The Unofficial AX Karaoke FAQ

- as compiled by Duo
v4.00 - 03/04/2004


Introduction:

First let me say that this is an unofficial FAQ, meaning that the AX Karaoke staff could counter or deny anything said herein. I will try to update and keep this FAQ as current as I possibly can... however if there is a specific question you would like to clarify, please contact the staff directly at karaoke@anime-expo.org. For the most up-to-date open mic and contest rules, visit www.anime-expo.org. See the change logs for an overview of changes to this FAQ. I hope this helps and keeps the board from being cluttered with too many repetitive questions :P


For in-depth coverage of the AX Karaoke Contest, check out my coverages of the AX2002, AX2001 and AX2000 Contests. There was no coverage for AX2003 -_-.


Forums for AX Karaoke discussion can also be found on the Karaoke Forum of the Anime-Expo Message Board


AX2004 Karaoke Contest Schedule
  • Thursday, March 04: Karaoke Contest rules and Karaoke Open Mic Rules posted
  • Sunday, April 25 to Sunday, June 13: Contest signups period (limited to 50 + 5)
  • Tuesday, June 15: Tentative Contest Start Order posted
  • Wednesday, June 23: Deadline for all song and start order change requests
  • Monday, June 28: Final Contest Start Order posted
  • Friday, July 2: Karaoke Contest Preliminary Round
  • TBD: Karaoke Contest Finals

Conduct at AX Karaoke

As a convention for anime fans of all ages, Anime Expo has certain standards of behavior which all convention attendees should abide by at all times. Karaoke is no exception.

All aspects of the act, including, but not limited to: costume, conduct on stage, and song lyrics, are to abide by no worse than a "PG-13" standard. If you're in doubt as to whether something is suitable, just ask yourself, "Would you do this in front of you mother?" If you're still in doubt, please email or post and tell us what you have in mind, and we'll work something out.

If any violations of this policy occur, Anime Expo Karaoke reserves the right to disqualify offenders from the contest or terminate the act in mid-song. In extreme cases, offenders may also be subject to convention penalties, including loss of badge and removal from the convention.

During the contest, no interaction with the judges or the MC is allowed. Contestants may not touch or approach the judge's table. Contestants also may not go into the audience, or use an audience member in their act.

The only persons allowed in the performing area are the MC, Anime Expo staff and guests, judges, and contestants. Friends, relatives, fans, mascots, managers, agents and any other persons or beings not actually singing in the contest are not allowed on stage.




Original vs Bootleg

(Re-written 02/09/2002) Okay, this concept comes up as a big debate every year in some shape or form so I'm gonna put this up front. If you still want to debate this issue, feel free to rant away at one of the boards :) Also, everything said herein this section is "TO MY KNOWLEDGE". I do NOT attest to how legally accurate it may be.

"Bootleg" essential defines products which infringes upon copyrights of an artist or company by reproducing these products for sale without proper licensing. As this FAQ pertains to AX Karaoke, I will only address CD issues, in particular SM/EverAnime CD's. SM/EverAnime CD's are licensed... for sale in Taiwan only... as are original Japanese CD's licensed... for sale in Japan only. Upon reaching US soil, they are effectively gray market merchandise, which essentially they're not outright illegal nor are they protected by copyrights and customs. The only exception would be if the CD was licensed to an AMERICAN company. Essentially, if Viz chose to, they could pull all Ranma theme CDs out of the dealers hall (from anywhere!) because they hold the license for its sale in the US.

Since that is the case as I understand it, the karaoke staff has been officially told by AX that the policing of what MAY or MAY NOT constitute as bootleg material is not the responsibility of AX Karaoke. Such issues are to be the responsibility of any respective rights holders to pursue. What does this mean for you?? This means that the staff will accept the use of CD's and CD-R's without questioning it's origin.

As a personal sidenote: We should all be more aware of bootleg issues, particularly regarding anime merchandise, for which we express such devotions to. Sometimes it may be easier to be the "blind" consumer, but we should all make an effort to find out how our buying habits may or may not be supporting this medium. That is all. Please direct all flames to this section to the ezboard.

