This is a 9 week karaoke contest brought to you by the Sioux Empire Fair, Budweiser/Beal Distributing and Dakota Entertainment.

Contest runs June 8 thru July 19th

The Star of the Sioux Empire Karaoke Contest will attract the top singers in the area to local establishments throughout the Midwest for this contest. The top performers will advance to their regional finals during the week of July 20 to July 26th. Top performers from the regional contest then advance to the semi-finals to be held at Shenanigans Pub in Sioux Falls, SD on August 2nd. The top five (5) singers from the semi-finals will advance to the finals to be held at the Sioux Empire Fair to sing for the Grand Prize. Weekly prizes could include: Bar Tabs, passes to the Sioux Empire Fair and Grandstand Concert Tickets.

Prizes

Grand Prize $500 cash
2nd place - $300 cash
3rd place - $200 cash
4th place - $150 cash
5th place - $100 cash
All contestants at the finals will win misc. prizes
provided by Budweiser as well.

Contest Location Sponsors:
If your establishment would like to get in on the Star of the
Sioux Empire Karaoke Contest contact us at 800-691-5311.

360 - Tea, SD
Growlers - Alcester, SD
Mainstreet Pub, Brookings, SD
Shenanigans Pub - Sioux Falls, SD
Gambler, Marshall, MN
Sharkeys - Luverne, SD

Finals Contest Format:
It will be an American Idol style format for the finals that would give each one of the finalists a fair shot at winning the competition. There will be at least 4 judges at the finals with one representavite from each of the sponsors: Dakota Entertainment, Sioux Empire Fair, Budweiser and Shenanigans Pub. Each singer would need to be prepared with five songs to sing. Each performer would sing one song and then be critiqued by the judges. Each singer would then sing a second song and at the point the judges would eliminate one contestant. The remaining contestants would then sing another song, be critiqued and another elininated and so on until we are down to the top two. After each sings their final songs we would declare the winner base on the judges scoring of all five songs they sang.

Sponsored by:

Star of the Sioux Empire Karaoke Contest
Rules and Regulations

THESE RULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR MODIFICATION AT ANY TIME

1. All contestants must be 21 years of age or older. Local, State and Federal laws supersede these rules where persons under the age of 21 are prohibited to enter regulated businesses or locations.
2. There will be 6 weeks of local competition, 1 week of regional competition, and 1 day of semi-finals.  The top two singers each week advance to the regional level, the top two singers at each region advance to the semi-finals. The top five contestants from the semi-finals continue on for the Grand Finale.
3. There is a $10.00 entry fee to be paid prior to the start of the contest each time a contestant wants to compete at the local level.  There is not an additional entry fee for a singer who advances to the regional and/or state levels. 
4. Any person belonging to a professional acting, theater or musical organization, such as SAG, are not allowed to compete in any event connected with the Star of the Sioux Empire Karaoke Contest. Persons who entertain, whether it be their whole or part time income, are allowed to compete so long as that person does not belong to any professional organization connected with the entertainment industry.
5. Any person who has won a singing championship in any other event, local or nationally, may enter as long as the person is not disqualified by rule number 4.
6. Any person who belongs to an Organized Labor Union connected with the entertainment industry may enter the contest, so long as that person is not disqualified by rule number 4.
7. 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 contestants' 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 will not be permitted. An example of this type of instrument is a piano, bass fiddle, harp, etc.
8. Contestants may sing the same song as another contestant.
9. Contestants will sing one judged song. If, at the end of the contest there is a tie, the contestants who are tied for first place only will sing another judged song. Should this method not break the tie, the judges will collaborate between each other and decide the winner.
10. A contestant may enter as many local level contests as desired in an attempt to qualify for a regional level contest.
11. Contestants may qualify at any of the local level contest sites, but may only qualify once at the regional level.  Ex. If you qualify at bar A, you can also qualify at bar X, however, you can only qualify regional at either bar A or bar X, you can not win more than one regional contest.
12. Contestants, their family or associates are not allowed to have physical or verbal contact with any judge during any contest connected with the Star of the Sioux Empire Karaoke Contest.
13. Contestants, or 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 competed, that contestants score will be nullified
14. The order in which each contestant competes is determined by random drawing.  Except for in the Grand finals the contestants will be given a lineup card.

1. Contestants will be scored using a 100 Point system.

Judging Criteria

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1. Contestants are entitled to their individual scores only.  A contestant may receive his or her score from the local or regional host after the contest has ended and the winners are announced.
2. Decisions of the judges are final!
3. Complaints may be directed in a dignified manner to the contest host. If the host is unable to satisfy the complaint, the host will furnish the complaintant with the proper address to lodge a formal complaint. Should the complaint need immediate assistance, such as a possible disqualification of a contestant, the host will furnish the proper telephone number to lodge such complaint.
4. Contest sites: Local, Regiona, Sem-finall and Grand Championships. Local sites are defined as the first level, and are held primarily at Night Clubs, Karaoke Bars and other such venues in areas around the Midwest. Regional sites are defined as the second level of the contest. Winners at each local site will gather to compete at regional sites, which will be one of the weekly contest locations.
5. PROMOTIONAL AUTHORIZATION: By submitting an entry form, the soloist grants to Dakota Karaoke the right to utilize the soloist’s name and likeness for advertising and promotional purposes without compensation.

• ASSUMPTION OF RISK: By submitting this entry form, the soloist assumes all risks of property damage or bodily injury (including death) that might occur during the local, regional, and state Showdown events. The soloist agrees not to bring against Dakota Karaoke or sponsors any claim for property damage or bodily injury (including death) that might occur during local, regional or state Showdown events