KARAOKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS team USA

Cover

This will return you to the top of this document. Page breaks have been inserted at each of these content items to facilitate printing. The background saucer image is a 3D ray traced image rendered from code written by myself (F. Davies). Fair use is granted to you without cost in relation to this contest. (You may use our works to promote this contest in general.)

Introduction

For those who have never heard of the KWC (Karaoke World Champions) competition, or don't know what karaoke really is.

Purpose

This document is intended to assist those who may be interested in sponsoring a portion of the prizes, to evaluate our intentions. This document is intended to help hopstss and sponsors by providing a physical exhibit to include with requests for sponsorship to their local businesses.

Scope

Basic facts and figures about the contest and our involvement.

Current Environment

The irons in the fire are heating nicely thank you! We have recieved an excelent tutorial from England which blueprints their methods which have resulted in great success and a tv series on the BBC network. Our rules are all in place and contests have been held. We are still filling hosting positions and are receiving requests for information daily. The contest has been reported on by CNN Headline News.

Alternatives

The mini contest to the mega championships and how we intend to handle growth.

Project Plan

Our time line for planing and running the contest, the structure and organization and procedures we will use.

Costs

Advertising, promotional expenses, hosting, event fees and more.

Benefits

Profit, exposure, fun, the benefits vary with the level of participation.

Summary

Our conclusions regarding this feasibility report and what is being done now.

Management Summary

A very quick overview for prospective sponsors and hosts.

Supporting Documents

The KWC (Karaoke World Champions) competition has been held for several years in Finland.
The contest has the support of the Finland Prime Minister and this year, they have extended invitations worldwide to join them and compete.

We have replied to their invitation with the suggestion of making this an organized annual event, and (our) managing the USA portion.
KWC has concurred with our suggestion and now seeks a management team for each nation and, made us the official USA management team.) Seven other nations are now participating.
Our duty is organize, invent, plan, and oversee the selection of two (male and female) singers and send them to Finland to represent the United States in the KWC competition. There are no restriction placed on how we may proceed, charge, delegate or co-brand our events, and we have complete freedom.

A website is now in place, and procedures have been created to handle the many aspects of this competition. We are currently accepting applications for hosts and actively seeking sponsors.

The complete KWCUSA Contest Rules and operational procedures are now formalized. (August 2002.)

KWCUSA will directly supervise all hosts involved. All management duties will be with KWCUSA.

Each host will have the authority needed to conduct the tournaments properly.

This document is intended to give potentates the ability to present a properly prepared report on the comparative feasibilities involved without having to research further. It should be supplemented by information on the particular entity presenting it. (I.e. Joe's Karaoke may seek a sponsor and use this document to do so, but, Joe's Karaoke should add their own documents pertaining to their business to round out the package.)

The purpose of the KWCUSA contest is:

• excitement for the contestants.
  
• amusement for the audience.
  
• variety for the venues and clubs.
  
• adventure for the winners.
  
• exposure for the hosts.
  
• advertising for the sponsors.
  
• pride for the USA.
  

This document will serve us at the national level and may be used at all levels down through and including the local preliminary contest hosts.

The KWC contest is now a world wide phenomenon. The scope of the KWCUSA portion is limited to the United States and it territories and possessions.

Hosts are granted the authority to co-brand their materials such as all KWCUSA contest forms, advertising, websites, souvenir accessories or other material as related to the contest. They may independently reach agreements with sponsors to do so. This report is intended for presentation by hosts to potential sponsors for their consideration.

Hosts are not required to submit proceeds from this co-sponsoring and may keep the entire proceeds of their transaction, independent of KWCUSA.

Hosts may likewise charge a fee to the club etc. or use the contest as a perk in their advertising.

All will respect the logos, slogans and other advertising which may be included in the materials and forms presented to them. National sponsors shall see their mark as they expect at the local level. Advertising is not to be removed in cloning the presented materials on any level, including regional, state, and any more localized divisions.

This contest will be an annual event and there is no stated intent to limit the number of years it may run.

There are many karaoke contests held each year in the United States. This contest is intended to merge politely with these existing contests.
The many smaller contests will gain from this merger in the way of co-branding and sponsorships by awarding their winners the right to compete in their local KWCUSA finals competitions.

2002.03.05 Inception date of this KWCUSA management project.

2002.03.11 E.T.'s Cosmic Karaoke & DJ of Olympia WA is selected as sponsor of the official website for the KWCUSA contest in return for advertising and links, and the KWCUSA contest site is placed online.

2002.04.21 The KWCUSA website is online with comments page, regional map pages (+10), this report (a supplemental page to the contest forms page), a contest rules page , in addition to the main KWCUSA contest page.

The KWCUSA website is registered with rsac.org (Recreational Software Advisory Counsel) for the content of our pages, and the site has been submitted to the major search engines under the correct classifications by hand. A counter is in place on each page and there is a system of four rotating opinion poll questionnaires operational on the first page. There is a feedback form on most pages which serves a variety of communication purposes, and a means to email the page directly to an associate (for use by visitors.) A webring has been created for the KWCUSA contest.

The World headquarters in Finland has placed a link to this site to direct all KWCUSA inquires to us, and we have provided links back for the visitors from other countries who may be interested in participation also.

We are receiving response from our national karaoke community indicating an interest in regards to; regional and state hosting positions.

2002.06.18 The KWCUSA website has received in excess of 1000 visitors.

2003.08.02 The KWCUSA website has received in excess of 18,000 visitors.

A YahooGroup (kwcusa) has been established to facilitate communication with those who are 'signing up'.

The site is also a participant in the MicroSoft LinkExchange program. This KWCUSA web site has been submitted and entered into the search engine data bases.

