Everyone has something to say about this coming election, but no one says it better
than cartoonists. So, as our way of contributing to the 'noise' factor and doing
it in a fun way. TCS will be sponsoring a "themed" contest, focused on the political
circus that we all look forward to every four years. TCS will stage its contest
in time for two Grand Prize winners being announced the day before the presidential
election (Winners to be announced, Monday 11/5).
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ's) about the Cartoon Contest
What is the grand prize ?
The Prize for this contest will be financial. As everyone knows, web traffic drives
advertising fees. So, during the 20 weeks of the contest, TCS will award 50% of
advertising income to the two Grand Prize winners, which will be split evenly between
them.
Are there second and third place prizes ?
No, not for this contest. However, we will have two Grand Prize winners. One for
single panel cartoons and one for conic strips (multi-panel cartoons) .
Is voting the only method used to determine a winner ?
No. The Contest judges will have the final say on who will move forward. Votes will
be used as a tool by the judges to help them in selecting which cartoons progress
forward, for tiebreakers, and when there is disagreement among judges.
Since two cartoons are viewed each week, how is voted counted ?
Votes are tallied at the end of the week, so the second cartoons votes are added
to the first cartoons votes to provide a weeks total.
Who are the judges ?
The judges are a panel of professional cartoonists and selected others.
How do I submit my cartoons ?
You will submit them electronically, on the website. Once you register, you will
be guided through the process of uploading each cartoon. Each contest lasts ten
rounds, and two cartoons are needed for each weeks voting. A new cartoon uploaded
twice a week....on Monday and Wednesdays, requiring a total of 20 cartoons, for
those who make it to the finals. The upload time frames for cartoonists will be:
- Sunday between 6:00 AM and 11:00 PM. Cartoons will be available for viewing and
voting at 12:01 AM on Monday.
- Wednesdays between 6:00 AM and 11:00 PM. Cartoons will be available for viewing
and voting at 12:01 AM Thursday
Can I upload more than one cartoon at a time ?
Yes, with certain limitations. For those wishing to do so, two cartoons can be uploaded
on Sunday. However, once uploaded, it cannot be changed or modified. And we all
know how quickly political events change.
When does the contest start ?
The contest will start on Monday, June 11th.
If I am the writer of my strip but someone else does the artwork, should both of
our names be on the strip? If my strip is the winner, will we both receive the prize
as "one person" ?
Yes on both. Both writer and illustrator are considered the authors of the strip
and will receive the prize as "one person".
Am I allowed to enter more than one cartoon strip concept? If so, how many ?
You can enter more than one cartoon concept. No limit to the number of concepts
you can enter. However, you must enter each concept under a different email address.
Your email address is our control and identification method.
Do I need to copyright my comic strip before submitting it ?
That decision is yours. A copyright is as simple as drawing a circle c with your
name and year next to it.
How will I know when my comics have been uploaded ?
You will see the strip in the contest section of the website.
Should my drawings only be in black and white or should I color them?
Your choice. You are the contestant and the creator.
Should I send all dailies or are Sunday comics acceptable ?
You should submit dailies .
Is there an age limit ? If so, if I have permission from a parent or legal guardian,
will I still be permitted to enter the contest ?
There is no age limit or requirement.
Is the contest only for residents of the United States ?
No. The contest is Global. For a political cartoon contest, that perspective should
be interesting.
I understand that the contest is open to amateurs only. What is your definition
of an amateur ?
For purposes of this contest, an amateur is anyone who derives no more than 25%
of their total annual income from cartooning.
How does the contest work ?
There are two contests, each contest lasting ten weeks (or, as we like to say, ten
rounds). Each contestant will display two cartoons each week, one on Monday, then
replaced by a second cartoon on Wednesday. Each round starts on Monday and ends
Saturday at noon. The judges review the voting results and use the voting for 'guidance'
in selecting who will move forward. Approximately 10% of the contestants are eliminated
each week. So, the contest runs for 10 weeks, and at the end, one winner will be
chosen.
How many runners-up will there be ?
There are no runners-up . There are two Grand Prize winners, one from each contest
.
What kind of material is acceptable? Can you give me examples as to what you view
as inappropriate ?
Foul language, explicit drawings or material that would generally be considered
pornographic or in bad taste will be deleted from the contest, and be at the sole
discretion of the Studio and contest Operators.
If I submit material that is, to you, inappropriate, will I be notified so I can
submit a substitute ?
The website operators may choose to alert the cartoonists, if they deem it an error
in judgment. However, if there is a question, the cartoonist should contact
tony@thecartooniststudio.com for pre-approval.
Do I need to number my selections so you will know in which order to put them
?
No...The sequence that you use to upload the cartoon to the website is the sequence
that they will appear.
What size should I draw my comics ?
A comfortable size would be 6 x 18 inches, but draw it so that you can scan it and
send it as a jpeg, jpg, png or format.
I have comics already on the Amateur Cubicle. Would it be a good idea to submit
some of those for the contest ?
No. The contest is separate from the Amateur Cubicle. You want to use 'fresh' strips
that have not been seen.
Are digital drawings allowed ?
Yes. The nature of the web site requires digitized images.
