OFFICIAL RULES AND GUIDELINES
In the rules, the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest will be referred to as �UETAC,� Elvis Tribute Artist contestants will be referred to as �ETAs� or �contestants� and Elvis Presley Enterprises will be referred to as �EPE.�
GENERAL
1. EPE is not responsible for any expenses of contestants at anytime during the UETAC, including any expenses with respect to travel to Memphis, Tennessee and lodging.
2. Employees or relatives of employees of EPE are unable to compete in the UETAC.
3. Any contestant found violating the rights of EPE through misuse or infringement of EPE�s proprietary rights, including trademarks, rights of publicity, or copyrights will be disqualified from the UETAC.
4. Participation in the UETAC does not grant any rights to use the name, image or likeness of Elvis Presley other than as embodied in the contestant�s performance or the trademarks Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist� or Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest�
5. Profanity and/or vulgarity on stage will not be tolerated and any contestant violating this rule will be immediately disqualified from the contest.
6. Any ETA found to be using a controlled substance will be immediately disqualified.
7. All ETAs must be at least eighteen (18) years of age or older as of August 5, 2009.
8. All contestants grant EPE the right to use their name, image, likeness, biography, and any photographs or audiovisual footage of their participation in the Prelim and UETAC, including their performance, presence at, and/or interview, without the payment of any compensation, in connection with the advertising and promotion of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, including without limitation, any preliminary rounds of the contest as well as the semi-finals and finals of the contest to be held in Memphis, Tennessee in August 2009.
9. All contestants grant EPE the irrevocable right to record their participation in the Prelim and UETAC, including their performance, presence at, and/or interview and to use, adapt, reproduce, distribute, broadcast, and exhibit their performance in perpetuity in any and all media, manners and platforms, without the payment of compensation.
MEMPHIS SEMI-FINALS/FINALS ROUNDS
1. ETAs that go over the allotted time allowed for their performance in the semi-finals and finals will be disqualified. Allotted time for performances during the semi-finals and finals TBD.
2. ETA must perform with the Elvis tribute band that EPE selects for the UETAC semi-finals and finals. ETA cannot provide their own band, background music, or backup singers. Prior to the UETAC, once EPE informs the ETA of the backing band, the ETA must promptly inform EPE if it has performed in the past with the backing band, or if there is a working business relationship with the backing band.
3. Rehearsal time for the finals will be scheduled by EPE following the semi-finals. If ETA is late or misses scheduled rehearsal time, then he/she forfeits the opportunity to rehearse with the band prior to the finals.
4. Winners of the ETA Contest preliminary rounds must submit their song list and performer agreement to EPE. Each ETA must submit a list of five (5) song choices, in the order of preference, for the semi-finals; and a list of seven (7) song choices, in the order of preference, for the finals. ETAs cannot duplicate songs sung by other contestants during the same round of the contest. A random drawing will be done for song selection.
5. All songs performed must be songs Elvis sang. No custom or original songs are allowed.
6. Any contestants acting inappropriately on stage will be disqualified from the UETAC. This includes portraying Elvis in a derogatory manner, using inappropriate language, or acting vulgar.
7. If a semi-finals finalist is unable to compete in the Finals, the ETA receiving the next highest score during the semi-finals may take their place in the finals contest.
8. Only ETAs participating in the contest, one family member and/or one manager will be allowed backstage. A special badge will be given to ETAs participating in the semi-finals/ and finals to allow access backstage during event. Badges cannot be worn by anyone other than contestant.
9. The only props allowed on the stage during the contest are scarves and/or a guitar. All other props are prohibited.
10. ETAs cannot leave the stage area when performing.
11. Sales of contestant merchandise (e.g., t-shirts, cds) or solicitation of any kind will not be permitted before, during or after the competition at venues specifically reserved for the UETAC.
12. The ETA shall make himself available for reasonable media interviews and publicity appearances.
MEMPHIS SEMI-FINALS/FINALS JUDGING
1. Judging for the contest will be done on a scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high) on the following categories: Vocals, Appearance, Performance, Stage Presence, and Overall Tribute to Elvis.
2. The ETAs receiving the highest total scores during the semi-finals will proceed to the finals.
3. In the case of tie scores, the ETA receiving the highest score in the �Overall Tribute To Elvis� judging category will be the winner. If the �Overall Tribute To Elvis� category is also a tie, the winner will be chosen based on the highest score in the following categories in this order: 1. Vocals; 2. Appearance; 3. Performance; 4. Stage Presence.
4. Contestants, representatives of contestants, and relatives of contestants cannot interact with judges prior to or during the semi-finals or finals of the UETAC.
5. During the finals, the ETA receiving the overall highest will be the overall winner of the UETAC. In the case of tie scores for the overall winner, the ETA receiving the highest score in the �Overall Tribute To Elvis� judging category will be the winner. If the �Overall Tribute To Elvis� category is also a tie, the winner will be chosen based on the highest score in the following categories in this order: 1. Vocals; 2. Appearance; 3. Performance; 4. Stage Presence.