2024 Online Regional Rules

About this event:

This is the registration page for the 2024 US Air Guitar Championships – Online Twitch Regional.

YOU MUST BE 18+ TO COMPETE!!!

To enter the Official Championships you must accept the terms of entry and pay the $20 entry fee.

If you win the Online Regional, you will receive a guaranteed competition slot in the 2024 National Finals in Cleveland, OH on July 20th.

* Details on standard rules of competition here! *

Click "TICKETS" to provide registration information and pay your entry fee.

Once you place your order, will receive instructions on how to submit your performance videos.

For more information, please contact the organizer via email at contact@usairguitar.com

Good luck!

- US Air Guitar

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SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:

This Regional will be conducted virtually
All performances must be recorded and submitted in advance (both round 1 and 2)
There are 15 competitor slots for this Regional
Entry for this Regional is first come, first serve
Your round 1 performance video MUST be received the Thursday before the date of the Regional.
For round 2, we will send compulsory tracks to all competitors 72 hours before their Regional (all must submit a round 2 video, as we won’t know who will make round 2).
Round 2 performance videos MUST be received 1 DAY BEFORE the date of the Regional (June 29th)

ORDER CONFIRMATION:

VIDEO SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Your round 1 performance video MUST be received the Thursday before the date of the Regional you’re competing in. Regional deadline is: June 27th by 11:59pm EST

For round 2, we will send compulsory tracks to all competitors 72 hours before their Regional. Round 2 performance videos MUST be received 1 DAY BEFORE the date of the Regional. Regional deadline is: June 29th by 11:59pm EST

IMPORTANT: review general rules of competition here: www.usairguitar.com/rules

TO UPLOAD VIDEOS PLEASE USE THIS FORM: https://forms.gle/fZug4eyjxpvJhGCn6
If you have any problems email us at contact@usairguitar.com

Video Submission Criteria

Requirements:

  • Your videos must be shot in standard 16:9 landscape format (portrait format will not be accepted)

  • The total length of your track must be no longer than 60 seconds (you do not have to point your finger to start, but when any audio starts to play that is NOT part of your environment, it has 60 seconds to finish or you will be asked to do it over)

  • The total length of your video must be no longer than 90 seconds

  • Your video must be taken in one shot with one camera—do not submit a video with multiple takes that are edited together – no jump cuts or multiple camera angles

  • You may NOT add after-effects to your video with the one exception of overdubbing your audio for better sound quality

  • This ALSO MEANS that you cannot process effects onto your video as they are shot: no Instagram or Snapchat filters, no digital overlays, no slow motion or time lapse—film your routine as it is meant to be seen as if you were live

  • Please abide by Twitch rules, and specifically do NOT show yourself doing drugs (real or fake - drinking alcohol is okay), do NOT include any nudity in your video and do NOT film anything dangerous in cars

  • If your video does not meet the above criteria, your entry will be subject to rejection – we will reach out to you with concerns upon submission

  • Additional recommendations — strongly encouraged, but not requirements:

    • Please shoot in HD (most cell phones even have 4k mode)

    • Ensure sound is clear — overdubbing music for better audio helps!

    • Art directing or lighting the setting/background is encouraged

    • Good cinematography is also encouraged—you may zoom in, zoom out, use a friend to follow you or send a dolly flying into your face at 100 mph…just make sure it's all done in ONE take.

As in live shows, there may only be 1 person playing air guitar or performing to the track

  • There may be assistants off camera helping with the staging of the performance

  • It’s ok if other people appear in the frame in the background, or as “crowd”

  • But other members of an air band, dancers or other performers are not allowed

  • If you have questions about this, let us know in advance and we can help clarify by emailing luke@usairguitar.com

 Standard Rules of Play

US Air Guitar contests each consist of two rounds:

  • Round 1 (freestyle): each competitor performs to a song of their choice

  • Round 2 (compulsory): top competitors from round 1 perform surprise song

This year’s Twitch Regionals will abide by the standard US Air Guitar performance rules:

  • Each performance is played to 1 minute (60 sec.) of a song

  • The 60 seconds can start anywhere in the song

  • The instrument must be invisible & must be a guitar

  • Air roadies are allowed, but must leave the “stage” before the performance

  • Back-up bands (air or real) are not allowed

  • Round 1 (freestyle): each competitor performs to a song of their choice, with top 5 advancing to round 2

    • In the event of tie scores, we will advance whatever number of contestants are at least tied for the 5th best score, e.g.

      • If 4 score 18.0 and 1 scores 17.9, then the top 5 advance

      • If 6 score 18.0 and 1 scores 17.9, then the first 6 advance

      • If 4 score above 17.5 and 3 are tied at 17.5, then all 7 advance

    • NOTE: in this year’s Regionals, Round 2 will feature “The Fan Favorite.” At the end of Round 1, USAG will host a survey in the Twitch chat to vote for the favorite performance that didn’t make the cut — the competitor with the most votes will be awarded a tie with 5th place and will be the first competitor of Round 2

  • Round 2 (compulsory): advancing competitors from round 1 will perform surprise song

 Judging Criteria

For each Regional, there is a jury of independent judges. The results of the jury cannot be protested. All performances are scored on a scale from 4.0 to 6.0, with 6.0 being the highest possible. Scores are given to one decimal point (e.g. 5.4, not 5.48). A single score is given to each air guitarist based on their overall performance in that round. The scores from BOTH ROUNDS are added to determine the contestants’ final scores. This combined score determines the winner.

The score reflects the quality of the performance based on three key criteria:

1. Technical merit

You don’t have to know what notes you’re playing, but the more your invisible fretwork corresponds to the music that’s playing, the better the performance.

2. Stage presence

Anyone can do it in the privacy of their bedroom. Few have what it takes to rock a crowd of hundreds or even thousands – all without an instrument.

3 Airness

The last criteria is the most difficult to define yet often the most decisive of all. Airness is defined as the extent to which a performance transcends the imitation of a real guitar and becomes an art form in and of itself.

 Tiebreakers

Only one performer from the Twitch Regional will advance to Finals

  • There will be no air-offs

  • If there is a two-way tie for first, the Judges will vote, and the performer with the highest number of votes will advance.

Prizes

The top competitor will get a slot in the 2024 National Finals and will receive a stipend for travel to the Finals.