2015 Texas Choice Pageants Texas State Pageant PARTICIPANT HANDBOOK PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND THOROUGHLY

Transcription

1 2015 Texas Choice Pageants Texas State Pageant PARTICIPANT HANDBOOK PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND THOROUGHLY Welcome to the 2015 Texas State Pageant by Tx Choice Pageants. We look forward to hosting you and your family at this elegant, natural national pageant that highlights the contestants participating. We expect great attitudes and hope you come with the only expectation of having a good time, making friends and aspiring the best you can be. If you walk in with this attitude you will go home much richer than when you arrived. Now we urge you to sit down and read this packet thoroughly. Feel free to print it out and make notes where needed. WHAT THIS HANDBOOK CONTAINS This Participant Handbook is an important part of your pageant weekend. You will find the Rules and Info regarding your Pageant Competition as well as information on prizes and awards. Please make every effort to read through these pages carefully as they will answer many of the questions you might have about TCP State. We also provide a free message board with only the highlights of what this packet has to offer. View your for the weblink. PARTICIPANT FEES AND DEADLINES Before you receive this handbook your mandatory entry fee deposit or free entry from a prelim pageant has already been taken care of. If you only paid a deposit your balance is due at pageant check in. Optional contests may be entered at pageant check in. All fees are non refundable and non transferrable. No exceptions. PAGEANT STANDARDS No fake rules apply at our pageant. No artificial hair, eyelashes, or teeth permissible unless medically necessary (chemo, illness, etc). Keep it modest and natural for makeup. A simple, flawless age appropriate makeup is allowed for those 6 and up. Try to keep heavy eye makeup, lipstick to a minimum. Contestants age 5 and under are to have no makeup on at all. Fake nails are not necessary. Clothing of any type may not be removed at all on stage. Props may be used for Talent only. Formal wear must be formal wear you can wear to an outside function such as wedding, prom, cruise, etc. Cupcake dresses and glitz dresses are not permitted. Dresses seen on TV show pageants are usually not good for TCP. Judges are given the instruction to use their discretion if they feel a contestant is violating the terms above. If you do not know what a Glitz Pageant dress or Cupcake dress is please Google it so you know what to stay away from. Women ages 16 and up can have fake manicured nails in a natural color. Toes and fingernails can be painted but natural and French work best! CONDUCT Good sportsmanship is expected of all contestants at all times during pageant weekend from the time you check in until you check out of the hotel. Good manners and dependability is expected of contestants, their family and friends. Not doing so at any time will result in dismissal from pageant and forfeiture of competition, titles and awards. No food or drinks except bottled water will be allowed in ballroom. Please inform friends and relatives. Being dismissed and disqualified will result in forfeit of refund and contestants will be banned from competing in any TCP event for 2 years. RESPONSIBILITY The pageant, its staff and directors are not responsible for lost or stolen articles while at the event or host hotel. The pageant, its staff and director are not responsible for responsibility or care of minors. This is the sole responsibility of parent/legal guardian. It is also your responsibility to have all the pageant information necessary to compete well on pageant weekend. Make sure you the pageant office if you are missing any information. It is your responsibility to check your s junk folder or spam folder for any possible missed information. It is your responsibility to meet all deadlines.

