Contest Packet: ShowMakers of America Contests

TEAM REGISTRATION: Teams must enter the area marked “Teams Only.” Members MUST be in costume or team uniform to be admitted free of charge. This policy will also apply to TEAM MANAGERS (NO EXCEPTIONS). One director and one assistant director will receive name badges (Asst. Director: only if an additional name is received on the registration form). Three VIP passes/wristbands for additional directors, chaperones and bus drivers will be given. Any person not in uniform, and who does not have a ticket, will have to pay admission. Please note the difference in wristbands for Friday and Saturday admission. Those groups participating both days will receive 2 sets of tickets. If your team is participating Saturday only, 3 VIP passes will be included. (Schools entering under 3 routines or only solos will receive 2 twritbands.) VIP Passes will not be given to individual entries. Cost for admission: $10.00 Saturday. We ask that you inform all parents, friends, etc., of these charges. All spectators will enter through the area marked “Spectator Entrance.” Paid spectators will receive a wristband that must be worn throughout the duration of the contest. Anyone without a band will be escorted off the premises.

All paying spectators will receive a complimentary contest program. Programs for participants will not
be provided. Directors will be e-mailed a schedule in advance, that we recommend be Xeroxed for students and chaperones. A preliminary competition schedule will be e-mailed 3-5 days prior to the contest. All changes in entry must be made 10 days prior to the contest date. Schedule changes must be made immediately following receipt. All changes must be received in writing via e-mail! Please direct all scheduling questions or conflicts (via e-mail) to Stacy Becker in our San Antonio office: stacy@showmakerscamps.com. Final contest information will be e-mailed with the schedule. We will not post the schedule online due to the many changes received.

Registrations and fees: ALL MONIES MUST BE RECEIVED PRIOR TO THE CONTEST DATE.
ONLY SCHOOL CHECK OR MONEY ORDER WILL BE ACCEPTED. ABSOLUTELY NO PERSONAL CHECKS ACCEPTED. ►Teams will not be allowed to compete unless payment is received prior to the contest. We WILL take schools OFF the schedule that haven’t paid by the contest date. ►Absolutely no contest fees will be accepted at the door. Refunds will not be given if cancellations or schedule removals are made seven days prior to the contest. Please direct all bookkeeping questions to: susan@showmakerscamps.com.

Music tapes & CD’s should be recorded to speed. ShowMakers® will provide a high quality sound system however, time can be saved if music is recorded to speed. If a speed adjustment is needed, we ask that you arrive early and meet with our sound tech. Keep in mind that most sound systems play tapes/CD’s differently. We ask that your music be at the sound table 20 minutes ahead of schedule. At the time of performance, have a representative present with a backup tape on hand. If using a tape, please make sure they are cued up and ready to play. One song should be on the recording without announcement. No entrance or exit music is allowed. Sound checks will only be played during performance intervals/breaks. Headphones will be available for you to check music speed. Variable speed CD/tape players will be provided in all performance areas. ►Please READ the attached CD burn/recording information.

Teams/Officers/Ensembles/Soloists must be lined up 15 minutes prior to performance. Be prepared for the contest to run ahead of schedule! Inform parents and supporters that an early performance could happen. We have tried to allow as much costume change time as possible. Music for Teams/Officers/Ensembles is to be at the sound table 20 minutes ahead of schedule. Soloists may present their music upon performance. Again, it is advisable to have a back-up on hand!

Important: When entering the solo, ensemble and officer division, please use the form enclosed in the previously sent brochure OR register online. E-mail the ShowMakers® office if the form has been misplaced and one will be faxed to you OR send it through again online. This form is to alert us of any potential overlaps in performances. We will then be able to schedule routines as far apart as possible. When scheduling these categories, we try and block your group together. It becomes difficult when students perform in more than one ensemble, etc. Should this be the case with your group, be aware of potential “time gaps” and costume conflicts. We will not be able to guarantee requested time spots. Please direct all scheduling questions or conflicts (via e-mail) to Stacy Becker in our San Antonio office: stacy@showmakerscamps.com.