What is acceptable media to bring?
CD's or CD-R's. Karaoke is ran from a computer and they will not be supporting media other than CD's or CD-R's. Contestents must provide their own songs on audio CD format ONLY (meaning the cd or cd-r must be playable by a regular cd-player). CD-R's with mp3s/wavs, CD-RW's, hybrid CD-R's, MD's or cassettes will not be acceptable.


- General AX Karaoke Questions

What kind of songs can I sing?
  • For open-mic:
    ANY songs, including American, JPop and JRock... but anime/gaming related songs are preferred. Some songs may be denied due to content (just remember PG-13).

  • For the contest:
    Anime/gaming related songs, J-Pop or J-Rock songs will be accepted, however at least ONE of your planned contest songs must be anime related. Anime related songs include: opening themes, ending themes, insert songs (songs used during the anime), image songs (songs marketed as being sung by characters from anime), anime drama tracks, anime radio tracks or even anime inspired musicals.

    English or other non-Japanese songs from dubbed version of an anime series or game are okay. (For example German Sailormoon or songs from Robotech.) Straight covers of English songs by Japanese artists are not allowed. (For example, Fly me to the Moon (Evangelion) and Human Touch (Gundam X) would not be allowed because they are covers of original English releases, whereas Duvet (Lain) and Eyes on Me (FFVIII) would be allowed because they are original English songs for the respective series.) When in doubt, contact the AX Karaoke staff before signing up for them to make a ruling.

    Songs that are used must be in their original format as on the released CD and may not be edited, altered, cropped, or remixed by the contestant or other party in any way. Remixes which have appeared on an official released CD (for example, the "Parisian Mix" of Moonlight Densetsu, or one of the many different remixes of Ayumi songs) are okay. The use of instruments and singing a capella are also not allowed.

    Do you have to sing in Japanese?
    No, in fact you can sing in any language you so desire so long as you can provide the music for it. But for the contest, it still has to be a JPop/JRock release or anime/gaming related regardless of what language it is in. See     "What kind of songs can I sing?" for clarification.

    When is karaoke open mic and contest scheduled?
    This is inconsistent as scheduling is done by Anime-Expo and not the karaoke staff. Usually, times and location for open mic and contest will be made available 3-4 weeks prior to Anime-Expo. Whether there will be a 24/3 karaoke room come AX2004 at the Anaheim Convention Center, is uncertain at the moment. For AX2004, the contest prelims is on Friday, July 2nd (time TBD) and the semis/finals date and time are TBD.

    Do I have to bring my own music?
    The karaoke staff has an extensive personal collection of songs to choose from, but they don't, nor can they possibly have everything anyone wants. So, the safest bet would be to bring your own if you want to sing a particular song. Contestants for the karaoke contest must bring their own music for the contest! In general, don't depend on anyone but yourself if you need to sing a particular song.

    Does AX Karaoke have such and such a song?
    A list of available songs from their collection is available at the sign-up desk. At the time of open-mic sign-up, you may ask to see this list or inquire if a particular song is available. Feel free to bring in your own CD (CD Audio only) for open-mic. Just remember to pick them up after you sing!! Contestants: Do not rely on the availability of the staff's library for the contest. You must bring your own music for the contest.

    How big is the karaoke room?
    Again, this is outside of the karaoke staff's control as they are assigned by Anime-Expo. Usually though, the rooms assigned can sit anywhere from 150-700 people. Whatever room size is assigned, it is strictly regulated by fire code standards so be at the contest early to make sure you have a seat. There are usually no crowd problems at open mic. AX2004 Karaoke will be held in the     California Pavilion B on the second floor of the Anaheim Hilton and Towers.


    - Questions re: AX Karaoke Contest (General Topic)

    What kind of songs can I sing?
  • For open-mic:
    ANY songs, including American, JPop and JRock... but anime/gaming related songs are preferred. Some songs may be denied due to content (just remember PG-13).

  • For the contest:
    Anime/gaming related songs, J-Pop or J-Rock songs will be accepted, however at least ONE of your planned contest songs must be anime related. Anime related songs include: opening themes, ending themes, insert songs (songs used during the anime), image songs (songs marketed as being sung by characters from anime), anime drama tracks, anime radio tracks or even anime inspired musicals.

