Karaoke Contest

This exciting and entertaining vocal competition features your favorite anime, Japanese pop, and video game songs. Whether you’re performing or cheering, this event celebrates creativity and diversity of vocal performance on the convention stage. Give a grand performance, sing solo, or perform as part of a group! Sign up and show off your talent; join your fellow attendees for a fun, friendly competition!

Please email karaoke@kumoricon.org if you have any questions.

Eligibility

The contest is open to all registered Kumoricon attendees. You must have a valid Kumoricon badge for the day of the contest. It is free to sign up for the contest.

General information

Contest entry will run until all spots are filled. Entries are first-come, first-served. If all spots are filled, additional entries will be placed on a waiting list in case of cancellations.

Waiting list forms can be found in the Karaoke Lounge in case of cancellations or not enough contestants; please be prepared beforehand. To be assured a spot in the contest, we highly recommend that you enter online early in the entry period before the convention. Please note though that every year, we get some cancellations and no-shows, so even if you are on the waiting list, your chances of being in the contest are still very good.

Auditions

Check-in Requirement

All pre‑registered contestants are required to check in at the Karaoke Lounge no later than 20 minutes prior to their assigned audition time; please inform staff if someone is accompanying you during your auditions. Individual time slots will be posted on the board located outside the audition room.

Line Formation

Contestants must line up outside the Karaoke Lounge doors while staff prepare the room for auditions. Please remain mindful of nearby rooms where other programming may be in progress.

Audition Entry

Once auditions begin, only contestants who have completed check‑in will be called. Each contestant may be accompanied by supporters during their audition.

Required Materials for Check-in

• Your Kumoricon badge
• The music you will use for your audition, provided in one of the following formats:
  • Audio CD
  • MP3 format (uploaded on the form when applying; you can send via email as well to karaoke@)
  • USB drive

Contestants who do not have the required formats will not be allowed to participate. Please communicate in advance if you are struggling to get the format.

Audition results will be emailed to contestants by the end of Friday night no later than 11:59pm and will also be posted outside the Karaoke Lounge Saturday morning.

Contest Categories

This year, we’ve combined our 2 contests into one: The Kumoricon Karaoke Contest!

Participants will be judged primarily on vocal ability, but groups are still welcome to perform. Dance and cosplay can earn you bonus points BUT If your performance includes choreography, the focus will still be on how well you maintain your vocals while dancing.

All Idol entrants must provide a karaoke or instrumental version of their song so judges can clearly hear their vocals—no backup or lead vocals allowed. This rule will be strictly enforced with no exceptions.

Both solo acts and groups will be allowed to enter, but all members of the group must sing, either as lead or as a backup. Backup dancers are not allowed. If the number of group members exceeds the number of microphones, you will have to share (3 mics will be provided).

All members of the group must perform in both rounds to be eligible for a reward.

Once you have checked in, you may not switch group members. Adding, subtracting, or substituting group members in between rounds of the contest are prohibited and will disqualify you. Contestants may only compete for one group or one solo act.

Song Selection

Eligible songs must be from one of the following categories: anime-related, video game, Japanese songs, Donghua, and K-pop entries are permitted only if the song was created for an anime opening or ending theme. Example: Everlasting shine by TXT opening theme for Black Clover or LEvel opening theme for Solo leveling.

English-dubbed versions of an anime series are acceptable. For example: the dub version of Attack on Titan OST, or the 90’s Sailor Moon intro.

We do not allow English songs that were not originally created for an anime series or straight covers of such songs (for example: Fly Me to the Moon, or a “popular” song used as an anime series theme song, or AmaLee covers). English songs which are significantly changed or adapted from the original version are not allowed. If you are in doubt as to whether a song is acceptable for the contest, please ask Karaoke Staff before entering, and we will make a ruling.

Be prepared to sing at least two different songs. If two people make it to the final round with the same song, one or both will be asked to sing an alternative for the final round. You may sing your first choice for the audition round. Preparing a third song is recommended but not required. You may sing the same song for both the audition and the final round.

Songs are limited to the following lengths:

• Audition round:
  • 3 minutes (TV version, or 1 verse and 1 chorus)
• Final round: 6 minutes

Songs longer than these limits will fade out by staff when the limit is reached. If the contestant wishes a song to end early, they must indicate so to the Karaoke Staff either by placing the microphone back on the stand and bowing to the audience, or motioning with pointing a finger down.

Song formats

Contestants must provide their own music. You can either upload your song when you enter online or bring it in either audio CD format or as an MP3 on a USB flash drive. No phones, portable music players, MDs, or cassettes are allowed. Karaoke versions (instrumental tracks without lead vocals) are strongly recommended. You will lose points in Vocal Performance if the judges cannot hear your voice.

We will make a reasonable effort to return your CD or USB to you, but we are not responsible for lost or forgotten CDs/USBs. It is the responsibility of the contestant to claim their CD/USB after the contest! Unclaimed CDs and USBs will be available in the Karaoke Lounge until the end of the convention.

Contestants must provide their own song lyrics if needed for auditions. Song lyrics must be the original lyrics from the original version of the song. When applying please include a link to your song lyrics.

Lyrics must be memorized for the final round.

Contestants may not sing a cappella style—you must have a backing track.

Songs must be in their original format and may not be edited, remixed, or otherwise altered by the contestant or other party in any way.

Judging

Contestants will be assigned a numerical score by each judge based on vocal performance and showmanship. In addition, contestants may earn Bonus Points. Bonus Points may be awarded for elements such as maintaining vocal quality while performing creative choreography, engaging the audience, or portraying their character (cosplay) effectively. These are examples only and are not a checklist; judges may use their discretion based on each individual performance.

The scores from all judges will be added together to determine the contestant’s total score. All decisions made by the judges are final.

Awards

Examples of awards provided:

Kumoricon Karaoke:

• First Place, Solo
• First Place, Duo/Group
• Second Place, Solo
• Second Place, Duo/Group

Prizes will be available for pick-up in the Programming Office later in the convention,and all winners will receive plaques.

Conduct

As a convention for anime fans of all ages, Kumoricon has certain standards of behavior which all convention attendees should abide by at all times. For more information, please refer to the convention code of conduct.

The following rules are in addition to the Kumoricon code of conduct that applies to all attendees:

• All aspects of the act, including (but not limited to) costume, conduct on stage, and song lyrics, are to abide by no more than a PG standard. If you’re 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, Karaoke Staff reserve the right to disqualify offenders from the contest or terminate the act 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 Emcee is allowed. Contestants may not touch or approach the judges’ table. Contestants may not go into the audience or use an audience member in their act. Actions that encourage general audience participation as a whole, such as asking the crowd to clap, are allowed.
• The only persons allowed in the performing area are the Emcee, Kumoricon staff, judges, and contestants. Friends, relatives, fans, mascots, managers, agents, and any other persons not actually performing in the contest are not allowed on stage.
• Please respect the equipment; No Mic drops allowed or rough handling of any of the equipment.

Entry form

Online entries are open until all spots are filled.