BILL RILEY TALENT SEARCH
RULES FOR CONTESTANTS

Click here for a list of qualifying shows.

1. Show is open to legal residents of the state of Iowa only. Acts must appear in a locally sponsored show somewhere in the state of Iowa and WIN to be eligible to compete at the Iowa State Fair. Judges decisions are final.

2. Age Divisions:

Sprouts: 2 through 5 years
Juniors: 6 through 14 years
Seniors: 15 through 21 years

A person’s age for the Iowa State Fair competition is determined at the time they win a local show. A 14 year old (or 21 year old) could turn 15 (or 22) by State Fair and still be eligible in the Junior (or Senior) division, as they met age requirements at the time of qualification.

3. Acts with multiple performers, shall compete in the appropriate category by adding all of the ages in the act and dividing by the total members in the act.

4. Acts must attempt to keep the performance as close to three minutes as possible. Acts running longer than three minutes are subject to possible disqualification or point deduction. This will be at the judge’s discretion, but why take the chance?  Keep the act at three minutes please. Set-up time is not included. Please try to limit set-up time to one minute.   

5. No more than five persons are allowed in an act.  Piano accompanist is NOT included in an act and may be any age.  No more than three accompanists permitted per act.  Drums, amps, etc. are discouraged due to the one-minute set-up time.  No combos, rock bands or similar musical group permitted.

6. Acts are asked to not dance onto or off the stage.  After introductions, you may take any position you wish to begin your performance.

7. Vocalists are strongly encouraged to practice and perform with the assistance of a vocal coach and/or a live accompanist. We understand that live accompanists are expensive, and sometimes very difficult to obtain for some performers. We will allow prerecorded accompaniment as long as it is a single instrument. Any prerecorded tape with backing vocals, multiple instrumentation or orchestration is not allowed, and the act will be disqualified.

8. Contestants may only appear once in any given show.  They may not perform “solo” and then return in the same show in a duet or trio.  Contestants are allowed to perform in different acts in different shows, but they may only qualify for the State Fair Show with one act.

9. Professionals are NOT permitted to compete.  This includes Union musicians and anyone whose principle source of income is from their talent.  Compensation for performing at weddings, etc. does not constitute principle source of income.             

10. Competition at the State Fair:  

• Preliminary rounds: First 7 days
  Five acts advancing to the semi-final round from the Senior and Junior divisions during the preliminaries.
  
  
• Semi finals: Days 8, 9, and 10
  Three Senior and Junior division acts advance to the championship show from each semi-final round.
  
  
• Championship show: Day 11
  
  
• Sprout acts that perform will receive a ribbon, but are not in competition. If the judges deem the act appropriate to advance they may be asked to return and perform again on a different day. They may be included in the Championship Show as well, but again, not be in competition.

11. Semi-Finalists: Semi-finalists from last year’s Iowa State Fair Talent Search are automatically qualified for the next State fair competition. You do not have to re-qualify for next year’s show by winning a local level show, but are encouraged to compete at local shows. If you win a local level show, you are entitled to the prize money, but you must inform the Master of Ceremonies that you have already qualified for the State Fair. The second place winner will then be able to advance to the State Fair competition.  Remember you are entitled to the 1st place prize money.  

12. Birthdays and Semi-Finalists: Semi-finalists returning the following year will perform in the division for their current age. Example, if a 14 year old makes the semi-finals in the Junior division, and they turn 15 by the next State Fair they will be placed in the Senior division.

13. Junior Division Championship: There will be 9 finalists competing in the Championship Show. First, second, and third place winners in the Junior division must sit out one year of competition. They also must re-qualify when returning after the one-year absence, and be 21 years old or less.

Senior Division Championship: There will be 9 finalists in competition. All finalists in the Senior division must sit out one year. The “Grand Champion” of the Senior division is no longer allowed to compete at the State Fair Talent Show.

“The only exception to the one-year absence will be for Junior division champions who were 14 year old when they won.  They do not have to sit out a year and are automatically qualified for the next State Fair. They will however be competing in the Senior division. It is highly recommended that they compete at the local level as a Senior to get a feel for the older division.

Seniors and Juniors must qualify within the age requirement.  For example, if you are 21 and don’t qualify before you are 22 you are ineligible, or if you are a Junior and don’t qualify before you are 14 you will compete in the Senior division.

14. You will need name, complete address, birth date, age, social security number, phone number (include area code), and type of talent.  Multiple acts need one member to act as a contact person with all information going through them.  Additional members of the act need only birthdate, age, and town.

Contact Tonya Cook at the Iowa State Fair for more information.
Phone: (515) 262-3111, Ext. 215
Fax: (515) 262-6906
E-mail: tcook@iowastatefair.org or rileystage@gmail.com (Bill Riley Jr.)