University of Florida Homecoming Pageant
October 9, 2016
Contestant Information Packet

Contact Information
Michelle Harris: Homecoming Pageant Director

  • Cell: (954) 470-0373
  • Email:
  • Please text/call/email me with any questions you have. Please give me 24 hours to respond.

Assistant Directors:

  • Marissa Farotto: AD of Choreography and Music
  • Cell: (813) 514-7615
  • Email:
  • Samantha Robinson: AD of Script and Program
  • Cell: (954) 682-8174
  • Email:
  • Tania Augustin: AD of Contestant and Judge Involvement
  • Cell: (954) 513-5274
  • Email:
  • Christine Long: AD of PR and Outreach
  • Email:

Things to Keep in Mind

  • Clothing requirement
  • Interview Wear
  • Gator Game Day Wear
  • Formal Wear
  • Meetings/Rehearsals before the pageant
  • You are required to attend all of the meetings. Pageant is on October 9, so it is vital to attend every meeting in order to learn the dance, ask questions, and turn stuff in. These meetings should not last long, so please arrive on time!
  • Advertisement Sales
  • Each contestant is required to sell at least one ad space in the Pageant Program, as stated in the contestant agreement.
  • Both females and males must sell $110 in advertisements.
  • Sponsorship Fee
  • All contestants must secure a sponsor. In order to do so, the contestant or the sponsor of the contestant is required to pay a $100 sponsorship fee.
  • Application Fee
  • In order to uphold the tradition and gravity of pageant, contestants must pay a $10 application fee.
  • Hotel reservations for out of town guests
  • If any of your relatives plan on attending the pageant, please give them date and time of the pageant as soon as possible. This will give them time to book a hotel or find a place to stay.

Dates to Know

  • Information Session
  • September 13 @ 6:30 LOCATION TBA
  • Headshots
  • September 18 @ 1:00 PM – 4:00 PMLOCATION TBA
  • Video
  • September 18 @ 1:00 PM – 4:00 PMLOCATION TBA
  • Contestant Workshops
  • September 22 @ 6:30Reitz Union LOCATION TBA
  • September 29 @ 6:30 Reitz Union LOCATION TBA
  • October 6 @ 6:30 Reitz Union LOCATION TBA
  • Interviews with Judges
  • September 28 and September 29
  • Times and Location TBA
  • Dress Rehearsal
  • October 9 time TBA Philips Center
  • The Pageant
  • October 9 @ 7:00 PM Philips Center

Money and Fees

All checks must be made out to the University of Florida and can be dropped off to Sharon at the Florida Blue Key Office on the Third Floor of the Reitz Union.

  • $10 Application Fee
  • $100 Sponsorship Fee
  • $110 in Advertisements

**Often, the contestants’ organization will pay for the application fee and/or the sponsorship fee. Also, contestants’ organizations will pay for an ad to support their contestant. If your organization is paying for you or any other contestants, please include your name in the memo portion of the check. Please talk to me if you are having any financial concerns so I can help you!**

Deadlines

Please have everything turned into the Florida Blue Key Office by 4:30 PM.

  • Thursday, September 15, 2016
  • Application Fee & Signed Contestant Agreement (attached), Resume due
  • Thursday, September 22, 2016
  • Sponsorship Fee due, Advertisement and Advertisement Fee due, Program Biography and Pageant Biography due, “Intro to the Judges” due

*ALL ADS, AD MONEY, AND SPONSORSHIP MONEY MUST BE IN BY THESE DATES TO COMPETE IN THE PAGEANT, NO EXCEPTIONS*

Advertisements

Each Pageant Contestant is required to sell ad space in the Pageant Program, as stated in the contestant agreement. All contestants must sell $110 worth of ads. The Ad material needs to be sent to me via email. Ads are a great way for your families and organizations to show how proud they are of you!
Prices

-Full Page$210

-Half Page$110

-1/4 Page$55

“Intro to the Judges” Cover Sheet

Please have all documents emailed to me in Word documents by the respective deadline. Your “Intro to the Judges” Cover Sheet and Final Resume can be sent to me in the same document!

The “Intro to the Judges” is what the judges will read before you walk into your interview, so it’s important to give them a good first impression! It should be done in Microsoft Word and should not exceed two paragraphs of 5 sentences in length. The judges do not have enough time to read anything longer that that before you walk into our interview. So anything more that you write will not be read and will simply be a waste of your time! A safe rule is to keep it around 150 words. Please have your name centered at the top of the page.

