Official competition framework

The Royal Decree

Effective for the season beginning September 1, 2026

Monthly Championship format updated September 28, 2026 for the September 29 championship.

Eligibility and entry

Entrants must be 21 or older and present valid identification when requested. Each performer—including every member of a duet or trio—must pay the applicable individual entry rate or present one qualifying venue ticket issued after a two-item venue purchase. A performer who submits the official website preregistration form by 11:59 PM Pacific Time on the Monday immediately preceding the selected Tuesday event reserves the $5-per-performer Website Royal Rate. A website submission received after that cutoff automatically moves to the following Tuesday and reserves the website rate for that later event. Social-media and walk-up registrations are $10 per performer. Preregistration does not activate an entry; an entry is active only after timely website registration is confirmed when applicable, onsite check-in by 10:00 PM, social-follow confirmation, payment or venue-ticket verification, and eligibility confirmation.

Performance requirements

Entries must use an approved traditional karaoke track available through KaraFun. Original music, live instruments, and performance props are not permitted. Explicit lyrics are allowed, subject to venue direction. Once an entrant claims a song, that song is unavailable to other contestants for that qualifying night. Equipment failure may result in a host-approved restart.

Qualifying rounds

Karaoke begins at 9:00 PM. Qualifying performances must be completed by 11:30 PM. The Royal Commissioner selects the night's standout finalists, and crowd response together with the official applause meter guides the selection of two Royal Invitation recipients at midnight. When a decision is too close, selected performers may be summoned to a one-minute host-selected Royal Sing-Off. The Royal Commissioner's ruling is final.

Monthly Championship

Two qualifiers advance from each of three standard qualifying nights, producing six monthly finalists. For September 29 at The Nickel Mine, the show starts at 9:00 PM and all finalists must check in by 9:00 PM. Championship competition begins between 9:30 and 10:00 PM and continues until the Monthly Monarch is crowned. The 10:00 PM qualifying-night check-in deadline above does not apply to championship finalists. All times are local Los Angeles time.

Personal songs and performance order

Initial performance order is drawn randomly. Each finalist submits a Round One song, a different Round Two song if they advance, and at least one backup, with titles and artists. All must be available through KaraFun. Competition songs are reserved on a first-received basis: if two contestants request the same song, the first submission keeps it and the other contestant uses a backup.

Round One: six to four

All six finalists perform their first songs. The Royal Court—Lord Taurus, the Royal Hand, and the Crown's Maiden—independently ranks four performers, awarding 4, 3, 2, and 1 points. Combined scores select the Top Four; audience response breaks ties. Performance, stage presence, and crowd engagement matter alongside vocals. Royal Court voting ends after this round.

Round Two and the third-place battle

The Top Four perform their second songs. The audience alone selects the Final Two. The two performers who do not advance compete for third place in a one-minute-each battle using the same host-selected song, separate from the championship draw pool.

The six-song Championship Draw

Each contestant contributes three approved song options. The championship pool contains only the three options from each of the eventual Final Two: six songs total. Songs contributed by contestants who do not reach the Final Two are not included. Approved backups may serve as draw options when designated by Lord Taurus. The approved potential draw songs are shared with all six contestants before the championship so everyone can prepare.

A coin flip determines who draws first. There are exactly two draws, with each drawn song removed from the pool:

Only the first finalist has a keep-or-pass decision. There are no redraws or second passes. Both finalists perform their assigned songs, and the audience alone determines the Monthly Monarch. Lord Taurus conducts audience participation and announces the results.

Prizes and reentry

The monthly champion receives $250, a crown, sash, certificate, and annual-tournament eligibility. The runner-up receives a $50 bar tab, a royal pin, and one complimentary entry into the next qualifying circuit. Third place receives a $25 bar tab and appetizer. Prizes are shared by group acts. A monthly champion cannot win another monthly crown during the same season; other eligible performers may reenter.

August and annual finale

August uses two accelerated qualifiers, with three performers advancing from each night. Six compete for the August crown on the third Tuesday. The Annual Tournament of Champions occurs on the fourth Tuesday, and the new season begins immediately afterward.

Conduct, safety, and discretion

Entrants must follow venue rules, treat staff and participants respectfully, and avoid dangerous, threatening, discriminatory, or disruptive conduct. KQK or the venue may refuse or end participation for misconduct, intoxication that creates a safety concern, fraud, rule evasion, or failure to follow reasonable show direction. The host may make reasonable format adjustments for safety, timing, attendance, technical conditions, or unforeseen circumstances.

Media and brand notice

Participation may occur in a photographed or recorded live-event environment. The separate media notice presented during entry governs promotional use. The Kings & Queens of Karaoke℠ name, presentation materials, artwork, and show package are proprietary to Scorpion's Lair Productions. KaraFun is a third-party karaoke platform and is not a sponsor or producer of KQK.

Questions: thekingsandqueensofkaraoke@gmail.com