Norway and England have announced that; they will participate in the Karaoke World Contest in Finland, and it would appear that the contest is gaining momentum from the USA participation.

Of visitors, Several hundred have signed up with the KWCUSA Yahoo Group. Twenty percent of these are interested in hosting a contest and a couple have shown interest in hosting a region, with others inquiring about county or state or city hosting. Several have venues to offer. A check on airline ticket prices puts the goal at $3000 to enable the contest winners to make the trip to Finland. At 50%, and at $20 per contestant, this would require 300 contest entries and at the current averaged rate (linear), will be reached in December 2002. Thus this contest is now deemed to be feasible in terms of generating enough interested participants to cover the cost of the trip being awarded to the two KWCUSA finalists.

A major advertising co-sponsor has not yet been aired.

A time line will be presented here showing the critical dates and paths relating to the contest and it's operation.

At present, there are a few target dates:

• July 27^th 2002
  End of this years competition.
  
  
• August 1^st, 2002
  USA competitions to begin.
  
  
• July 23^rd, 2003
  Contest starts in Finland.
  
  

The following is a tentative flow of events. However, this is not yet presented as a critical path time line as many of these will be concurrent and ongoing processes.

1. Planing and promotion.
1. Create initial structures (website and contacts.)
2. Receive feedback and interest in participation.
3. Research; including that based on feedback.
4. Update KWCUSA website, reports, tentative Contest Rules etc.
2. Execution and management.
1. Establish regional teams (10).
1. Provide them with the tools needed (such as this report itself.)
2. Provide continuing assistance.
3. Track their progress and report publicly via. KWCUSA website.
2. Establish state teams (5 per region.)
1. Provide them with the tools needed (again including this report.)
2. Provide continuing assistance.
3. Track their progress and report publicly via. regional website.
3. Contact karaoke firms and venues and hosts within states.
1. Provide them with the tools needed (including this report.)
2. Provide continuing assistance.
3. Track their progress and report publicly via. state website.
4. Prepare and plan state semi-finals and state final contests.
5. Prepare and plan state final contests.
4. Local hosts incorporate contests into their regular event planning.
1. Provide potential sponsors with information including this report.
2. Prepare and plan individual preliminary contests.
3. Track their progress and report publicly via. state website.
5. Begin the local preliminary contests using local hosts. (August)
6. Conduct the local final contests. (December)
7. Conduct the semi-final events within states. (January and February)
8. Conduct state finals.(March)
(The exact timing of some of these events may be adjusted by the Regional and State hosts to accommodate the differing number of participants.)
9. Conduct regional finals.(April)
10. Conduct KWCUSA finals.(May)
11. Report winner names to Finland, and make arrangements. (June 2003)
12. Send winners (2) to the KWC finals in Finland. (July 2003)

For the sponsor, the benefit is increased awareness of their name and logo.
A variety of means are available and essentially unlimited. Among them are:

• Links to sponsor's site from the contest pages.
• Logos placed on advertising media such as posters.
• Logos placed on contest forms.
• Other co-sponsored advertising such as radio, magazine, newspaper etc.
• Prizes carrying the sponsors brand name.
• Co-branded souvineer items such as T-shirts and mugs.

For the hosts, the benefits are:

• Increased awareness of their name and logo.
• Increased site traffic from links of participants.
• Prestige of being associated with the KWC contest.
• Co-sponsored advertising and souvineers.
• Incorporation of their existing events.
• Increased cash flow and sales including sponsorships advertising sales and a small portion of the entry fees earmarked for their retention and use.

For the singing participants, the benefits are:

• The thrill of competition.
• The adventure of doing something new.
• The pleasure of singing.
• The education of being critiqued.
• Focus in their karaoke life, by providing a structure which links them to the world community.
• The opportunity to demonstrate their skill to a wider audience.
• The chance to win titles and compete in the Karaoke World Contest in Finland for their prizes and title of Karaoke World Champions.

For the venue:

• The honor and prestige of hosting part of an international competition.
• Increased exposure and awareness.
• Lasting impressions of there establishments left in the minds of their patrons.
• The education of being critiqued.
• Focus in their karaoke life, by providing a structure which links them to the world community.
• Possible increased revenue due to promotional advertising.
• Growth as these events become well known year after year.

For the sponsor interested in exposure this may be an interesting and unusual advertising venture which has the potential of being perpetual and is flexible in its nature.

From an initial base of zero cost, this contest is now represented online with a central USA site and can be administered as a grass roots organization with minimal entry fees for contestants without additional cost. Thus the assurance is made that the contest will not be abandoned due to lack of funding.

The popularity of singing contests suggests that there may be ample turnout to award prizes including the trip for the winners to Finland to compete representing the USA. A minimal figure of 20 entries from each state at $5 per entry (represents only a portion of the actual entry fee) yields $5,000 which will cover this travel expense and lodging prize for our (2) winners.

We commit to returning 50% of the entry fee back to the contestants through prizes which will first include travel expenses for regional or state contest winners, and our sponsors products and services including co-branded KWCUSA souvenir items.

Current estimate of participants is 1000 per week when the karaoke community becomes fully informed and confident. As there are several t.v. shows already using singing contests as their theme we hope to be able to incorporate their participants through their current events into our contest. (There are currently 58 million t.v. viewers watching karaoke weekly.)

USA map colored to show the ten regional divisions.

         
Blank KWCUSA Business cards for use by contest personnel.

Cover artwork, 3D Ray tracing used for the background of the contest pages.

KWC World Headquarters in Finland

NHK Japan

Sample entry form

Sample Contest Certificate

US Gov. stats on business (pdf document.)

US Gov. stats on entertainment businesses (pdf document.)