Parent’s
Pageant Guide
March 1, 2015
Welcome to Columbus!
This guide was created to assist you in understanding what will take place during
the time your daughter competes for the title of Miss Georgia. This will be a
stressful time for her as well as her family. Any questions that you have should be
directed to the pageant office. The phone number is (706) 322-2315. Your
Franchise and Field Directors are also available for you to consult. Please feel
free to contact the Miss Georgia Pageant office, your local franchise or field
director at any time if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you for allowing your daughter to compete in the Miss America
Scholarship Program. The rewards of competition will be greater than you can
possibly imagine. It really is an opportunity of a lifetime for young women in our
state. Thank you for supporting the Miss America Program. We do hope that you
will continue to support your daughter and encourage her to be the very best
she can be throughout her participation and competition.
We wish all of the contestants the very best of luck!
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The Parent’s Pageant Guide
Contestant Arrival
Miss Georgia contestants will check into the Hostess Headquarters between 9:00
am and 11:00 am on Saturday, June 13, 2015.
Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen contestants will check into the Hostess
Headquarters between 9:00 am and 11:00 am on Saturday, June 13, 2015.
Miss Contestants will receive their room keys and a copy of the Miss Georgia
Program book. Prior to checking into the headquarters, contestants should have
already taken clothes to the theater, bought any needed food items, and run
any errands needed. Once Miss Contestants have signed into the hostess
headquarters they will not be allowed to leave the dorm area. At a specified
time contestants will meet with hostesses to discuss activities for the week and
receive information on t- shirts and clothing for the week.
Housing
Hostess Headquarters Location:
Broadway Crossing Apartments Lobby
#25 West Tenth Street
Columbus, GA 31901
Hours Open:
10:00AM—4:00PM (starting Tuesday, June 16)
Gift Delivery Schedule:
Gifts must be delivered to the hostess
headquarters before 4:00PM
Gift Delievery Address:
Miss ___(Title)_________
Name
#25 West Tenth Street
Columbus, Georgia 31901
Mailing Address:
Miss ___(Title)_________
Name
1004 Broadway
Columbus, Georgia 31901
Telephone Calls:
Contestants will be allowed to bring a cell phone with them pageant week. Cell
phone use will only be allowed when the contestants are in their apartments.
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The Parent’s Pageant Guide
Contestants are required to leave their cell phones in the apartment at all times.
If a contestant is caught outside the apartment with her cell phone, the cell
phone will be confiscated and returned at the end of pageant week. If the
contestant becomes ill or requires any needed items, the hostess will contact
the parents or franchise.
Hostesses and Their Responsibilities to Contestants:
Each contestant will be assigned a hostess for Pageant Week. She will do
everything possible to help you have a successful and pleasant week. Her job is
to make sure your daughter is where she is supposed to be, when she is
supposed to be there, wearing what she is supposed to wear and doing what
she is supposed to do. She will also be a most ardent supporter. She will assist
when needed, help find solutions when problems arise and cheer your daughter
from the sidelines. Parents please make sure your contestant has everything
they need before pageant so that you do not have to deliver items. Do not
leave any items at the theatre to be delivered to your daughter. We want to
make sure nothing is lost or forgotten
Contestant Safety
Great efforts are taken to ensure the safety of your daughter while she is in
Columbus. Columbus State University buses provide transportation to and from
special events and meals each day. Security guards are always present at the
theater and the dormitory area.
Preliminary Competitions
On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights of pageant week contestants will
compete in Swimsuit (Physical Fitness), Evening Wear, On Stage Question, and
Talent. The contestants select their groups during Forum weekend. The group
chosen dictates what phase of competition they will do each night. Winners in
preliminary Talent and Swimsuit (Physical Fitness) will be announced following
each night of preliminary competitions.
Contestant Departure from Theater
After visitation each night, the contestants leave the theater and walk across
the street to contestant housing.
Visitation
Reason
Visitation allows franchises and family members to visit with the contestant after
each night of preliminary competition. The location for each group to meet for
visitation will be announced during preliminary competition. This is the time for
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The Parent’s Pageant Guide
contestants to receive positive reinforcement. It is not a time for criticism or
gossip. No gifts will be allowed during visitation. All gifts must go to Hostess
Headquarters at the Broadway Crossing Apartments Lobby.
