Mr. & Ms San Diego Leather Contest 2017

Mr. & Ms San Diego Leather Contest 2017

858.395.7171

The producers of the Mr. & Ms San Diego Leather Contests are proud to welcome you as a potential contestant. This packet of guidelines has been created to facilitate your understanding of responsibilities for the Mr. & Ms San Diego Leather Contest 2017.

PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE APPLICATION, it contains important information!

Conduct Statement: Due to Public restrictions placed upon us by the San Diego Police Department, we must declare that you will be required to conduct yourselves with the honor befitting of a law-abiding Leather person at all times during this contest process, including conduct, appearance, and public decorum.

Mandatory Responsibilities to Apply as a Contestant:

Registration Form must be filled out and submitted with the following:

●$25.00 Non-refundable Registration Fee, (register at

●Color or black & White recent self-portrait, head shot, to be submitted for judges' review.

●ONE PAGE typewritten biographical Sketch submitted for judges' review.

●This application, completed (use the insert key to type over the lines).

●A photocopy of your driver's license or other government-issued identification card.

You are asked to put together an auction basket to demonstrate your interests, your community affiliations, sponsors, etc. Donations may be acquired from local and national merchants, friends, family, use your ingenuity! There is a limit of two (2) baskets per contestant.

Applications will be accepted through Wednesday, March 8, 2017. Email your completed application to .

Your attendance as a contestant is required at the following events and you MUST report in to the contestant handler and be dismissed by the contestant handler. Locations for these events will be posted at a later date. Once your application is received, you will be notified of the times and locations for the following events.

●Contestant meeting – Thursday, March 9, 2017

●All Clubs Night/The Leather Olympics – Thursday, March 16, 2017

●SD Leather Pride Opening Ceremonies/Contestant Meet & Greet, Friday, March 17, 2017

●The Pre-Contest Judging Interview – Morning of Saturday, March 18, 2017

●Mr. & Ms San Diego Leather Contest – Evening of Saturday, March 18, 2017

●San Diego Leather Pride Victory Brunch and Keynote – Morning of Sunday, March 19, 2017

The Basket Auction will be done during the Street Leather portion of the Contest. You will not be judged on the amount of money you raise during your auction. However, this is your opportunity to show some of the skills required of our Titleholder: public speaking, raising money, talking about yourself and your community, etc. Remember, max two (2) baskets per contestant will be allowed.

Two event comps are provided for your contest assistants and/or cast for the fantasy, otherwise please recruit from those you know will be attending. During the weekend, especially during contest day, you will have plenty of staff and volunteer support as well.

Using the Olympic Scoring System, you will be judged in the following categories. 100 points are possible from each judge and there are seven judges. The total number of points per contestant will be added up by the Tally Master, and the Contestant with the most points will be declared Mr. and Ms San Diego Leather 2017, respectively. If there is only one Contestant, they must score a minimum of 70% to be considered as the winner.

Percentage of scoring (100% possible):

●Interview (40%)

●Fantasy (15%)

●Clarity of Leather Journey/Platform (10%)

●Question & Answer (10%)

●90-second speech (15%)

●Engagement, Stage Presence, and Overall Presentation (10%)

The Interview will be the morning of the Contest. Dress code: street leather, not necessarily what you are planning to wear during the “street leather” portion the night of the Contest. Interviews may be public or private, but will be hosted in a safe space.

Clarity of Leather Journey/Platform is a new category we have created based on community feedback. Judges will make an overall determination based on how clear they think you are at expressing your Leather Identity, or your place in your Leather Journey, or your Title Platform (i.e. your goals and vision as a potential Titleholder). This is somewhat subjective, because we do not believe there is “one way” to be Leather, however, Leather Culture does include some vetting. In case you are in the early stages of your Leather Journey, we allow the same consideration to be for how you express what your platform/goals would be as the Titleholder. In other words, it is not necessary that you be “Leather” so much as you explain clearly why YOU are a good fit as a Leather Titleholder. If you have a unique angle, great! But you must be able to clearly self-identify and allow others to relate to how you would serve the community.

You will have five (5) minutes to perform a Fantasy of your choosing. Remember San Diego Police and Vice laws are in effect, and your fantasy should be approved ahead of the contest. Be creative. You may use props and assistants, please have all props approved by the stage crew prior to the contest. Fantasies are judged on self-expression, creativity, audience response, and most of all, demonstration of planning and organizing in advance!