2 FOOD/BEVERAGES Absolutely NO food or beverages are allowed in the ballroom. No exceptions. If you are observed with food or beverages you will be asked to leave without refund. Please inform family and friends of this rule. The hotel has plenty of space outside the ballroom to enjoy refreshments as well as a restaurant and bar and plenty of lobby space. Babies and toddlers are allowed to have sippy cups or baby bottles. OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER As with any of our events no cameras of any kind may photograph inside the ballroom at any time. Visible camera s will not be allowed in the ballroom and may hinder your entrance into the ballroom at any time. Parents, friends and family caught photographing any segment of the pageant with any camera device will be removed immediately without refund and will not be allowed back in at any time during pageant weekend. This can also cause the contestant associated with the ejected person to be disqualified without refund. Our official pageant photography will be done by PHOTOS BY SHA and they will have a vendors table at the event for photo cd sales. Photo CD s start at $30 for the basic package. PAGEANT VENUE/LOCATION We will host our pageant at the Embassy Suites and Convention Center in San Marcos, Tx. Everyone attending the pageant will need to book a hotel room. All rooms are suites with 2 double queen beds, living room and sofa sleeper with microwave and fridge. Each hotel guest will receive a free hot, made to order breakfast and cocktails/cold drinks in the evening. Rooms are $144/per night. To book a room you must use this link. You cannot call as this is a special, secure booking site for the pageant. When you click on the link and arrive at the webpage simply click ATTENDEE on the drop down menu on the left of the page. Then choose the dates you need for the pageant. Link: AGE DIVISIONS If you won in a TCP local pageant you will compete the same age division won. Everyone else will compete in age division that corresponds with contestants age on day of pageant. Make sure you marked your entry form correctly. the office if you are unsure. Baby Miss 0-11mths; Toddler Miss 12-23mths; Wee Miss 2-3yrs; Tiny Miss 4-5yrs; Little Miss 6-7yrs; Petite Miss 8-9yrs; Young Miss 10-12yrs; Teen Miss 13-15yrs; Miss 16-19yrs; Ms(unmarried) 20+; Mrs(married) 20+; Woman(size 14+)20+; Boys age 0-7yrs CLOTHING Can be custom made or off the rack. You re choice! TCP does allow bling, rhinestones, lace, etc. Show your personal style while keeping it age appropriate. Formal wear MUST be floor length for contestants ages 10 and up. Hi low dresses are not considered floor length. Floor length gowns must be floor length all the way around and brush the floor. Glitz pageant costumes not allowed. No cupcake dresses or anything you see on TV show pageants. Samples of clothing will be posted on our FREE message board for use as a guideline. Costumes may be used for Talent. Babydoll dresses are allowed however do not over-bling to look like cupcake dresses. ALL outfits must be age appropriate. Samples of outfits will be posted to our FREE message board. Check s for link. Mandatory Casual wear outfits for ages 5 and under can be any casual, age appropriate outfit reflecting a fashion style show however must incorporate the colors of red, white and blue. No swimwear or sports themed outfits. We are not looking for patriotic wear. We are looking for red, white and blue clothing for the colors of Texas. Mandatory Onstage Introduction for ages 6 and up will be recited in an interview suit or interview dress. No slacks, shorts, capris or pants for interview wear. Mandatory Formal wear is required by all contestants. 10 and up must have floor length gown. Optional Fresh Face competition will be done in plain white top or blouse and blue denim bottoms with coordinating shoes. Optional Runway competition: For ages 6 and up. Think store window mannequins. Think magazine covers. Something stylish, fashionable. Handheld props can be used if it adds to the outfit. Can be custom or off the rack. Show off your fashion sense! Optional Pajama Wear competition: For ages 5 and under. Can be custom or off the rack. Show off your favorite pajama wear. Props can be used if it adds to the outfit.

