Rules — USA Talent Show

1. General provisions & purpose

Project name: "USA Talent Show". Logo without stars.
Purpose of the project: Discovering and supporting talented performers among Ukrainians on the territory of and outside America, creating a platform for creative development and new contacts, uniting the community, popularizing Ukrainian culture and the cultures of other countries.
Charitable mission of the project: "USA Talent Show" is implemented with the support of the "Sova Foundation" and "Dolynka Foundation" as a charitable initiative aimed both at developing talents and at creating opportunities to help and support charitable projects.
Inclusivity: The show is open to everyone. There are no restrictions whatsoever by age, gender, health condition or nationality.
Show language: The official language of the event is Ukrainian and English. Subtitles will be added to the materials for distribution on social media.
Participant selection mechanism: Submitting an application is an entry request and does not guarantee automatic advancement to the next stages. The organizers and jury members determine the participants for the live auditions. The live auditions will take place in three cities of the United States: San Francisco, Philadelphia and Chicago, at which 12 finalists are selected. After the live auditions, an online selection opens, where viewers choose one (13th) Finalist by voting on the official website from among all live-audition participants who did not advance to the final. The judges' decisions regarding the selection of participants for the Final are final and not subject to appeal. The winner of the final is chosen by a joint decision of the judges and the vote of the audience in the hall.
Features of holding the final: during the final, a television filming of the project will take place. Participants who submit an application automatically agree to the video recording and distribution of all materials filmed during and before the final.
Awards: The winner of the show receives a financial award, venues to showcase their talent, and professional support from a mentor in the winner's field.
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2. Stages of the event & regulations

Stage 1: Acceptance of applications (October 8 – December 17)

Submission of forms and materials is carried out online through the official form.

Stage 2: Online jury selection (December 18 – January 18)

A review of participants' video materials by the jury members takes place. Fragments of the performances will be published on the project's official pages (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook).

Stage 3: Live auditions (January 19 – February 19)

Exact dates and location are announced additionally after the online selection of participants, but no later than two (2) weeks before the date of the live auditions.
The selection committee organizes live auditions in several cities of the United States (San Francisco, Philadelphia and Chicago) with the jury present online. Participants attend free of charge. Spectator seats are available for guests for an additional fee.
At the end of each stage of the live auditions, the jury members select the participants who are potential finalists.
The final list of finalists will be approved after all stages of the live auditions are held, during an additional online conference.
After the live-audition stage, an audience online selection of one (13th) participant also takes place, who holds a direct finalist ticket to the Show.
It is recommended to have merch for filming video materials such as a business-card video, backstage and interviews.

Stage 4: Preparation for the Final (on the eve of the main event)

Each participant who advances to the Final is obliged to prepare a new, unique act with the help and support of the Show Administration.
Participants who pass the selection to the final first receive online consultations with star coaches.
Live master classes/training sessions before the final (available only to finalists). Video and audio recording of the training sessions/master classes is strictly prohibited. Failure to follow the rules established during the training sessions/master classes may lead to the participant's disqualification before the Grand Final. Separate waiting areas are provided for companions.
Constant support and technical assistance from the Show Administration.

Stage 5: Grand Final (Beginning of March)

The duration of the performance at the Final may be extended to 5 minutes.
At the final of the show, television filming will take place using 12 cameras that will be installed in specific zones for filming varied materials, which also includes a backstage zone.
During the Final, a separate zone is arranged for finalists, inaccessible to spectators and companions.
A photo zone is also provided for awarding all participants who took part in the previous stages of the show, with the services of a professional photographer.
During the show there will be a cash bar and entertainment.
Performance by an invited star guest.
Awarding of the show's winners.
An additional after-party, the details of which will be announced later.

3. Participation terms & awards

Application fee:

Submitting an application is subject to an application fee (free for active military personnel and war veterans).

The application fee includes:

