Production Forms Requirements Instructions
Form A Talent Music Reservation: due on the National Paperwork Portal 24 hours after your State Competition and required to reserve your talent music selection.
BMI/ASCAP Music Clearance Documentation: the internet search results from the BMI or ASCAP websites for the music you are requesting for your talent and submitted with Form A above.
Form A-1 Detailed Talent Information: contains required additional details on your talent performance and accompaniment music. Form A-1 is due on the National Paperwork Portal two (2) weeks after you are notified that your music selection is authorized for use and has not been reserved by another contestant.
Form A-1 (cont.) Accompaniment Music Track Musician/Engineer/Producer Permission Release: permission is required by each person involved in the production of the accompaniment CD—music arranger, producer, musicians, background singers, and recording engineer. This form states that they grant MAOTeen permission to use the CD for live on-stage performance and webcast. Written permission from all persons involved in the recording of your talent accompaniment CD is mandatory.
Accompaniment CDs or MP3’s: An MP3 or two (2) CDs of your approved talent music are required within two (2) weeks after notification that your talent music has been reserved and approved for use at the National Finals. The Talent Accompaniment CD time is strictly limited to ninety (90) seconds. Nothing longer is permissible. You may also submit an MP3 file to .
Lyrics, Dialogue and Backup Lyrics on Accompaniment CD: if you are singing or speaking, one (1) copy of your lyrics, any backup lyrics and/or dialogue is required. Every word must be included, no matter how little. Lyric changes are not permitted for any licensed song.
Original Written Material Permission Letters: if you have written the material for your performance, we must receive one (1) copy of a letter granting the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Organization and U-Stream permission to use your material for live on-stage performance and to webcast.
Copyright Permission Letters: you must research and obtain the necessary clearance from the copyright owner for any talent using a literary work. A letter granting permission to use the material on-stage, along with webcast rights must be forwarded to John Best two (2) weeks after MAOTeen confirms your literary selection is not being used by another contestant. It is important to note that a dramatic performance cannot mimic a scene from a play, especially in costume. Upon receipt of your Permission Letter, MAOTeen will advise of approval for use at the National Finals.
Form B Introductions: please provide a phonetic spelling of your name, parade of state introduction, 2 talent introductions and an introduction for how you stay fit. Instructions with examples are included with the form.
Form C Questions You Would Like to Ask the Other Contestants: Please write 3 questions you would like to ask the other MAOTeen contestants. Questions will be randomly drawn during the On-Stage Question/Answer portion of the show. Instructions with example are included with the form.
Form D Talent Rehearsal Conference Consent: the authorization for a designated individual to meet with you during talent competition rehearsals at the National Finals. This authorization must be approved by the State Executive Director.
Form E 2014 Dressing Room Representative: the name and cell phone number for the person(s) responsible for meeting the contestant at the Theater Dressing Room to accept the packed items of the contestant for removal from the area after the Final Night Crowning.
Form F Contestant Talent Photo: Please provide a picture or detailed sketch of your talent costume for lighting needs.
National Finals
Production Guidelines for Contestants
Talent Accompaniment Music CDs: whether your talent is vocal, dance, piano, violin, acrobatics, twirling, etc., the music used to accompany your talent must be covered under the license agreements of BMI/ASCAP or be considered Public Domain.
The original master recording is permitted for use to create your CD without any alteration. Because alterations are not permitted to the master recording, karaoke versions are acceptable. However, a karaoke version cannot include mash-ups or any portion of an original master CD. To clarify, mash-ups, modified tracks with additional instruments or vocals from, or added to, the original master CD are not permitted.
Only MAOTeen will advise of the authorization for the competition’s talent music. We have an agreement to use only music licensed through BMI or ASCAP. To find out if your music is licensed through one of them, please follow the directions on the internet search instructions included with the production forms. If you find your music is not covered under BMI or ASCAP and the music is not Public Domain, you will need to change your music selection.
Permission is required from every person involved in the production of the Accompaniment CD: music arranger, producer, musicians, background singers, recording engineer. The MAOTeen Track Release form grants MAOTeen permission to use the music track for live on-stage performance and webcast. Written permission from all persons involved in your talent Accompaniment CD is mandatory. If you produce the 90 second track from the original music yourself, then you need sign the MAOTeen Track Release Form.
You can send your talent music as an MP3 file. You will not need to send 2 copies of your CD’s. The MP3 files can be emailed to
If you do not email us your MP3 file, you are required to send two (2) properly labeled copies of the same version Talent CD to John Best. All CDs must be new and of excellent sound quality. Once your Talent CD is accepted and approved, no changes or substitutions are permitted. This is the only Accompaniment CD authorized for use throughout the 2014 Preliminaries and the Final Night Competition.
All CDs must be labeled with the following information:
1. Contestant Name & State Title
2. Music Title
3. Talent (i.e. Vocal, Classical Vocal, Lyrical Dance, Ballet, Piano, Violin, etc.)
4. Talent Time (i.e. 90 seconds, 88 seconds, etc.)
5. Version Number (i.e. Version #1, Version #2, Version #3 – Do not label as Final Version)
6. Important: add to the CD label one of the following descriptions:
· Time Edited Version of an Original Master Recording
· Karaoke Version
· Custom Recording
Contestants must listen to and approve the Accompaniment CD before it is sent to John Best. This will prevent situations where the wrong track is sent and not realized until we are at the competition.
If you are performing to a vocal recording, a copy of the lyrics of your recording is also required. Lyric changes are not permitted for any licensed song.
