AIR FORCE MISSION AUDITION TALENT GUIDELINES Mission Audition is an Air Force wide Talent Competition and process to select the 2015 TOPS IN BLUE Team. Tops In Blue serves as an expeditionary entertainment unit to provide quality entertainment from within Air Force resources for the Air Force family, with priority to Air Force personnel stationed worldwide at remote and deployed locations while simultaneously promoting community relations, supporting recruiting efforts and serving as ambassadors for the USA and the USAF. TOPS IN BLUE SELECTION All participants are eligible for selection. It is not necessary to win the competition to be selected for TOPS IN BLUE and winning the competition does not guarantee selection to TOPS IN BLUE. During the competition all contestants will be judged through multiple auditions to determine their proficiency in their main entertainment specialty and any additional talents. Contestants will be judged during a individual interview on attitude, desire to become a member of TOPS IN BLUE, and ability to serve as an ambassador for the Air Force. A final evaluation will be through a live performance in front of an audience to determine stage presence and most importantly the potential to perform with Tops In Blue. FINAL SELECTION If, as a result of the competition, you are being considered for tour, Air Force Entertainment will contact your commander directly to discuss your possibility of touring. Each team member selected will be notified by his or her individual commander. The length for the 2015 tour will be from Mar 2015 - Jan 2016. The TOPS IN BLUE tour is a commitment of 9-10 months permissive TDY. You are required to sign a letter of commitment as part of the application process acknowledging that you are personally available to tour. APPLICATION PROCESS Applications for competing in the Air Force Mission Audition may be submitted to the Air Force Entertainment Office by an individual applicant or by the base Force Support Squadron. Application Deadlines: 3 Dec 2014. For the latest information on deadlines for application and audition tapes click here: www.topsinblue.com 1
Application Options: There are several ways Air Force Entertainment will collect applications and audition videos for the 2015 Worldwide Talent Search. 1) Talent Consultant/Tapings at Tops In Blue Shows Tops In Blue Performers will be available at all Tops In Blue venue locations on the day of their show during OCT and Nov, between 1300 1500 hrs, to speak with interested applicants and assist with their taping. The application should be completed online, downloaded and mailed, or e-mailed to Air Force Entertainment. The applications and schedule for taping can be found at www.topsinblue.com 2) Online Upload of Audition Videos Individuals may upload their audition videos in various file formats to include: 3g2, 3gp, asf, avi, flv, m4v, mov, mp3, mp4, mpe, mpeg, mpg, rm, rmvb, swf, wm, wmv, vob File size must be < 25 mb 3) Download and Mail Applications and Audition Tapes Applicants can download a MS Word document file and mail their application and audition tape to: IF SENDING UPS OR FEDEX USE: IF SENDING REGULAR MAIL USE: AFMC/SVPCE AFMC/SVPCE BLDG. 171 2261 HUGHES AVE, STE 156 3515 S. GENERAL MCMULLEN DR JSBA LACKLAND, TX 78236 SAN ANTONIO, TX 78226 Important Dates Application Deadline 3 Dec 14 AF Mission Audition Talent Competition 4-13 Jan 15 2015 Tops In Blue Tour Mar 15- Jan 16 For more information please call: DSN: 969-7237/7242 COMM: (210) 623-0509 or send e-mail to: Terri.McGhee@us.af.mil ENTERTAINER/TECHNICIAN APPLICATIONS 1 Audition Video of Entertainer Applicant (Only) Performing: The audition video must be a solo performance by the applicant as if performing in front of an audience. Showmanship, enthusiasm, appearance of confidence, etc., are all part of the selection process. Musical accompaniment or background music may be live or prerecorded. Professional quality instrumental CDs without vocals are available from numerous sources for accompaniment. The Star Spangled Banner cannot be used for a musical submission. The applicant s audition video may display multiple talents and styles of music. However, each presentation must be limited to 5 minutes in duration for each music style or talent presented. Professional quality video productions are not required; however, sufficient lighting and the quality of the audio are important to adequately judge the act. Each video act should include some form of introduction, to include: 1. Applicant s full name and rank 2. Applicant s base 3. Material to be performed 2
When mailing a DVD, in lieu of uploading audition videos ensure each DVD has a label attached with the following information: 1. Contestant s full name and rank 2. Organization and base 3. DSN duty phone number 2 Written Portion of TOPS IN BLUE Applications (either/or both) Accuracy is essential in completing these forms. Questions left blank may eliminate applicants from being selected for the competition. Applicants should list everything pertaining to experience, training, or technical knowledge. However, applicants should be assured that all capabilities listed will be tested during processing at competition site. Applications may be completed online or downloaded and mailed in or emailed to Air Force Entertainment. 3 TOPS IN BLUE Letter of Commitment All applicants selected to compete in the Air Force Mission Audition must be PERSONALLY available to tour with the TOPS IN BLUE 2015 tour which begins mid March 15. All Applicants will be reviewed for selection to participate at the Air Force level competition Letter of Intent from Commander: If selected to compete, an Air Force Entertainment staff member will contact your commander for approval which will authorize PERMISSIVE TDY FOR 10 DAYS to compete in the talent competition. Air Force Entertainment will pay all TDY expenses. Selection and Categories Applicants selected to compete in the talent competition will be placed in one of the following seven categories and personally notified of their selection by the Air Force Entertainment staff. Male Vocalist Category: A solo vocal performer. Self-accompaniment is not authorized. All styles of music are authorized and multiple styles may be presented during the act. Female Vocalist Category: The same criteria as Male Vocalist apply. Instrumentalist Category: SELECTION FOR WORLDWIDE LEVEL A solo instrumental performer: All styles of music are authorized and multiple styles may be presented during the act. Multiple instruments may be played during the act. Vocalizing is not permitted. An instrumentalist must play a minimum of one solo section during the act. 3