3 Parents and guests are asked to dress appropriately as we are photographing the event all weekend. We will not allow tank tops, tube tops, short shorts, daisy dukes, swimwear, club wear, pajamas at any time to enter the ballroom. Please think of this event as a dressy casual type of event. Formal Wear is required by contestants for the Awards Ceremony on the Sunday of Pageant weekend. MANDATORY COMPETITIONS All contestants are required to enter the Formal Wear competition. Contestants ages 5 and under will compete in Mandatory Casual Wear competition. Contestants ages 6 and up will compete in Mandatory Onstage Introduction competition. Please view clothing guidelines above. If you won a free entry to State with a preliminary pageant win this is what your free entry covers. Free entries won at prelims does not cover optional contests. Each mandatory competition (2 per contestant) is worth 50% each of the score. MISS LONESTAR STATE TITLE Another title will be offered per age division. This will be an official TCP title. For those interested in vying for another title the fee is $25 and due by April 22, This title will be awarded to the 1 st runner up should they have paid the fee. The 2 nd runner up will then advance to 1 st runner up and so forth. Should the 1 st runner up not have paid the fee the title will NOT be awarded in that age division. MUSIC Will be provided by the pageant system for all competitions except for talent. Talent Guidelines below. CASH Cash only during pageant weekend. MANDATORY PAGEANT CHECK IN Will be Friday, May 22, 2015 from 4:30-7:30pm This is mandatory of all contestants. Everyone must be in line by 7:30pm. If you are not in line by 7:30pm you can return for late check in. Late pageant check in for those that will run late will incur a cost of $50. We will accept late check in from 9-10pm ONLY. Again, $50 per contestant. Contestant does not need to be present. STAGE WALK READ THOROUGHLY Pro-am modeling(glitz dancing type) is not allowed during any competition. We will have a standard T formation marked out on stage. 3 X s in back and 1 X in front. Contestants will walk onto stage on one side and exit on opposite side. Use natural straight pageant walk. Show poise and grace in these competitions. Keep it simple. Modeling scores are not given however we would like to keep it uniform for beginners as well as old pageant pros! Free style modeling is allowed. Markings will be in place on the stage in white tape visible to contestants. **Babies under age 11 months MUST be carried. All month old babies MUST have their hand held or can be carried. **Children ages 2 through 5 can walk independently with a chaperone close behind. No carrying of a 2-5 year old. Coaching on or off stage or behind judges tables is NOT allowed. Telling a child age 3 and under to wave or smile is not considered coaching. Coaching is giving complete instruction of a pageant modeling routine and/or doing the routine for your child to mimic. No parents, coaches or makeup artists or hairstylists will be allowed in Hallway Lineup for children ages 10 and up. This helps prevent chaos and keeps the hallway clear for pageant personnel. NO exceptions.

4 BALLROOM ENTRY Contestants DO NOT need a wristband. HOWEVER everyone attending ages 2 and up, including parents must purchase a $20 Wristband to enter the ballroom. Wristband is good for entire weekend. We do not discount if ticket is needed only 1 day. Most pageants charge $20 per day. We charge per weekend. Wristbands may be purchased anytime from pageant personnel stationed at the entrance. PAGEANT PARTY We do ask that all contestants and reigning royalty ages 6 and up attend the party on Saturday evening. This aids in promoting good sportsmanship, citizenship and a chance to meet and greet with new and old pageant friends. However any age contestant can attend. Each contestant is asked to bring 25 goodie bags or individual small gifts to trade with others. Party theme is Sports Teams. Wear your favorite sports t-shirt or jersey. Go all out with your team spirit. We will award 4 trophies at the party for best team spirit. Everyone attending must wear team shirt or jersey to get into the party. Let friends and family attending know. Party is FREE for those wearing team shirt or jersey. Party is $10 if you decide not to wear team shirt or jersey. OPTIONAL CONTESTS Enter at least 4 Door Optional contests of your choice and win the Tx Spirit Award! A lovely medal will be given to those during awards who enter and pay for 4 or more optionals. Each Optional contest is $20. Optionals can be entered for your chance to win another prize on stage during pageant competition. Door optionals are those you pay for at pageant check in. Door optionals are NOT Hostess, Ambassador or Cover Model. OPTIONAL CONTEST DEFINITIONS Fresh Face: No makeup allowed for any age. Hair pulled back out of face. Done in mandatory white shirt, blue denim bottoms of your choice and coordinating shoes. No modeling in this category. Walk up to the only X on stage, stand in your pageant stance, smile and you will be given a cue of Thank you from emcee to walk off stage. Contestant will be onstage at the most 20 seconds. $20. May only enter this competition once. Any age can enter. 4 Overall Winners in 0-3; 4-9; 10-12; 13 and up. Cover Model: This contest ends on April 25, 201 at 5pm for South Texas and May 25 th for North Texas. We are searching for a Cover Model for our Program Book. Can be mailed in or ed to pageant office with entry fee of $20 each. A headshot or waist up shot works best. Can be color or black and white. Book is printed in Black and White. Any age can enter. Photogenic: Each entry is $20 each. No limit on entries. All photos must be 8x10. Black and White or Color. Heashots and Waist up shots work the best. No glitz retouching. Natural type photos. Makeup rules above apply here. All photos must be marked on the back with contestant name and age as of pageant day prior to you coming up to pageant check in desk. If not you will have to go back to the end of the line and wait your turn. Photos will be returned prior to awards. Photos cannot be over 6 months old of contestants age. Any age can enter. 4 Overall Winners in 0-3; 4-9; 10-12; 13 and up.

