TALENT SHOWCASE CATEGORIES

All acts can consist of one (1) to nine (9) members. Acts will have 4 minutes for set-up/tear down and 6 minutes for their performance. A penalty of five (5) points per minute or part of a minute over the time limits allowed will be deducted from the total score.

• 4-H SKIT: 4-H based story line, promoting 4-H, community service, a project or activity. This category may also address a specific youth issue and present ways in which this issue can be addressed through 4-H efforts. Acts may incorporate music, vocal selections, and/or choreographed routines (not the primary focal point) through character dialogue, interaction and storytelling.  Skits can be humorous, creative and make fun of but not degrade Extension employees or the 4-H program. All 4-H members entered in the category must be a part of the act. Judged on material chosen, talent, creativity, showmanship, costumes and props and audience appeal.

• VARIETY SHOW: his is an acting category. Variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is entertainment made up of a variety of acts including sketch comedy (clean version of Saturday Night Live), magic act, a musical scene, (i.e. The Greatest Showman, etc) ventriloquism and other acts that do not fit into the other six categories. Acts cannot incorporate 4-H related material or theme. (Otherwise, it would be categorized as a 4-H Skit.) Creativity is encouraged, but the degradation of any individual or organization is not permitted. Acts may incorporate music, vocal selections, and/or dance, not the primary focal point. Judged on material chosen, talent, creativity, showmanship, costumes, and props and audience appeal.

• VOCAL: Vocal presentation may be done a cappella or with accompaniment music (via a USB or digital means). No accompanist will be allowed for this category. All members in the act must be singing. Lip syncing will not be allowed. Contestants may not present skits, poetry or other speaking during the act. Participants are encouraged to use the entire stage, and incorporate movement with their presentation for the purpose of enhancing their showmanship. Sign language may be added to enhance the performance, but entries that strictly showcase sign language without vocal presentation are not permitted in this category. They must be entered in Choreographed routines. Judged on talent, showmanship (stage presence), vocal presentation, material chosen and audience appeal.

• SOLO/BAND: This act incorporates a combination of vocal and instrumental music talents. Acts that are vocal only or instrumental music only are not to be entered in this category. All 4-H members entered in the category must be a part of the act by playing a musical instrument, singing, or both (solo performance must play an instrument and sing). Participants MUST incorporate singing in the acts, but cannot incorporate skits, poetry, or prose.  They may, however, move around the stage and incorporate choreography with their presentation for the purpose of enhancing their showmanship. Judged on talent, showmanship, musical / vocal presentation when applicable, material chose and audience appeal. 

• INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC: Presentation may be musical instruments accompanied by background recorded music or an instrumental performance only. All 4-H members entered in the category must be a part of the act by playing a musical instrument. No adult accompanist will be allowed in the act. Participants may not sing or incorporate a skit, poetry, prose, or choreography with their act. Judged on talent, showmanship, musical presentation, material chosen and audience appeal.

• POETRY/PROSE: Acts which showcase poetry or prose are required. The act may NOT incorporate vocal, musical, and/or a choreographed routine. This category does not require 4-H related material, however, if an original poem or prose piece showcasing 4-H is written, this would be acceptable. Every 4-H member entered in the category must be a part of the performance on stage.  Judged on material chosen, message, talent, presentation style, props/costuming and audience appeal. Material does not have to be memorized. 

  • Defining Poetry and Prose: Poetry is generally characterized by structured meter and rhyme that tells a story or provides a message to the reader. Prose is distinguished from poetry by its greater variety of rhythm and its closer resemblance to the patterns of everyday speech. Another description might be an excerpt from a larger piece such as a play or book.

• CHOREOGRAPHED ROUTINE: The act requires choreography which can be demonstrated through twirling, pom pom squad routines, jump rope teams, juggling, acrobatics or dance (jazz, tap, country & western, ballroom, etc.). No speaking to form a skit or story line. Sign language presentations to music have been added to choreographed routines. However, if a participant is SINGING and SIGNING this entry should be entered in the Variety Show category. All 4-H members entered in the category must be a part of the act. Acts may use recorded music (via a USB or digital means) but may not use an accompanist. Judged on material chosen, talent, creativity, showmanship, costuming, and audience appeal.

QUALIFYING FOR DISTRICT 8 4-H AND/OR STATE 4-H ROUNDUP

Junior, Intermediate, and Senior 4-H member only (3rd-12th grade) The first and second place county winners in each of the seven (7 categories) qualify for District 8 4-H Roundup. Clover Kids (grades K-2) are considered non-competitive and will not advance beyond the County level. 

Senior Division 4-H members only (9th to 12th grade) The first and second place district winners in each of the seven (7) categories qualify for Texas 4-H Roundup. The first and second place entries in each category from District advancing to Texas 4-H Roundup may be from the same county. If a county has an entry in each category at District and each win first or second, then they can all advance to Texas 4-H Roundup. Rule update of 2013: 4-H members MAY enter the same category in which they have previously been part of a first-place entry at Texas 4-H Roundup.