| The scenario is always the same. There is a party | | | | free trip to the World Championship, which is held in |
| and everything seems to be going according to plan, | | | | Oulu, Finland. Unfortunately, this is where the party |
| but then the clock strikes around midnight. Something | | | | ends because, other than fame and glory, you don't |
| happens at parties, past a certain time, where people | | | | seem to receive any sort of monetary prize. |
| seem to let the alcohol completely take over their | | | | The rules are straightforward and self-explanatory. |
| body as well as their personality. You think everyone | | | | Each performer will play a song that they have |
| is having a good time, until you look over in the | | | | chosen, and hopefully practiced, for sixty seconds. |
| corner and notice a guy, usually by himself, start to | | | | Then there is the compulsory round, which is where |
| play the air guitar. | | | | the judges pick a song for you, and you have to play |
| You think to yourself that he must have suffered | | | | their song for sixty seconds. The tricky part about |
| something traumatic during his childhood years. The | | | | the compulsory round is that the sixty seconds of |
| guy is typically thought of as scary, imbalanced, and | | | | the song can start from anywhere within the song. |
| sad. However, you might want to curb your | | | | Therefore, you could be stuck playing the end of a |
| judgment, and take another look at the guy in the | | | | song that you don't even know. The rules say that |
| corner. He could just be practicing to enter the next | | | | you must play an invisible instrument, and that |
| air guitar championship. | | | | instrument must be a guitar (drums are not allowed). |
| As strange as the concept may sound, air guitar is | | | | Also, air roadies are allowed but they have to clear |
| considered an art. There is actually a competition that | | | | the stage before the performance can begin. |
| is held every year with rules and regulations that are | | | | There is a rule that prohibits back up bands, so if you |
| taken very seriously. The competition is held in a | | | | were thinking of bringing your friends along for the |
| "final four" like bracket system where there are | | | | ride, make sure that they stay in the audience and |
| several tiers that you must win in order to get to | | | | not on the stage. Performances are judged based on |
| the big prize. | | | | your technical ability, stage presence, and the |
| First, you must win the regional competition. Regionals | | | | "airness" of your performance. |
| will win you a free trip, with airfare and lodging | | | | Playing the air guitar can provide a fun outlet for the |
| included, and they will allow you to continue on to the | | | | person who cannot play a real musical instrument. |
| US finals where there is a massive competition | | | | Whether people look at you like you're crazy or just |
| between all regional finalists. Your next challenge is to | | | | creative, it can be a silly way to just have some fun. |
| win the US finals; from there you will again receive a | | | | |
