Teen Talent is a non-profit organization working to showcase the talents to young performers in music, dance, and drama. It is a talent competition and show which provides an opportunity for young performers to pursue their dreams.

We believe that the decision of making it a teen show will not only encourage the expression of talent from all of the categories but also give younger children something special to anticipate as they progress with their individual talents.

The purpose of prizes is to reward the talented young performers for their efforts, to encourage them to pursue their dreams and to help them further their study of the arts.

MEETINGS
Contestants will be informed via mail or phone on what meeting dates they are required to attend.

REHEARSALS
For each show there will be a rehearsal held earlier that day, time TBA.

SHOWS
Finals: May 6th at 7:00pm at the Maxine Theater

Contestants must attend all meetings, rehearsals, and shows unless otherwise informed.

  Rules and Regulations

1. Teen Talent is an event that showcases the talents of young performers in music, dance and drama. The event is open to teens (or sixth grade to twelve grade students) in the Valley Center-Pauma school district and the Escondido school district. It is a talent contest and talent show, and it provides an opportunity for young people to pursue their dreams.
   
   
2. The Teen Talent Show targets teens to further encourage and promote a show focused on talent, participation is limited to the upper grades, hence Teen Talent,for performers between the age of 11 and 19 (if not yet graduated from high school). While there are occasionally very young children who demonstrate exceptional musical or vocal ability, as a rule, talents mature over time. Therefore, the Teen Talent Show should include only grades six through twelve. We believe that this decision will not only encourage the expression of talent from all of the categories listed above, but will also give younger children something to anticipate as they progress with their individual talents.
   
   
3. Contestants are only allowed one entry in one category per season.
   
   
4. The performing arts categories that students have to choose from include the following:
   1. Vocal (solo, duet, ensemble)
   2. Instrumental (solo, duet, ensemble)
   3. Theater/Drama (dramatic or poetry reading, monologue, comedy routine)
   4. Dance (tap, jazz, modern, ballet, hip hop)
   NOTE: The categories listed above are the expected categories of each program but are dependent on the number of performers that register for the contest.
   
   
5. Teen Talent reserves the right to add, delete or change categories depending on registration results. Four or more performers or acts are required to make a valid category, since the prizes are awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. If less than four performers are entered in any one category, Teen Talent holds the right to cancel that category.
   
   
6. Prizes are awarded to EACH category in the two different grade groups for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. The purpose of prizes is to reward the talented young performers for their efforts, to encourage them to pursue their dreams and to help them further their study of the arts.
   
   The award schedule is as follows:

   Categories: Dance, Drama, Vocal, Instrumental    
   Two Groups:   High School:      Junior High School:
                 1st place $500    1st place $300
                 2nd place $250    2nd place $150
                 3rd place $125    3rd place $75
   

7. It is strongly recommended that an act run no more than 3 minutes. Under no circumstances may an act run more than 5 minutes. ACTS RUNNING OVER 5 MINUTES WILL BE DISQUALIFIED! The act is timed from the first vocal utterance in any vocal category; the first body movement in any dance category; and the first musical sound in any instrumental category. Contestants must present themselves to event co-coordinators an hour before the program commences.
   
   
8. Baton-twirlers or similar acts using batons, machetes, knives etc., will not be accepted. No fire, smoke or smoke-effect will be allowed on stage at any time.
   
   
9. In the Vocal category, instrumental accompaniment by the person in the act or others is allowed, but is not judged. It must assume the pure character of accompaniment.The test shall be whether the performance would stand alone. NOTE: CD or taped back-up may be used subject to restrictions in rule 10. A cassette tape must be cued properly. We cannot be responsible for any tape or CD, which is not picked up following your performance. Please label each tape with your name for identification.
   
   
10. No voice or voices or synthesized vocal utterance may be used for accompaniment by contestants entered in the Vocal categories. This includes recorded live voices and voices that are produced and recorded synthetically. (i.e. synthesizers or digitally sampled.)
    
    
11. In the Instrumental categories, live or taped accompaniment is allowed but must assume the pure character of accompaniment. The test shall be whether the performance would stand alone. The use of any instrument(s) being judged is not allowed. In the use of any electronic keyboard, no preprogrammed music is allowed; the contestant must create all sound live on stage.
    
    
12. In the Dance category, accompanists are permitted on stage, but must not assume visual importance in the performance. There must be no taps or blatant tap effects on a taped recording by a dancer.
    
    
13. In the Vocal and/or Instrumental category, any combination or vocal and/or instrumental performance will be accepted, including bands with or without vocals. In this case the entry will only be adjudicated in the contestant's chosen category.
14. The simple standard that we believe can be fairly applied regarding appropriateness is the following: The lyrics, actions, and dress code of any entry must comply with all good policies for student conduct. In other words, performers may not sing about, discuss, or pantomime any activity that students could not actually say or do on school grounds.
    
    
15. Teen Talent is not responsible for theft/damage or injury of any kind, to persons or instruments, props, clothing etc., during, before or after the performance.
    
    
16. If a contestant should decide to drop out of the Teen Talent Show, any entry fee paid will NOT be refunded. If a category is cancelled, any entry fee paid WILL be refunded.
    
    
17. Contestants must be present at all meetings, rehearsals and shows and must be present during the entire show period. If this is not applicable in any way, contestants must inform the Teen Talent committee during registration.
18. Teen Talent holds the right to use contestant's name and/or photo for any further publicity purposes.
    
    
19. Rehearsals are closed and are only open to contestants, accompanists, and Teen Talent coordinators.
    
    
20. Teen Talent contestants can not converse or communicate in any way about the show to any of the show's adjudicators at any time during the season.
    
    
21. If a contestant has previously competed in the Teen Talent Show and placed in one of the four categories, then they may not compete in that category unless they have changed school levels. They may however compete in any of the remaining categories that they have not placed in.
    
    
22. All contestants must perform a different piece for finals then the one they performed for the preliminary show. This means a dancer must choreograph a new dance, an actor perform a different monologue, a vocalist sing a different song, and an instrumentalist play a different piece. We encourage contestants to be prepared ahead of time with their pieces and not wait a few days before the show to chose the piece they are going to perform. This is a competition and the more prepared you are the better you'll do and the more likely you'll make it to finals.
    
    
23. Organizers reserve the right of final decision on any matters pertaining to the Teen Talent not covered by the rules.
    
    

Adjudication
Contestants will be judged on the following basis: Presentation, 25%; Creativity, 25%; Clarity, 25% and Ability, 25%. During the two preliminary shows, contestants are scored solely by the judges. They will be evaluated on how the act would be received by an appropriate, impartial audience in an appropriate setting, and is not based on the size or enthusiasm of an act's "fan club". Contestants will be mailed a letter indicating if they are to move on to finals after these two shows. During the final show, judges score will be counted as 75% of the total points given while the remaining 25% will be awarded by the audience present that night. Contestants will be presented with a first, second, or third place the night of the final show.