Awards and diplomas: All show participants receive a confirming Certificate/Diploma of thanks for participating in the selection in electronic form.
Access to the branded awards photo zone: Providing the Participant with access to a specially arranged photo zone during the Final, where a personal physical Certificate/Diploma of thanks for participating in the selection can be received, with the signatures of the star jury members.
Guaranteed spectator ticket: In the event that the Participant does not advance to the finalists by decision of the Administration or Jury, the paid registration fee is automatically credited as payment for one (1) entry Spectator ticket to the project's Grand Final.
Personal media promotion: Creation and publication of individual video material featuring the Participant's performance on the Show's official resources on social media (Instagram, YouTube, Facebook).
Television filming of the final: Creation of video materials aimed at popularizing the Participant who advanced to the Final, growing their recognition and building their own audience in the US and beyond.
Evaluation by a professional jury: Review of the Participant's application and video materials by a professional judging team for the purpose of selection to the live castings and the Grand Final of the Show.
Personal consultation: Each participant selected after the live auditions gets access to personal consultations with the star jury via video call.
Participation in preparatory master classes and training: Access, for the participants who passed selection to the Grand Final, to intensive learning, training and master classes with mentors and the Show's star jury.
Professional networking: The opportunity to integrate into the international creative community, establish business and creative contacts with cultural figures, producers and stage colleagues.
Charitable mission: Funds collected from application payments are transferred to support charitable initiatives.

Prize fund structure:
The Show Administration establishes the following official awards for the winner and prize-winners of the Grand Final:

1st place (Main winner):
- Cash prize
- Free media support for 1 month from UA/USA Media.
- Personal producer support and mentorship for the development of a creative career on the territory of the US.
2nd place: A vacation trip.
3rd place: Valuable gifts, certificates and special prizes from the Show's official sponsors and partners.

Awarding of Grand Final Participants:
Regardless of the place taken, each Finalist receives:

Training and master classes with the project's mentors after the live auditions to prepare for the Grand Final.
An official personal Diploma of thanks for participating in the Grand Final with the personal signatures of the star jury members;
Access to a specially arranged themed photo zone at the location of the event;

Procedure and terms of prize money payment:

Cashless settlement: All cash awards, including the main cash prize, are paid exclusively in cashless form.
Tax obligations: Winners are solely responsible for the declaration and payment of all taxes provided by US law regarding winnings and prizes.

Payment of the prize fund:

Winners receive the award according to the decision of the jury and viewers in a percentage ratio.

4. Rules of conduct, props & safety

Personal number: Each registered participant is assigned a unique personal number (ID Participant), which is used for identification and organizational purposes at all stages of the project. The project organizers are not responsible for the participant keeping their personal number.
Ethics and content (Family-Friendly): The content of the performance, the costumes, the lyrics and the musical accompaniment must correspond to the format of the event and may be reviewed by the Show Administration for approval. The use of profanity, political or confessional provocations, offensive or erotic elements is prohibited. The Administration has the right to make corrections or to refuse to show a performance if non-compliance with the Family-Friendly format was found during the preparation or review of the act.
Property preservation: Participants bear full personal responsibility for the preservation of their own belongings, costumes, musical instruments and props. The organizers are not responsible for their loss or damage.
Safety and personal responsibility:
- The Participant confirms that they personally and thoroughly command the technique of performing their act, are in proper physical and psychological shape, and have no medical contraindications.
- The Participant is obliged to independently provide themselves with the necessary personal protective equipment and technical gear to minimize risks.
- The performance of complex or potentially dangerous elements is carried out under the Participant's personal responsibility. The organizers, their representatives and partners are not responsible for injuries, deterioration of health condition or other accidents that may arise during the preparation or performance of the act.
Collective applications: In the case of the participation of a creative group/band, all safety and ethics requirements and the terms of the Regulations are mandatory for each member of the group.

5. Media rights, copyright & confidentiality

Personal data and profile photo:
- The photo and video materials provided during the submission of the application are final and are used for the promotion of the Participant in the media space (changing the photo and video after the application has been submitted is impossible).
- The Participant grants non-alternative and perpetual consent to the collection, processing, publication and sublicensing of their personal data, name, image and voice on all digital and physical platforms of the show without limitation by territory of use.
- For the verification of the participant, the Show Organizers provide identification via State ID, Driver License or another document issued by a state authority that confirms the participant's identity (for minors, verification must be carried out through their parents/guardians).
Production and use of content:
- The Participant grants the Organizers the right to carry out photo, video and audio filming of their performances and interviews at all stages of the project.
- All photo, video and media materials created during these stages become the intellectual property of the Organizers and are not subject to return/withdrawal.
Intellectual property and copyright:
- The Participant guarantees that they have all necessary rights to use the phonograms, choreography, background videos or other objects of intellectual property included in their act.
- In the event of claims by third parties regarding the violation of copyright or related rights, the Participant undertakes to settle them independently and at their own expense, as well as to compensate the Organizers for the losses caused.
Confidentiality regime:
- Any information regarding the course of the castings, the selection results, the details of the Grand Final and information about other participants or jury (which is not officially published by the Organizers) is confidential. The Participant is prohibited from disclosing it in the media or on social networks until the moment of the official announcement.

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