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Frequently Asked Questions(2012 Update Coming Soon!)

 

Application and Registration

1. What is the deadline date for the contestant application?

January 1, 2012. You need to send the signed application, entrance fee, 5x7 black & white photo, CD, and a copy of your government issued photo ID via snail mail to:
IMsL, LLC
PO BOX 41032
BALTIMORE, MD 21203.

This package must be postmarked by January 1, 2012.

2. Can I submit the application electronically?

Yes and No. The application is a fillable Word document which you will complete and email to our contestant coordinator.  We will also need you to print a copy of the completed application, sign it and snail mail it to the above address, as it includes documents that our office needs in original hard copy: your liability waiver, model release, copy of government issued ID and 5x7 photograph.

4. Will I have any more paperwork after I fill out the Contestant Application?

Yes.

1. The contest director will provide a form to submit your fantasy outlines and accompanying music information. You will need to submit this information to him by February 1st.
2. The contestant coordinator will collect personal information such as allergies, travel details and contact information.
3. The contestant coordinator will also need a 300 word bio for the website (different from the 75-100 word included in application)
4. Auction Basket Donor Information – the donation form will be sent to you.
5. Auction Basket Item list

5. What is the difference between the short bio in the application and the longer one requested for the website?

What we are offering you is the opportunity to have a longer version of your bio posted on the website since it has to be so short for the program book. If you do not choose to submit a longer version, that is fine; we will simply use the shorter program book version on the website.

6. How do I register?

Registration will open in early November.  After sending in your application, you will receive registration instructions from our contestant coordinator.  

7. How do I register onsite?

Your registration packet will be given to you at contestant orientation on Thursday, March 29th.

Travel and Hotel

8. When do I need to arrive and when can I leave?

Arrive at the host hotel no later than 10am on Thursday, March 29th - your first required meeting will be the contestant orientation at approximately 11am.  With the exception of the winners, contestants may leave after brunch (approximately 1pm) on Sunday.  Both winners will have a full day on Sunday and will probably want to stay until Monday morning. The winners are required to meet with the producers on Sunday, are invited to dinner with the IMsL and
IMsBB alumnae/i early Sunday evening and must appear at the Wind Down party which starts at about 7pm on Sunday, April 1st.

9. Will I get picked up from the airport?

Yes, we will do our best to make arrangements to have one of our volunteers pick you up from and return you to SFO or OAK.  You will need to let the contestant coordinator know when you are arriving and departing and how many people are in your traveling party.

10. How do I book a hotel room?

There is a direct link for hotel registration from the “Hotel and SF Area” page on our website. You are responsible for paying for your room(s). You may have up to 4 people in each room and the rate is $129.00 plus tax per night. It is important that you book now and please use code “SER.”  Please provide us with the names used for all related hotel reservations. We will do our best to ensure that all contestants and family/handlers are located on the same floor.

11. Does the hotel have laundry facilities available?

Yes.  Guest self-service laundry is available 24 hours/day on the 6th floor.

Contestant Events

12. What am I required to participate in, as a contestant, during this event?

This is a preliminary list; additional information will be provided at the contestant orientation.

Thursday

• Contestant orientation with the staff
• Meeting with contest director and stage crew after the contestant orientation
• Individual and group stage rehearsals
• Contestant City Tour - a team building activity (tour of SF) with all of the contestants ONLY, 4pm – 7pm
• Dinner with contestants, key staff and guests
• Seduction – our welcome evening of burlesque, strip tease, lap dancing, drag and more. You are expected to attend but may leave any time after 11 PM.

Friday

• Individual and group stage rehearsals
• IMsL contestants - Personal Interviews
• IMsBB contestant meeting with contest coordinator
• IMsBB contestants – Bootblack Salon Hours
• Opening Ceremony – Introduction of Contestants, Titleholders, Judges and Dignitaries
• IMsBB Contest – Speechs, Pop Questions
• Alumnae Reception

Saturday

• Individual and group stage rehearsals
• IMsBB contestants - Personal Interviews
• IMsBB contestants – Bootblack Salon Hours
• IMsL/IMsBB Contest

Sunday

• Brunch
• Contest winners’ meeting with Producers
• Dinner for Contest Winners and IMsL & IMsBB Alumnae
• Contest Winners must make an appearance at the Wind Down Party.

