Karaoke Forums

Here we go again... Our 7th annual "Homeward Star Search" Karaoke contest kicks off on September 30th in beautiful, downtown Wallaceburg, Ontario. First prize is $1500 plus a pro recording.

There's no entry fee and no admission charge. Other than age (must be 19 or older) there are no restrictions as to music genre; amateur or professional; local or non-local; female or male; and so on.

Judging criteria is 70% Vocal ability; 20% Stage presence; 10% Song choice.

Prizes.... $1500 first; $500 second; $250 third; $100 Peoples' Choice Female; $100 Peoples' Choice Male.

So, here's an open invitation to all the folks here at Karaoke Scene... If you're in the neighbourhood, drop by... If you'd like to enter the contest... great! If you simply want to observe, that's OK... but I'd rather you enter... Or, perhaps you'd like to sit in as a guest judge.... That could probably be arranged too.

Want more info... check out "Homeward Star Search 2011" on Facebook.

Cheers

Earl

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Earl
(BS, PHD & Certified CurmuDJeon)

[font=Times New Roman]"Growing Old may be mandatory... but growing UP is still optional."[/font]

Ya know Earl I'll be in Canada the next week for Thanksgiving but that's a long ways from where I will be. Fly me up and I'll judge!

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

10% of the score is 'song choice'? How can scoring on such a subjective category be even remotely fair? How are points assessed for it?

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DJ Don

maybe they base it on the audience's reaction or lack thereof to the song.. *shrug*

Using 'audience response' is another completely unfair scoring category. Is this a singing contest or an audience response contest?

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DJ Don

Neither! It's a Karaoke contest

well THAT makes it all better

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DJ Don

Hubris much? Are you telling me judges can make fair choices based only on their own wants and desires?

Audience response is a great proxy for factoring in other people's opinions.

As far as song choice, there is such a thing as choosing a song that is best fitted to your persona and voice. There is such a thing as a tessitura, you know. Barry White shouldn't sing Elton John, and vice versa.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

You should clarify that by saying Barry White shouldn't try to sing an Elton John song, -- in an Elton John key, or in an Elton John voice.

There's nothing wrong with Barry White singing an adaptation of an Elton John song in his own voice.

It's karaoke..... not the end of the world...

You have judges that are trained and qualified to assess one's 'tessitura'? Will they also assess melody, range, tempo and rhythm and meter, construction and form, and embellishments, technical accuracy, intonation and freedom from effort?

If it's a karaoke contest, it should be fun. Else, it becomes a less fun, more pressure singing contest.

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DJ Don

You have a split personality. You want things to be only on "merit", yet when one tries to codify that you ridicule it.


And if it's supposed to be fun, you're claiming audience response isn't a valid judging criteria?

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Interesting that the first prize is $1,500 because (here in Michigan) if the contest were held at ANY place that sold alcohol, they would be open to a license suspension from the liquor control commission.

The rule is that they can't give away more than $250 in any kind of "value."

Where's the respect?? I'm just sharing my opinion. I'm not suggesting you're wrong or that you should change what you do. So let's keep the clever name calling to a dull roar.

If it's a karaoke contest, keep it simple, FAIR... AND fun. If it's some other kind of contest... well then... most bets are off.

Song choice? Nope... Not in any karaoke contest I've ever run, or seen. But if it works for ya, bless you.

Audience response? In the interest of fairness, hell no! It should NOT be part of a judge's criteria. "Let's bring 50 of our friends to cheer for the worst singer there!" Ya. That's 'fun'. But it's certainly not fair.

Best of luck with your.... contest.

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DJ Don

I would ask the same thing. You are ridiculing the conditions of contest, using terms like "completely unfair". You give no respect, but are unhappy about receiving similar criticism.


You are calling things completely unfair. Sounds like you are suggesting someone is wrong. If you'd said "I prefer to", or "I think it's better" I don't think I would have a problem with what you are saying. But utter ridicule is something that I don't like.


Audience response is something that is pretty easy to sort the chaff from the kernel. You can tell when the whole audience likes it, or just a few friends go crazy. Also, 10%-20% isn't enough to the point where packing the audience makes that big a difference.


Not my contest. But I think their judging criteria make sense. I actually had a contest, though, that had audience response, stage presence, and choice of material as criteria. But applied by good judges. I was told that it was the best, most fair contest anyone had ever seen.

If you have good judges, you'll have a good contest. And giving them some criteria to use their judgement -- and help insulate them from criticism -- makes sense.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Ridiculing? Try criticizing. Sharing my opinion.... <without> the cute name calling and cheap assessment of one's personality traits.

I'm here to learn and share karaoke ideas and knowledge. Thanks for sharing.

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DJ Don

Personality traits? What, you mean the "get a life" you imply ("It's supposed to be fun") isn't doing that by the back door? Just because you cloak yours differently doesn't mean it isn't there.

Implying that you -- or the judge -- know what is best without referencing the audience and what it likes is exhibiting hubris. Take it on board if you wish.


Calling something "completely unfair" without suggesting an alternative and discussing the options doesn't seem much like sharing knowledge. It seems like ridicule. And that is an action, not a personality trait.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

*Sigh*

I DID suggest options. Singing ability and stage presence/charisma. Remember?

Reading is fundamental. Comprehension is Priceless. Keep up the good work.

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DJ Don

There is no possible way to make judging this type of contest non subjective. It is what it is. You make the rules, you play by the rules. So give the judges a little bit of credit on deciding how many points to score a performance based off the audience reaction. It all comes down to judges who are fair, impartial, and have a bit of knowledge about what they are doing.

I think it's ok to ask the OP questions but if you had responded to my thread in the manner you did, I'd be a bit offensive about it, whether I posted back in that manner or blew it off, I'd still be offended.

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

Cripe. Do I have to preface everything I say with, "In my opinion..."?

I didn't think giving my initial opinion of 'I think judging on song choice is unfair' and 'I believe singing ability and stage presence/charisma' would be met with such disdain. It was just... my.... opinion. I wasn't looking to get baited into a pointless argument full of personal attacks. How about, "I don't agree, and here's why:..."

Of course judging is subjective. It's opinions based on fact, observation and experience.

I'd said, '10% of the score is 'song choice'? How can scoring on such a subjective category be even remotely fair? How are points assessed for it?' I believe that this particular category is highly subjective for a karaoke contest.

If that or anything else I said was offensive, then I'd like to place an order for some chicken with 'thicker skin'...

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DJ Don

I don't think I was the one who complained about the heat in the kitchen....

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.