5 Portfolio: A collection of 5-10 photos in one book or binder. All photos must be 8x10. All of varying looks and clothing styles. Judged as a whole. No glitz retouching. Natural type photos. Makeup rules above apply here. First page inside of binder must be an 8x10 piece of paper with contestant name and age as of pageant day. If paper with info not included portfolio will not be judged and fees not refunded. This can be decorated, typed or neatly handwritten. Portfolio can be decorated. $20. Any age can enter. 4 Overall winners in 0-3; 4-9; 10-12; 13 and up. Talent: A costume and props may be used with coordinating talent. Makeup rules do not apply. We will have a handheld mic and mic stand for your convenience. If music is required please bring music formatted in MP3 audio format on a CD. CD must have only one song on it, cued and ready to go. CD must also be edited to stop where needed. We will not fade out. 2 minutes is the time limit for talent so make sure your CD is the correct timing. CD music must stop on or before that time. We will not fade out for you or cue CD to start time for you. Must bring in 2 CD s. One will be used as a backup should the 1 st not work. Both must be in separate sleeve or jewel case. Both marked with contestant name and age ONLY and type of talent (dance, vocal, etc). These must be turned in at pageant check in. No late drop offs will be permitted. Music must be suitable for all audience members. No vulgar or suggestive lyrics allowed. If singing only background vocals will be allowed on your CD s. We want to hear your voice so please no lead vocals on the CD. Talent of singing or speaking MUST use a microphone. No exceptions. The ballroom is very large and we want judges and spectators to be able to hear the contestant. If performing a dance please no suggestive dance moves in your routine. The stage is carpeted. If you need a dance floor you must supply it. Gymnasts please note the stage is not a fixed stage however a portable stage on risers. Although the stage is safe and secure it is NOT padded. Should you need to bring your gym mats please do so. We do not supply optional flooring. ALL talent competitions must be done on the pageant stage. We will no longer permit talent to be done in a separate area or on the floor. We will post the dimensions of the stage on our message board by the end of $20 each. Ages 1 and up may enter. 4 Overall Winners in 1-3; 4-9; and 13 and up. May enter up to 2 talent competitions. Hostess: Instantly win a State crown and sash by selling ads for our program book. Must sell at least 1 page of ads at $200 each. Deadline for entries below in Hostess Ad Sale section. Any age may enter. Multiple winners. Due to printing costs and timing we will not accept more than 1 page per contestant. Pajama Wear: Show of your favorite pajama wear in this event created especially for ages 5 and under. Pajamas can be custom or off the rack. Hand held props are welcome if it adds to the outfit. Please make sure pajamas are age appropriate. Freestyle modeling. X s will not be on stage. $20 each. May enter up to 2 times. 3 Overall Winners months; 1-2 years; 3-5 years. Runway: Show off your fashion sense in this competition. Think fashion magazines, storefront windows, boutiques, etc. This is freestyle modeling to upbeat music. X s will not be on the stage. Handheld props may be used if it adds to the outfit and theme. May enter up to 2 times. $20 each. Ages 6 and up. 4 overall winners. 6-9; 10-15; 16-19; 20 and up. MINI OPTIONALS. Must enter as a bundle. 1 winner per optional per age division. Judged in Formal Wear. Best Hair, Best Eyes, Best Dressed, Best Personality, Best Smile. $50 for all. Counts as one entry towards Spirit Award.