The Question and Answer will be done during the Physique/Hot Wear portion of the Contest. Prepare a personal ad describing yourself and what you are seeking; this will be read by the emcee while you are on stage presenting your look. The ad should be 50 words or less. You will be asked a question; and give a short answer. The judges will score based on your ability to think on your feet, entertain the crowd, and the content of your answer. Questions may be serious or silly, so be prepared!!

Your 90-second Speech will be given during the Formal Leather portion of the Contest. Your speech may be on any topic of your choosing. This is your time to show your public speaking skills and to let everyone in attendance know who YOU are. You will have exactly 90 seconds. You will be briefed before the Contest on the timing. Judges will mark off points for going over the allotted time.

Finally, judges will score on Engagement, Stage Presence, and Overall Presentation. The judges will observe your engagement with others throughout the weekend, and make a determination about your ability to engage people and present information. This is also where judges may score based on the appearance of your gear/leather and their perception of your preparedness.

Contestants are required to register for and participate in the San Diego Leather Pride events leading up to the Contest. Your application fee allows you entry in the weekend events, so long as you fulfill the requirements of a Contestant as described herein. Also included are non-alcoholic beverages and light snacks at all events where these are offered. Your registration and attendance as a Contestant represents your agreement to abide by the guidelines outlined here. We believe you are also making an investment in yourself which is a great opportunity to have fun, grow your skills, and make a difference!

Should you win the Mr. or Ms San Diego Leather 2017 Contest, you will be expected to perform the following (This is your contract—initial each line to signify your commitment):

●Uphold community expectations of a Leather Titleholder including conduct, appearance, and public decorum. Be willing to accept and follow reasonable feedback from the producers, and know that you represent both San Diego and that a Leather Titleholder is expected to be a community advocate, resource, and a positive force that represents us with Honor. (Initials: ___)

●Attend a photo shoot to be arranged by the contest producers. (Initials: ___)

●Produce a minimum of four events during the year. The events are to be done quarterly with two of them being social events and two of them being charitable fundraising events. Of the charitable events, one of them must be for a recognizable national/international charity and must be pre-approved by the contest producers. The other charitable event must be for a San Diego region charity. (Initials: ___)

●The four events – two social and two charitable fundraising – are minimum requirements. You are encouraged to host, attend etc. other events as long as you are able to meet the minimum requirements of producing events. Co-producing events is encouraged but is NOT considered meeting the minimum requirements UNLESS pre-approved by the contest producers. (Initials: ___)

●Participate in, at a minimum, monthly check-in meeting with at least one producer. This ensures you have the support and guidance you need, but is not meant to restrict your vision. (Initials: ___)

●Produce a “Congratulations/send-off” Party for the outgoing Titleholders two weeks after the Mr. and Ms San Diego Leather 2017 contest. (You will have help.) (Initials: ___)

●Promote and help plan the Leather Pride Contingent during San Diego’s Annual LGBT Pride Parade. (The producers have experience,support and guidelines for this event and your role can be organizational—getting people together to march--or more creative--you can develop a theme for approval.) (Initials: ___)

●Each Titleholder will receive a cash stipend for travel and other expenses during the Title year, as well as a sizeable gift package including weekend passes, club memberships, and gift certificates to fully support you. Thus, your attendance at local and SoCal regional events is highly supported and encouraged, and we ask that you commit your time regularly to do this each month. (Initials: ___)

●If a representative of the organization you are raising funds for is in attendance at the fundraiser, it is best practice to hand off all funds raised for that organization immediately. Please get a signed notice stating the amount of money that was handed off to the organization as well as the date. (Initials: ___)

●You are required to focus on the San Diego Community for the entirety of your title year. However, you are allowed to run for a national or international title after serving the first eight (8) months of your term. We ask that you make your intentions known ahead of time, and that you focus on fulfilling the commitment to the San Diego Community before you go on to that bigger dream! You are not at all expected to run for another Title/position at any regional or national level as part of your duties. San Diego has a proud history of our Titleholders being chosen for national Titles, we support this, we don’t require it, but we do require a focus on our community while being a Mr./Ms San Diego Leather. (Initials: ___)

●Attend the Mr. & Ms San Diego Leather 2018 Contest in the third weekend of March 2018 to transfer the Title. (Initials: ___)

