Berkshire Idol

F.A.Q.

Rules and Regulations Official Rules - Berkshire Idol

Eligibility & How to Enter

Berkshire Idol is open to anyone aged 10 to adult. The contest is open to individuals only - not duos or groups - who do not have an existing recording contract. There will be two age brackets for the competition: those between the ages of 10 -15, and 16 to adult.

Please note: past first and second place winners of Berkshire Idol may not compete again.

Applicants under the age of 18 must submit signed permission from their parents or guardians on the day of auditions.

Applicants must be able to attend either of the audition dates (November 15 or December 6) as well as the Berkshire Idol semifinals on January 24, 2009 and the finals on March 14, 2009.

Eligible applicants can enter Berkshire Idol by registering online at this site. A $20.00 fee is due the day of the event as long as you have registered online and received an email confirmation. You may also choose to register at the door; however, the fee will be $25.00 and spaces are not guaranteed. There will be no refunds.

Singers from each age bracket will be selected to advance to the semifinal round on a date to be determined. Singers will be notified as to their status immediately following their auditions.

Competitors selected as semifinalists agree to raise at least $100.00 to be donated to the event's charity, Windsor School of Music. There are prizes awarded for fundraisers who raise over $250, please see below. All singers advancing to the semifinals must bring their music cd, their pledge forms and money to the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition offices, 85 Main Street, Suite 624, North Adams, on Monday January 12th from 5:30 – 7. Those who do not deliver the funds with the pledge sheet will not be able to perform in the semi-finals.

Fundraising prizes:

Raise over $250 - 1 hour studio time at Skyboro Studios

Raise between $500-$999 - 1 hour studio time and be entered in a drawing for an iTouch

Raise $1000 or over - 1 hour studio time and get an iTouch

Highest Fundraiser - as well as previous prizes, one week at Vacation Village - www.vacationvillageresorts.com/VVR/berkshires

In addition to the funds raised, those proceeding to the semifinal and final rounds must provide Berkshire Idol organizers with their own prerecorded musical accompaniment on CD to be played during their on-stage performance. Songs must be edited to longer than 4 minutes in length. Performers whose songs go beyond the 4-minute-limit will be disqualified. CDs must be submitted to with pledge money and pledge sheet to the location mentioned above on January 12th. A contestant will be disqualified if a majority of the members of the panel of judges deems the content to be excessively vulgar, profane, rude, sexually explicit, or beyond acceptable standards of family entertainment. The decision to disqualify will be final, binding and not subject to appeal.

Application Deadline

Online and walk-in registration must be received by Berkshire Idol by 7p.m. (Eastern Time) on November 13. People wishing to register after this time must do so at the door for $25 on either November 15 or December 6. Walk-in audition spots will be limited and we cannot guarantee space to those who do not pre register.

Judging and Selection of Contestants and Winners

A panel of judges selected by Berkshire Idol will judge all singers at both auditions. The judges will take into account the vocal quality, performance style and on-stage presence, and whether the music suits the applicant's voice.

At the Berkshire Idol Semifinals, 8 contestants from each age category will be selected to advance to the finals. At the Finals, the contestant from each age bracket with the overall highest score, as determined by the panel of judges, will be chosen as first-place winners.

Decisions of the judges are final and not subject to appeal. Feedback and scoresheets will not be provided to contestants at any level of the competition.

Songs to be Performed in Auditions and Finals

Contestants must perform an acappella selection at the audition. If they are chosen for the semifinals and finals, contestants must choose a different song to perform. Songs performed at the semifinals and finals must be to recorded musical accompaniment.

Notification of Selected Applicants and Contestants

If a selected contestant is not available to continue or fails to meet the fundraising or musical deadlines for the competition she/he will forfeit any claim to continue as a contestant and may be replaced with another contestant selected by a panel of judges. Regardless, the Berkshire Idol Contest events will continue without delay or adjournment with the remaining contestants.

Prizes for Winners

The First Prize in each category is $1,000.00 in cash for the 16 to adult age group and a $1,000 U.S. savings bond for the 10 to 15 age group and 4 hours of professional studio time courtesy of Skyboro Sound toward the production of a demo CD.

Prizes for Fundraising

Raise over $250 - 1 hour studio time at Skyboro Studios

Raise between $500-$999 - 1 hour studio time and be entered in a drawing for an iTouch

Raise $1000 or over - 1 hour studio time and get an iTouch

Highest Fundraiser - as well as previous prizes, one week at Vacation Village - www.vacationvillageresorts.com/VVR/berkshires

Limits of Responsibility

Applicants agree that Berkshire Idol is not liable to them or to their heirs and assigns for death, personal injury, losses or damages of any kind caused by traveling to or from Berkshire Idol venues, being present at the venues, participating in the contest or being selected to, or disqualified from, continuing in the contest.