    English or other non-Japanese songs from dubbed version of an anime series or game are okay. (For example German Sailormoon or songs from Robotech.) Straight covers of English songs by Japanese artists are not allowed. (For example, Fly me to the Moon (Evangelion) and Human Touch (Gundam X) would not be allowed because they are covers of original English releases, whereas Duvet (Lain) and Eyes on Me (FFVIII) would be allowed because they are original English songs for the respective series.) When in doubt, contact the AX Karaoke staff before signing up for them to make a ruling.

    Songs that are used must be in their original format as on the released CD and may not be edited, altered, cropped, or remixed by the contestant or other party in any way. Remixes which have appeared on an official released CD (for example, the "Parisian Mix" of Moonlight Densetsu, or one of the many different remixes of Ayumi songs) are okay. The use of instruments and singing a capella are also not allowed.

    How is the karaoke contest conducted?
    The karaoke contest consists of three rounds (Prelims, Semis & Finals) for the Individuals category and two rounds (Prelims & Finals) for the Groups category. All entrants must pre-register for the contest and plan different songs for each of the rounds. Songs may not be re-used by the same contestant. The prelims will be held on the first night of the convention (July 02, 2004), with the (individual) semi-finals and (both) finals held consecutively on a second night (date TBD).

    What is the time limit for each round?
  • Prelims: 2 1/2 minutes (Individuals), 5 minutes (Groups)
  • Semis: 5 minutes (Individuals only)
  • Finals: 6 minutes (both Individuals and Groups)

    If you wish to be faded out at a specific point PRIOR to the time limit, indicate so to the karaoke staff by placing the microphone back on the stand and bowing to the audience, or giving the cut/hand across the throat signal. Songs running up to the time limit will be faded out AT the time limit (even if it's in the middle of a line).

    How many entries will be accepted?
    50 entries (either groups or individuals) will be accepted at initial sign-ups. Online waiting list sign-ups will be limited to 5 entries. Additional waiting list sign-ups will be available AT-CON. The people from this second list will fill into the main list if there are any no-shows and/or cancellations. And there are ALWAYS no-shows and cancellations...

    Can I enter as an individual and be in a group entry with my friends?
    No... ^^;

    Can you schedule the contest not to conflict with such and such an event?
    Anime-Expo event scheduling is out of the hands of karaoke staff. Certainly they work with AX staff to get a good time slot, a good location, good equipment, the ok for all night karaoke, etc, etc. But in the end, you work with what you're dealt with. So when the schedule comes out, pick karaoke and ignore whatever other conflicting event you wanted to go to :P

    How many individual and group entries will make it to the semi-finals? finals?
    The top twelve individual qualifiers from the preliminary round advance to the semi-final round. The top five individual qualifiers from the semi-final round advance straight to the finals, from which the individual winners are determined.

    The top group qualifiers from the Preliminary round advance directly to the Finals. The exact number of group finalists will depend on the number of group entries, and will be announced at the beginning of the contest. There is no semi-final round for the Group category.

    When will semi-finalists and finalists be announced?
    Semi-finalists (including alternates) are usually announced after a short break at the end of the preliminaries and posted at the karaoke room and information desk by noon of the next day. Finalists are announced shortly after the semi-finals round and will compete immediately following the announcement.

    Who are the judges?
    There are usually 3-5 judges and consists of karaoke staff and friends, music professionals, previous year winners, celebrity personalities and possibly Guest of Honor for the semi-finals and finals.

    How are judging done?
    Each judge is given specific judging guidelines as prescribed by the karaoke staff each year. Contestants will be scored on vocal/singing performance (67%), and showmanship/presentation (33%). In addition, "Coolness Points" can be earned. Coolness Points can be earned for anything which, simply, in the judge's determination, is cool, and can add up to an additional 10% bonus to the score.

    In case of a tie in the preliminary or semi-final rounds, the tied acts will all advance. In case of a tie in the finals, the following tiebreakers will be applied to determine the winner:
    - Most Coolness Points in the final round
    - Most Coolness Points in the entire contest
    - Straight vote of the judges

    Preliminary scores are used to determine semi-finalists, semi-final scores are used to determine finalists. 25% semi-finals (for individuals)/prelims(for groups) scores (for Individuals) AND the finals scores are used to determine winners.