13. When are we drawing the contestant numbers?

During the contestant orientation at 11am on Thursday.

14. What is the dress for the contestant tour of San Francisco and dinner?

Please wear comfortable walking shoes and clothes you are comfortable enough to sit in and eat in. Dress nicely, but nothing formal. Nice jeans, nice shirt, even leather shirt/blouse, skirt/pants, vest are ok, but please appear “San Francisco vanilla public” appropriate!

15. May I bring a guest to dinner?

Absolutely.  Your guest(s) – immediate family and support staff only, please – may meet us at the restaurant (TBA) for dinner at 7pm. You are responsible for the cost of your own food, beverages and gratuities, as well as those of your guests, at this meal.

16. When can my boy/girl, Master, groomer, partner etc. be with me?

You may have one accompanying support person with you at the following times:

• Fantasy rehearsals – the people who are in your fantasy plus one support person only. Please make this the same person who will be backstage with you during the contest.
• Interviews, as they are open to the public
• Back stage during the contest
• The people who are in your fantasy will be invited to come backstage with enough time to get ready before your performance.  Prior to that, they will be in general seating in the audience.

Due to space limitations, you will not be permitted to bring support persons to the Contestant Tour, Contestant Orientation, Contestant and Judges Meetings, Contestant Meetings with Stage Crew, or Opening Number Rehearsals.

17. What information do I need about the Opening Ceremony and Contest?

Opening Ceremony – Friday night
Onstage Contestant introductions will be done. It is a stand and wave scenario. You will not be expected to talk, and this part of the program will be short. This is your first official impression on the audience and the press, so please dress to impress.

IMsBB Contest – Friday night
Speech – IMsBB Contestants Only: You will have 2 minutes to speak on the topic of your choice. You may choose to speak on the topic of a ‘platform’ for your title year, but this is not required.
Clothing – “Formal Wear,” however you as a bootblack define it.

Pop Question – IMsBB Contestants Only: This is a fun opportunity for the Judges to see how well you think on your feet by answering a randomly selected question.
Clothing -- “Bootblack Image,” the outfit that best portrays who you are as a bootblack.  Your outfit must be ‘bar legal.’  (This means no nipples or genitals showing; thongs MUST provide one inch coverage in the rear).

IMsL/IMsBB Contest – Saturday night
Opening number: All IMsL and IMsBB contestants must participate in the Opening Number. It is a semi-choreographed number set to music – don’t worry if you’re not a dancer. The Opening Number is designed around a theme chosen by the IMsL, LLC production staff.  We will do our best to make sure you look great during this number as it sets the tone for the entire show.
Clothing – To be determined.  You will be notified by the contest director what type of clothing you will need to bring for the opening number by March 15th.

What if I am truly uncomfortable appearing in the opening number?
It is a traditional part of the contest, and we do not believe that anyone will be asking you to do things that you will find problematic. The goal for the opening number is to make everyone look good and to get the audience pumped up for the contest. We ask that you put aside your discomfort and participate.

Introduction: Contestant Introductions will be done at the end of the opening number and before you leave the stage. This is a stand and wave scenario. You will not be expected to talk, and this part of the program will be short.
Clothing – Whatever you are wearing in the Opening Number.

Speech – IMsL Contestants Only: You will have 2 minutes to speak on the topic of your choice. You may choose to speak on the topic of a ‘platform’ for your title year, but this is not required.
Clothing – “Formal Wear,” however you as a leatherwoman define it.

Pop Question – IMsL Contestants Only: This is a fun opportunity for the Judges to see how well you think on your feet by answering a randomly selected question.
Clothing -- “Hot Wear,” whatever makes you feel sexy!  Your outfit must be ‘bar legal.’  (This means no nipples or genitals showing; thongs MUST provide one inch coverage in the rear).

Will there be time to play it up a little, show off, etc. before the question (as is traditional) or will we need to keep it short and just walk on stage and answer the question?
Use your best judgment based on the cues you receive from the emcee.  Remember, time is short-- how you want to relate to the audience/judges is up to you as long as you follow the emcee’s lead when it is time to move on.

