RULES AND REGULATIONS APPLICATION AND ENTRY FEE
- Each contestant will pay a non-refundable entry feeApplications received by Friday, August 18, 2023 will pay $75.Applications received after midnight the morning of Saturday, August 19, 2023, will pay $100.Applications and entry fees must be received by 11:59 PM on August 24, 2023. No late entries will be accepted after that date under any circumstances. Applications and entry fees may be submitted either by mail or at https://charlestonpride.org/pageant. Mailed entries must be postmarked two (2) days prior to the deadline in order to be accepted if received after the due date.
- Pageant Directors reserve the right to refuse any application. (Examples of reasons: a history of unsportsmanlike conduct; alcohol or drug abuse; poor representation of prior title(s); other misconduct that might tarnish the image of the title or of the Charleston Pride Festival, Inc.)Entry fees paid online may be done with either a check card or credit card. Entry fees paid by mail may be done with either a cashier’s check or money order made payable to “Charleston Pride Festival, Inc.” No personal checks will be accepted.
- Application and entry fee submitted by mail must be sent to:
- Charleston Pride Festival, Inc.
- ATTN: Charleston Pride Pageant
- P.O. Box 61558North Charleston, SC 29419
- Only the first (12) Contestants will be accepted.
- Groups of Entertainers will be judged by Queen, King and Non-Binary. In order for a Group to compete, there must be a minimum of (2) entertainers for the grouping to take place. Groupings of 2 or less may be combined or canceled at the discretion of the Pride Board.
QUALIFICATIONS AND AGE RESTRICTIONS
- The Royal Court of Charleston Pride Pageant is open to anyone who qualifies under these rules and who is at least 21 years of age. Contestants must be a resident of the state of South Carolina or a resident of North Carolina or Georgia and have performed in South Carolina at least two (2) times in the past calendar year.
- Contestants must provide proof of age and residency to the Pageant Directors if Requested.
- Charleston Pride has a zero-tolerance policy for gender/identification bias whatsoever from Judges, Directors, or contestants past or present.
CATEGORIES AND SCORING (Contestants will be judged by a panel of judges in the following categories):
- Presentation: (50 points possible) A Met Gayla: Limited to two (2) minutes with commentary provided by contestant(s) and read by hosts. Music will be provided for this category.
- Formal Wear: (50 points possible) Limited to two (2) minutes with commentary provided by contestant and read by host(s). Contestant must bring to the venue written commentary for host(s) to read while contestant is on stage. Formal wear will be followed with a Q&A for one (1) minute. Music will be provided for this category.
- Talent (100 points possible) Limited to seven (7) minutes (not including two (2) minutes of set up and tear down). The contestant must provide music. Contestants must furnish their own music and label it for the DJ accordingly. Any talent is acceptable, other than talent that includes nudity, fire, water, or any presentation which could cause injury to the contestant or audience.
- Upon request of the contestant, copies of the judges’ score sheets for THAT individual, along with an abstract of the overall scoring, will be provided to the contestant. The original score sheets will always remain in the possession of the Pageant Directors.
DRESSERS / PROP HANDLERS / DANCERS
- Each contestant is limited to one (1) dresser. The dresser will be permitted free entry for the pageant. (Volunteer to enforce). Any additional dressers will pay entry and can only be allowed in back if the other dresser leaves.
- Up to two (2) prop handlers may come backstage five (5) minutes before the presentation of talent. Prop handlers must pay admission to the pageant.
- Dancers are limited to four (4) and may come backstage five (5) minutes prior to the talent performance. All dancers must pay admission to the pageant. The only persons allowed in the dressing room will be the contestants and dressers. Prop handlers and dancers are permitted backstage only at said times listed above. Once job/performance is completed, prop handlers and dancers must return to the audience. Combination of parts a and b cannot exceed
CONTESTANT INTEGRITY AND CONDUCT
- Contestants must demonstrate respect throughout the pageant for other contestants, dressers, prop handlers, and dancers.
- Drug use of any kind, other than prescribed medication, is strictly prohibited.
- Persons under the age of 21 and underage drinking is strictly prohibited at the venue. Theft of, and/or tampering with, another contestant’s wardrobe, props, or personal items by a contestant, dresser, prop handler, or dancer will result in the immediate disqualification and removal of the offending individual from the pageant and the premises.
PRIZE LIST: The following prizes will be awarded to the successful contestants
- Emperor
- Crown or Scepter
- Flowers
- $350 ($200 the night of the pageant and $150 when you return in 2024 to give up the title.)
- Empress
- Crown or Scepter
- Flowers
- $350 ($200 the night of the pageant and $150 when you return in 2024 to give up the title.)
- Regent
- Crown or Scepter
- Flowers
- $350 ($200 the night of the pageant and $150 when you return in 2024 to give up the title.)
- There is no compensation awarded to the participants and winners other than those prizes and awards stated above. All contestants waive their rights to any profits from videotaping, still photography, or any other recording or documentation of the Charleston Pride pageant.
- Successful contestants are free to use their Charleston Pride title for any personal bookings during their reign in advertising of events or nights of personally-booked shows.
PUNCTUALITY AND LINE-UP
- The Charleston Pride Pageant will begin promptly at 8:00 pm, Friday, August 25 at Quarters K, Riverfront Park (1045 Everglades Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405).
- Contestants are expected to be at the venue and ready for line-up by 8:00 pm. Failure to be at the venue by 8:15 will result in a deduction of ten (10) points from the contestant’s final score, and an additional 10pt deduction for every full or partial 15-minute increment thereafter. The venue will open at 6:00 pm for contestants and dressers. No other individuals will be permitted in the venue until the doors open for admissions. VIP entry is 7:00pm.
- The lineup of contestants will be decided by drawing numbers forty-five (45) minutes before the pageant begins.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE CHARLESTON PRIDE COURT (Winners)
- Professional and Courteous behavior is expected at all times while representing Charleston Pride Festival. They will do nothing to demean or tarnish their title.
- The winners will keep their crown in good repair and in their possession throughout their reign. The crown will remain the property of the Pageant Directors throughout the entire reign. Upon crowning their successors, the crown will become the permanent property of the titleholder.
- The winners agree to participate in at least six (6) events designated by Charleston Pride Festival, Inc. and will be given at least thirty (30) days’ notice of the dates.
- The Royal Pride Court of Charleston Pride are required to perform in the Charleston Pride Festival as well as appear at the next Parade.
- The Executive Board will investigate any complaints of misconduct received against the winners of Charleston Pride Pageant. Based on the severity and validity of such complaints, the Executive Board may reconvene the judges for discussion and action regarding the complaint.
- A simple majority vote of the Board of Directors may result in the loss of the title and crown. The first runner up will then be presented the crown and title unless they are unable.
- The crown and all prize money must be returned by the original titleholder.
- In the event that the first runner up is unqualified or unable to fulfill the requirements of the Charleston Pride Pageant winner, the crown and title shall go to the next runner up using the score sheets from the pageant.
HOLD HARMLESS
By signing and submitting this application, the contestant agrees to release the owner, organizer, Pageant Directors, or any sponsors from the liability or responsibility for losses or accidents. All contestants understand that they participate in the Charleston Pride Festival Pageant at their own risk and personal expense.
THIS IS A PRIDE PAGEANT
With all of the rules, regulations, and serious business aside, this is a PRIDE PAGEANT! Have fun, be creative, and get EXCITED! If you win, be mindful of what you are giving to your community and what they are giving to you in return. Break a leg!