Musical Variety Category: A solo performer who combines multiple musical talents into a single act or performs a single talent which is derived from a musical basis, but does not fit in any of the other categories. Examples include, a combined vocal and dancing act, a combined vocal and instrumental act, etc. All styles of music are authorized and multiple styles may be presented during the act. A performer may use live music and/or may be self-accompanied in the same act. Non-Musical Variety Category: A solo performer who presents either single or multiple talents, which are not derived from a musical basis. Examples include comedy, roller skating, magic, mime, ventriloquism, drama, etc. Live or prerecorded music may be used as background music in the act. Dance Category: A solo dance performer. All styles of dance and music are authorized and multiple styles may be presented during the act. Vocalizing is not permitted. A live band will accompany all musical acts at the worldwide level of competition. The Air Force Entertainment Music Director and arranger will contact each contestant to coordinate selection of material, keys, song form, etc. Audio, Lighting, Staging and Video Technicians and Vehicle Operators will be invited to the Talent Competition based on their qualifications as described in their applications. These applicants will be judged during the competition on their qualifications to be members of the Tops In Blue team. Technician/Driver Category: Audio Technician Audio Technicians will be evaluated on their ability to mix live vocals and instruments with 32-channel or higher analog/digital sound boards. They should be familiar with line-array speaker systems and have the ability to troubleshoot problems with audio systems. Lighting Technician Lighting Technicians will be evaluated on their ability to operate HOG III-based lighting control systems. They will also be judged on their familiarity with intelligent and LED stage lighting and their ability to troubleshoot lighting problems. Staging Technician Staging Technicians will be evaluated on basic knowledge of stage set construction and tools. They should also be familiar with stage truss systems and curtain and backdrop systems. Video Technician Video Technicians will be evaluated on their video production experience and their familiarity with and ability to use Sony triax cameras and production equipment, including switchers. Vehicle Operators Vehicle Operators will be evaluated on their over-the-road experience and their ability to drive a 45 foot motorcoach and/or a manual-transmission 10-ton sleeper cab with a 53 foot box trailer. 4
JUDGING AT WORLDWIDE LEVEL During the live audience performance: Contestants will be judged on technical excellence, showmanship and treatment and interpretation of material. The aggregate score from each judge will count equally in determining the winner and runner-up in each of the six performance categories. The highest scoring act in the competition will be selected as the Best of Show winner. A separate technically oriented six-member panel will judge the Technician/Driver Category. Contestants will be judged on technical skills, adaptability, work ethic and team work abilities. MISSION AUDITION HOST BASE Air Force Mission Audition Host Base The host base staff will make every effort to accommodate the contestants in any way possible. However, competitors will be guests of the base and the regular operational mission of each unit remains first priority. In order to have minimum negative impact on the host base, all contestants must understand and adhere to the following conditions: Lodging The host base will make every effort to lodge all contestants on base; however, mission requirements may minimize available lodging and some contestants may be lodged in commercial quarters. Air Force Entertainment will pay all lodging costs, whether on or off base. The host base is only responsible for housing competitors and has no responsibility to house contestant s families and friends or other spectators attending the contest. On-base lodging for guests will be extremely limited or non-existent. Transportation Personalized base transportation will not be available. Transportation will be provided by vehicles assigned to each team that are designated after arrival at the competition. Appearance All competitors are attempting to be selected as the best in the Air Force and represent the Air Force as ambassadors with TOPS IN BLUE. Therefore, all contestants must adhere to AFI 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel and AFI 36-2905, Fitness Program, with regard to military bearing, appearance, and weight standards. Contestants will be evaluated 24 hours a day at the competition, the same as while touring with TOPS IN BLUE. It is imperative to be the best, both on and off stage, to be a winner of the competition and have a chance to become a member of TOPS IN BLUE. Uniforms The military blue uniform and service dress will be required during the competition. 5
FUNDING Air Force Entertainment will pay all expenses for the Air Force Mission Audition Talent Competition, including travel, lodging, and an $8 per day personal maintenance expense allowance for each contestant. Air Force Entertainment will make all flight arrangements for you. Travel by POV may be authorized when cost-effective. Please contact any member of the Air Force Entertainment staff at DSN 969-7237/7242, Commercial (210) 623-0509, or email to terri.mcghee@us.af.mil for clarification of the procedures, to request an application, or for additional assistance. Websites CONTACTS Information is also available on our official Air Force website at: www.topsinblue.com 6