Rule #1 is have fun. We want this to be enjoyable for everyone!
All acts must be 3 minutes or under. Performers can be any age or any talent!
After you apply, you will be contacted via email to attend a tech rehearsal, which is required. This rehearsal gives you the opportunity to try out your act on our stage with no pressure and get accustomed to the show format.
This is a family show. We cannot allow acts that are potentially dangerous (e.g. knife juggling), too messy (e.g. pie throwing) or not "family friendly" (e.g. comedian's blue material).
We enjoy acts with energy that thrill the crowd. Our theatre seats over 200 guests in stadium-style table seating, but our stage is somewhat small, so acts that require a great deal of room will not be ideal. Acts that are too complicated or have too many props (e.g. big drum kits), may not qualify.
WE CAN DO: We will provide microphones, a quarter-inch jack connection to plug in your instrument (e.g. guitar), chairs and stools. We will setup the stage the way you request before you go up to the stage. We can take your music and play it from our sound booth (make sure you read about "recorded music" rule below!)
WE CANNOT DO: We cannot search for music for you, edit or alter your music. We cannot give you LOTS of attention before or during the show — we have many elements of the show going on, so be ready to go up and do your thing. We cannot provide cords for your instrument. If you are plugging your guitar or instrument in (quarter inch phono jack) you must bring that cord with you.
IMPORTANT: We will play your RECORDED MUSIC (karaoke, backtracks, etc.) There are only TWO WAYS you are permitted to give us your music:
1. Drop your CD off to us at least 48 hours before the tech rehearsal (marked with your name and track you are using). You must drop this off to our Box Office at Vaudeville Cafe. You can drop it Tuesdays/Wednesdays noon to 3pm or Thursday/Fridays/Saturdays noon to 8pm.
2. You can also email your music as an MP3 file or a WAV file to us at least 48 hours before the tech rehearsal. (we will email you the email address) If you don't know how to do this, read this tutorial.
Either way you choose submit it, we will confirm via email that we have it. YOU CANNOT COME TO THE TECH REHEARSAL OR THE SHOW WITH THE CD IN YOUR HAND AND EXPECT US TO PLAY IT. Please understand that we cannot be handed CDs or ipods on the spot. You must submit your music in one of the two above ways so that we can put it all together for the show.
You will have an opportunity to inspect the stage and the theatre (you may do so anytime Tuesday-Friday noon to 5pm on your own) If your act on the night of the show is different than your rehearsal act, you are in danger of disqualification.
Vaudeville Cafe reserves the right to disqualify or bar performers for any reason. If a performer threatens to damage the integrity of the show, is unfair to other contestants or behaves in poor taste, they run the risk of disqualification.
Unfortunately, you cannot choose which Tuesday show you will compete in...so keep your Tuesday nights free! You will be scheduled on an evening that balances out with other acts. Once you have been scheduled to compete in a show, we cannot change you to another show and we cannot schedule you again for 30 days. Please understand that performers that have never performed on our stage may get priority for booking. We are receiving many applications and we are trying to represent all types of acts, ages and backgrounds. We hope that all performers display good sportsmanship in order to be invited to perform again.
The audience will be voting with their paid ticket receipts to ensure that all voters paid to get in and there are no repeat votes. You are welcomed and encouraged to invite friends and family to attend the show as paying and voting audience members.
If there is a TIE of any kind, then the $500 is split between winners. All winners are paid in cash in front of the audience.
Thank you for your interest and good luck! Application for performers
