2007 Official Rules

“Lakeshore’s Rising Stars!”
2007 Talent Competition Official Rules (As of April 1st, 2007)


The Competition. The “Lakeshore’s Rising Stars!” Talent Competition (which will be referred to as the “Competition” in these rules) is owned, produced and managed by EdgeStar Media, LLC (which will be referred to as the “Producers” in these rules.)

Eligibility. To be eligible for the Competition, contestants must: (a) be at least 16 years of age on or before Saturday, June 16th, 2007; (b) be a Wisconsin resident for at least 6 months before Saturday, June 16th, 2007; (c) not be under a national recording or performing contract on Saturday, June 16th, 2006 and one year after that date with any other agency besides EdgeStar Media, LLC. For the purposes of these rules, “Wisconsin resident” includes: (a) persons who currently reside in Wisconsin, (b) persons who resided in Wisconsin prior to attending an educational institution outside of Wisconsin, and (c) persons who attend an educational institution within Wisconsin while maintaining a home residence in another state. Contestants agree that they will not compete in any vocal talent competition during the Competition or for a period of three months after the finale of the Competition. Contestants who are under the age of 18 will require the consent of a parent or legal guardian. Employees of the Producers and Sponsors and their immediate family members are not eligible. All Contestants must submit a completed entry form, which includes a release of liability.

How To Enter. To enter the Competition, you must register as a Contestant and pay the entry fee before auditions, which will be held on Saturday, June 16th and Sunday, June 17th 2007 at the Capitol Civic Centre in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Contestants who pre-register on or before Friday, May 31st, 2007 will receive a confirmation number by email. Contestants who do not receive a confirmation number within two weeks of pre-registration must contact the Producer, or their pre-registration will be deemed to be invalid. If spaces are available, contestants may also register the day of auditions at the Capitol Civic Centre.

Number of Contestants. The Competition is open to 500 Contestants, and the available audition spots will be awarded first to pre-registered Contestants on a first-come, first-serve basis, and then to Contestants registering at the auditions on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Entry Fee. The entry fee for pre-registered Contestants is $15.00 and is due when Contestants mail in their registration forms. For Contestants registering the day of auditions, their fee is $20.00. When writing a check, please make it payable to WOMT Radio with “LRS Registration” written in the memo line. The entry fee is non-refundable.

Auditions. Contestants will perform a song of their choice solo and a cappella style before an audition judge and, in some cases an audience. Each audition performance will generally be approximately thirty to sixty seconds long, although the audition judge may terminate the audition at any time. Contestants should come prepared with three songs, in case an audition judge asks for an additional performance.

Judging of Auditions. Contestants will be judged based upon their vocal performance and stage presence. The audition judges will reduce the field of Contestants during successive rounds of auditions, culminating in the selection of 10 Contestants during Round 4 on Sunday, June 17th, 2007 as the Finalists who will participate in the Competition Performances.

Competition Performances. The Finalists will compete each week from June 23rd, 2007 and to August 22nd, 2007. During the Competition Performances, each Finalist will be judged based upon their vocal performance, stage presence and overall entertainment to the judges and fans. Attendance by Finalists at all Rehearsals and Competition Performances is absolutely mandatory. The schedule of Rehearsals and Competition Performances is subject to changes, which will be announced as early as possible.

Judging of Competition Performances. The winners of the Competition Performances will be determined by a point system upon points awarded by a panel of judges and fan voting at the performance site and at announced sponsor locations. Fans must vote on official voting forms. The Finalist with the lowest amount of points each week will be eliminated.

Song Selection. Finalists will have to select songs for performances from a list of available songs provided by the Producers. The Competition Music Director and Producers have the right to change the song selection of a Finalist at any time.

Attendance at Competition Performances, Additional Performances, and Rehearsals. Each Finalist will be required to attend all rehearsals and weekly Competition Performances until they are eliminated. If a Finalist is more than 5 minutes late for a rehearsal or Competition Performance, that Finalist may, in the discretion of the Producers, be eliminated from the Competition.

All Finalists, regardless of their elimination, must be available to perform and attend scheduled rehearsals for the following Additional Performances: the Finale show (and the two Finale rehearsals); the performance at the Manitowoc County Fair either on Friday, August 24th or Saturday, August 25th (with a rehearsal on either Thursday, August 23rd and/or Friday, August 24th); the 2007 Encore Show (tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, December 16, 2007 (with scheduled rehearsals). The Producer reserves the right to select performers for these additional performances.