Length of Time: Visitation time is from 15-20 minutes
Regulations: No gifts or cards can be taken to contestants during visitation
Badges and Order Form:
Each person attending visitation is required to have a badge. An order form for
badges can be found on the Miss Georgia website. Badges cannot be
transferred from one person to another. Each person attending visitation is
required to purchase a badge. The parents of each contestant will be given
their badges free of charge.
Gifts During Pageant Week:
During pageant week contestants receive many gifts from parents, family,
friends, and franchises. Some contestants receive an enormous number of items.
Some are received daily. Depending on the individual situation, there have
been contestants who were not fortunate enough to be remembered during
the week. When this happens it is very difficult for these contestants to remain
upbeat. Regardless of the cost, any gift will be appreciated. The contestants
pick up their gifts from the Hostess Headquarters daily. Please keep that in mind
when buying gifts. Oversized gifts or gifts that weigh a lot are discouraged. Care
should be taken in sending perishable items to the dorms. Remember whatever
you send in will have to be moved out at the end of the week. If you know of
economical gifts that your daughter would enjoy receiving, share that
information with the franchise. In order to prevent last minute stress, it is also
recommended that you begin collecting those items early and bring them with
you to Columbus. Hostess Headquarters does not have a refrigerator so choose
items that do not require refrigeration.
Tickets
Season Tickets: A season ticket includes a ticket to Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
and Saturday competitions. Season tickets will be sold before single night tickets
will be available. May 1, 2015 is the deadline for season tickets. You should
already have received ticket options. If not, ticket order forms can be found on
the Miss Georgia website. Ticket orders can be turned in at Forum Weekend. It
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The Parent’s Pageant Guide
is imperative you order tickets as quickly as possible or you may be sitting in the
back of the theater.
Single Night Tickets:
www.tickets.com.
Single night tickets will go on sale June 1, 2015, through
Miss Georgia Farewell Luncheon Tickets:
A farewell luncheon will be held on Friday of pageant week to honor the
outgoing Miss Georgia and Miss Georgia Outstanding Teen. Presentations are
also made for Community Service and Scholarship Awards. Contestants will be
present and will be allowed to eat with family and franchise members. A form
to order these tickets can be found on the Miss Georgia website. Tickets must
be purchased by Saturday, June 13. Tickets WILL NOT be available for sale the
week of the pageant or at the door. You must have a ticket to attend
Pageant Pictures and Videos
Contestants will receive forms to order pageant week pictures and videos. NO
OTHER CAMERAS OR VIDEO CAMERAS ARE ALLOWED IN THE AUDITORIUM DURING
PAGEANT WEEK. Pictures can be taken during visitation. However, cameras will
not be allowed in the theater until after each night of competition. Matt Boyd
Photography is our official photographer. Photographs will be published on the
Web for you to see and order.
Saturday Night
Everyone, except Miss Georgia will be given three options following the pageant
on Saturday night:
• Option 1: Contestants may return to the Broadway Crossing apartment
with a hostess and stay the night.
• Option 2: Contestant will sign out for the night with a parent or their local
franchise which must be present for the contestant to leave. You MUST
return to the apartment by 8:00 AM to clear the apartment.
Please discuss with your daughter what she wishes to do prior to pageant
week.
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The Parent’s Pageant Guide
Sunday Morning After Miss Georgia is Crowned
The Sunday morning after the Miss Georgia Pageant will be very hectic. There
are many things to do and you should recruit family and friends to assist you.
Starting at 8:00 am, contestants will need to clear the apartment. They will need
to remove their belonging, including flowers, clean the refrigerator and take out
the trash. When everything is loaded and cleaned out of her apartment,
contestants are required to check out with their hostess and then turn in their
key downstairs in hostess headquarters. After leaving the apartment,
contestants will report to the River Center. The River Center will not be open until
10:00 am. At that time, the contestants need to clear everything out of their
dressing rooms. Please do not go to breakfast in the middle of these tasks. All
contestants must complete check out at both locations by 11:00 am.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
A:
Are we permitted to visit the theater during rehearsals?
All rehearsals are closed but to production staff, hostesses, and
contestants.
Q:
A:
What about the special young man in my daughter's life?
Where there are dynamic women, there are usually special young men.