Costumes, dialogue or scenery similar to those used in a Broadway production or motion picture are not permitted under any circumstance. If you are performing a medley, be sure you do not use more than two (2) songs from the same Broadway show. All songs in a medley require authorization by MAOTeen.
Talent Competition: there can be no duplication of a talent act among contestants. A contestant may not include in a vocal medley, the same song another contestant is planning to sing as a solo or as part of a different medley. The same song, however, may be used in a different talent type, for example; played on a musical instrument or used as accompaniment for dance by another contestant.
Talent music is reserved for contestants on a first-come, first-serve basis. MAOTeen can only reserve one (1) music request per contestant and cannot place music reserves on hold.
Submitting the Talent Music Selection:
1. Complete and return Form A Talent Music Reservation with the appropriate BMI or ASCAP printout to John Best at within 24 hours after your State Competition.
2. MAOTeen will acknowledge receipt within 48 hours to verify that your music selection is available and reserved for you and not already reserved by another contestant.
3. Once you receive notification from MAOTeen that your music is approved for use, complete and return Form A-1 Detailed Talent Information, along with an MP3 or two (2) properly labeled Accompaniment CDs, the Track Release Form(s), Lyrics and any Backup Lyrics. These are due two (2) weeks after approval notification.
4. If there are any problems or concerns with the music track, the State Executive Director and the contestant will be notified and a new CD may be required. Once a Talent CD is accepted and approved by MAOTeen’s production company, no changes or substitutions can be made.
Talent Time: the time limit for talent presentation at Miss America’s Outstanding Teen is ninety (:90) seconds. This applies to all talent, even if you are not using an Accompaniment CD. If your CD exceeds this time limit, it will be returned and a new one must be produced. Please do not plan a performance that exceeds the ninety second time limit. Judges are informed immediately if a contestant runs over her time limit and this information is used to determine the contestant’s score.
Accompanying Oneself with a Pre-Recorded CD: a contestant may pre-record herself as a backup vocalist, (if she is performing a different talent than vocal), or instrumental accompanist and use that CD to accompany her live talent performance. For example, a contestant dancing to a pre-recorded CD of her singing or playing an instrument. However, it cannot be announced to the judges that the Accompaniment CD contains any performance by the contestant. Contestants are judged solely on what they are performing live, no exceptions. A talent cannot be performed electronically (i.e. video tape) or with additional live accompaniment.
CD Enhancements: regardless of the talent performed, the background CD cannot have voices, instruments or other noises that mimic the talent of the contestant. Example: a vocalist may have background vocals with “oohs and aahs” but cannot have a CD containing any background lyrics or a voice singing the melody line for the contestant to sing along. This also includes instrumentalists, dancers and any other talent as it could provide an unfair advantage if judges cannot delineate from the “live” performance and the talent track.
Double Talents: contestants are only judged on what is performed “live.” If a contestant wishes to perform a double talent, for example, singing and dancing, or singing and piano playing, she must perform both live on-stage. However, if a contestant dances to a pre-recorded CD of her singing, she is only judged on her dance and it is not announced that she is singing on the CD.
Original Works or Material Talents: any contestant who presents a talent act that involves her own original work; i.e. music arrangement, song writing, authorship of a dramatic reading, etc., must send MAOTeen notarized authentication that she created the work in order for it to be approved for the competition.
Published Literary Material Talents: any talent presentation involving the reading of literary works (i.e. dramatic reading), require the contestant to research and contact the author and/or publisher for a written “Permission Letter.” MAOTeen’s production company does not research clearance for literary works. The letter should indicate that MAOTeen has the owner’s permission to use the material on-stage and for webcast and must indemnify the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Organization, John Best Entertainment and U-Stream. Dramatic performances cannot include scenes that mimic a play, including costume.
Props: the National Office can provide simple stage props such as tables and chairs, but others must be furnished at the contestant’s expense. The National Office will not furnish unusual props.
Props Use and Restrictions: no props will be permitted unless they are absolutely functional. Non-functional props distract from the live performance. The following props are not allowed:
· No mood setters or background enhancers
· No props that imitate those used in a Broadway or screen version of the selected talent
· No props that require excessive stage area and/or complicated setup
· No use of motion pictures, slides or projection of any kind
· No live animals
· No props involving safety hazards, such as any form of liquids or fire; or props that could create sparks, along with swords, knives, bow and arrows, sharp projectiles, etc.
· No lighting enhancements
· If you are unsure if a prop meets the proper standards, or if you should have any production questions, please contact .
Shipping Props: props must arrive at the Rosen Centre Hotel no later than one (1) week prior to pageant week. Props must be properly packaged, labeled and shipped prepaid. The state name must be clearly written on the package. Return information and return shipping labels must be included in the box to have the props returned to you.
*MAOTeen is not responsible for damage that may occur during shipping of props.
Shipping Address: Rosen Centre Hotel
Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Competition
9840 International Drive
Orlando, FL 32819
Attention: State Titleholders Name
Audio: Singers will have the choice of 3 options for microphones. 1. A headset mic (with a RF pack at your back) 2. A RF hand held mic that you will carry on and off the stage or 3. A mic that is pre-set on the stage at the center of the stage. We will need to know what you prefer on your talent sheet.
For tap dancers: Six (6) tap microphones are located in the center of the stage and we will have a body mic that will set on your back. The body mic will be visible down the back of your leg. This will allow us to pick up your taps when you move across the stage and out of the range of the 6 microphones. (This style of microphone will pick up taps only and is not a vocal microphone.)