INTRODUCTION
Welcome to SingStrong's ACA-Idol Competition!
Check out The Competitors
Apply to Compete
See the ACA-IDOL Schedule
GOALS
Entertain and educate the audience.
Raise money for charity.
Inspire artistry and creativity.
PRIZE
$1,000.00 in cash or prizes.
FEES TO APPLY
FREE! There is NO FEE to Apply to ACA-IDOL.
FEES TO COMPETE
Each competitor/attendee must purchase ONE of the following PASSES: There are NO additional fees for attendees to compete.
HOW TO ENTER
WHO MAY ENTER
College groups and semi-pro groups welcome! Any group, whose members are 18 or older (age exceptions made with producer approval and parental consent), of (almost) any size, style or composition may enter this contest. Performers may compete in more than one group. Groups will be pre-screened by the producers.
WHO MAY CONDUCT
Most groups do not have a conductor. However, any group may have a director conduct from on, or off-stage, if they desire. However groups who choose to do so should be aware that many judges view conductors as negatively impacting a group’s performance. Only you can decide if the positive musical effects outweigh the potential “detraction” to your group’s performance. Conductors may also speak in between songs if they wish, and they may sing or otherwise contribute musically.
SIZE REQUIREMENTS
Groups may be of any size, from a minimum of just 1 person (such as a live-looper, cantorial singer or overtone singer), up to a maximum limited only by the reasonable restrictions of the performance space as determined by the producers. As a guideline, most stages can easily accommodate a choir of 100 or more. If you wish to bring a group of 25 or more, contact the producers and your group will be accommodated.
TIMING
Groups shall perform for 10 minutes or less.
Timing shall begin with the first deliberate sung or spoken utterance, choreography or blowing of a pitch and shall run continuously through applause and performance until the last deliberate sung or spoken utterance, choreography or blowing of a pitch.
Technical difficulties causing delays will be credited to the performers so that the group receives their originally allotted time.
Groups may use their time to perform as many or as few songs as they wish.
Groups shall not be penalized for ending on time or under time.
Groups may be penalized, or even completely disqualified from winning, for going over their allotted time, at the discretion of the judges.
Groups are advised to plan time for brief applause after each song.
PERFORMANCE ORDER
All competing groups will receive the order in which they are performing on site on the day of performance.
Performance order will be determined at the sole discretion of the producers who may take into account any number of factors in programming including last minute travel emergencies, technical set up requirements and creating an enjoyable and entertaining program order.
JUDGING
Judging shall be accomplished by a panel of qualified judges with appropriate training and experience in a cappella music.
Each judge shall rate each group in terms of its musicality, originality and overall impact.
Each judge shall choose one group as the A Cappella Idol or winner of the event.
The members of the audience shall also each be offered the opportunity to vote for a winner and whoever the majority of them shall choose shall receive one vote which shall be counted equally to the vote of one of the expert judges. The audience shall vote based upon which group they find most appealing, overall.
If a tie shall result, the producer or producer's nominee shall resolve the issue by exercising a tie-breaking vote.
Repertoire and choreography should be appropriate for family audiences. Failure to adhere to this rule may result in penalty or disqualification, at the discretion of the producers.
All performances must be completely a cappella and no instruments or percussion of any kind are permitted, with the exception of pitch pipes or similar devices used solely to generate starting pitches. However, looping technology and effects pedals are permitted with producer approval. If the technology contains any prerecorded material, you must identify this to the producers and receive advance approval.
JUDGES ONLY EXPRESS THEIR OWN OPINIONS
Each judge may comment publicly on the performing groups. These comments may be positive, neutral or negative and may be inflammatory, teasing, uncomfortably direct or otherwise annoying, unpleasant or hurtful. The comments reflect only the opinions of the individual judge making the comments and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any other entity including SingStrong or its producers, affiliates agents, volunteers, staff, partners, etc.
REQUIRED INFORMATION
ACCEPTED groups must complete this form.
A note about introductions and bios. We need a different and interesting intro for each group. Please make yours short, sweet and specific.