General Conditions

Eligible applicants who participate in Berkshire Idol events agree to abide by and be bound by these Official Rules and by the decisions of the Berkshire Idol panels of judges, whose decisions are final, binding and not subject to appeal. Lack of civility or failure to abide by the rules will result in disqualification from the contest or forfeiture of prizes, without any liability on the part of Berkshire Idol, sponsors or any other person, firm or corporation.

Contestants who participate in the Finals, agree to provide such information and cooperation to Berkshire Idol staff or panel of judges as may be requested in order to verify their eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules.

Applicants agree to the use of their photograph, name, personal biography, demo CD or audio tape, and recorded or live Berkshire Idol music performances for all promotional purposes related to Berkshire Idol in 2009 and future years, and the use of that information in all forms of media and communication related to Berkshire Idol without compensation or notice, and hereby release Berkshire Idol and its organizers, from any claims or liability arising out of or with respect to such use.

Applicants are responsible for their own arrangements and expenses incurred to participate in Berkshire Idol. None of those involved in any capacity in organizing, executing, judging or supplying prizes for Berkshire Idol is responsible for covering or reimbursing any expenses incurred by applicants.

All applications and demo CDs are the property of Berkshire Idol and will

not be returned to applicants.

Berkshire Idol reserves the right to terminate or amend these Official Rules, any aspect or all aspects of he Berkshire Idol contest in any way at any time, without notice, should anything interfere with the fair and proper conduct of the contest as envisaged by these rules. It is the responsibility of each applicant to ensure that he/she complies with these rules. Any changes or amendments to the Official Rules will be posted online at: www.iberkshires.com/berkshireidol .

While recognizing that judges, corporate sponsors, and contestants may know each other outside of this competition, Berkshire Idol asks that no contact or communication intended to influence, or that would tend to influence, a judge's decision about an applicant's or contestant's performance shall occur between contestants and Berkshire Idol judges or corporate sponsors.

Tell me more (FAQs)...

1. What's the deadline for entries?

Online preregistration must be received by Berkshire Idol by 7 p.m. (Eastern Time) on November 13. People wishing to register after this time must do so at the door for $25 on either November 15 or December 6. Walk-in audition spots will be limited and we cannot guarantee space to those who do not pre register.

2. Who is eligible to enter?

Please note: past first and second place winners of Berkshire Idol may not compete again.

3. How many finalists will be selected?

Our panel of judges will be choosing 16 entries to proceed to the Final Berkshire Idol event on March 14, 2009.

4. What are the dates and locations of the auditions?

Auditions will be held on two days, November 15 at the Church Street Center of MCLA, in North Adams, MA, and on December 6 at the Crowne Plaza in Pittsfield, MA. Auditions will begin at 10:00 AM on each date and end when all pre-registered individuals are through with their audition. If you are not preregistered you should show up as early as possible in order to guarantee an audition. The semifinals will be held on January 24, 2009. Check back to the web site for location and time.

5. Are duos, singing groups and bands eligible to enter?

Only solo performances by singers qualify for Berkshire Idol. If you're chosen as one of the 16 finalists to proceed, please be aware that you'll need to provide your own prerecorded musical accompaniment for your performance.

6. Will I be on TV?

There will be local access television crews on site for both the semifinals and finals.

7. I'm under 16. Can I enter?

Yes, you can - but be sure to bring a parent or guardian with you to sign the permission slip. Anyone under age 18 must have a parent or guardian with them to sign the permission slip.

8. Do I have to live in Berkshire County to enter?

No - despite the name, Berkshire Idol is open to any nonprofessional singer.

9. If selected as a finalist, do I need to provide my own backup music for performances?

Yes, you do. We require that all finalists provide Berkshire Idol with a pre-recorded, good-quality a song of up to 4 minutes.

10. What are the judging criteria?

Judges will be looking for vocal quality, performance style and on-stage presence, and a choice of music that suits your voice

11. Are all music styles eligible?

All varieties of popular music are eligible for Berkshire Idol. People can sing in any language. However, contestants singing in the semifinal and final rounds are strongly encouraged to choose well-known, upbeat songs to perform as entertainment factor is a criteria for judges.

12. Can I audition both in North Adams and Pittsfield?

If you do not qualify on November 15th, you may audition again (fee will need to be paid again) in Pittsfield.

13. Where will the money from this event go?

All 2009 proceeds will be donated to the Windsor School of Music a non-profit music school in North Adams, MA. See their website at www.windsorschoolofmusic.com

14. I've still got questions - what can I do?

If you can't find your answers on this web site, contact Berkshire Idol co- chairs Sue Daugherty and Joelle Brookner via email at berkshireidol@yahoo.com .

15. Do you need volunteers?

We sure do. Contact Sue and Joelle at berkshireidol@yahoo.com if you'd like to help out at any of the events.

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