Miss Marcella hosted our first year's finals on her very first night hosting for E.T.'s Cosmic Karaoke & DJ. A little nervous that first year, she now has gained the experience and a raw enthusiasm for hosting
contests. She requested to remain KWCUSA's official National Hostess. KWCUSA is pleased to have
Miss Marcella handle our USA finals event in the coming years. She will not be hosting a KWCUSA tournament of her own but instead focus on the annual USA final KWCUSA event. E.T. is pleased to
have her take over his position as the USA finals host.
You can help to build
the KWCUSA Prize Fund
by donating any amount
through PayPal.
This goes to our finalists
as travel (or cash.)
(c. If you
wish to donate to the contest's
management and offer extended
support, contact us.
directly with your proposal.
Judges
Judges at 2005 USA finals.
Three judges returned from last year...
Bob "Mad Dog" Johnson
miss paula
James White
...were joined by...
Washington State Rep. Jim Dunn, who graciously volunteered to give up two of his evenings when someone mentioned the word microphone. Actually, Rep. Jim Dunn actually has an interesting musical backgound and was friends with Elvis.
Judges at 2004 USA finals.
James White
Guitarist having performed with Elvis and the Legends, Bo Skags, Emmy Lou Harris and others.
Bob "Mad Dog" Johnson
Performing musician most recently as bassist for the "Rainier Movers".
miss paula
Jazz singer, model, and actress now residing on her horse ranch near Olympia and teaching at her...
"Miss Paula's Arts and Music Studio"
Tim Prelwitz
Performer for 25 years, and currently engineer for Little Rock Recording Studios.
Press
Yelm karaoke singer "Doogle" and Spin Reporter Ben Kaplan relaxing after 2003 finals.
Radio
Follow Miss Marcella's lead and march right down to your local radio station and ask if they would like to have an interview with you concerning KWCUSA contests.
Make sure to be prepared by bringing flyers and other information.
Like Miss Marcella, you should arrive a little early for your interview with your favorite radio DJ, ...even if it makes you a little nervous waiting for your first radio interview to start.
As you can see, Miss Marcella's interview with "Sunny" 102.1 FM's Rhys Davis in Aberdeen turned out to be a lot of fun! (It will be aired on Monday morning Sept. 17.)
FM 102.1's DJ Rhys Davis rhys@sunny1021.com stopped by Aberdeen's Route 101 Bar & Grill later that evening at Miss Marcella's sing-vitation and became part of the story she was writing for theNW Karaoke and Entertainment guide on Dave's Karaoke at the Route 101 Bar & Grill.
Flyers! Click below to view then print.
Click below to view then print.
Flyers to show other hosts.
Full Color (1 page) Flyer
Black and White version
Flyers for singers.
Full Color (1 page) Flyer
Black and White version
Awards
Contestant's Prize Fund...
Out first place finalists share the KWCUSA Prize Fund
(50% of all entry fees) in the form of air fare to world finals or they will split the prize fund
as a cash award (if the fund is less than required to cover the cost of the trip.)
From KWCUSA...
KWCUSA will also award original trophies to first second and third place male and female finalists.
Sponsors contribute additional prizes...
Our top finalists will also receive a Fresh Flower Card
Compliments of FreshFlowerCard.com
Our first place finalists will also receive a complete training program for the full voice.
This double CD includes:- "A live vocal lesson" plus a "Complete vocal training program" with Hollywood's"Top Vocal Coach", British Vocal Consultant "Jon Dunmore Sinclair". And a live (or internet) vocal consultation.
Compliments of
Jon Sinclair SingClear.com
Helping others
KWCUSA USA Finals Hostess Miss Mare cella has contacted NW Harvest, and
there will be a canned food donation box at our USA National Finals. Everyone attending is encouraged
to donate as the enter. If you represent a charity which would like to do something similar please contact the host nearest you. You can find them by clicking on REGIONAL MAP and then clicking
on your region from that page.
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KWCUSA 2005 Finals were held on Friday May 27 and Saturday May 28, 2005 at Nickelby's Restaurant in Tumwater, WA.
National Team Members Information
USA Team Members are reminded that they may need a passport if headed overseas. http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html
Requirements
Lodging
Transportation
Contacts
Press and Media
Fundraising
All singers present at Nationals.
If you sang at Nationals this year, then you are invited to continue
on as part of our American Karaoke Team. Your are responsible for a
number of things, or requirements if you choose to advance now to the
Karaoke World Contest, represnting the United States.
Requirements:
- Have fun. If any of this process fails to be an entertaining,
challenging, educating, amusing or otherwise good experience then
it's not worth it. At world finals, treat the singers of the other nations
as you did fellow Regional Finalists at Nationals, ...as fellow karaoke
singers. Encourage them with the applause you had for others at Nationals
and make KWC a success by really participating in the scene. Make it fun.
- Inform KWCUSA that you will enter BEFORE June 30, the day KWCUSA Reports.
- The date for the KWC 2005 is 27th - 30th of July.
-
All singers must be prepared to sing five (5) different songs. Not everyone will make it to the finals, but everyone should be prepared for that with five songs.