JUDGING PROCEDURE
After the completion of each performance, the judges shall give immediate feedback publicly, on mic in front of the audience, to the contestants as they stay on stage.
After the last group performs, the judges will confer with one another privately and each shall exercise one vote towards each award, if there is more than one award. The audience shall also vote for their favorite group. The applicant with the most votes shall be declared the winner at the conclusion of the concert. If there is a tie, then the producer(s) or one of them or their designee shall exercise a tie-breaking power to decide the issue.
The judges are encouraged to be constructive in their comments to the participants, however they are also encouraged to be direct, honest and entertaining.
SOUND
Approximately 24 wireless microphones are typically available at the competition, sometimes more. We also have area mics. Groups may perform on mic or off mic at their discretion. Additional sound equipment, including looping and effects, may be used if approved by the producers.
Requests regarding mixing and effects made to the sound engineer will be honored where possible, including:
1) provide microphone responses of approximately equal volume and NOT to do anything other than utterly essential mixing (stopping feedback for example);
2) enhance bass, vocal percussion, leads; or
3) to “use your best judgment”. In the absence of any contrary instructions, the engineer will be instructed to follow #3.
If a sound check is provided, all groups shall have approximately the same amount of time to sound check, except for groups arriving late who shall have sound checks at the producer's discretion.
Like performance order, sound check order will be determined by the Producers at their sole discretion. Producers typically do not assign soundcheck times until a group has purchased its passes; groups that purchase early get the best time slots.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Judges and performers must disclose to producers in advance, any potential conflicts of interest, which could be reasonably perceived as projecting even the appearance of impropriety.
The following shall not be considered conflicts:
Conflicts of Interest INCLUDE, but are not limited to:
If a judge or competitor believes that a genuine conflict of interest exists, both are under an obligation to make a producer aware of the conflict IN WRITING, on behalf of their ENTIRE GROUP and PRIOR to the event, as early as possible. Anyone participating in the event is deemed to have waived any and all claims or complaints based on conflict of interest if they fail to abide by the complete terms of this agreement.
You must notify us immediately if you or any of your group's members have any family or current business relationship with any SingStrong Inc. officer, director, trustee, judge or our independent contractors or featured artists.
CONDUCT
All participants agree to abide by the highest ethical standards and not to publicly criticize the event judges, producers, staff, decisions or rules of this competition, but instead to direct any statements to the producers in private correspondence.
MERCHANDISE
At the discretion of the producers, groups may sell merchandise immediately following their show. Please notify the producers if your group wishes to sell merchandise. Groups are solely responsible for any taxes or other fees which may be applicable to their sales. SingStrong does not sell merchandise for groups so groups must provide all necessary manpower, security and supervision required to sell their merchandise. SingStrong cannot accept responsibility for holding or safekeeping group merchandise.
ORIGINAL SONGS AND ARRANGEMENTS
An arrangement may be noted as “original arrangement” if prepared by a member of the group.
A song may be noted as "original song" only if written in whole or in part by a member of the group.
PRODUCERS’ DISCRETION
Any open issues, vague or confusing terms, or disagreements of any kind relating to this competition shall be resolved by the producers in their sole discretion and their determination shall be final and binding on all persons.
RIGHTS
By performing and competing, and/or by accepting the benefits of publicity derived from appearing in the event, which all parties agree is of value, and/or by accepting any awards, if any, all participants agree to abide by these TERMS and the rules of the Competition, and that the producer has the following rights in addition to any others which it may have:
The producer and their agents or affiliates may use the name, story, recorded performance and likeness of any group or any of its members or directors or other supporting persons to promote a cappella generally, to promote a cappella or charity events, or to promote any of our programs or materials without any payment to group or members.
The producer may record in analog or digital video, photograph, audio or by any other means, the group and/or its members and support persons for archival, promotional or distribution purposes, whether digital or analog, whereby all proceeds shall be paid to producer, producer's affiliate or partner or a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization.