Props: Each school is responsible for securing props. There will not be a storage area in San Marcos for overnight storage of props. If you are attending another contest location, please contact the host school director regarding prop location at their school. All props MUST BE WELL-PADDED to protect the floor. This applies to stage sets, etc. Teams that do not comply with this rule WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PERFORM THEIR ROUTINE. All large props not fitting through the door in San Marcos must be unloaded at the loading dock located near the spectator entrance. At Strahan Coliseum, props must be unloaded at the time of the prop category. Following the prop division, all props must leave the area due to fire regulations and lack of storage space. At all other locations, the school boosters will be available to assist you with props and storage. Ouroffice MUST be notified in advance(prior to scheduling…2 weeks) if additional setup time is needed. This will prevent the contest from running behind schedule! ►Please be sure and read the rules listed in the contest brochure. Please direct all scheduling questions or conflicts (via e-mail) to Stacy Becker in our San Antonio office: stacy@showmakerscamps.com.

Finalists for solo competition will be announced around noon on Saturday at all contest locations. Top High School finalists will perform (only if score average is 93+) their routine prior to the awards ceremony. The WINNER only will perform (if score average is 93+) from Pre-K through Sr. Co. division. Reminder: High School solos will be divided as 9th & 10th / 11th & 12th. The top High School finalists will be ranked after their final performance and not scored. Trophies will be awarded to 1st, - 5th place winners in all age divisions: Pre-K, K-3, 4-6, Jr.Co.(6-8 or 7-9), Jr. H.(6-8 or 7-9), Sr. Co. and High School(9-10 & 11-12). High School will include Pep, Drill, JV & Elite. Soloists receiving superior ratings (85+ average) will be awarded a medal.

Entrance and exit will not be judged. Teams should move on and off the floor as quickly as possible.

No helium balloons allowed in the athletic complex. No special effects which include smoke or chemicals, hay bales, confetti or powder will be allowed. Special effects with the potential to cause harm to performers or spectators are prohibited. E-mail or call our office for clarification on rules or fire regulations set by the city.

Score sheets and Video/Flash Drive critiques for all competition categories will be given to the DIRECTOR ONLY at the conclusion of the contest. Please do not send students or parents to pick up this packet. Those soloists and ensembles receiving a Division I for their performance will receive a medal enclosed in the director packet. NO PACKETS WILL BE GIVEN PRIOR TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF AWARDS unless advance notice of an early departure is given. ShowMakers will not ship awards or contest packets. Please notify the contest administrator and make arrangements to pick up your awards and results before you leave the premises.

Sample score sheets are enclosed.

The competition will be professionally videotaped by Action Video Productions. ShowMakers® has nothing to do with video packages, etc. These packages will be available for purchase at each contest location. Make sure you retain a receipt upon purchase. Spectator videotaping will not be allowed at the railings or walkway areas. Spectators may not set up tripods. For safety and liability reasons, spectators MAY NOT PLUG EQUIPMENT INTO ELECTRICAL OUTLETS. Due to fire regulations, walkways must be kept clear. DO NOT SET UP VIDEO CAMERA IN THE ACTION VIDEO AREA. PLEASE INFORM PARENTS IN ADVANCE TO PREVENT CONFLICTS.

Floor/complex layout for each contest location is enclosed. Please note where teams are “on deck” for entrance and exit. Be aware that “on deck” areas can become congested. Have your team prepared. NO HARD-SOLED SHOES ALLOWED on the gym floors without protection (to include but not limited to character shoes).

No walking will be allowed floor level during a performance. As a courtesy to performers, judges, and
The viewing audience, we ask that you sit during each performance and do not walk or stand while a
performance is in action.

The ShowMakers® office will be closed Friday of each contest. Should you need assistance, we ask that you e-mail the day prior.

Concessions will be sold throughout the day at all contest locations. At high school locations, the booster clubs have fantastic menus planned. NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR DRINKS WILL BE ALLOWED AT ANY CONTEST LOCATION. No food will be allowed in the dressing areas.

Please refer to the previously sent contest brochure or online: (www.showmakerscamps.com) for a
listing of awards and general contest guidelines.

Please inform parents and supporters not to sit in the judging or Action Video area. (Yes, it happens
every year!) In the solo areas at each contest location, students/parents may not videotape behind the judges.
(This happens every year!) You can help us out by informing your parents etc., in advance.