6 SCHOLARSHIP/CASH PRIZE Cash scholarships are determined on the amount of contestants entered PER age division. Each contestant is REQUIRED to donate $20 for their age division scholarship cash prize fund. The title winner will receive the total amount in the fund at awards. Cash prizes vary per age division. Example 15 in your age division multiplied by $20= $300 cash prize for title winner. EMCEE SHEETS These sheets will be ed to all contestants at least 2 weeks prior to each state competition. Every contestant is required to bring in the sheet marked Mandatory emcee sheet. This is read by our emcee during pageant formal wear, interview and casual wear competitions. We will also provide each contestant with emcee sheets for Fresh Face and Talent should you wish to enter these competitions. Please bring all emcee sheets filled out neatly to pageant check in. PRIZES Division Title Winners: Offical Tx State Pageant Crown, Satin Embroidered Sash, Title for one year, Cash Prize Division Lonestar Title Winners: Official Tx State Pageant Crown, Satin Embroidered Sash, Title for one year. Division Runners Up: 1st-3rd Runner up will receive lovely trophy and Finalist Ribbon Division Honorable Mentions: Will receive a Finalist Ribbon and Rosette Award Ribbon Optional winners will receive a trophy. Kailani Brager Spirit of Pageantry Award winner will receive a tiara and beautiful custom Plaque Cover Model winner will receive a State Crown and Sash and photo on program book cover Hostess winners will receive a State crown and sash. Spirit Award: Gorgeous custom medal to those who enter and pay for 4 or more door optional contests. MORE INFORMATION BELOW. PLEASE SCROLL TO READ.

7 ADVERTISING INFO FOR HOSTESS AWARD ADS FOR HOSTESS AWARD TO NOT PAY FOR PAGEANT ENTRY FEES, OPTIONALS, ETC Win a satin embroidered sash, crown, title at State Pageant! Ad Sizes and Prices: Full Page $200 Half Page $100 Business Card Sizes (10 per page)$20 Contestants selling ads are asked to obtain a business card, logo, letterhead, yellow pages ad, text, or camera ready copy from advertiser to aid yourself in designing the ad or ad page. Contestants must lay out their own ad pages showing how you want the ads printed. You can do these yourselves using PowerPoint, Microsoft word or Paint. Print names clearly. We will no longer design ad pages unless a $75 service charge is added to your order for all ads pages to be designed. Turn in ads and money to pageant office no later than April 25, 2014 to pageant office with ad page, money, and ad record sheet. Do not hold checks longer than 20 days or we will not be able to cash them and you will not receive credit. Business checks MUST BE MADE payable to Tx Choice Pageants. We no longer accept personal checks. Only business checks or money orders payable to Tx Choice Pageants. DO NOT SEND CASH!!!! You can also pay for your completed pages via our website with credit, debit card or PayPal. PLEASE NOTE WE WILL NO LONGER ACCEPT ENTRIES VIA POSTAL MAIL, UPS OR FED EX. MUST BE SENT VIA IN A PDF FILE OR MICROSOFT WORD FILE. However payment can still be mailed for check or money order. PROGRAM BOOK IS PRINTED IN BLACK AND WHITE Prize Awards for Ad Sales: Sell 1 page to win title, sash and crown. Hostess Award is a Separate Title and can have several winners. Ad sales have no bearing on title division winner. So you can win both!! **Pageant office is not responsible for lost or undeliverable s with ads. Please check with office at least 24 hours prior to deadline to make sure we have received your ads. We are not responsible if ads are not printed so please make sure we have them!! We will not contact you for ads. ADS AND MONEY ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE APRIL 22, 2015 All contestants who enter Hostess will have their names put into a drawing for a Nook by Barnes and Noble. Drawing will be held at the pageant party. TEXAS CHOICE PAGEANTS 8111 Mainland, Suite SAN ANTONIO, TX

