The event will be held at the Florida State Fairgrounds in the Ag Hall of Fame building.  Registration starts at 3 p.m. with live auditions beginning in order of arrival by each contestant.  Parking and admission is free for this event.  Visitors should enter the property via the Orient Road entrance and follow the signs to the building for auditions.  Only live auditions will be considered; any other audition format such as video or audio tapes will be disqualified.  The 2010 Florida State Fair International Talent Competition is open only to individuals who are 18 years of age or older and are legally eligible to work in the United States.  The decisions of the judging panel are final.  There are no appeals or second chances.

The Florida State Fair will select the best performers from each category and invite them to compete before a live audience and judges at the next 2010 Florida State Fair held on Feb. 4-15.  Those who make it to the next round will be given a specific date and time to perform during the fair and vie for the grand prize.  Performance contracts will be offered to the best four contestants and those who accept the contract terms will be paid to perform at the 2011 Florida State Fair.  The grand prize for overall best performer is a twelve day contract, first runner up receives a contract to perform for two weekends, second runner up receives a contract to perform on the first weekend and the third runner up will be offered a contract to perform on the last weekend of the 2011 Florida State Fair. 

Rip Stalvey, Director of Marketing and Museum Operations for the Florida State Fair, comments that, "The International Talent Competition is part of the state fair’s overall expansion of an area renamed the World Village for the 2010 Florida State Fair.  It will feature international entertainment, culture, historical tributes, and authentic foods from Hispanic and African-American influence.  The area began as a Hispanic Village in 2008 and the overall goal over the next few years is to diversify the area to showcase other popular cultures from around the world."

Simple instructions for contestants who plan to audition:

1. Choose what category you are auditioning for.
2. Come prepared with accompanying music or instruments necessary to demonstrate your talent. 
3. Arrive on time for registration to read all paperwork and complete any necessary forms.  Forms are in English so please bring an English translator if necessary.
4. Due to time restrictions, performance time is limited to 1 minute in length -- not an entire song. For example, choose the best 16 bars that really show your singing ability.
5. Be sure that your playback is pre-keyed to the selection you want to interpret.
6. Costumes are NOT required.  Judging is based on talent not your outfit. Simple non-distracting clothes and appropriate dance wear is acceptable.
7. Parents, spouses, or any other people accompanying are not allowed to speak or provide assistance during the auditioning process.  

The 106th annual Florida State Fair will take place on February 4-15, 2010.  The Florida State Fair – always in Tampa and always in February – is organized by the Florida State Fair Authority under the leadership of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.  Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson leads the Fair Authority, which oversees the Florida State Fairgrounds and the annual Florida State Fair.  For more information about the Florida State Fair or the Fairgrounds, visit online www.floridastatefair.com, call toll-free (800) 345-FAIR or (813) 621-7821.

The Florida State Fair Authority oversees the Florida State Fairgrounds year-round and is a non-profit organization which operates primarily from revenues generated from the annual State Fair and other ongoing operations during the year.  Presently, the FSFA does not receive any state tax appropriations from Hillsborough County, City of Tampa, nor the State of Florida.

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For press relations inquiries, please contact a Fair Authority staff member as identified below:

(1)  Denise Shreaves – Manager of Marketing & Public Relations for the Florida State Fair Authority
E-mail shreavd@doacs.state.fl.us / Office #: (813) 627-4314 / Cell #: (813) 732-0141

(2)  Rip Stalvey – Director of Marketing & Museum Operations for the Florida State Fair Authority
E-mail stalver1@doacs.state.fl.us / Office #: (813) 627-4222 / Cell #: (813) 477-3138

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