Pay To Play Fashion Show/Contest?

$75,000L in cash prizes plus other prizes!

Check this out. I recieved this notecard from a resident Monday evening, and it struck me as completely off the wall so… I’ll repost here, complete with their commentary, which echoes my own thoughts.

This may be nothing, or even common practice, but it struck me as weird. I’m pasting in the actual materials at the bottom.

Rules were a little odd:
4. The jury’s decision will be final and binding.

5. An entry fee of 250L$ will be charged from each contestant. Voting shall be at a cost of 30L$ per vote. A person may vote 60 times in 24 hours, out of which 30 votes can be given to a single contestant.

Huh? There’s a jury and there’s voting where you pay to vote? and 60x30L/24 hours = mad cash from voters after getting your entry fee?

6. Models will be provided by Maniera Model Management for the final runway show. It is agreed upon that the models shall receive the ensembles for the shows free of charge.

And you don’t get to choose your model?

7. We shall be creating a section with freebies to encourage the audience. The designers will be requested to help set this up with a few gifts from their side.

And you get to give free stuff on top of it all?

8. Grand tally of marks will be done with the total vote percentage and 25 percent of jury marks. Also there will be separate awards after each fashion show for jury only decision.

What?

And the final rule that just made me finally say ‘bzah?’

9. Management reserves the right to change any of the above with notice to facilitate a better organization of the events.

…and btw, we might change all of this. Just give us your $250, k?

Anyway, this may be standard stuff. I’m a newb as far as these contests go, but it looks pretty insane.

oh hm, the actual rules card is ‘no modify’ so I’ll just paste the text.

ELIGIBILITY
———-
To take part in this fashion fiesta, you should be an apparel designer in Second Life with authentic creations of your own and a presence of an in-worldlocation/vendor/mini shop where you sell your creations.

There is no restriction on the type of apparel you create whether it is formal, casual or victorian.

Accessories Designers are not eligible to participate in the actual contest but are most welcome to be a part of the event.

CONTEST CRITERIA
———————
Your creations shall be showcased in three theme based fashion shows. Also a fourth fashion show consisting of ensembles designed especially for this particular event will also take place for which the theme is same as the main theme. However, this is optional but yet critical for jury marks and  votes for that particular day.

We have also decided that if the number of applications received exceeds more than 25, we shall be having a short elimination after the 7 day voting period to allow for a better judgement opportunity for the jury. This shall be confirmed on the last date for receiving applications that is 3rd of October.

Contest kicks off in 24th October 2009. We shall be charging a small sum of 250 L$ per designer as application fee. voting shall be at a cost of 30L$ per vote. A person may vote 60 times in 24 hours, out of which 30 votes can be given to a single Contestant.

THEME
——–
The theme for this year’s contest is Sunset Boulevard, inspired by the glitzy, fast and glamorous life of the streets of Hollywood. The theme is quite flexible and allows room for a variety of styling and dressing starting from casual chic moving onto paparazzi candy and red carpets. Imagine afternoon shopping sprees with a team of girl friends, stylish luncheons in the likes of Ma Maison. Cruising down rodeo drive in shiny red sports cars. Special work out classes and spas. Nips, tucks and botox.

Evening tea in beautiful cocktail dresses. Award ceremonies and concerts and so much more.

The possibilities for experimentation are endless. A celebrity may flaunt Ed Hardy style loose tees with 1200 dollar sneakers with as much panache as a 5000 dollar Channel dress.

RULES
——-
1. No employee of Medley Group or Related to Sponsors may take part in this contest.

2. The contest is for apparel designers. They may wish to present jewelry, shoes and other accessories designed by themselves or by other designers with due credits. However the jury marks will be for the actual overall styling and a section of the jury marks will cover the clothing design. There will be no separate marks for the accessories used on runway exclusively whether or not they are original creations.

3. The content presented for the contest should be authentic and original. Anyone found doing otherwise shall be immediately disqualified and related persons in concern shall be notified.

4. The jury’s decision will be final and binding.

5. An entry fee of 250L$ will be charged from each contestant. Voting shall be at a cost of 30L$ per vote. A person may vote 60 times in 24 hours, out of which 30 votes can be given to a single contestant.

6. Models will be provided by Maniera Model Management for the final runway show. It is agreed upon that the models shall receive the ensembles for the shows free of charge.

7. We shall be creating a section with freebies to encourage the audience. The designers will be requested to help set this up with a few gifts from their side.

8. Grand tally of marks will be done with the total vote percentage and 25 percent of jury marks. Also there will be separate awards after each fashion show for jury only decision.

9. Management reserves the right to change any of the above with notice to facilitate a better organization of the events.

The “Agency’s” original notecard:

Hello Friends,
Thank you for your interest in Sensations 2009 Designer’s contest. After the first Discussions with the designers we are making some changes. Mainly it relates to additional time wanted by some designers. the new dates and activities of contest are given below. Thus the Voting Period has been postponed to 24th Oct instead of 10th. Oct, and the final fashio show has been postponed to 31st Oct to 2nd Nov. the closing ceremony and prize giving will be on 3rd nov.

SPECIAL OFFER
The Management of Medley Estates the main sponsors of the Sensations 2009 are offering FREE USE OF THE RUNWAY to the participants of the Sensations 2009 till 31st Dec 2009. Come and have a look at the runway. Photo and LM attached. If you need any help in organising the show please contact  one of the best ramp manager in SL, Sami Kutanaga. Pl work out details with her including her fees. Only the runway is being offered free for the show.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Shekhawati/118/191/23

VOTING PERIOD
- 24th October to 30th October
We will be using Guru Voting System for voting
During the voting period designers can put pictures of the dresses worn by them or models in the voting boxes. these can be changed daily to show off their creations. designers also can put note cards to promote their stores/brand/their work to give out to visitors/voters

Boulevard Casual Chic Show
[Casual-Holiday Look]- 31st October SLT 7 PM onwards

Boulevard Diva/Stud Show
[Red Carpet Look]- 1st November SLT 7 PM onwards

Boulevard Special Creation Show
- 2nd November SLT 7 PM onwards

Closing Ceremony and Award Function – 3rd November SLT 7 PM onwards

Further details about the exact commencement of events shall be released on the 4th of October. Upon application, you shall be sent a group invite to Sensations group from which you shall directly receive updates and assistance for the contest. Any questions or queries, please feel free directly to approach Mamie Baxton or Veekay Navarathna.

Well… at least their venue’s cute. Sorta. Was that a ripped-off Banksy elephant I saw?