Your daughter is not alone. Visitation (entrance by badge only) with
contestants will be allowed after each preliminary competition. We rely
on parents and the contestant to explain our rules to these young men
and help them understand why these rules are important.
Q:
A:
How can parents help?
Come to Columbus to enjoy yourselves. Have confidence in your
daughter. Praise but resist the urge to criticize. Always let her know you
love her whether she wins or not. Discuss with her prior to the pageant
how she should react to winning or not winning.
Q:
A:
If my daughter gets sick or needs something how will I know?
One of the forms received during Forum is a release for Emergency
treatment. This will authorize the pageant to take whatever steps they
need to provide medical attention to your daughter, if needed. Hostesses
will contact you if there is a need for you to be involved. Please provide
your daughter with needed telephone numbers for your hotel, pagers, or
cell phone numbers.
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The Parent’s Pageant Guide
Q:
A:
Q:
A:
Q:
A:
If my daughter reports a situation of inappropriate behavior by another
contestant or hostess, who should she contact?
Hostess Chairman or Mansfield Bias, President
What behavior changes should I expect to see in my daughter during
pageant week?
You will probably witness behavior that could be characterized as
euphoric, excited, sad, weary, or mad. If your daughter is a first timer and
since she will not have seen family, friends, or franchises from SaturdayWednesday, you may experience tears the first night of visitation. These
tears are very normal and are a release from being in a confined
situation. Your positive reinforcement is most important at a time like this.
How can I help prepare my daughter physically and emotionally for this
week?
In order to deal with the physical and emotional stress of rehearsals and
preparation, it is important for each contestant to start now with a
schedule. Contestants should work on stamina and endurance prior to
coming to Columbus. Rest is important. Walking can increase stamina
and endurance. Proper diets are important. Eating well pageant week is
important. Medications taken on a regular basis should be taken during
the week. This is not the time to try new anything. In addition, the week
before the pageant is not the time to begin a new routine. Make sure your
daughter is getting her rest now and eating properly so that she will be at
her best during competition week.
Q:
A:
What if part of my daughter's wardrobe needs repair?
She should contact her hostess. Her hostess will know what resources are
required. The family will become involved only when necessary.
Q;
A:
What will our wardrobe needs be during pageant week?
You can count on Columbus in June being hotter than anywhere else in
the state. Remember that it is difficult to please everyone with the
temperature of a room or theatre. Come prepared with a sweater or light
jacket in the event one is needed. You should be prepared to be
comfortable for preliminary nights. As a rule, guests attending the Miss
Georgia Pageant dress formally on Saturday night for final competition.
What If My Daughter Wins Miss Georgia?
If your daughter wins Miss Georgia, you will be escorted on stage following the
crowning.
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The Parent’s Pageant Guide
Almost immediately the new Miss Georgia will be taken away to prepare for her
first appearance at the Miss Georgia VIP Reception. Following the VIP
Reception she will move immediately into the Columbus Marriott and will spend
the night there with a chaperone. She will prepare for the contract signing the
next morning and her first press conference. The family of the newly crowned
Miss Georgia will be responsible for moving all of her clothes from the theater
and the dorm on the morning after the pageant. The family will be directed to
the appropriate location for those items. All items should be removed from the
theater and dorm by 11:00AM.
Housing Arrangements for Miss Georgia:
The winner will spend some of her time in Columbus when not traveling and
making appearances. Also, at times…Miss Georgia will be provided other
accommodations including host families from around the state when making
appearances.
The new Miss Georgia will remain in Columbus following the Miss Georgia
Pageant. At a designated time, the winner will travel home for a welcome
home party in her own community. At that same time, discussions will be held
and available wardrobe items will be discussed and packed for the return to
Columbus.
Preparation For Miss America:
Being Miss Georgia is a full time job! The new Miss Georgia will hit the road
running as she prepares for Miss America. Schedules will be developed for
personal appearances, interview preparation, wardrobe shopping, physical
fitness sessions, talent preparation, and the development of all paperwork. This
will be an intensive period and may not allow for many visits home. Parents,
families and boyfriends should be prepared for the fact that the new Miss
Georgia will be kept very busy and have limited time for visits with family and
friends prior to Miss America. If preparation for Miss Georgia includes thoughts of
Miss America, the transition for preparation for Miss America will be much easier.
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The Parent’s Pageant Guide