REMINDER: HAVE ALL MUSIC TAPES/CD’S LABELED/CUED/READY TO PLAY. REMEMBER TO PICK UP MUSIC FOLLOWING PERFORMANCES. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE
THAT MUSIC LEFT AT THE CONTEST WILL BE RETURNED.

Please notify our office in advance via e-mail if an additional director will be attending.

STUNTS/TUMBLING: ShowMakers® does not encourage the use of tumbling or unsafe stunts in routines. Spotters will not be provided. Any jumping, flipping or falling off pyramids or props is prohibited. All pyramids and partner stunts are limited to two persons high. All bases must have direct weight bearing contact with the ground. All single or double-based extended stunts must have a continuous spotter. All gymnastic stunts must originate from ground level. Call or e-mail our office for clarification.

Texas State University has requested that teams performing wear a non-marring shoe on the
court. Please e-mail the ShowMakers® office should you need specific details.

Contest Store: ShowMakers® will have T-shirts and patches available for purchase at all contest locations. T-shirts, hoodies, and jackets ranging from $12.00 - $25.00 / Contest Patches $5.00 & $6.00. *Patches sell out fast! Do not wait to buy…we cannot guarantee that we will have patches in stock following contest season. These items cannot be ordered by individually or by parents.

Should you have special time requests, please e-mail 2 weeks prior to contest date. All requests or changes must be in writing (do not leave a verbal message). Requests are based on “first come, first serve”. If you register late we cannot guarantee preferred performance time. Please direct all scheduling questions or conflicts (via e-mail) to Stacy Becker in our San Antonio office: stacy@showmakerscamps.com.

For directions to contest locations: www.mapsonus.com or www.mapquest.com. (See address on contest location specification sheet.) Please inform parents, etc., NOT to call the host school or ShowMakers office for directions.

Dressing Facilities: See specifics listed under each contest location.

Inclement Weather: In the event that we experience inclement weather on contest day, it is advisable to wait until roads are clear and driving is not hazardous. Directors, if able, please call to notify and keep the host director updated on your situation.

Flu Symptoms: In 2009, many schools and businesses around the nation were hit hard by the spread of the H1N1 virus. We still face the possibility that there will be another outbreak from January through April that will cause numerous absences from school and dance class. With this in mind, ShowMakers will not penalize a team for routines performed with obvious holes in a formation. We do request that you notify our office in writing (via e-mail) of your situation so that we can make all appropriate preparations.

Team Size Rule
Varsity Public High School Dance Teams classified by team size (Extra Small, Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large), must determine their size by reporting actual number of members on their team and not how many members will be competing at the competition. Contest administrators may elect to further divide some of these team categories that have a large number of participants. Changes in team size must be made in writing three weeks before the contest and signed by your administrator. No changes in team size will be made after the schedule is sent out.

Community Teams
If community solos, ensembles, officer or team entries total less than 3 entries, these performances may choose to compete with public/private schools.

Routine Performance Requirement
Varsity Public High School Dance Teams must perform a minimum of 70% of their actual team membership on all team routine events entered. Any team that elects to perform less than 70% will be placed in the Elite category.

Props and Backdrop Usage
Curtains, staging, and other props for routines should be constructed to fit through a 7 foot tall double door, with the center support bar removed, found at most public school gymnasiums where regional contests are held. Props and staging may have minor assembly on the floor but setup and breakdown time for props and staging will be added to the actual routine performance time length to produce total floor time. Total floor time should not exceed 5 minutes for all dance categories except show production (10 minutes). Any exceptions must be approved by the contest administrator, in advance of the competition.

Performance Schedule
A 5 point penalty will be assessed to teams not ready to perform when scheduled unless delay is caused by a technical problem in the competition. This will be determined by the officials conducting the competition. If the competition is running ahead of schedule, teams will have the option of performing early or waiting until their scheduled time but no later.

Late Entry Penalties
Any entries received after the registration deadline (10 days prior to contest date) will be charged a $25 late fee for each team, officer, ensemble, and solo entered if the contest schedule is complete upon receipt of the entry.

Late Cancellations
Any team that drops events after the schedule has been made will still be responsible for those entry fees unless cancellation has been approved by the contest administrator.

We have experienced some problems with CD recordings at our contests. Please be aware that some CD recordings will not always play on high-tech machines. We ask that you adhere to the following guidelines: