Karaoke World Championships Australian Trials 2008 Rules & Conditions Of Entry

1. Who can enter -

1.1. The competition is open to amateur performers only. All entrants must be over 18 years of age at the time of entering the competition. An amateur is deemed as anyone who has not earned AUD$5,000 or more in cash in the twelve (12) months prior to August 1st, 2008, as a vocalist or karaoke compere - including, but not limited to, competition wins.
1.2. The competition is open to solo performers only.
1.3. Entrants must be an Australian citizen at the time of entering the competition. If they don't already have a valid Australian passport, they must be eligible for and be prepared to purchase one should they be crowned 'Karaoke World Champion Australia 2008'. A citizen is a person who was born in Australia or has participated in an official naturalisation ceremony to become a citizen of Australia and holds an 'Australian Naturalisation Certificate'. This does not include permanent residents.
1.4. The Competition is not open to -

1.4.a) Employees or direct family members of B & B Masters Enterprises P/L or Karaoke World Championships Australia 2008 State Co-ordinators

1.4.b) Employees of participating karaoke companies

1.4.c) Employees of participating venues are not allowed to enter at the venue where they are employed. They may enter at another participating venue

1.4.d) State & Grand Final winners of all 'Wintersun', 'Sing Your Way To Indy' and 'Karaoke World Championships' karaoke competitions for the past 3 years are ineligible to enter ('Wintersun 2005' was also the 'Karaoke World Championships 2005')

1.4.e) Grand Final winners of all previous Karaoke World Championships Australian Trials, i.e. those who have gone on to represent Australia, are ineligible to enter

1.4.f) Anyone whose services are rendered to compere/operate or judge heats, venue finals, State Finals and Grand Final at any stage are ineligible to enter.
Direct Family Members -

1.4.g) Direct family members of employees of participating venues may not enter at the venue/s where their family works. Direct family members may enter at another participating venue.

1.4.h) Direct family members of employees of participating karaoke companies may not enter at the venue where their family works. They may enter at another venue.

1.4.i) Direct family members includes immediate family members, married partners, fiancées & fiancés.
1.5. Entrants cannot be signed to a recording contract or recording distribution agreement.
1.6. A vocalist who meets the amateur requirements but performs occasionally cannot enter the competition at a venue where they have performed and received payment in the twelve (12) months prior to August 1st, 2008.
1.7. Contestants may enter at any participating venue during the competition series until they have won a heat. Once they have won a heat, they may not enter the same competition at another venue whilst the competition is still in progress at the venue where they have won a heat as they may be disqualified from the competition.
1.8. Once a contestant has won a venue final they will immediately secure their place in a State Final. They may not enter the competition again at venue level at another venue.
1.9. If a contestant is unsuccessful in a venue final, they may enter at another participating venue once their initial venue competition is over and they are no longer in the competition.
1.10. It is recommended that contestants support the venue where they have won their heat. Extra points may be awarded at venue final level to those who have supported the venue and their in house karaoke show more than once.

2. Prize Package -

2.1. 1st prize in Grand Final will include a return economy airfare from the winner's nearest capital city to Helsinki, Finland with 5 nights accommodation to represent Australia & contest the Karaoke World Championships 2008 with AUD$2000.00 spending money. Accommodation and airline will be at the discretion of the organisers.
2.2. The winner must purchase a valid Australian passport (if they don't already have one) and be available for travel to Finland between 20th - 30th October, 2008. If the Grand Final winner is not available they will forfeit their prize and will incur any charges associated with changing travel documents. The runner up will take their place and will be subject to the same conditions.
2.3. The winner will be responsible for all costs that are not offered as part of their prize including, but not limited to, travel costs to and from their departing airport in Australia, travel insurance, food, drinks and any additional travel outside prize offered, including but not limited to, any costs incurred during their trip to compete as Australia's representative at the Karaoke World Championships 2008.
2.4. Any additional travellers to the Karaoke World Championships 2008 will travel entirely at their own expense.
2.5. Prizes are not transferable or redeemable for cash. Venue final winners are required to attend their respective State Final. State Final winners are required to attend the Grand Final. The Grand Final Winner is required to attend and represent Australia at the Karaoke World Championships 2008. Entrants who are unable to attend their respective finals will forfeit any prizes not already presented to them.
2.6. Club Crocodile prizes are valid for a time period at the sole discretion of Club Crocodile. Winners are responsible for all travel costs to and from Airlie Beach and all other ancillary costs not included in the prize.
2.7. The Club Crocodile prizes awarded to 1st, 2nd & 3rd winners in the Grand Final will be an upgrade of their state final Club Crocodile prize and are valid for a time period with conditions at the sole discretion of Club Crocodile. Winners will be responsible for all travel costs to and from Airlie Beach and all other ancillary costs not included in the prize.
2.8. All Grand Finalists (excluding Qld) will receive a weekend air and accommodation package to the Gold Coast to compete in the Grand Final on 2nd August, 2008. Departing airport and accommodation is at the sole discretion of KWC Australia. All Grand Finalists must be available for travel between 1st - 3rd August, 2008. Winners are responsible for their own travel costs to and from all airports and any other ancillary costs that are incurred that are not offered as part of their prize including, but not limited to, food, drinks and external travel. If the State Final winner is not available, they will forfeit their prize and will incur any charges associated with changing travel documents. The runner up will take their place and will be subject to the same conditions. Prize is not transferrable for cash. The State Final winner is required to attend the Grand Final.
2.9. As the QLD State Final is being held in the same venue on the same day as the Grand Final, the winner of the QLD State Final will receive $300.00 cash in lieu of the weekend package awarded to the interstate Grand Finalists. Weekend packages are not transferrable for cash.
2.10. Grand Finalists are permitted to have one (1) guest only stay with them, at no extra charge, at the accommodation during their stay for the Grand Final. Any costs incurred, including but not limited to, travel, meals, drinks & external travel are solely their own responsibility. Any other people travelling with the Grand Finalist will do so entirely at their own expense.
2.11. All details and conditions of prizes provided by Capital Karaoke are at the sole discretion of Capital Karaoke. The Organisers accept no responsibility regarding these prizes.
2.12. All details and conditions of prizes provided by Club Crocodile Airlie Beach are at the sole discretion of Club Crocodile Airlie Beach. The Organisers accept no responsibility regarding these prizes.
2.13. Some prizes will be awarded as vouchers. It is the responsibility of winners to look after these prize vouchers. Lost vouchers cannot be replaced under any circumstances.
2.14. All prize winners are responsible for the cost of transporting their physical prizes home.
2.15. Grand Finalists may appear on a future episode of the 'Karaoke Kangaroo' at the sole discretion of the organisers.

3. Competition Format -

3.1. Heats will be held at various venues across Australia over a maximum ten (10) week period. Two (2) winners will be selected at each heat to be eligible to contest that Venue's final. Two (2) winners will be selected from each Venue Final to contest the State Final. Variations may occur at certain venues including, but not limited to, the number of heats conducted, the number of entrants selected at each heat and the number of representatives sent to the State Final. The number of representatives sent from each venue to a State Final is at the sole discretion of the KWC Australia only.
3.2. One (1) winner of each State final will be eligible to contest the Grand Final.
3.3. Contestants may sing any song of their choice during the heats and venue finals. It is the sole discretion of each venue and karaoke operator as to how many songs will be performed in their venue final.
3.4. At State Final level, contestants must sing a minimum of one song of their choice. It is the sole discretion of the organisers as to how many songs will be performed at each State Final.
3.5. At the Grand Final, contestants must sing two songs of their choice.
3.6. It is the organisers decision as to how often a song can be sung by different contestants in any State or Grand Final. Having reached this level, contestants should have a small repertoire of songs at the ready.
3.7. Venues and karaoke operators may conduct their heats and finals in a manner that suits their own situation, i.e. some venues may choose to stop their show and run heats whilst others may wish to run their heats throughout their entire show so as to not disrupt their running order. Some venues may choose to conduct semi finals in the weeks before their venue final whilst others may wish to conduct heats and a venue final only. At all times they are requested to adhere to these 'Conditions of Entry' and KWC judging criteria and conduct their heats and finals in a fair manner.
3.8. All contestants are responsible for their own travel & accommodation costs to and from all heats, venue finals & state final. Each Grand finalist is responsible for their own travel arrangements to and from all airports for all flights associated with the Grand Final and any further travel and other ancillary costs (including meals and drinks) that are not part of their prize.
3.9. Contestants are permitted to use their own karaoke discs as long as they are original discs. Pirated discs will not be accepted. CDG, VCD, DVD and Laser Disc formats are permitted. Some of these formats may not be available at certain venues and finals. Please check with your karaoke operator as to their operating system. No responsibility will be accepted by the organisers for formats not being available in all venues. No other formats will be accepted. All tracks must have the words appearing on the screen.
3.10. All State & Grand Finalists will be required to sign a statutory declaration stating that they meet the amateur requirements and have read and understand the full 'Conditions of Entry'.
3.11. All issues addressing eligibility of contestants must be addressed, clarified and cleared 7 days prior to State Finals. Proof of claim will be required.