-
All five songs must be informed to Heidi Hujanen before July 15. When sending the names of the five songs, it’s IMPORTANT to place the songs in the same order they will be performed - 1. song for Thurdsay, 2. song for Friday, 3. song for Saturday, 4. song for Saturday, 5. song for Saturday. After submitting the songs, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO CHANGE THEM OR THE SINGING ORDER FOR THE SONGS!!
The Four Days of Contest.
-
KWC 2005 will be again a four days event, starting on Wednesday and the finals will be on Saturday.
-
Everybody will sing one (1) song on Thursday and also on Friday. After that points from Thursday and Friday will be counted together and 15 best men and 15 bets woman will continue on Saturday’s finals.
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Saturday everyone will sing again one (1) song. After that those points will are summed up with Thursday’s and Friday’s points.
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Then ten best men and then best woman will sing again one (1) song, and after that points will be summed up with previous points.
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Then the five best men and five best woman will be announced and they will sing one (1) last song.
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After this again points will be summed up with the previous ones and the Karaoke World Champions will be announced! Five best men and five best woman will be awarded.
Press and Media.
-
If you need sponsors, then immediate publicity is key.
-
Write your own story, of yourself, and your involvement with KWCUSA.
Your are welcome to use the photos, logos, and other stuff here. Submit this to your local news papers, online or in person, and speak with the staff. Let everyone know that you are availalble for interviews, not just the receptionists, but individuals who write or have radio talk shows, or tv shows. Lend your presence publicly, and sing if asked. You must tell everyone where and how to make donations before you conclude.
Fundraising.
-
Small donations are the rule in fund raising. Several donation jars around the town, or other old fashioned fund raising methods may be effective. Get your friends together and tackle this challenge with enthusiasm and in the fun spritit of karaoke. Door to door, shop to shop, get the word out and ask people to help. (I suggested to one singer that they 'sell advertising', collecting $10 and having the 'buyer' sign a T-shirt that would then be worn by the singer, ...perhaps in the local mall. Two hundred laundry-pen signatures would turn that T-shirt into their ticket to the Karaoke World Contest!)
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Be prepared with a printed handout. Your photo, bio, contest info. along with complete contact information.
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Have a notebook to write down the amounts and the names of the donors, so that you may thank them later, and because you will always have the exact and current tally there with you. (The signature covered T-shirt takes
care of both these issues, ...the names are there and one can just count the signatures!)
-
State your goal. ($2000 is our 2004 finalist Bret's estimate, and thus a fair goal, but check with your travel agent etc. if this is super critical to you.)
-
Dinners, Bake sales, Donation jars, Car washes, Appearances, Auctions, Garage Sales, ...there are many common fund raising methods. If possible, have your friends and local karaoke junkies manage these for you in order to
do several of them. Contact your original host and venue and ask for their help. Clubs and restaurants may also
benefit from the added patronage and publicity of your fund raising dinners or events.
-
Continue to contact the press and keep them informed. Continue to photograph, and document everything and include the fundraising activities in your stories, or make them the focus of the stories.
From Miss Marcella...
Hello all,
I'm Miss Marcella your KWCUSA National Hostess
and I work on a voluntary basis directly with KWCUSA
to help in promoting KWCUSA and making it a success.
KWCUSA has given me an initial budget of $150 to use.
I'm starting out by using that budget for what I
call my network campaign (phone time.)
I'm also volunteering to spend time on the computer
reaching out and corresponding with all of you or
contacting possible sponsors by email.
In years to come, I hope to have the privilege of
working with each of you personally and share the
national spotlight with all of you.
Sincerely,
Miss Marcella
KWCUSA National Finals Hostess.
karaokemissmarcella@yahoo.com
Miss Marcella's tips.
Transportation.
Car pooling of contestants may be one way of cutting expenses, ...and it might be possible to find a sponsor
for the vehicle.
Sponsors want exposure in return which may involve putting their logo next to yours and
KWCUSA. Go for it! Add their logo on to your contest forms, and mugs, T-shirts, banners and other promotional materials in return for a donation of goods or services which could be auctioned or raffled off at your events to help your finalists with travel expenses.
Another way of helping your finalists is to hold a raffle for them.
A microphone, or other item (perhaps donated from a local music store)
could be given to the raffle winner and the proceeds
of the raffle tickets used to purchase transportation
and lodging for finalists.
Preparing for the contest.
Use our KWCUSA forms to help you get started. We have images and logos and the name KWCUSA itself which can
be used by every KWCUSA host in their advertising. We will continue to add to this and your ideas are always welcome.
Here is a sample poster I made (...okay, I got help from Jon.)
Advertise. Doing something a simple as putting up posters
or a banner can make a difference. Handing out flyers or putting
tent cards on the tables, use your imagination and take advantage
of what can be done at little expense.
Get the community involved. Look into using local public facilities
such as auditoriums in which to hold your finals. While not a
charity, your community may wish to back your efforts to bring KWCUSA
to the area. It could have a positive effect on your community
by bringing in folks from out of town needing lodging and meals etc.
