Opening of application and rule updates

1. Applications are considered officially “open” when the Burlesque Hall of Fame publishes — via mailing list, website, social media, or otherwise — a statement to that effect.
2. These current rules will be published in conjunction with application opening, and remain in effect throughout the 2024 Weekender. The current rules replace and supersede any and all previous rules.
3. In the unlikely event that a critical rule change — defined as “essential to the function of the applications, evaluation system, or clarity of rules” – is necessary after applications have opened, we will clearly indicate in this section of the rules what changes have been made. Once applications are open, any non–essential rule suggestions and non–essential changes are held for discussion for inclusion in subsequent years.

Requirements, eligibility of entries, and submission of materials

1. Age: You must be 21 years of age or older (as of May 31, 2025) to apply or participate. (This is also noted in the Legal Compliance section.)
2. Application: All applications for the 2025 Weekender will be submitted online through TroupeIT.
3. Fees: Application fee payments must be completed within the online application system, through TroupeIt’s payment provider. No other payment method will be accepted. The application fee is not tax–deductible. Fees for 2024 are $29 per application if submitted before Friday, December 27, 2024 at 11:59 PM PST and $39 per application if submitted by Sunday, January 23, 2024 at 11:59 PM PST. Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 11:59 PM PST
4. Membership: A valid BHoF membership (at any level) is required at the time of the application submission. For acts featuring more than one performer, only the Main Contact Person named in the application must be a member.
5. Deadline: The application deadline is Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 11:59 PM PST. The online application system is closed at that time, and will not allow applications to be submitted or updated.
6. Performance dates and your availability: The 2025 Weekender will take place over four days and nights from June 5th, 2025 to June 8th, 2025.
   1. The Weekender Schedule (including which events occur on which nights) is subject to change up until the time acceptance letters are sent.
   2. If accepted to perform during the Weekender, your acceptance letter will indicate the night you are being asked to perform. If you are unable to attend on that night, your performance cannot be switched to another night.
7. Completeness of application: All fields in the application form are required unless otherwise indicated. The online application system will not accept entries that are incomplete due to any blank fields; however, the online system does not check for completeness of these fields. (For instance, it can check that a phone number has not been entered, but it won’t be able to determine if a phone number is wrong or incomplete.) Please check your application for accuracy before submitting.
8. Changes to application: Except for updating your account information, once submitted, the application cannot be changed.
9. Changes to tech requirements: If accepted, you will be asked to finalize your tech requirements at a date closer to the event. Small changes to tech requirements are permissible but your act cannot be significantly different from how it is described in your application and showcased in your video. Final authority over changes is at BHoF’s discretion.
10. Confirmation of application submission: When your application is successfully submitted, you will see a confirmation screen and your status on the main application dashboard will be updated. This will serve as confirmation that your entry has been properly submitted.
11. Timing of entries: All entries within the application period will receive equal evaluation. There is a discounted application fee for early payment, but earlier entries do not receive special consideration. Therefore, take the time you need to submit the best application possible.
12. False accounts: BHoF and the Selection Committee reserve the right to delete or remove from consideration any application accounts that are deemed to be false, misleading, spam, or otherwise not representative of an actual performer intending to submit a legitimate application.
13. Ineligibility:
    1. Weekender Roles: When accepting certain weekender roles, you agree to be ineligible to apply for a set amount of time. Tournament Judges and Selection Committee are ineligible to apply the same year they serve, plus one additional year (if you did either in 2023, you will be eligible to apply again for the 2025 weekender); Tournament Judges and Selection Committee, Producers, Stage Managers, Stage Crew, and Emcees are ineligible to apply or compete the same year they serve. are ineligible to apply to compete for one additional year (if you emceed or produced in 2023, you will be eligible to apply to compete again for the 2025.)
    2. Titleholders: The following titles can only be won once: M– Exotic World (M–EW), Best Small Group, and Best Large Group. Titleholders in these categories cannot compete for the same title again.
       • 1st and 2nd Runner Up M–EW Titleholders are eligible to compete for M–EW
       • “Best Boylesque” winners are eligible to compete for M–EW
       • Winners of “Best Duo” (awarded through 2013) are not eligible to compete in the Small Group Category
       • Winners of “Best Troupe” or “Best Group” (awarded through 2015) are not eligible to compete in the Large Group Category
       • Superlative Titles (e.g. “Most Innovative,” “Most Classic,” “Most Dazzling”, “Most Comedic”) have no effect on eligibility status for any title

Final authority and decisions

1. Agreement to rules: Electronic submission of the application constitutes agreement by applicant and any participating personnel (including all members of any group) to abide by all stated rules and guidelines.
2. Selection committee and evaluation: To ensure fairness, applications are evaluated by a multi–person Selection Committee using a scoring system. BHoF reserves the right to keep Selection Committee member identities confidential to ensure fairness to all.
3. Continuity and consistency of act: If accepted into the Weekender to perform in any capacity (Showcase or Tournament), you must perform the same act that you submitted. Choreography may be refined and changed slightly, but the act cannot be fundamentally different than originally submitted.
4. Similar Music: In the event that two or more acts have the same music or are very similar, BHoF reserves the right to contact those applicants about performing a different act. This is the only case in which substitute acts will be permitted.
5. Finality of decisions: The Selection Committee’s decisions are final and binding, and the Selection Committee reserves the right to make changes as unforeseen circumstances warrant for the final production of the Weekend. (For example, in the unlikely event of an erroneous notification, which TroupeIT is designed to avoid, the Selection Committee’s final decision still stands). Other changes could include, but are not limited to, changes to categories or number of performance slots, changes to correct any database errors, or disqualification in the event of non adherence to the application and Weekender rules.
6. Rule modification: BHoF and the Selection Committee reserve the right to modify these rules as needed, but will do so only if absolutely necessary once the online application is open. Any such modifications that may occur during the application period will be communicated either via a message on the website (highlighted on this list of rules), and/or by email to registered users in the system.

Entry fee

1. Application fee: Every act submitted requires a separate, non–refundable application fee, payable through TroupeIT. Application fees are not tax–deductible.
2. Deadline for application fee: Submission of application and payment before the early bird deadline will receive a discount on the application fee. Early bird pricing and final deadlines are noted at the top of the application.
3. Fee credit to application: The fee will be automatically credited to the application it is initiated from.

Applicant tickets

1. Purchase of weekend tickets/passes: If accepted to perform during the Weekender, performers receive backstage access for the night of their performance only. They must purchase tickets and/or Weekender Passes to attend the other shows, or to reserve a seat for their performance night. Single tickets are not tax deductible. Weekender passes are not tax deductible for regular levels (general admission/premium/VIP) but there is a "VIP + donation" option in which the donation portion is tax deductible.
2. Applicant presale tickets: As BHoF members, applicants who successfully submit their application by the deadline are offered a chance to purchase up to two discounted Weekender passes before sales open to the general public. The non–transferrable discount is for applicants only, and we reserve the right to cancel transactions due to unauthorized discounts.

Categories, time limits, props, and multiple–category applicants

1. Main contact person: Each performing entity (soloist or group) must have a Main Contact Person ("MCP") with an account on the TroupeIt system, who is responsible for completing and submitting the application. Soloists must be their own MCP, the MCP for a group can be any member of that group (including someone also applying as a soloist), but must be the SAME member of the group for both applications if more than one is submitted.
2. Application accounts: The TroupeIt system accepts multiple applications per user account, up to the limits specified in this section of the rules. Each MCP needs only one user account.
3. Limit to entries: Each performing entity (a soloist or group) can submit up to two entries per category.
4. Time limits: Solo acts must be four minutes or less; group acts must be five minutes or less. This amount of time — 4:00 (solo) or 5:00 (group) — applies to both Showcase and Tournament performances. Application video submissions cannot be more than one (1:00) minute longer than the category limit. The Selection Team is no longer able to evaluate portions of longer videos.
5. Props: Please avoid using props that take a significant amount of on–stage setup/breakdown time. (Backstage setup/breakdown is acceptable, but once the prop is onstage, setup should be quick to avoid taking up time that could be allotted to another performer.) You are responsible for all aspects of props (outside of stage handling during your performance, this includes any and all costs associated with building, transporting, renting or set–up of your prop.
   • BHoF will not rent any equipment on your behalf, cover any freight costs, or provide extra labor for your setup.
6. Solo Acts: The Showcase and Tournament both present solo acts. The Tournament includes two soloist categories, both of which are open to all genders:
   • “Best Debut” (open only to those who have NEVER performed as a soloist at the in–person BHoF Weekender)
   • “M– Exotic World” (open only to those who HAVE previously performed as a soloist at the in–person BHoF Weekender)
     1. If selected for the tournament, you will be placed in the applicable category based on your response to the “I have previously/never performed as a soloist at the in–person BHoF Weekender” question.
     2. While required for all applicants, this information is not used in the evaluation of “Showcase Only” applications.
7. Additional onstage personnel — choosing the Solo vs. Group category:
   • For the solo category, additional visible personnel may be allowed on–stage during your act provided their time on stage does not exceed 15 seconds total. Additional visible personnel must be BHoF stagehands or BHoF stage kittens; alternative personnel may be approved by BHoF producers on a case–by–case basis. If additional visible personnel must be on–stage for longer than 15 seconds, apply as a group.
   • Groups must provide a headcount in the application as well as legal names; no additional personnel may be added to the act after it is submitted. A one–for–one substitution may be allowed by BHoF if it does not change the concept of the act. All such requests will only be granted at the BHoF's discretion and if the request is made in writing (email is acceptable) no later than 14 days before the performance date. If you need to reduce your group size after the application is submitted, please contact BHoF for approval.
   • Per the Final Decisions section of the rules, the Selection Committee and BHoF reserve the right to re–categorize acts if deemed necessary.
   • If your act requires a non–visible assistant, then please note it in the "props" question on the Tech Info page. If this person's role is something that one of the crew members can do, the show producers reserve the right to use the crew instead.

M– Exotic World & Titleholder Statement of Intent

In receiving a title, especially M– Exotic World (“M–EW”), you become a lifelong ambassador for The Burlesque Hall of Fame, with a real opportunity to do good for the museum and for the burlesque community as a whole. To help you make the most of your year in the spotlight as MEW, BHoF has created an agreement between the museum and the winner of the MEW titleholder, spelling out the rights and responsibilities of the role and how the organization can support you.

These responsibilities may include:

1. Developing and executing a project of benefit to the museum, the community, or the art of burlesque as a whole;
2. Creating regular updates for social media and BHoF’s website about your progress throughout your “reigning” year;
3. Representing BHoF at events and in media;
4. Creating a fundraiser for BHoF or the Legends Challenge; and
5. Engaging with our burlesque legends in some regular way. If accepted to compete for the title of M–EW, you will be asked to complete a short “Statement of Intent” outlining how you hope to use your position, if you win the title, to benefit BHoF, the burlesque community, and/or the art of burlesque. This statement will not be read or considered until after the winner is named, and will have no impact on judging, but rather will act as your reference in developing whatever projects you undertake with BHoF during your reigning year.
6. Continuing to advocate for and support BHoF beyond your reigning year.