    What do you win?
    Trophies will be awarded to 1st and 2nd placed Individuals and 1st and 2nd placed Groups during the Anime-Expo closing ceremonies. The first place winners also get free admissions to the next Anime-Expo. Prize packages may be awarded to all semi-finalists and finalists (content varies based on the sponsorship). In addition, Judge's Choice awards will be given in the preliminary round at their discretion. Contestants do not have to qualify for the semifinals to be eligible for a Judge’s Choice award.


    - Questions re: AX Karaoke Contest (Registration)

    Who can sign up for the contest?
    Anyone who has/will have Anime-Expo membership, attendees or volunteers, for the relevant days for which the AX Karaoke Contest is held (Friday AND TBD day of the finals). This is at time of check-in, not at time of sign-up... so you can sign up for karaoke then register for AX at the door.

    Anime Expo Staff and Crew, guests of honor, industry members, and the previous year's contest winners are ineligible for the contest.

    How/When can I sign up for the karaoke contest?
    Online sign-ups are are tentatively scheduled for April 25th-June 13th, 2004. Keep an eye out on the     AX Karaoke Forum for sign-up instructions. Pre-con sign-ups are done online and you must have all your songs chosen and fill out the form completely to be properly registered for the contest.

    The initial 50 slots for sign-ups are usually filled up in under 3 weeks so be on your toes about sign-ups if you really want to compete. Don't worry if you don't get into the first 50 slots either because there's always no-shows/drop-outs... but it doesn't hurt to be certain by being that first 50 ^__^

    At con sign-ups are also accepted on the first day prior to the contest during open mic (12 noon-6pm), but as previously stated, it's almost a certainty that you'll be placed on the waiting list if you sign up at the con.

    Can I change my songs after I sign up?
    Yes you may make two sets of changes after your initial sign-up. Any change after that will be considered a re-sign up for the contest and will be placed in the back of the queue accordingly. Tentative deadline for song change requests is June 23rd, 2004.

    When will the karaoke contest order/schedule be out?
    Preliminary start order will be posted to the     AX Karaoke Forum on June 15th, 2004. Change requests will be accepted until June 23rd, 2004. Final start order will be posted to the AX Karaoke Forum on June 28th, 2004. These dates are currently tentative.

    What if I get assigned a conflicting time-slot?
    When you sign up, you'll give your choice of which assignment group to be placed into. Depending on how soon you sign up and how many people are in your particular group, you won't know what time you'll go til the order list of contestants are released. If you know beforehand of time conflicts (say you won't arrive at Anime-Expo until 7pm or you're holding a panel at 8:00-9:00), then please inform the staff at the time of registration so that you may be given consideration. These are granted on a case by case basis. See     "When will the karaoke contest order/schedule be out?" for dates of order list release and deadlines for change requests.

    What if I can't make it to check-in on time?
    All contestants must check in before the contest to confirm their spot. Contestants who fail to check in will lose their spot in the contest. This includes contestants on the waiting list. Tentatively contest check-in is scheduled during open mic times from 12 noon-6pm prior to the preliminary round on Friday, July 2nd, 2004. If you can't check-in by this time, you probably can't make it in time for the contest anyway? Contact the AX Karaoke staff directly if this is a problem for you.


    - Questions re: AX Karaoke Contest (Contestant Concerns)

    Group rules!
    Logistically, groups should consist of no more than six (6) people because of the limits of mics (2-3) and staging area. Every member of the group must perform and must sing (as either lead vocals or backup) in every round of the competition.

    Once you have checked in, you may not switch group members. Adding, subtracting, or substituting group members in between rounds of a contest are prohibited and subject to disqualification.

    Do I need the TV version of a song for preliminary rounds?
    No, TV versions are not required. Preliminary rounds are limited to 2 1/2 minutes. If the song runs beyond the time limit, it will be faded out. You WILL be faded out in the middle of a stanza, so it would be good to choose a song with a natural break somewhere BEFORE the 2 1/2 minute mark.

