Talent - 300 Points Possible Per Judge

(7 minute time limit)

Showmanship and Set Design 0-60 points
Choreography (Physical Coordination & Stage Presence Including Dancers) 0-80 points
Quality (Lip-Sync, Live Vocal, and/or Other Entertainment) 0-80 points
Value (of Presentation as Entertainment) 0-80 points

Talent is the highest point category in the pageant.  Contestants will be judged on their quality of lip-sync, live vocal, or other entertainment.  Judges will be looking to see if the contestant knows the words to their song and judging the quality of their pantomime.  Just knowing the words is not enough.  The contestant should also look as if he/she is actually singing the song.  Is it believable?  If it is a live performance, is the talent good quality?  If there is choreography, the everyone should know the steps and be in sync with one another.  Do not attempt to do something that is beyond your talent.  If you use dancers or actors in your presentation, do not let them upstage or out dance you.  You are responsible for their performance as well.  If someone in your talent does not know his/her part, points will be deducted from your score.  Quality of set design and construction will be judged.  Quantity of set is not judged.  Do not put something on the stage you are not going to use or is not relevant to your talent.  Contestants are responsible for their sets.  If it falls apart or falls down on stage, points will be deducted from your score. (Note: Contestants have 7 minutes total for their talent presentation and 3 minutes for set up, and 3 minutes for tear down of props.)  Costuming and set design should reflect the mood you are trying to establish and be appropriate for the type of music you are performing.  Always examine your presentation for entertainment value.  Does it please, cause laughter, sadness, or stir some other emotion?  Is it exciting, dramatic, beautiful, visually appealing?  Music must be on a high quality CD-R and must be the only item burned onto the CD and should be labeled Talent Contestant #___.

Solo Talent - 100 Points Possible Per Judge

(3 minute time limit)

Choreography & Appearance (Physical Coordination, Stage Presence, Costuming) 0 - 30 points
Quality (Lip-Sync, Live Vocal, and/or Other Entertainment) 0 - 30 points
Entertainment Value 0 - 40 Points

Short talent showcases your ability to perform without the aid of visual enhancements, such as props or dancers. Contestants will be judged under the same guidelines as the full-length talent (see TALENT description) presentation as it relates to the subcategories listed above. Solo Talents will not exceed three (3) minutes in length. Any Solo talent exceeding the three-minute limit will be scored with a ZERO. NO FIRE OR PYROTECHNICS WHATSOEVER! No dancers or any other person will be permitted in your presentation. No props such as backdrops, furniture, or freestanding items such as microphone stands will be allowed. Small handheld accessories such as microphones, scarves, musical instruments, puppets, batons, etc. are permitted, but cannot be put down onto the stage. Costuming may be utilized in the presentation to enhance the visual effect. Costumes should relate to the presentation or theme of the talent and be in good condition. Items such as headdresses, rip-away costumes, etc. may be used but must be removed from stage by the contestant at the end of their number.  Solo Talent presentations must be a different musical selection from the full-length Talent presentation and may not be an abbreviated version of the full-length Talent. You may do the same type of presentation for both talents (i.e. dance, illusion, live vocal) provided the music is not the same song. Music must be on a high quality CD-R and must be the only item burned onto the CD and should be labeled Solo Talent Contestant #___. Contestants will be judged on their quality of lip-sync, live vocal, or other entertainment. Judges will be looking to see if the contestant knows the words to their song and the quality of their pantomime.  Just knowing the words is not enough. The contestant should also look as if he/she is actually singing the song. Is it believable? If it is a live performance, is the talent good quality? If there is choreography, you should know the steps and the steps should flow. Do not attempt to do something that is beyond your talent. Costuming should reflect the mood you are trying to establish and be appropriate for the type of music you are performing.  Always examine your presentation for entertainment value and appropriateness. Does it please, cause laughter, sadness, or stir some other emotion, and is it of a quality that Miss Gay Indiana would perform at an appearance or preliminary?