All participants agree to hold the producers harmless and indemnify them from any and all claims which may arise in connection with their participation in any of producers' events, including but not limited to personal injury, intentional infliction of emotional distress, copyright infringement, trademark infringement, slander and libel.
You agree that even if SingStrong promises you an award of a certain amount or presents your group with a giant check on stage, we may nonetheless honor our agreement to pay you using check, cash, or gift cards, or any combination thereof.
Any portion of this contract which is deemed by a court of competent jurisdiction not to be in compliance with the law shall be modified to the smallest degree necessary to be in legal compliance and all other sections of this agreement shall not be affected thereby.
In the event that this contract is deemed to allow damages to a prevailing plaintiff, these damages shall be limited to a maximum amount equal to the entry fees paid by the competitor/participant. You agree to the TERMS.
RECOMMENDED READING
This article is recommended reading for competitors: Top Ten A cappella Competition Rookie Mistakes
This article is recommended reading for educators: The Role of Competition in A cappella
PROHIBITED PERSONS
Due to IRS regulations, no "interested person" as defined by the IRS and as related to SingStrong or its partners, affiliates or assigns, may compete.
Welcome to SingStrong's ACA-Idol Competition!
Check out The Competitors
Apply to Compete
See the ACA-IDOL Schedule
GOALS
Entertain and educate the audience.
Raise money for charity.
Inspire artistry and creativity.
PRIZE
$1,000.00 in cash or prizes.
FEES TO APPLY
FREE! There is NO FEE to Apply to ACA-IDOL.
FEES TO COMPETE
Each competitor/attendee must purchase ONE of the following PASSES: There are NO additional fees for attendees to compete.
HOW TO ENTER
- APPLY. Just complete our short ACA-IDOL APPLICATION
- ACCEPT. We'll evaluate your materials and email you back to let you know if your group is accepted.
- CONFIRM. Once we ACCEPT you, everyone in your group must purchase passes. Email us so we know you've all purchased your passes. We'll CONFIRM YOU right away! It's that simple! One person can purchase all the Weekend Passes or ClassPasses for everyone in their group, or each person can purchase their own. But remember: your group's spot is NOT confirmed until your group purchases their passes. If you wait to purchase, we may have to give your spot away! We will NOT give you a soundcheck time until you purchase your passes! The best soundcheck time slots go to early purchasers!
WHO MAY ENTER
College groups and semi-pro groups welcome! Any group, whose members are 18 or older (age exceptions made with producer approval and parental consent), of (almost) any size, style or composition may enter this contest. Performers may compete in more than one group. Groups will be pre-screened by the producers.
WHO MAY CONDUCT
Most groups do not have a conductor. However, any group may have a director conduct from on, or off-stage, if they desire. However groups who choose to do so should be aware that many judges view conductors as negatively impacting a group’s performance. Only you can decide if the positive musical effects outweigh the potential “detraction” to your group’s performance. Conductors may also speak in between songs if they wish, and they may sing or otherwise contribute musically.
SIZE REQUIREMENTS
Groups may be of any size, from a minimum of just 1 person (such as a live-looper, cantorial singer or overtone singer), up to a maximum limited only by the reasonable restrictions of the performance space as determined by the producers. As a guideline, most stages can easily accommodate a choir of 100 or more. If you wish to bring a group of 25 or more, contact the producers and your group will be accommodated.
TIMING
Groups shall perform for 10 minutes or less.
Timing shall begin with the first deliberate sung or spoken utterance, choreography or blowing of a pitch and shall run continuously through applause and performance until the last deliberate sung or spoken utterance, choreography or blowing of a pitch.
Technical difficulties causing delays will be credited to the performers so that the group receives their originally allotted time.
Groups may use their time to perform as many or as few songs as they wish.
Groups shall not be penalized for ending on time or under time.
Groups may be penalized, or even completely disqualified from winning, for going over their allotted time, at the discretion of the judges.
Groups are advised to plan time for brief applause after each song.
PERFORMANCE ORDER
All competing groups will receive the order in which they are performing on site on the day of performance.