4. Judging Criteria -

4.1 It is recommended that contestants dress to suit their song choice at all final levels so as to maximise judging points.
4.2. Grand Final judges will place 1st Prize, 2nd Prize & 3rd Prize.
4.3. Judging will be based on Vocal ability, Presentation and Audience Appeal. Extra points may be awarded at venue final level to those who support the venue and their in-house karaoke show throughout the duration of the competition.
4.4. The Judges decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.

5. Karaoke World Championship requirements -

5.1. The Grand Final winner will be required to have 5 songs prepared for the Karaoke World Championships. These songs will need to be lodged in preferred performance order within 7 days after the Australian Grand Final. These songs can be from any category and are the choice of the Grand Finalist. Song choices may be subject to a time limit by the organisers of the Karaoke World Championships due to time restraints. Once submitted, the song choice and preferred performance order cannot be changed.
5.2. The Grand Final winner will be required to adhere to the conditions of entry of the Karaoke World Championships.
5.3. If the Australian representative is crowned Karaoke World Champion 2008 and is awarded a trip to KWC 2009 as a prize, they will be required to attend KWC 2009. If the ultimate winner of the Karaoke World Championships is only invited to attend KWC 2009, should they choose to accept they will do so entirely at their own expense if the trip is not awarded as a prize. There is no obligation for the winner to return to the Karaoke World Championships the following year if they must travel at their own expense. If they are awarded the trip as a prize, the reigning Karaoke World Champion is required to attend KWC 2009.
5.4. The Australian winner will be required to make themselves available for media requests.
5.5. The Australian winner will be required to sign a contract upon winning the Grand Final giving B&B Masters Enterprises P/L full managerial rights for the term of their reign as Australian Karaoke World Champion and/or Karaoke World Champion for management of any and all offers received during their reign as Australian Karaoke World Champion and/or Karaoke World Champion. No guarantee will be given that any further offers will be made as a result of participating in or winning the Karaoke World Championships.
5.6. The Grand Final winner will be permitted to use their own karaoke discs at the Karaoke World Championships as long as they are original discs. CDG, VCD, DVD and Laser Disc formats are permitted.

6. Indemnity -

6.1. By entering this Competition you agree not to hold the Organisers liable for any loss, damage, illness, death, injury or claim whatsoever and to abide by the conditions of entry. Entries remain the property of the Organisers.
6.2. 2nd & 3rd Grand Final cash prizes will be finalised within 14 days of National Grand Final. Spending money awarded to 1st place will be finalised closer to departure date.
6.3. Email address on entry form is optional and may be used for future marketing.
6.4. By entering the competition you agree to your image and performance being broadcast in any form and you will not claim any performance rights or fees. Recordings & photographs remain the property of the organisers.
6.5. By entering the competition you acknowledge that the organisers of the Karaoke World Championships Australian Trials are not responsible for any changes to the organisation and prizes by Oy KWC Organisation Ltd - Finland. The Australian organisers reserve the right to change the Australian Trials prize package details to suit any unforeseeable changes made by Oy KWC Organisation Ltd.
6.6. The organisers also accept no responsibility for changes in prizes provided by sponsors and reserve the right to change the Australian Trials prize package details to suit any unforeseeable changes made by sponsors.
6.7. The organises accept no responsibility for prizes offered by venues and operators outside of the Australian Trials prize package.
6.8. The official organisers of the Karaoke World Championships are Oy KWC Organisation Ltd - Finland.
6.9. The official Australian partners of Oy KWC Organisation Ltd are B&B Masters Enterprises Pty Ltd.
6.10. The 'Conditions of Entry' are subject to change without notice. All changes will be posted on the official Australian Trials website - www.kwcaustralia.com.au

Karaoke World Championships
Australian Trials 2008