MASQ REGIONAL

MASQ VIRTUAL REGIONAL 1

Asynchronous videos due on 29 November 2025

DEADLINE

29 Nov 2025

ELIGIBILITY

Open to middle and high school students

PLATFORM

Pre-recorded, send link to Nadia or paste here

Information

We are cordially inviting you and/or your students to participate in The MASQ (Making Art while Socially Quarantined) hosted by The Perfect Performance, LLC. The MASQ Virtual Regional NIETOC Qualifier will be judged on the second weekend of December of 2025 (Dec 12-14).

The MASQ originated in 2020, when Covid made in-person tournaments an impossibility. This asynchronous tournament format has been quite popular, resulting in us continuing to offer it as an alternate or addition to your current live competition schedule. Having students videotaping their performances is an important educational tool and this competition provides an opportunity to submit those videos and get critiques from a nationwide panel of experts.

There are no qualification pre-requisites for a student to enter this tournament. This competition is open to all middle and high school students, provided your state association permits online and national competition. We will offer two divisions:

The JV division will be for middle school and first-year (novice) high school competitors.
Any experienced high school students should enter the OPEN division.

As long as entries warrant, we will offer competition in both divisions. If necessary, divisions may be collapsed for preliminary, but then separated for elimination rounds.

The MASQ is designed to give competitors a competitive digital experience with competitive costs and no judge requirements. This competition will serve as a qualifier for the NIETOC national competition next May. For the eight NIETOC events within the OPEN division, the Top 3 finalists will receive an automatic qualification. Remaining finalists will earn one bid. Bids will extend to semifinalists will earn a bid IF entries warrant in each event.

Each student must submit a single-take (non-edited) videotaped performance in one or more of the following events: Declamation/OI, Dramatic Interp, Humorous Interp, Program Interp, Original Oratory, Informative, Duo Interp, and Extemp.

Students can enter as many events as they wish.
For all events except Extemp, the same video will be used for all rounds of competition.
Extempers will submit two videos – one for prelims and a second video to be used for ALL elimination rounds.

We are planning for three preliminary rounds, semifinals (if entries warrant) and finals. Performances will be judged and critiqued by a nationwide panel of experts who specialize in forensics and theatre. Electronic ballots (with videotaped performances embedded) will be used and educational critiques will be provided to the students immediately following the competition. Students are not required to be present for any part of the tournament.

Individual and team awards will be mailed following the conclusion of the tournament.

LATE FEES
A late fee of $15 per entry will apply to those who register after the deadline.

LEGAL PROCESS
One of the key parts of participation includes acceptance of the Legal Terms & Conditions. In order to do so, EVERY STUDENT listed on your entry must complete this digital signature Google Form. Please share the link below with ALL COMPETITORS listed with your team's entry so that their parent/guardian may acknowledge receipt and provide official permission to compete.
Mandatory legal form click here

EVENT RULES
OI/DEC: https://www.speechwire.com/files/19972-DECLAM%20rules.pdf
Other speech events: www.speechwire.com/files/19972-MASQ%20DIGITAL%20EVENT%20RULES.docx.pdf

VIDEOTAPING GUIDELINES
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1o04xztmxliMLVYyhLcMTav5bXb_fiv5qtZUOsqyY7RU/edit?usp=sharing

TIEBREAKING SCHEMES
https://www.speechwire.com/files/19972-TIEBREAKING%20SCHEMES.docx.pdf

Entry Price

One speech event $90
Two speech event $130
Three speech event $170

You do not need to provide a judge at this tournament, because the judging pool will be handled by the tournament organizers themselves.
Registration will not be complete until payment is received.

Schedule

29 November 2025
11:59 PM PST All non-extemp videos due (make sure to include the piece information such as title, author, etc.) and list here or send to Nadia

1 December 2025
The tournament organizer will release the extemp prompts in the morning. Keep in mind that students will need to record two videos. One for the prelim round and one for the finals round. Therefore, please make sure you are choosing 1 topic from the first page (prelims) and 1 topic from the final page (elims).
EXTEMP PROMPTS - link here

1 December 2025
11:59 PM PST Both extemp videos due

12-14 December 2025
Judging takes place

Drop Fee

Drop fees will be the same amounts as the entry fee PLUS any fines the tournament charges us for late drops. Drop requests should be made to Victor and Nadia.

Please do not drop out last minute to avoid being charged these fees.

Contact Info

Victor Rivas Umana
Contact email: [email protected]
Nadia Budiman
Contact email: [email protected]
Or [email protected]

Registration Form

All competitors must submit this form before continuing with registration. Failure to do so may result in your entry being invalid and the tournament forfeiting your fees.
Mandatory legal form click here

List school as 'The Golden State Academy'

STUDENT INFORMATION

* Indicates required field

Student Name *

First

Last

Student Phone Number *

Student Email *

PARENT CONTACT INFORMATION
Your email address will be the one included when we send the logistics email.

Parent Name *

First

Last

Parent Email *

Parent Phone Number *

Have you submitted the legal form for your child using the link above? *

YES AND I UNDERSTAND THAT FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN MY CHILD'S ENTRY BEING REMOVED WITHOUT NOTICE NOR REFUND

EVENT SELECTION

Each student must submit a single-take (non-edited) videotaped performance.
For all events except Extemp, the same video will be used for all rounds of competition.
Extempers will submit two videos – one for prelims and a second video for elimination rounds.
EXTEMP PROMPTS - link here
Links must be unlisted on Youtube.
Please label the title to include the event that you are doing.
You must adhere to the videotaping guidelines.
- MAKE SURE TO SEND NADIA YOUR VIDEO LINKS (AND STATE THE TITLE, TOPIC, ETC) BY 29 NOVEMBER 2025.

JUDGE PROVISION
You do not need to provide a judge at this tournament, because the judging pool will be handled by the tournament organizers themselves.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

I will keep a copy of this form for reference. *

YES

We are signing up with the understanding that my child will work to be ready by the tournament date. If we choose to drop out because my child is not ready that will be considered when making assessments for future classes. *

YES

I understand that if I fail to drop the tournament before the deadline that I will still be responsible for the fees of both my son or daughter, along with that of his or her partner and the fines. *

YES

I understand that if payment is not received we won't be registered and our spot will be given up to someone else. *

YES

I confirm that I have completed all necessary paperwork for this tournament. *

YES

I understand that The Golden State Academy has no control over tournament entries other than the initial sign up. I understand that my child's priority will be based on either the last time I signed up OR the date paid, whichever is latest. *

YES

I understand that my child must check in and check out periodically at the tournament with the coach and that if I do not my child will be barred from participating in following tournaments. This is to ensure coaches can see where students are at competitively and to give any initial feedback for improvement. *

YES

I am a consenting adult. I understand that by submitting this form I agree to all that has been covered. *

YES

I have submitted the mandatory legal form and understand that if I failed to do so, the tournament may remove me without refund. *

YES

Submit/take to payment

We would love to have you visit soon at one of our open houses.
Check our home page for the schedule!

School year Hours

M-F: 3:45 pm - 8:30 pm
Sun: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Telephone

510-270-8480
510-470-0531

Email (preferred)

For more info email us at: [email protected]

Locations

Fremont: 200 Brown Rd #201, Fremont, CA 94539

Cupertino: 20432 Silverado Avenue Suite 211, Cupertino, CA 95014

Aborn Institute: 2804 Riedel Road, San Jose, CA 95135

Dublin: Loving Tree Academy, 6693 Owens Dr, Pleasanton, CA 94588