The following is an outline for what information your coversheet should contain:

  • An introduction of yourself
  • Brief them on some of your interests and one of your greatest accomplishments
  • Give them an interesting fact: a cool place you’ve been, a special talent, your proudest moment, etc
  • Make it personal. It gives the judges a chance to get to know you before they meet you
  • TELL THEM WHY YOU LOVE THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA!

Final Resume

The resume cannot exceed one standard sized page, NO LEGAL PAPER. This is what the judges see before your interview.

Biographies

  • Program Biography
  • This will appear under your picture in the program. I will be sending out biography forms for you to fill out so all of the biographies are formatted the same.
  • Pageant Biography
  • This is the information that will be read during your Gameday Wear walkout and your Formal Wear walkout. I will be sending out biography forms for you to fill out so all of the biographies are the same.
  • In these biographies, include the information that is MOST IMPORTANT to you. Choose the top 3 things to highlight, so that the pageant doesn’t run too long and everyone’s bios are around the same length.

Clothing Requirements

  • Male Contestants
  • Interview with the Judges
  • Business Attire (suit)
  • Opening Number/Gator Gameday Wear
  • Slacks and button down/collared shirts in Orange and Blue

You are allowed to have ONE personality prop of your choice: football, hat, sunglasses etc. This must get approved by me on the night of the rehearsal

Show off your GATOR PRIDE!

  • Formal Wear
  • Tuxedo and Dress shoes
  • Female Contestants
  • Interview with the Judges
  • Classy business attire
  • Opening Dance Number/Gator Gameday Wear
  • Orange, Royal Blue, or White outfit
  • Dresses, shirts, nice tops, nice sandals or heels
  • You are allowed to have ONE personality prop of your choice: football, gator backpack, purse, tote, hat, sunglasses etc. This must get approved by me on the night of the rehearsal
  • The key is casual elegance; look well put together, nothing too flashy
  • Show off your GATOR PRIDE!
  • Formal Wear
  • A long, formal dress of your choice, heels

If Selected for the Homecoming Court

  • Both Males and Females: You will be attending a brunch the day of the parade, the parade, and the football game. You need business attire for all three of these events. You can plan on wearing the same outfit for the brunch and the parade if you would like.

2016 University of Florida Homecoming Pageant Contestant Agreement

On October 9, 2016 six contestants in the 2016 Homecoming Pageant will be named to serve on the Homecoming Pageant Court. One of these three women will be crowned the 2016 Homecoming Queen and one of these three men will be crowned the 2016 Homecoming King of the University of Florida.

If I am chosen as one of the three women or three men to serve on the Homecoming Court, I agree to abide by the terms of this agreement. In addition, I agree to comply with any reasonable requests of Florida Blue Key that relate to my duties as Homecoming Court member or as Homecoming Queen or King.

The contestants participating in the 2016 Homecoming Pageant agree to:

  1. Be a full time student (twelve hours for undergraduates and nine hours for graduate students in fall 2012). You are exempt from this requirement if you have a letter from the Dean of your college stating that you are a graduating senior. If you are not a graduating senior, you must have proper petition filed and approved by the Dean of Student Office.
  2. Turn in the Pageant Contract and $10 Application fee by Thursday, September 15, 2016
  3. Sell $110 in ad space for the Homecoming Pageant Program and have the ads and ad money turned in byThursday, September 22, 2016.
  4. Turn in a sponsor check of $100.00 by September 22, 2016, along with your program biography, gameday and formal wear biographies, and Intro to the Judges cover letter.

*If the above requirements are not met by the deadline, you will not be allowed to appear on stage the night of the pageant*
The three women and three men serving on the Homecoming Court agree to:

  1. Attend and participate in Gator Growl 2016 as requested by Florida Blue Key.
  2. Attend and participate in the 2016 Homecoming Parade.
  3. Attend a brunch at the President’s House prior to the parade.
  4. Attend the Homecoming football game.
  5. Assume the role of Homecoming Queen or King if the 2016 Homecoming Queen or King is unable to fulfill her responsibilities as the Homecoming Queen or King.

In addition to the duties of the Homecoming Court specified above, the 2016 Homecoming Queen and King agrees to:

  1. Make appearances in his/her official capacity as Homecoming Queen or King as specified by Florida Blue Key.
  2. Limit interviews or any other form of public appearances to those sanctioned or approved by Florida Blue Key.

Failure to comply with the terms of this agreement or to abide by any reasonable requests of Florida Blue Key as it relates to the duties of the Homecoming Pageant, Court, or Queen/King, will be considered a breach of agreement. Any breach of this agreement will result in the revocation of the status of Homecoming Pageant Finalist, Homecoming Court, or Homecoming Queen/King.

I have read this agreement, I understand its terms, and I agree to abide by them.

ContestantDate