    Vocal tracks vs karaoke tracks
    Both vocal tracks and karaoke tracks are accepted for the contest. Vocal dampening will be required/enforced for all vocal (non-karaoke) tracks used in the contest. Original karaoke tracks will not be run through the vocal dampening software. The official vocal dampening software that will be used for AX2003 Karaoke Contest is:     DeFX Multi-effects processor Plug-in for XMMS (version 0.9.9). A Windows version (0.97) plug-in for Winamp can be found HERE!!!. It is recommended that all contestants using any vocal tracks for the contest try out your song through the plug-in prior to the contest.

    What is vocal dampening?
    "What is vocal muting? Well, to be honest it's not muting at all. It uses DSP (Digital Signal Processing), a fancy way of saying that it dampens certain frequencies. The end result is that vocals sound quieter but are not completely removed. So you can still hear them if you strain your ears but if you're really singing then people will hear you and not the original vocal track. For those of you worried about losing vocals, you probably will still be able to hear them." - Hong

    For those dying to understand the mechanics of vocal dampening,     click here to read a short discussion by Hong (AX Karaoke Head Techie) and Justin (noted AMV creator).

    Will there be a problem hearing the music when I perform?
    Well this depends :b At AX2000, I was told you can't hear nothing. So at AX2001, I requested a feedback monitor which was okay if you stood in the center of the stage, which means some performers did and some didn't. AX2002 prelims were okay, semis/finals were horrendous. Perhaps in the coming year, the staff will have better acoustics set up. Monitors were requested of the staff... whether they can get it or not... ... ...

    How loud will the mics be?
    Neither vocal dampening nor cd playback will affect the mic volumes because they're being fed by different lines. By the same token, the mic volumes will be adjusted for each contestant so they can be heard.

    Are lyrics sheets allowed?
    Yes lyrics sheets are allowed. I'll even spare an evil green eye of envy (o.O) for all those people who go up to sing with cd insert booklets. Just keep in mind that holding up a sheet of paper in front of your face would seriously hamper your performance scores. For the contest, you should provide your own lyrics to be absolutely certain you have them available.

    Lighting and staging and mics, oh my! (aka General Staging Questions)
  • How many mics will there be? Two CORDLESS (thanks mostly to SadSiren and her 2003 donation) and possibly one more corded and taped to the floor with enough slack to allow for some movement. Each of the mics have their own stands should you want to use them.
  • Can I bring my own mic? The answer is no because in all fairness, everyone is to only use the mics that are provided by AX.
  • Will lighting options be available? No, because making such an option available to all contestants will probably be too cumbersome and complicated.
  • Will there be a lyrics stand? Only if they remember to bring it...
  • Will there be stage hands? Most likely... if not, the MC's do well enough...
  • Can you use your own stage hands? The general answer to this question would be "no". However if there is something performance specific that you're planning which requires your own stage hands, then contact the karaoke staff individually with specifics for approval.

    How big is the "stage"?
    This changes every year depending on the room that the karaoke staff gets. The "stage" is usually the front part of the conference room that karaoke is held in. Roughly speaking? I'd say about 20-25ft wide by 10-15ft deep. The one time a stage was available (at AX2002 semis/finals), it was not a very deep modular stage where you still have the option to perform on "ground" level if you chose to.

    AX2004 Karaoke will be held in the California Pavilion B of the Anaheim Hilton & Towers. Requested stage size and "ground" space are pending.


    - Questions Open Mic Karaoke

    How are open mic sign-ups conducted?
    Open mic is done MOSTLY by a first-come, first-serve basis. To minimize waiting times and to give everybody a chance, you must wait until you have sung your song before you can sign up to sing another one. Generally, songs will be performed by the order in which people signed up. However, the staff reserve the right to shuffle people around if: a) the song in question was very recently performed by someone else, or b) the performer in question has signed up repeatedly to the exclusion of other people. Another words, don't hog the mic and pick something unique ^_^

    Will lyrics be provided?
    Yes, lyrics will be made available to the best of the staff's ability. The staff aren't magicians, if you want to sing a song that you couldn't find lyrics to on the web or otherwise, don't expect the staff to have them. A printer is set up as a convenience only for those who came to open mic unprepared for particular songs.


    Words of Wisdom... (from "Athena")
    (post #394 on the AX Karaoke Club on Yahoo)

    The first part of this is just pointers to everyone:

    1. Doraemon was right, you have to have fun because if you look scared to death on stage, the audience is uncomfortable.

    2. Practice. Practice till you're very comfortable with the song and any moves you have created, or you move naturally to the song. Then practice some more. Then practice in front of people, then practice in front of people you don't know well. The more you practice in front of people the easer it will be for the real thing.