Evening Gown - 150 Points Possible Per Judge

Suitability of Evening Gown 0-30 Points
Suitability of Hairstyle 0-20 Points
Presentation (Modeling Techniques, Poise, Smile, etc.) 0-40 Points
General Appearance (Make-Up, Shoes, Gown Condition, Accessories) 0-60 Points

Evening Gown should be the most elegant outfit you will wear during the pageant.  It should complement the contestant's figure.  It will be a statement of the contestant's style and taste.  The dress and accessories should be in perfect condition.  No strings should be anywhere on the dress (this includes sleeves, neckline, hem, along the zipper, or at any seam).  There shouldn't be any tears on any part of the fabric.  The dress should be stain free and wrinkle free.  It is the contestant's responsibility to take care of the gown and keep the gown in perfect condition for the duration of the pageant.  The hem of the gown should be even unless the style of the gown is an uneven bottom.  The gown should be lined or have a slip underneath.  The judges should not be able to see through any part of the gown unless that is the style of the gown.  The gown length should be either to the top of the toe of their shoe or approximately 1/2 inch above the floor.  There should be no break in the hem of the gown (it should hang straight.)  The sleeve should be no shorter than the wrist and no longer than an inch below the wrist unless the design of the gown sleeve is longer.  Jewelry should compliment and not be over-powering.  A beaded gown doesn't need anything more than earrings to complement the look.  Shoes must be worn and should match and compliment the gown.  Shoes should not be scuffed, or show any signs of wear.  Modeling should be a slow easy pace, touching the three points that form a triangle.  If a judge wants a closer look he/she can motion the contestants to the judge's table.  At each point the contestant will make a slow turn, facing the back of the stage, pause, and turn to the front of the stage. Do not point out accessories or features of the gown while the description is being read.  The judges will be listening to the description and noting any features.  Practice turning and walking in the shoes you will be wearing during this presentation.  Hair should be appropriate for evening wear and go with the style of gown.  Hair should not be un-kept, and should not be frizzy unless style warrants.  Proper hairlines should be styled into the wigs. 

On Stage Question - 50 Points Possible Per Judge

Scoring should be based on personality and poise, the ability to communicate on a microphone in front of an audience, and the context of the answer in relations to the topic given.  This category will only apply to the top five finalists. 

Platform Presentation - 50 Points Possible Per Judge

This category is where each of the contestants will introduce themselves to the judges and audience as well as explain what their platform would be if chosen as the next Miss Gay Indiana.  Their platform should focus on our mission statement and community involvement in HIV/AIDS outreach programs and services.  Scoring will be based on personality, poise, ability to communicate, and how their platform coincides with our mission statement for GLP.

GLP Mission Statement

Male Interview - 150 Points Possible Per Judge

General Appearance 0-20 Points
Personality 0-30 Points
Ability to Communicate 0-50 Points
Answer Content 0-50 Points

The contestant will be asked to answer different types of questions, in order to convey to the judges his ability to speak professionally, communicate his thoughts, and confidence in doing so.  The context of the answer is important but more important is how the contestant conveys that answer.  Eye contact with all the judges is very important, not just the judge who asked the question. Answer the judges' questions and do not get involved in getting the opinion of the judge.  You are being judged on the presentation of your thoughts.  The contestant should dress comfortably in properly fitted attire, preferably a suit.  Think of this as a job interview.  Points will be deducted for ill-fitting jackets, pants too long or short, socks that do not match the colors in the outfit, scuffed shoes, too much jewelry, wrinkled, torn, or soiled clothing, buttons missing, an/or anything that distracts from the outfit to make it unsightly.  The contestant is judged on the look he has chosen for himself.  Usually, trendy outfits do not appeal to the judges, just as they would not appeal to the average interviewer.  The look should be classic but sharp in appearance.  The contestant will be trying to impress and appeal to different types of judges.  The flamboyant look will not appeal to every type of judge.