--Rules--    
2008 Vertielee Floyd Memorial         Old Time Fiddlers' Contest
Arizona State Championship
Payson, Arizona
1.   REGISTRATION--
(a) All fiddlers entering this contest must be legal residents of Arizona for at least 6 months immediately prior to the contest        
  and be able to prove it, if questions arise.
(b) Registration by mail is encouraged or will be accepted from 9 a.m. - noon on Saturday and 10 a.m. - noon on Sunday.
(c) Entry fees will be refunded to anyone who registers by mail and cannot attend.
(d) Contestants must register and draw for order of appearance before their category begins.
(e) Two complimentary passes or wrist bands for relatives or friends will be given to all contestants who PAY ENTRY FEES.

2.    GENERAL RULES for the FIDDLERS CONTEST--
(a) Contestants must be ready to go on stage when called or may be disqualified.
(b) Contact microphones, amplified instruments, and music stands are not permitted.
(c) No tune may be played more than once by the same contestant during all divisions of the fiddle contest. Repeating                  
  tunes or unqualified tunes may result in disqualification.
(d)If a contestant is uncertain whether a tune qualifies, he/she may submit the title in writing to the Contest Committee for            
  verification by the judges.
(e) If a string breaks, the fiddler may continue or stop. If the tune is complete, it will be judged as played. If the fiddler stops,         
 he/she will be allowed to begin with that tune and complete his/her program. The four minute time limit will be                               
 appropriately adjusted to the start of that time.

3.    AGE DIVISION AND CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION
(a) contestants must first play a hoedown, second a waltz, and third a tune of their choice other than a hoedown or a waltz.
(b) judges will score on old time fiddling ability, difficulty of tune, rhythm (timing), tone quality, and dance ability of tunes                 
  played.
(c) No trick or fancy fiddling is allowed in these divisions.
(d) There's a four minute time limit. Ten points will be deducted from the total score of each 30 seconds over a portion                  
 thereof.
(e) Fiddlers may play without accompanist or with not more than two.
(f)If a large number of contestants sign up for any age division, that division may be asked to play only a hoedown and a               
 waltz. They would then have a 3 minute time limit and the top four would be eligible for the Championship Division.

4.     TWIN FIDDLE DIVISION--
One entry per fiddler in this division. One slow tune and one fast tune within a four minute time limit. Up to two                                 
accompanists for each pair of contestants.

5.     CROSS-TUNED FIDDLE DIVISION--
Play one tune on a fiddle that has been cross-tuned. Draw your bow across your fiddle strings, just before playing so that            
the judges can hear that the fiddle has been cross-tuned. Three minute time limit.

6.      TRICK FIDDLE DIVISION   or  FANCY FIDDLE DIVISION--
 Fiddlers must choose either the Trick or the Fancy Fiddle Division and may not compete in both. Fiddlers registering in               
 either Division may appear on the stage only once during that division and therefore may not serve as accompanist for                
 other fiddlers in the division they are competing in. Fancy Fiddle Division is for fiddlers who want to play their tune in a                  
 "fancy" or "hot" style. The Trick Fiddle Division is for those who wish to hold their fiddle or bow in unusual positions, and/or         
 perform a special trick while playing. Three minute time limit.

7.      STATE CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION
(a) The top 15 scoring fiddlers, plus the top three from each Age Division are eligible, but not required to enter the                          
 Championship Division. A list of eligible fiddlers will be posted at the end of the contest on Saturday.
(b) Scores from the Age Division will not be added to the score a fiddler receives in the Championship Division.
(c)The first round of the Championship Division will narrow the contestants down to the top seven. Four minute time limit.
(d) The top seven scoring fiddlers will then play the second round. Four minute time limit.
(e)Round one and round two scores of the Championship Division will be added together to determine the winners.
(f) After a third win as State Champion , a fiddler will be retired for five years before being eligible to compete in any division         
 of the state contest again. State Champions may be asked to judge in following years.

8.     ENTERTAINMENT
Fiddle Contestants may not serve as entertainers on stage, between Contest Divisions, if they register to play in their                    
Age Division  and/or the Trick or Fancy Divisions. This rule does not apply to School Fiddle Bands who may entertain as a           
group and also compete individually in the contest. Fiddlers only entering the Cross-Tuned Fiddle Division and/or the Twin         
Fiddle Division may also serve as entertainment if needed, during each day of the contest. All Contest fiddlers may play in           
the morning gospel program and/or any scheduled evening show.

9.     ACCOMPANIST
Prizes based on the number of times you are on stage accompanying fiddlers during the contest. Winners will be                          
determined by counting accompanists' names as listed on fiddlers' tune sheets. You do not need to be an AZ resident.

10.   CONDUCT & DRESS
 Please dress appropriately for family type entertainment. NO SHORTS on stage please. Your cooperation helps us                       
 promote your contest. ALL DECISIONS of the judges and the Contest Committee are final.


                                                                                        


Payson Fiddlers' Committee
P.O. Box 141
Payson, AZ  85547