●You are given room to learn-as-you-go, so you don’t have to feel you need to understand everything about being a Titleholder in order to become one. The producers are here to answer your questions and help connect you with mentors. This is a big consideration, please don’t take it lightly, however, please don’t underestimate your worth!! Don’t hold back because you think you aren’t a fit, reach out and ask if what you have in mind is a fit—we have decades of diversity and we love the cutting edge! The contest is not limited by sexual preference, gender identity, or compliance with a perfect “Leather” person, it’s about being a reflection of your community in an open and positive way. On board? Then initial: ______

In the event of inability or failure of Mr. or Ms San Diego Leather 2017 to uphold these requirements, it is to be expected that the First Runner Up will assume the title and duties of the position. The decision to replace the winner will be made solely by the owners and producers of the Contest.

The Producers may make changes to this contract during your title year. You will be asked to review and sign the amended contract. If you decide not to sign the amended contract, the old contract will remain in effect. Updates and information are available on our Website: and our email is .

Name / Stage Name
Address
Phone / Date of Birth
Email / Years residing in San Diego
1. What would your platform consist of should you acquire the Mr. or Ms San Diego Leather Title?
2. If you were to acquire the Mr. or Ms San Diego Leather 2016 Title, what would be your goals and aspirations for yourself?
3. How long have you been active in the Leather/Fetish community and in what capacity? (From personal to public, share what tells us about you!)
4. How would you classify yourself? (e.g. Daddy, Mommy, Master, slave, boy/boi, girl, pup). If you don't classify yourself, explain why.
5. What Club affiliations do you have? What kind of community-service projects are you involved in?
6. Do you have any non-Leather hobbies or other outside interests?
7. Do you have any tattoos, piercings, or brandings? If so, describe them.
8. What fetishes, if any, do you enjoy? Why do you enjoy them?
9. Why do you want to be Mr. or Ms San Diego Leather 2016?
10. Personal Ad (50 words or less)
Feel free to use additional paper to answer these questions.

PHOTOGRAPHIC RELEASE & WAIVER

I, the undersigned, hereby give San Diego Leather Pride (inc), The Mr. & Ms San Diego Leather Contests and its Producers, their photographers, legal representatives, agents or assigns, the right and permission to copyright, use, reuse, broadcast and/or publish any and all photographic pictures of me which shall be taken during the Contest or as a result of my preparation for the Contest, or as a result of my having participated in the Contest. This shall include portraits, or reproductions thereof, including audio and videotapes, made through any media. Further such rights shall include the right to use such images in conjunction with my name, and through any media, for any purpose whatsoever. I hereby waive any right to inspect or approve the finished photographic pictures, or the method of their eventual use, including any related audio or printed copy, which may be used in conjunction therewith.

I hereby release, discharge and agree to save harmless San Diego Leather Pride (inc), The Mr. & Ms San Diego Leather Contest and its Producers, their photographers, legal representatives, agents or assigns, including those publishing and/or distributing the finished product, in whole or in part, from and against any liability or claim as a result of the use or publication of said photographic pictures, including from any distortion, blurring, alteration, optical illusion, or use in composite form, either intentionally or otherwise, that may occur or be produced in the taking, processing or reproduction of the Photographic Pictures, their publication or distribution. I have read the foregoing Release and Waiver before signing my name below. I warrant my full understanding of its contents, and that I am of legal age to give my consent in this state.

INDEMNIFICATION AND HOLD HARMLESS

I certify that I have attained at least twenty-one (21) years of age and that I, based upon mutual covenants and considerations (including granting me the privilege of attending and participating in Leather Pride) will not hold San Diego Leather Pride (Inc), the Producers of The Mr. & Ms San Diego Leather Contest, nor the individual and collective owners, officers, agents and employees thereof liable for any injury to my person or property during the period of the Mr. & Ms San Diego Leather 2017 Contest, and San Diego Leather Pride Events, and I further agree to indemnify and save harmless and hold harmless San Diego Leather Pride (inc), The Mr. & Ms San Diego Leather Contest, the producers, and the individual and collective owners, officers, agents and employees thereof from any and all liability, injury or economic loss or other damage.

I have read the above statements contained in this Contestant Packet and agree to all guidelines, requirements, and restrictions as they are set forth.

Signature / Printed Name / Date
Biographical Sketch (This is the first thing the judges will read about you, so tell them what brings you here, give them an idea of what they should know about you, and be creative!)

Mr. & Ms San Diego Leather 2017 Contestant ApplicationPage 1 of 11