Millersville University

Important Dates

ENTRY DEADLINE: Friday, September 7, @ 4:30 p.m.
AUDITIONS: Sunday, September 16, @ 9 am; Student Memorial Center
ROUND 1: Sunday, September 23, @ 2 p.m.; Lyte Auditorium, Alumni Hall
Semi-Finals: Sunday, September 30, @ 2 p.m.; Lyte Auditorium, Alumni Hall
Finals: Friday, October 12, @ 8 p.m.; Lyte Auditorium, Alumni Hall

Eligibility & Contest Rules

The 2007 Ville Idol singing competition is sponsored/produced by the Millersville University Alumni Association in cooperation with the Millersville University (MU) Alumni Services Office, Millersville, Pennsylvania.

This is a singing competition. A karaoke machine and screen will not be available for use. Contestants must memorize all songs they are performing, throughout all performances and auditions.

Contestants may not utilize live props. This will include back-up singers, dancers, or animals. Non-human props such as costumes and other accessories are permitted. Musical instruments may be used as props, but are not allowed as an accompaniment to the contestant's performance. Such musical instruments must be hand carried. Larger instruments that utilize the aid of others to bring them on stage, or are difficult to handle, are not permitted. An example of this type of instrument is a piano, harp, etc. Any prop used by a contestant must be carried on stage or into the stage area by the contestant and must be completed in one trip onto or into the stage area. The non-use of line props will include the passing of flowers or other items to anyone, touching hands of an audience member or any other similar act.

Contestants are not allowed to leave the stage or stage area during the performance. This includes singing or performing within the audience.

Contestants may sing the same song as another contestant.

Songs containing vulgar or explicit sex lyrics will not be allowed. Contestants who, during their performance, use vulgar lyrics or perform in an obscene manner will be disqualified from any Ville Idol competition.

Contestants, their family or associates, are not allowed to have contact with a contest judge before or during any contest connected with Ville Idol. Contact includes verbal conversations and handshakes. Ville Idol Producer will provide judge badges to prevent contestants from approaching judges. This rule applies only before and during the time contestants are performing. It is not reasonable to expect contestants, their family or associates from having contact with a judge directly after all contestants have performed. Breaks for judges during a contest shall be considered the same as time during a contestant performance and judges are off limits for conversation or any other contact.

Contestants, their family or associates who exhibit offensive behavior during any portion of the contest, will disqualify that contestant from further competition. If the contestant, their family or associates exhibit offensive behavior after the contestant has completed, and such behavior is in the host establishment, even after the winners are announced, that contestants score will be nullified. If the contestant whose score has been nullified is a winning contestant, the next contestant in scoring position for that particular category shall be the winner. If there is a tie for the next in line, the winner shall be decided by a toss of a coin.

The order in which each candidate competes shall be determined by random drawing.

Contestants will be scored using a 50 point system:

Vocal ability (rhythm/pitch/phrasing/memorization): 1-30 points
Stage performance (movement/confidence/command): 1-10 points
Appearance (costume/attire): 1-10 points

Decisions of the judges are final. No arguing with judges is allowed. Any contestant, their family or associates who argue with a judge may be deemed to be using offensive behavior and the contestant may be disqualified from the competition.

Producer shall post online @ www.villealumni.com and Duncan Alumni House, 207 N. George Street, Alumni Services Office, Round 1 contestant results and subsequent rankings. All contestants during the audition of the contest are entitled to know their individual score only by contacting the producer.

Complaints may be directed in a dignified manner to the production host. If the host is unable to satisfy the complaint, the host will furnish the complainant the proper address to lodge a formal complaint. Should the complaint need immediate assistance, such as possible disqualification of a contestant, the host will furnish the proper telephone number to lodge a complaint.

Stage	Audition	Round 1	Semi-Final	Final	Winner Announced
Date	Sunday, September 16	Sunday, September 23	Sunday, September 30	Friday, October 12	Saturday, October 13
Time	Line up: 6:00 a.m.;Registration opens @ 7:00 a.m.; Auditions begin @ 9:00 a.m.	2:00 p.m.	2:00 p.m.	8:00 p.m.	8:00 p.m.
Location	Student Memorial Center	Alumni Hall / Lyte Auditorium	Alumni Hall / Lyte Auditorium	Alumni Hall / Lyte Auditorium	Pucillo Gymnasium
Cost	Free	$2 (children under 6 are free)	$2 (children under 6 are free)	$5 (children under 6 are free)	Cost: TBD
Field of Contestants	Maximum 150 (75 MU students, 75 MU alumni)	Top 30% or a maximum of 40 entrants from Audition	Top 20% or a maximum of 20 entrants from Round 1	Top 10% or a maximum of 10 entrants from Semi-Finals	Winners announced prior to intermission of Homecoming Entertainment (beginning at 8:00 p.m.)
Music Theme	Any genre, acapella (one song mandatory; length 2-4 minutes); may be requested to sing a second acapella song, if called back.	Music from the 1960s (one song; maximum length 4 minutes); music supplied by contestant (CD, cassette or acapella*)	Music from the 1970s or 1980s (one song; maximum length 5 minutes); music supplied by contestant (CD, cassette or acapella*)	Music from the 1990s or current hits (one song (maximum length 5 minutes) and one selection from Audition, Round 1, or Semi-Final); music supplied by contestant (CD, cassette or acapella*)

*Cassette/CD player will be provided by producer only.

These rules may be changed or modified at any time by producers of Ville Idol only.

Songs used by contestants in the two preliminary rounds are limited to four (4) minutes. Songs continuing beyond the four minute mark will be cut at the four minute mark. Judges will be instructed not to make any deductions due to a song being cut short. Contestants continuing to sing after the time limit and music stoppage will have points deducted from their scores.
Upon completion of performances in preliminary and semi-final rounds the contestant is given a brief moment to bow and take audience applause, then must immediately exit the stage and take along any props used by the contestant. A delay by the contestant to leave the stage area may result in points being deducted from the contestant's score.
Due to time constraints, a disc that fails to play, skip in mid-performance or has any other malfunction does not give the contestant the right to start over or use a different disc during rounds one and two or the semi-final round. The cause of malfunction may or may not be taken into consideration for allowing a contestant to continue. A contestant who has performed a portion of their song prior to any malfunction may or may not have their performance cut short. In the case of such action the judges will be instructed to judge the contestant as though the contestant completed the song.
Contestants, their family members or associates are not allowed to have any contact with any judge during the contest performance periods. Judges on break during a contest period are treated as though they are still judging the context. Offering bribes of any nature to a judge to help advance a contestant is strictly prohibited. Contestants do not hang out with the judges, don't drink with them, and don't eat with them. It is okay to say hello when passing them in the hall or to have a short conversation with them, but there is no reason for you to develop any kind of relationship with them. If a pre-existing relationship with a judge is eminent, i.e., former/current professor or professional relationship or other, this will not be held against a contestant, but the producer requests both parties to act in a professional manner and all business enacted during this competition is fair and equitable regarding judging/scoring.
Prizes: 1st place in each category (MU student/alumnus) is $1,000, 2nd place: $250.00 valued prize. Finalists may be asked to perform at the Millersville Community Parade (Saturday, October 13, 9:00 a.m.), the MU Homecoming Football game (Saturday, October 13, 2007, 1:30 p.m.) and during the entertainment program on (Saturday, October 13, 2007, 8:00 p.m.) [The later is contingent upon the entertainment contract of said entertainment booked for Homecoming 2007 by the MU Alumni Association/Alumni Services Office.]