I acknowledge that I have read the Entry Rules and agree to abide by them.   I acknowledge that I do not perform as a professional or have regular employment as a singer.  I acknowledge that auditions for this contest will be held on Wednesday, July 17 (Little), Thursday, July 18 (Junior) , Wednesday, July 17 (Teen), and Thursday, July 18 (Adult).  If I cannot make the auditions, I will be disqualified from the competition.  No video or DVDs of performances will be accepted at any time.   If I am chosen as a semi-finalist, I will be able to compete in the finals on Saturday, August 10.  I also acknowledge my approval to use any pictures of me from this event in future media presentations for Little Laker, Junior Laker, Teen Laker, and Laker Idol Contests.  I also understand that if I am a Laker Idol winner I may be periodically requested to perform at community events (schedule permitting).

Participant Signature_________________________________________________Date_______________________

Guardian of participant_______________________________________________Date_______________________

                                                  (If under 18 years of age, parent or legal guardian must sign)

Guardian’s e-mail & phone number________________________________________________________________

LAKER IDOL  JUDGES’ HELPFUL HINTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL AUDITION

1. Choose a song that suits your style and vocal range.
2. Make sure the karaoke number is right for you or use a new CD and confirm it is compatible with the equipment before the day you audition.
3. Background vocalists should be in the background of the CD/karaoke number.  If they make it difficult for the judges to hear your voice, the judges will ask you to sing another selection.
4. Be your own individual. Show your talent in your performance, not an imitation of another person’s performance.
5. Sing a song that is not over-used in competitions.
6. Never perform a song you don’t know well.
7. Show emotion and movement fitting to your song.
8. Pay attention to how you walk on and off the stage. First impressions are important and it shows you have confidence in what you’re doing.
9. Smile and interact with your audience.
10. Be well groomed and professional in your appearance. Make sure you wear appropriate clothing. No baggy, sloppy clothes, or skimpy tops and shorts.
11. Be well rehearsed. Practice in front of your parents and friends. Ask for positive and negative feedback to help you improve. Thank them for their honesty as it helps you become a better performer.
12. Stay positive throughout the audition. Emotions and adrenaline can affect you. Ask a parent or friend to help you stay focused.
13. Support your fellow competitors. Do NOT talk negatively about others! You wouldn’t want them to speak negatively about you.
14. Drink plenty of water to keep your body and vocal chords well lubricated (stay away from pop).

The judge’s score as follows:

            50 points                     Voice

            40 points                     Presentation

            10 points                     Judge’s Discretion

Participants are ranked by total points and the averaged ranked number determines participant’s ranking in a contest.  In the event of a tie based on rank number, total points are used to break the tie.  

 The panel of judges is randomly selected. Each section of the contest will have a different panel of judges. No judge will be allowed to judge a division more than once.

 Judge’s comments can be requested by e-mail sandi@priorlakechamber.com the week after the contest.