Recording and Broadcasting of Auditions, Rehearsals and Competition Performances. Contestants consent to the audio and video recording of their Auditions, Rehearsals and Competition Performances, and they consent to the broadcast, webcast or any other public display, transmission or public distribution or sale of recordings of their Auditions, Rehearsals and Competition Performances without any compensation from any party.

Ethics, Morals and Sportsmanship. By entering the Competition, Contestants consent to a possible background investigation by the Producers. The Competition is intended for and will be presented to an all-ages audience and all auditions and performances must be appropriate for such an audience. Good sportsmanship and positive attitudes will be expected of everyone involved in the Competition. The Producers reserve the right to disqualify any Contestant and to stop any performance if, in the Producers sole discretion: the inclusion of the Contestant in the Competition will adversely affect the reputation of the Competition, its sponsors, or the Producers; if any performance, costume or behavior by the Contestant is not appropriate for an all-ages audience; or the Contestant displays poor sportsmanship or otherwise disrupts or interferes with the successful completion of the Competition.

Prizes. The prizes for the Competition are:


1st Place = $10,000.00
2nd Place = $3,000.00
3rd Place = $2,000.00
4th Place = $1,000.00
5th Place = $500.00
6th Place = $300.00
7th Place = $250.00
8th Place = $200.00
9th Place = $150.00
10th Place = $100.00


Each Finalist will also receive 2 Season Tickets to “Lakeshore’s Rising Stars! 2007,” with an estimated value of $300.00.

Each Finalist will be paid on August 22nd, 2007 after the finale is concluded.

Taxes and Expenses. All expenses relating to a Contestant’s participation in the Contest or to the acceptance of any prize, including any taxes on prizes, are solely the responsibility of the Contestant. No other compensation, benefit or award is provided to the Contestants. No transportation, lodging, food or apparel is provided to Contestants.

General Conditions. Each Contestant must complete an official entry form. By entering the Competition, each Contestant agrees to abide by the terms of these Official Rules and by the decisions of the Judges and the Producers, which are final and binding on all matters pertaining to the Competition. These Official Rules are subject to change at any time at the Producers’ sole and absolute discretion. The Producers may disqualify any Contestant who make false or misleading statements on the entry form or who violates these Official Rules. The Competition is governed by the laws of the United States. All applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.

Contestants grant to the Producers the right to use and publish their name, likeness and biography online, in print, and in any other medium in connection with the Competition and its promotion and advertising. During the Competition, Contestants shall not speak to the media about the Competition, or their own participation in the Competition, without the express consent of the Producers. Finalists agree to make themselves reasonably available for media appearances, at the direction of the Producers, during the Competition and in the week preceding any additional performances.

No Contestant may use the name “Lakeshore’s Rising Stars!” or the Competition logo in connection with any form commercial promotion without the express written permission of the Producers.

EdgeStar Media, LLC has the option to sign any Finalist to an exclusive 6-month booking contract at the conclusion of the Competition.

Contestants release and hold harmless the Producers, the Capitol Civic Center, Seehafer Broadcasting, WOMT / WQTC Radio, and each of their parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents and insurers from any and all liability or any injuries, loss, damage or expense of any kind arising from or in connection with participation in this Competition or with any prize won.

Contestants must comply with all rules imposed by the Capitol Civic Centre. No weapons, alcohol or non-prescriptive controlled substances are permitted in the Capitol Civic Centre during the Competition.

Difficulties Beyond the Control of the Producers. If the Competition cannot be completed for any reason beyond the control of the Producers, including changes in availability of facilities, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, or technical failures, the Producers reserve the right at their sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Competition.

The Producers assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction of unauthorized access to, or alteration of, any email to the Producers or to any pre-registration or entries in the Competition.

Questions. For any questions regarding these rules or the Competition, please contact:

EdgeStar Media, LLC
Attn: “Lakeshore’s Rising Stars!” Producers
3730 Mangin Street | PO Box 1385
Manitowoc, Wisconsin 54221-1385
(920) 682-0351 Office
(920) 682-1008 Fax