Harriet Island - August 10-12
Free Admission!
Irish Fair Idol Contest
Now you and your friends have a chance to perform at the Irish Fair of Minnesota. On Friday, August 9, 2008 from 3:00 PM to approximately 5:30 PM on the Jake O’Connor’s Stage, the Irish Fair will hold the second annual Irish Fair Idol Contest.
The contest is open to any music or dance act that is not already booked for a set on the Jake O’Connor’s or Cara Irish Pubs Stages at this year’s festival. (More eligibility rules below.) The winner gets to perform on the Jake O’Connor’s Stage on Saturday, August 9th at approximately 6pm and will receive $250. There are two runner-up prizes as well.
Completing a brief application is all you need to do to enter the contest. Request form.
Contest Details
Eligibility
- All acts must be Irish or Celtic in nature and can be music or dance (no dance floor available), instrumental or voice, solo or group.
- Dancers must use recorded music for the contest.
- Singers can use recorded accompaniment – music only, no recorded voice.
- Contestants do NOT need to be from Minnesota.
- Groups or acts cannot be already booked to perform on the Jake O’Connor’s Stage or Cara Irish Pubs Stage during the festival.
- Contestants must have enough polished material for a 45 minute performance in the event that they win the contest.
Logistics
- Maximum of 12 contestants. If six contestants aren’t confirmed by June 30th, the Irish Fair reserves the right to cancel the contest. If more than 12 groups apply, contestants will be determined by the Irish Music Committee.
- Each contestant gets 10 minutes max to perform. Contestants must be able to move on stage and be ready to perform in 4 minutes (or their performance time is shortened) and exit the stage in 1 minute (or they will be penalized by the judges). Failure to set up, perform and tear down within 15 minutes is grounds for disqualification.
- There will be 3 judges. If you want to suggest a judge, please contact the Irish Fair. Contestants will be judged on artistic merit, stage presence and audience response.
- The winner will receive the opportunity to perform on the River Stage Saturday evening at 6pm (tentatively) for 45 minutes, a $250 performance stipend and passes to the Hospitality Tent for Saturday.
- The first runner-up will receive $100 in gift cards from one of our sponsoring pubs and the second runner-up will receive $40 in gift cards from one of our sponsoring pubs.
- Winners will be announced no later than 7pm on Friday.
Please contact us if you have additional questions.