Rules & Regulations
These rules govern every Last Man Standing event — local qualifiers, semi-finals, and the championship. When you enter, you agree to play by them. When in doubt, ask an organizer before you take the stage.
1. Who Can Compete
- •Singers must meet the age requirement for the division they enter.
- •Everyone competes under a registered account through the Last Man Standing platform.
- •You may only enter divisions and categories you actually qualify for.
- •Giving false details when you sign up can get you removed from the competition.
- •We may check your identity and eligibility at any point in the season.
2. Signing Up
- •Entries close at the posted deadline. Get in before it passes.
- •Entry fees are non-refundable unless we say otherwise up front.
- •Each singer may enter only the divisions and genres open to that event.
- •We accept late entries only when we choose to — do not count on it.
- •When a venue fills up, we cap the field. Sign up early to hold your spot.
3. Picking Your Song
- •Last Man Standing is not a standard karaoke contest — how your song gets picked is part of the competition.
- •Qualifying Round: Each singer submits a song choice. Singers are then randomly selected, and the song they perform is drawn at random from the pool of songs submitted by all competing singers that night. With five singers in the field, you have a 1-in-5 chance of drawing your own song.
- •Finals — Round 1: Works the same way as the qualifying round. Singers submit songs, are randomly chosen, and draw from the combined song pool.
- •Finals — Genre Rounds (Round 2 and beyond): A multiple-round process where each round features a different genre. Singers are eliminated each round until only two remain. The songs for these genre-specific rounds are posted online in advance so singers can prepare before the contest.
- •Wildcard Round: When only two singers are left, a wildcard round opens up. Every singer eliminated during Finals Night is eligible to be drawn back in. The host of the event determines how many singers are drawn for the wildcard round.
- •Wildcard Songs: The songs in the wildcard round come from the leftover songs of the previous rounds that were not performed. Wildcard singers draw from that list.
- •Wildcard Re-entry: When the wildcard field is narrowed down to a single singer, that singer re-enters the competition against the last two standing singers, also drawing from the remaining songs left over from the previous rounds.
- •Final Round: When only two singers remain, those singers each choose their own song for the final head-to-head competition.
- •Last Man Standing has the final say on how a song is classified and on any song's eligibility.
- •Songs loaded with profanity, hate speech, or offensive content will be turned down.
4. On Stage
- •Songs run to the time limit set for the event — usually four minutes unless we announce otherwise.
- •Sing to approved karaoke or backing tracks only.
- •Live instruments are not allowed unless we have approved them in advance.
- •Leave the lyrics the way they were written. No rewriting on the fly.
- •Be ready and start when the host calls you up.
- •If you are not there when your name is called, you may forfeit your turn.
5. Gear and Sound
- •The sound system and microphones are provided by Last Man Standing or our venue partners.
- •Bring your own mic only if we have authorized it ahead of time.
- •Pitch correction, audio effects, and enhancement software are not allowed.
- •If something goes wrong technically, event staff decide how to handle it.
- •A set will not be restarted unless an official approves it.
6. Scoring
- •All events use the Last Man Standing scoring system.
- •Scores split evenly: Technical (50%) covers pitch accuracy, rhythm and timing, vocal control, articulation, and tone quality. Artistic (50%) covers interpretation, stage presence, creativity, musicality, and emotional impact.
- •The judges' decision is final.
- •Score sheets stay confidential unless we state otherwise.
- •Trying to sway a judge gets you disqualified.
7. Moving Up the Bracket
- •How you advance depends on the format of the specific event.
- •Placements and rankings come straight from the official scores.
- •When scores tie, we break the tie using our standard tiebreaker process.
- •Your ranking can earn you a spot in the next level of competition.
- •We reserve the right to reshuffle brackets when the situation calls for it.
8. Conduct and Sportsmanship
- •Carry yourself like a professional, on stage and off.
- •Unsportsmanlike behavior covers harassment, disruption, intimidation, verbal abuse, and messing with equipment.
- •Performing while impaired by alcohol or substances is not allowed.
- •Breaking this section can mean a reduced score, disqualification, a suspension, or a ban from the event.
9. What to Wear
- •Dress for a public, family-friendly crowd.
- •Clothing with offensive or inappropriate messaging or imagery is not permitted.
- •Costumes and props are welcome unless an event's rules restrict them.
- •Your outfit must not get in the way of your performance or the equipment.
10. Photos, Video, and Promotion
- •By entering, you give Last Man Standing the right to photograph, record, broadcast, and share your performance.
- •We may use that media to promote the contest without paying you for it.
- •You may post your own recordings unless an event restricts it.
- •Using our event media commercially requires our approval first.
11. Protests and Appeals
- •File any protest in writing with the event organizers.
- •Only procedural mistakes are eligible for appeal.
- •A judge's opinion on a performance is not something you can appeal.
- •Once the appeal is decided, the matter is closed.
12. Disqualification and Penalties
- •You can be disqualified for rule violations, misrepresentation, cheating, disruptive conduct, or tampering with the tech.
- •A disqualified singer forfeits their fees and any prizes they might have won.
- •Repeated violations can lead to a long-term suspension from the competition.
13. Prizes and Awards
- •Prizes go out exactly as advertised.
- •Any taxes or fees on a prize are the winner's responsibility.
- •Prizes cannot be swapped for something else unless we say so.
- •If you do not show up to collect an award, you may lose it.
14. Liability
- •You take part at your own risk.
- •Last Man Standing is not liable for personal injury, lost property, or damaged gear.
- •Stepping on stage means you accept that and waive related claims.
15. Changes and Cancellations
- •We can adjust schedules, formats, and venues when we need to.
- •Events may be postponed or called off because of circumstances outside our control.
- •In those cases, any refund is up to our discretion.
16. Updating the Rules
- •We may revise these rules at any time.
- •Revisions take effect as soon as we publish them.
- •It is on you to stay current with the version in force.
17. Final Authority
- •These rules are governed by Last Man Standing Karaoke Contest.
- •All interpretation rests with our officials.
- •Decisions by Last Man Standing leadership are final.