Last updated 3:30 p.m. SATURDAY" JAN. 31 -- Some of the most outlandish musicians on campus will perform tonight for a crowd and a panel of celebrity judges.
Only one thing will be missing: instruments.
This year's UNC Air Guitar Competition will include author Chuck Klosterman — famous for his book ""Sex" Drugs" and Cocoa Puffs"" — on the panel of judges" adding to the excitement.
Following his 7 p.m. lecture in Memorial Hall" Klosterman will join The Daily Tar Heel Diversions Editor Jamie Williams and music professor Mark Katz on the panel.
""I always thought it would be cool for him to come to Carolina but even cooler if he would be involved in the Air Guitar Competition"" said junior Amanda Kao, chairwoman of the fun committee"" of the Carolina Union Activities Board and organizer of the competition.
Kao conceived the air guitar competition" in its second year after witnessing a professional air guitar championship in New York City. She said she has high hopes for this year's turnout" considering the success of last year's competition.
""Air guitar has been going on for a long time" and now a lot more people know about it and are anticipating it" she said.
In the first round of the competition, each contestant will perform 60 seconds of a prepared song of their choosing. Similar to professional figure skating, the performances are scored from 4.0 to 6.0.
The contestants with the top three scores advance to the second round, in which they will perform another 60 second song picked by the organizers. The performer with the highest score in the second round wins $100.
Many contestants, like last year's winner Ross Mckinnon, are drawn to the air guitar competition by the opportunity to rock out on stage without needing musical ability.
There have been a few things I've done where I get to get in front of tons of people and look like a total idiot"" Mckinnon said. I thought it'd be cool do something out of control and crazy.""
Last year's host of the event — Dan Crane"" who uses the stage name ""Bjorn Turoque"" — will return to lead the competition.
Now a professional air guitar competition host"" he competed in the first air guitar competition in the United States in 2003 and is the self-proclaimed ""ambassador of air guitar.""
Although Crane has competed in more than 10 air guitar competitions and witnessed many more"" the air guitar talent at UNC still impresses him.
""I've probably seen more air guitar performances than anyone else on the earth" and I would say that UNC ranks very high in my regard" Turoque said. What they lacked in skill they definitely made up for in enthusiasm.""