8 SELL TICKETS TO HELP PAY FOR PAGEANT FEES! Tickets and Money (money order) are due by April 22 nd, 2015 Each Ticket Sells For $5.00 each You may sell Sponsor Tickets to businesses, family or individuals to help pay your Entry Fees and Win Prizes. Buyer need not be present to win. All tickets will be entered in two $50.00 Visa Gift Card Drawings at pageant awards. We will accept tickets and fees by and our website with credit, debit card or paypal. Or you can mail to our office with money order to 8111 Mainland, Suite , San Antonio, PRIZE LIST FOR TICKET SALES Ticket sales do not apply to Hostess Ad Sales, Scholarship Fee, Cover Model or late fees. We do not accept less than 20 tickets. FOR BALANCES OWED: SELL 30 TICKETS: $100 Balance Paid & 1 Ft. Trophy (great if you owe a balance of $100) SELL 35 TICKETS: $100 Balance Paid, 1 Optional Contest and 1 Ft Trophy SELL 40 TICKETS: $100 Balance Paid, 2 Optional Contests and 1 Ft Trophy SELL 50 TICKETS: $100 Balance Paid, 2 Optional Contests, $60 Mini Optionals Bundle and 1 Ft Trophy SELL 65 TICKETS: $100 Balance Paid, 4 Optional Contests, $60 Mini Optionals Bundle and 1 Ft Trophy SELL 140 TICKETS: $100 Balance Paid, 4 Optional Contests, $60 Mini Optionals Bundles, 2 Wristbands, 1 Ft Trophy, Crown and 2 Nights at Hotel (Friday and Saturday) BEST DEAL!! NO BALANCES OWED SELL 20 TICKETS: 2 Optional Contests Paid and 1 Ft Trophy SELL 25 TICKETS: 3 Optional Contests Paid and 1 Ft Trophy SELL 30 TICKETS: 4 Optional Contests Paid and 1 Ft Trophy SELL 40 TICKETS: 4 Optional Contests, $60 Mini Optionals Bundle and 1 Ft Trophy SELL 75 TICKETS: 4 Optional Contests, $60 Mini Optionals Bundle, 2 Wristbands, 1 Ft Trophy and Crown SELL 125 TICKETS: 4 Optional Contests, $60 Mini Optionals Bundle, 2 Wristbands, 1 Ft Trophy, Crown and 2 Nights at Hotel (Friday and Saturday) BEST DEAL! $5.00 SPONSOR DONATION $5.00 SPONSOR DONATION $5.00 SPONSOR DONATION Name Name Name Phone Phone Phone Sold By Sold By Sold By $5.00 SPONSOR DONATION $5.00 SPONSOR DONATION $5.00 SPONSOR DONATION Name Name Name Phone Phone Phone Sold By Sold By Sold By $5.00 SPONSOR DONATION $5.00 SPONSOR DONATION $5.00 SPONSOR DONATION Name Name Name Phone Phone Phone Sold By Sold By Sold By $5.00 SPONSOR DONATION $5.00 SPONSOR DONATION $5.00 SPONSOR DONATION Name Name Name Phone Phone Phone Sold By Sold By Sold By

9 PAGEANT SCHEDULE FOR 2015 TCP TX STATE PAGEANT May 22-24, 2015 FINAL PAGEANT SCHEDULE WILL BE ED ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THE PAGEANT. WILL NOT VARY TOO MUCH FROM THE SCHEDULE BELOW. Friday 4:30pm-7:30pm: Mandatory Pageant Check in for ALL contestants: At this time you will receive your contestant competition number, you may enter optionals, purchase program books, purchase extra door entry wristbands, turn in photos, etc MUST BE in line by 7:30pm. 8:00pm-8:45pm: Optional Fresh Face Competition. Must have already completed pageant check in. 9:00pm-10:00pm: Late pageant check in. A $50 fee will incur for those that use the late check in service. Saturday (line up 10 minutes prior to each competition. No exceptions. You will not compete if not in line) 9:00-9:30am: Mandatory Onstage Intro for Ages :30am-10:00am: Mandatory Onstage Intro for Ages 13 and up 10:30-11:00am: Mandatory Casual Wear for ages 0-23 months 11:00-11:30am: Mandatory Casual Wear for ages 2-5 years 11:30am-12:15pm: Mandatory Formal Wear for Ages :15-12:45pm: Mandatory Formal Wear for Ages 13 and up 2:00-2:30pm: Mandatory Formal Wear for ages 0-23 months 2:30-3:15pm: Mandatory Formal Wear for ages 2-5 years. 3:30-4:15pm: Optional Runway for ages 6 and up. 4:30-5:00pm: Optional Pajama Wear for ages 5 and under. 8:00-9:00pm: Pageant party Sunday 8:30-9:30am: Optional Talent Competition BALLROOM CLOSES 11:30-12:30AM: Awards Ceremony. Ballroom doors open at 11am.