Performance order will be determined at the sole discretion of the producers who may take into account any number of factors in programming including last minute travel emergencies, technical set up requirements and creating an enjoyable and entertaining program order.
JUDGING
Judging shall be accomplished by a panel of qualified judges with appropriate training and experience in a cappella music.
Each judge shall rate each group in terms of its musicality, originality and overall impact.
Each judge shall choose one group as the A Cappella Idol or winner of the event.
The members of the audience shall also each be offered the opportunity to vote for a winner and whoever the majority of them shall choose shall receive one vote which shall be counted equally to the vote of one of the expert judges. The audience shall vote based upon which group they find most appealing, overall.
If a tie shall result, the producer or producer's nominee shall resolve the issue by exercising a tie-breaking vote.
Repertoire and choreography should be appropriate for family audiences. Failure to adhere to this rule may result in penalty or disqualification, at the discretion of the producers.
All performances must be completely a cappella and no instruments or percussion of any kind are permitted, with the exception of pitch pipes or similar devices used solely to generate starting pitches. However, looping technology and effects pedals are permitted with producer approval. If the technology contains any prerecorded material, you must identify this to the producers and receive advance approval.
JUDGES ONLY EXPRESS THEIR OWN OPINIONS
Each judge may comment publicly on the performing groups. These comments may be positive, neutral or negative and may be inflammatory, teasing, uncomfortably direct or otherwise annoying, unpleasant or hurtful. The comments reflect only the opinions of the individual judge making the comments and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any other entity including SingStrong or its producers, affiliates agents, volunteers, staff, partners, etc.
REQUIRED INFORMATION
ACCEPTED groups must complete this form.
A note about introductions and bios. We need a different and interesting intro for each group. Please make yours short, sweet and specific.
- Example of a good intro: This next group was founded in 1956 and have since won over 50 awards, including the 2020 CARA award for best pop album and the 2019 RARB award for album of the year. Their director this year has a range of 6 octaves, and their tenor lead was a finalist at the 2020 American Idol competition. They promise their audiences bad breakdancing and a dominant seventh chord in every set: From Fontana State University, please welcome the Noodlebonks!
- Example of a bad intro: "The Noodlebonks are State University's premiere singing group. (Every group claims to be the premiere group.) They sing all different styles. (Boring.) They're really excited to be here. (Irrelevant.) They held auditions this fall in Preisler Hall on South Campus and now they have the sixteen best singers on campus! (Yawn.) They make all the sounds with their mouths and other body parts! (Beyond obvious; this is an a cappella festival.) They all have different majors! (Very common). Give it up for State University's number one group, the Noodlebonks! (boast).
JUDGING PROCEDURE
After the completion of each performance, the judges shall give immediate feedback publicly, on mic in front of the audience, to the contestants as they stay on stage.
After the last group performs, the judges will confer with one another privately and each shall exercise one vote towards each award, if there is more than one award. The audience shall also vote for their favorite group. The applicant with the most votes shall be declared the winner at the conclusion of the concert. If there is a tie, then the producer(s) or one of them or their designee shall exercise a tie-breaking power to decide the issue.
The judges are encouraged to be constructive in their comments to the participants, however they are also encouraged to be direct, honest and entertaining.
SOUND
Approximately 24 wireless microphones are typically available at the competition, sometimes more. We also have area mics. Groups may perform on mic or off mic at their discretion. Additional sound equipment, including looping and effects, may be used if approved by the producers.
Requests regarding mixing and effects made to the sound engineer will be honored where possible, including:
1) provide microphone responses of approximately equal volume and NOT to do anything other than utterly essential mixing (stopping feedback for example);
2) enhance bass, vocal percussion, leads; or
3) to “use your best judgment”. In the absence of any contrary instructions, the engineer will be instructed to follow #3.
If a sound check is provided, all groups shall have approximately the same amount of time to sound check, except for groups arriving late who shall have sound checks at the producer's discretion.
Like performance order, sound check order will be determined by the Producers at their sole discretion. Producers typically do not assign soundcheck times until a group has purchased its passes; groups that purchase early get the best time slots.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Judges and performers must disclose to producers in advance, any potential conflicts of interest, which could be reasonably perceived as projecting even the appearance of impropriety.