    3. Don't pick a song because you adore it, if you aren't capable of it. Pick a song you enjoy but can also do well. Don't down your favorite song immediately though. If you practice it enough you may be able to do it. But have backup if you dont' think you can pull it off.

    4. Even if you don't make up dance moves, find some way to move and not just stand there with a mic. The more you move, the more comfortable you look, and the better your preformance comes across. Take time to walk across the stage, a slow stride is fine, or move forward, move backward. You get the idea.

    5. If you're working with a group, try to have some sembalance of belonging. At least wear the same color shirt and pants etc. It comes across better. If you're a solo, something that fits the song would be a good idea. It doesn't have to be fancy, just something that matches the mood of your song.

    Erm.. that's all I can think of right now. I don't know it all but this is what I've discovered in my preformances. And it seems to work well for the karaoke contest too.


    Words of Wisdom... (from Jon Shin)
    (post #431 on the AX Karaoke Club on Yahoo)

    Hey y'all. I've been noticing that everyone says stuff like "I have a great semi-finals song, I hope I get there." That attitude won't get you anywhere. If you have a great routine that you know kicks major ass, then believe in yourself. Nothing is worse than a performer that doesn't believe in himself/herself.I'm not saying be a jackass and cocky and go out to tell everyone you're going to kick their butt. But if you got what it takes, then believe in yourself. Yea, there's only one winner and one winner for group competition, but no matter how good or bad someone else's performance is, it won't make yours any better or any worse. So go out there and strut your stuff karaokers!


    Not really wisdom... (from me!)
    (posted repeatedly and all over the place over and over and over again)

    Since I tell people this all the time when they ask questions about such and such... I thought I'd just post it once here. Live by this rule and you'll do fine ^___^

    JUST HAVE FUN!!!


    Words of Wisdom... (from Randy Bautista)
    (transcribed from a post on the AX Karaoke Forum)

    Ultimately, performance is about energy. When you step on stage as a performer, you step into a community consisting of yourself and your audience, and the movement of energy within that community is what separates a mediocre performance and a great performance. As a performer, you are a conductor of that energy.

    How do you conduct that energy well? Well first comes the preparation of the song. The first thing you should do is listen to the song and ask yourself what it's trying to say. Where are the emotional climaxes, and how do you want to get there? The emotion is irrelevant, whether it's upbeat, or solemn, or even a little bit of both; the idea is that you want to take your audience on this emotional roller-coaster with peaks and valleys, and you want to plan how you want to get there. That means knowing what words to accent, where to get louder and where to get softer, when to be graceful and when to be harsh. How thoughtful you are in this aspect will determine how the energy will move during your performance. Some performers were so concentrated on getting the words right, where to go in, and so forth that they didn't even seem to know what the song was even about. If you are lost as a performer, your audience will be lost as well.

    During the actual performance, staying relaxed, getting rid of tension, breathing deeply, and dropping the jaw so your sound comes out is the general idea. As you listen to the song, figure out the rhythm of the song, feel it out, and the breathing should come naturally. Even when you are soft, it is still important to breathe and to keep the jaw open, because you still want that energy to move. If you have no air and your mouth is too small for the sound to come out, you'll lose energy. Try to keep it open while you're singing out (without stressing out your throat). You'll have a better flow of air, your sound will be better, and the overall energy will improve.

    Last thing I want to mention is about heart. There were a lot of contestants who didn't seem like they had their heart in their performances. The contestants who had great performances had heart because they LOVED what they were doing. As a performer, you have to love to perform, love the butterflies, love the energy, and love the audience. A lot of the contestants sabotaged themselves by thinking too much: thinking about the words of their song, thinking about what the audience would thinking, or worse, thinking about what the JUDGES would think. Remember, the judges are judging your performance, so you have to think as a performer first, and as a contestant second. When you start your performance, you've just gotta think "F**K THE CONTEST, I'M JUST GONNA AMAZE THOSE PEOPLE." The more relaxed and confident you are, the better the results.

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