Fantasy – IMsL Contestants Only: You will have 4 minutes for your fantasy performance.
Clothing - Whatever works for your fantasy, however, your outfit needs to be ‘bar legal’ as defined above.

Help!  I need MORE info on the fantasy!!
You may have as many people as needed but remember this is about YOU!!  A staff member will be available prior to and during the weekend to coach and advise contestants so your vision is translated to the audience in the best way possible.  Additional information such as stage size and details on music will be sent to you.

Announcement of the Winners: All contestants will be brought back onstage for the announcement of the winners. This is also a “for publication” photo opportunity for both the official IMsL photographers and the mainstream press.
Clothing - Formal wear. Consider that some photos of the winners and/or contestants will make it into the mainstream press and therefore must be suitable for family consumption.

18. Is there a green room? Place to hang clothes, use a mirror, change hairdo, etc?

Yes.  There is a Green Room backstage with clothes racks, tables and mirrors for your use.

19. Is there Den Staff to help me dress/prepare?

We have a den daddy and/or den mommy and the contestant coordinator to assist you. You may have one helper with you in the green room, however we reserve the right to ask them to leave if it gets too crowded or something changes.  The need for flexibility is paramount.

20. Is there a backstage area to store props? How big is the area?

There is a large back stage area where your props can be stored. You will need to confirm exact props requirements and restrictions with the contest director.

21. When will I be on stage?

All Contestants, IMsL and IMsBB, will be on stage for introductions at the Opening Ceremony on Friday, the Saturday night opening number, Saturday night introductions and the Saturday night announcement of the winners.  IMsBB contestants are also on stage for Speech and Pop Questions on Friday night.  IMsL contestants are also on stage for Speech, Fantasy, and Pop Questions on Saturday night.

22. Is there anything else that I will be judged on during the weekend?

Yes.  The Heart and Soul award is judged from the first meeting with the judges on Friday until after the last contestant has finished the last of the three on stage elements of the contest. IMsBB contestants are judged on Heart and Soul from their first meeting with the judges until the beginning of the contest on Saturday night.

23. Do I need to attend Brunch?

Yes.  You and your fellow contestants will be seated together as the last gathering of “The Class of 2012.”  Your brunch ticket will be included in the registration packet you receive at contestant orientation.  Please have your family and support persons purchase their brunch tickets during online registration.   

24. Are there parameters for my Auction Basket?

Almost anything goes for your basket – you should strive for it to reflect your personality, your sponsors, your hometown or any other theme that resonates with you. The only limits that come readily to mind are: no firearms, no ammunition, no explosives, no live animals and nothing illegal. Porn is fine in the basket. Be creative, this is a great way to show everyone something about yourself and the folks who support you.

 

1. The contestant coordinator will provide additional information about how to track the folks who have participated (via your basket) in our fundraising efforts for thank you note purposes as well as how to provide basket content and donor information to the silent auction coordinator.
2. Please remember that we reserve the right to separate each contestant’s basket into several pieces if the auction coordinator thinks it will raise more funds for our beneficiaries if done that way. The auction coordinator will be open to guidance from the contestant or contestant’s handler in that process but the decision of the auction coordinator is final.

25. When do you need basket items turned in? Do we have to set them up, and if so, when?

Each contestant will have her handler set up her basket under the guidance of the silent auction coordinator. Basket set-up will take place Thursday afternoon while the contestants are on their City Tour.  Set-up will be completed in time for handlers to join the contestants at the contestant dinner.

26. When are ads from my sponsor and supporters due for the program book?

ALL ads for the program book are due by February 1, 2012. Ad Sales Contracts are available on the IMsL website (www.IMsL.org) through the “Sponsor/Advertise” button. If your sponsor mentions you in their ad they will receive a 10% discount on regular ad prices. Complete instructions are on the advertising form.

We are so glad that you have chosen to compete during the International Ms Leather 2012 Contest Weekend. We are here to help you in any way that we can, and our goal is for you to have a GREAT time with us in San Francisco!