The following shall not be considered conflicts:
- Judge is affiliated with the same school as a competitor.
- Judge has arranged or composed material for competitor, in the past, even if for a fee.
- Judge is friends with a competitor.
Conflicts of Interest INCLUDE, but are not limited to:
- Any current or expected financial relationship between Judge and Competitor;
- Any current or expected common control or ownership of any entity or property, between Judge and Competitor.
- Any relationship in which BOTH parties would not agree that all significant issues are currently resolved amicably.
- Judge and Competitor are closely related by marriage, adoption or blood.
If a judge or competitor believes that a genuine conflict of interest exists, both are under an obligation to make a producer aware of the conflict IN WRITING, on behalf of their ENTIRE GROUP and PRIOR to the event, as early as possible. Anyone participating in the event is deemed to have waived any and all claims or complaints based on conflict of interest if they fail to abide by the complete terms of this agreement.
You must notify us immediately if you or any of your group's members have any family or current business relationship with any SingStrong Inc. officer, director, trustee, judge or our independent contractors or featured artists.
CONDUCT
All participants agree to abide by the highest ethical standards and not to publicly criticize the event judges, producers, staff, decisions or rules of this competition, but instead to direct any statements to the producers in private correspondence.
MERCHANDISE
At the discretion of the producers, groups may sell merchandise immediately following their show. Please notify the producers if your group wishes to sell merchandise. Groups are solely responsible for any taxes or other fees which may be applicable to their sales. SingStrong does not sell merchandise for groups so groups must provide all necessary manpower, security and supervision required to sell their merchandise. SingStrong cannot accept responsibility for holding or safekeeping group merchandise.
ORIGINAL SONGS AND ARRANGEMENTS
An arrangement may be noted as “original arrangement” if prepared by a member of the group.
A song may be noted as "original song" only if written in whole or in part by a member of the group.
PRODUCERS’ DISCRETION
Any open issues, vague or confusing terms, or disagreements of any kind relating to this competition shall be resolved by the producers in their sole discretion and their determination shall be final and binding on all persons.
RIGHTS
By performing and competing, and/or by accepting the benefits of publicity derived from appearing in the event, which all parties agree is of value, and/or by accepting any awards, if any, all participants agree to abide by these TERMS and the rules of the Competition, and that the producer has the following rights in addition to any others which it may have:
The producer and their agents or affiliates may use the name, story, recorded performance and likeness of any group or any of its members or directors or other supporting persons to promote a cappella generally, to promote a cappella or charity events, or to promote any of our programs or materials without any payment to group or members.
The producer may record in analog or digital video, photograph, audio or by any other means, the group and/or its members and support persons for archival, promotional or distribution purposes, whether digital or analog, whereby all proceeds shall be paid to producer, producer's affiliate or partner or a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization.
All participants agree to hold the producers harmless and indemnify them from any and all claims which may arise in connection with their participation in any of producers' events, including but not limited to personal injury, intentional infliction of emotional distress, copyright infringement, trademark infringement, slander and libel.
You agree that even if SingStrong promises you an award of a certain amount or presents your group with a giant check on stage, we may nonetheless honor our agreement to pay you using check, cash, or gift cards, or any combination thereof.
Any portion of this contract which is deemed by a court of competent jurisdiction not to be in compliance with the law shall be modified to the smallest degree necessary to be in legal compliance and all other sections of this agreement shall not be affected thereby.
In the event that this contract is deemed to allow damages to a prevailing plaintiff, these damages shall be limited to a maximum amount equal to the entry fees paid by the competitor/participant. You agree to the TERMS.
RECOMMENDED READING
This article is recommended reading for competitors: Top Ten A cappella Competition Rookie Mistakes
This article is recommended reading for educators: The Role of Competition in A cappella
PROHIBITED PERSONS
Due to IRS regulations, no "interested person" as defined by the IRS and as related to SingStrong or its partners, affiliates or assigns, may compete.