GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE COMPETITION
The main purpose of the Batt-Loon Challenge Competition is to give professional balloon artists exposure to present their talent to the world on a competitive platform.  At the same time, they learn and develop more skills that will help them become more competitive in their industry. The competition is held mostly within the United States of America with some other exceptions to be made known if necessary.

ELIGIBILITY:

• The competition is open to legal residents of the fifty (50) states of the United States, including Puerto Rico, who are 18 years of age or older. at the time of entry.
  Employees, family members, collaborators, or other companies affiliated with Central Florida Events & Expo are not eligible to participate in the Batt-Loon Challenge.
• The competition is subject to local and federal laws and regulations.

SPONSOR:

• The competition is sponsored by Central Florida Events & Expo, LLC.  Located in the state of Florida.

PER THE OFFICIAL RULES:

• Contestants accept and agree to enter the competition following all rules and regulations stipulated in this agreement and that all final decisions will be determined by Central Florida Events & Expo Organizer of the Save the Date Expo and Batt-Loon Challenge. Winning the prizes is contingent upon complying with these Official Rules and meeting all other requirements set forth herein.
  All photos and videos generated throughout the competition process become an asset of Central Florida Expo & Events, LLC. 

ENTRY RULES:

• The competition is open to amateur, semi-professional, and professional balloon artists and decorators.
  Those interested in participating must register by completing the registration form on our website. cfleventsexpo.com. The registration dates begin on June 1, 2023, and ends on July 25th, 2023, at 11:59 PM.
• The participant must complete the registration form at the link: Batt-Loon Challenge “Balloon Art Competition”-Save the Date Expo (cfleventsexpo.com) along with 3 photos of previously completed works.
• Three participants will be chosen and will go directly to the grand finale as part of the Save the Date Expo.
  The Finalists will be selected by the production team along with professional judges who will be evaluating the 3 photos shared in the online entry form. 
• In addition to the photos, their social networks will be evaluated (Facebook and or Instagram).  Within the entry form, you must include the link(s) to your social platforms so that the production can make the selection of the finalists. 

• The decision of the judges and the production regarding the selection of the three (3) finalists is final and firm. Central Florida Expo & Events organizer of the Save the Date Expo and the Batt-Loon challenge reserves all right to divulge any type of information, including the registered participants and the judges’ decision.

• Each finalist will be randomly assigned a different theme to use for the competition.  The themes have already been selected by the production but will not be announced until the theme is given to each finalist.  The 3 themes will be randomly assigned by tombola no later than August 1st, 2023.
• Finalists must be present on Friday, October 27, 2023, at the Irving Convention Center in Dallas, TX where the competition will be held.
• Finalists must begin bringing all of their materials to the competition area on October 27, 2023, at 5:00 PM.  The competition officially opens on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at 9:00 AM.  Finalists will have until 2:00PM on Sunday, October 29, 2023, to complete their project.
• The winner will be announced on Sunday, October 29, 2023, at 2:00 PM.  The selection of the winner will be made by a jury composed of 4 members, all professionals in balloons and party decorations.

PRE-COMPETITION RULE:

• Each Finalist will automatically earn a 20X10 booth space at no cost in which they will prepare their work for the competition (The value of the 20X10 space is $995) This space will be located in an exclusive area where all attendees will have visual access. Each finalist may also have their own booth space to display their services.
• Each finalist will receive sponsorship of balloons to elaborate their work with a value of up to $300.
• Finalists must be available to participate in some promotional mechanics, such as a photo shoot and media interview. Production will provide all the details in advance.
  Competitors will be available for staff meetings to discuss the competition and notify them of any changes.
• Meetings may be held via video call or face-to-face.

COMPETITION RULES:

• Participants may begin setting up on Saturday from 9:00 AM and project must be completed by Sunday at 2:00PM.
• Participants may bring and set up all materials in their booth on Friday, October 27, 2023, starting at 5:00 PM. They will NOT be able to start setting up their booth until Saturday, October 28, 2023, at 9:00 AM.
• Each participant will be able to count with the help of (2) assistants who will be helping with the project. The assistants can also be professionals or balloon decorators.  It is the participant’s responsibility to have (2) assistants available in advance.
• The participants of the competition will have to deliver a layout “drawing” to the production of what they will be doing for the competition. The layout must be submitted 10 days before the competition.
• The project selected for the competition must be a minimum of 80% balloons and 20% of any other element of decoration (prints, furniture, cake, characters, etc.) If the final work does not contain 80% balloons, the participant may be disqualified at the sole discretion of the jury.
• The backdrop must be 100% made of balloons. No other material will be allowed in your backdrop.
• The winner of the competition will be selected by a panel of judges. The judging panel will have the opportunity to speak with the competitors the day before the competition begins to discuss any questions.
• The winner of the competition will be selected on Sunday, October 29, 2023, at 2:00 PM at the Save the Date Expo.
• The judges will receive a voting sheet that will include all voting elements for each competitor to be evaluated.
• The rules and judging sheet will be made public through our website.
  

Prize Drawing: 

• The winner of the competition will receive the champion cup of the second edition as well as a cash prize of $1200.
• The People’s Choice Awarded will also be selected on Sunday and will receive a cash prize of $400.
• The Winner will receive his 20X10 space stand with a value of $900 where the competition will take place. It will serve as a promotion for your brand and company.
  The winner will also receive the Diamond Sponsor package completely free with a value of $895.00. This includes promotion and marketing before and during the competition.
• After the winner has been selected, he/she will receive his/her evaluation sheet with the score obtained.
• In addition to the jury, the public will also have the opportunity to select their favorite artist by voting. Each competitor will have a voting box in which expo attendees will be able to cast a vote for their favorite with a ticket that they will receive at the entrance of the event. 

DISCLAIMERS AND LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY:

• By participation in the Contest, entrants agree to release and hold harmless Central Florida Events & Expo sponsor and organizer of the Save the Date Expo and Batt-Loon Challenge, its employees, and each of their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotional agencies, other companies associated with the Contest and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, shareholders, representatives, and agents (the Released Parties) from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the Contest or receipt or use of the prize (including any travel or activity related thereto), including, but not limited to:
  Cancellation or postponement of the event, injury, death, loss, or damage of any kind, to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, by the entrant’s participation in the Contest or acceptance, receipt or misuse of the prize (including any travel or activity related thereto).
• Entrant further agrees that in any cause of action, the liability of the Released Parties shall be limited to the cost of entering and participating in the Contest, and in no event shall the entrant be entitled to attorneys’ fees. The Released Parties are also not responsible for any inaccurate information, whether caused by site users, tampering, hacking or any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest. Entrants waive the right to claim any damages, including but not limited to punitive, consequential, direct, or indirect damages.

DISPUTES

• Except where prohibited, each entrant agrees that any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of, or connected with, the Contest or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the appropriate court located in Florida. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation, and enforceability of these Official Rules, entrants rights, and obligations, or the rights and obligations of the Sponsor in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of Florida, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules, which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than Florida.