If you charge the audience admission, consider giving some or all
of it to a charity you believe in or support. Perhaps a voluntary
donation of a can of food for the local food bank? Using KWCUSA
events to help your community will make your contest helpful to
the entire community and encourage the press to take more notice
as well.
I have contacted Northwest Harvest and at the national finals we will be
asking for a volunteer donation of a can of food from those who
attend. Northwest Harvest offered to provide boxes and posters and pick up the
food collected. Local charities staffed by volunteers are often the best, and
you have the best chance monitoring them when their offices are not
across the country.
Alert the media. Write a press release (include 'who what where when
why' and a couple of photos or logos and mention any sponsors names)
and send one to each of your local papers. Call the disk jockeys and
talk KWCUSA with them. Send video clips to others. Contact public
television, your local cable company and private tv stations.
Miss Marcella's tips on contacting the press.
Write a press release, include some photos, and send to local news papers.
Here are some general links to press:
United Press International World Headquarters
1510 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
USA
Telephone: +1.202.898.8000
FAX: +1.202.898.8057
pressreleases@upi.com
tips@upi.com
Associated Press
ONLY if the story has national or international significance,
they direct you to e-mail info@ap.org
Do not send attachments in e-mail messages
You can also mail your press release to
AP's General/National Desk
or International Desk
Associated Press,
50 Rockefeller Plaza,
New York, N.Y. 10020.
We suggest you visit their
web site for local contacts:
www.ap.org
In the Northwest, send your press release to the Northwest Karaoke & Entertainment Guide.
As your event gains attention and exposure you may find it easier
to find help from local business as sponsors. A banner across the
stage with their name on it as a sponsor would be a fair trade for
their help in sending your finalists to nationals.
Merchandise as much as you want! Selling CD's of the competition,
or T-shirts, or any number of things is another way of raising funds
to help you or your finalists or make hosting events profitable.
Ask local business to participate by contributing; flowers for the
winners, gift certificates, movie tickets, pizza, coffee, CD's or
car rentals etc. In return, proudly include their names or logos
in in your press releases and on your posters and flyers etc.
Network with the other KWCUSA hosts. You can combine resources to
help your state or regional finalists. Being aware of the contests
leading to yours and where your finalist go can help you decide
which finalists need the most help with lodging and transportation.
A larger venue may wish to sponsor contestant's entry fees. Ask them.
If funds are real tight in your community and the entry fee is just
too much for your singers, hold a series of non-KWCUSA contests and
give away as a prize, the pre-payment of entry fee to your official
KWCUSA contest or tournament. Smaller venues unable sponsor the whole
club might be will to sponsor a couple each week leading up to your
KWCUSA tournament.
Follow up after the contests. Send another press release to everyone
telling about the event and the results. Invite them to the next one.
The 2004 KWCUSA National Finals were announced in the May 2004
issue of Northwest Karaoke & Entertainment Guide, FROM the
press release sent out on the KWCUSA Washington Finals. It included
a picture of the finalists and contact information.
Finding judges.
Put some time into finding good judges.
Call the local schools and
ask the music instructors if they would be willing to judge. You
might ask the venue to cover their tab, or you might tip them for
their efforts. Local music stores may prove a good resource in
finding music professionals, ...often they have a bulletin board
everyone to posts to. Prepare something ahead of time and bring
it with you to post there. Music studios and theaters are another
resource of musicians.
We have been contacted Jon Sinclair
who is interested in Judging. We don't know yet if
Jon will personally accept the invitation to judge KWCUSA Nationals
but Jon did explain that he was interested in helping out in general,
as contest events are a great place to make contacts.
Finding extra hands to help.
Accept the help of your local karaoke junkies. They can be a great
resource of free labor in distributing flyers and even in helping
you manage the event by handing out forms, collecting fees, and
answering questions.
Invite a guest to co-host. You can break in a new kj or delight
the crowd by inviting a professional singer. (They get a plug and
sing a song in return, ...check with local talent agencies to see
if any are available, or again, post your request on a bulletin
board at your local music stores.)
Extras that should be brought to the event.
If this is you first contest, run through it once in your home or
studio. Go through the motions physically of setting up, passing
out forms, collecting fees, preparing the judges, announcing
the contest and running through the entire event. Fill out a
couple of judge forms and the judges worksheets to be sure you
know how they work. Practice your announcement of the winners
and thanking of any and all sponsors.
Bring a calculator to the contest for your judges to use in
adding things up. A small flashlight will help in dimly lit
clubs, ...remember to bring extra batteries.
Pens are going to be needed including the (special) pen you
will use to write names on the certificates with.
Bring a camera, or better, bring several in the hands of others.
Get photos of each singer, the venue, staff, the winners, and
the audience and press. Don't forget the club owner, judges, and
any sponsors. These can go into an album documenting your contest
over the years to come, and provide a source of images for your
ads, web site, and press releases.
You may want to record or film or video. As host you will be
too busy to do this yourself, so ask a friend to handle it.
Include some folded cards or "tents" to place on the
tables. These could announce your events, thank sponsors and
even invite singers.
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