5 Rookie Mistakes to Avoid at Your First Pageant

National American Miss Queens at the 2012 National Pageant

 A first pageant can be intimidating not only to the contestant, but to moms and dads alike. Your only experience with pageantry may be what you've seen on T.V. or in movies. Your pageant paperwork and directors will be a great source of information in preparation of your next pageant, but here are 5 lessons that I had to learn from experience.

NAM Texas State Finalists meet at a pajama party

5 Rookie Mistakes to Avoid at Your Next Pageant:

1. Overspending. At your first pageant you'll likely be barraged with a plethora of pageant paraphernalia for sale...mostly having nothing to do with the competition itself. T-Shirts, pins, stationery, totes, roses, costume jewelry, buttons, DVDs, pretty much anything extra will be at the pageant.  Don't be hustled or feel pressured to buy any of it if its not already a line item in your budget (which is something you should have, see rookie mistake #2).  Also, if you're competing in a system that has optional contests, don't go overboard here either. For your first pageant, go with what you know, what you're familiar and comfortable with, and don't feel as if you need to enter an optional contest multiple times to have a better chance of winning.

NAM Casual Wear Contestants await their time to shine

2. Underestimating Costs. On the other side of the coin, it can be easy to overlook some standard budget line items common with pageantry.  Many first-timers stop adding costs after the entry fees and the gown have been purchased...and possibly the interview suit.  Don't forget about the hotel room, transportation costs (gas, flights), food, hair, make-up, accessories, all those 'other' outfits for check-in, rehearsals and production numbers, shoes for all the outfits, stockings, jewelry, bows, emergency sewing kits, bobby pins, hair products...it all adds up!  Did you want to get gifts for the other contestants? Add that in, too. Are you buying the pageant DVD?  It will be at least $100 or more.  It pays to set up a budget well before the pageant.  Think of EVERYTHING you will need down to the bobby pin.  Create a self-calculating spreadsheet in Excel or Sheets and document what you'll be spending.  If you do this several months in advance, you can plan and save accordingly. Otherwise you'll risk causing unnecessary financial stress on yourself.

3.  Being underprepared.  This is a simple one.  Basically, don't wait until the last minute to start getting ready for your pageant.  A good rule of thumb is to start at least 6 months in advance.  Get organized. Make packing checklists and budgets, and pay your fees as early as possible so when pageant week comes, you can have fun and not be so stressed.

NAM Texas state finalists await the actress competition

4. Bringing Tag-a-longs. And I don't mean Girl Scout Cookies.  I know how tempting it is to make pageant weekend a family affair--and it should be!  However, sometimes favorite cousins, besties, and next door neighbors can be a distraction and in some cases a complete interference to capturing the crown.  Allow friends and family to show their support by having them attend the on stage competitions and the finale.  But I would think twice before allowing sleepovers, extra outings, and the like. For one, the contestant will be busy making NEW friends, as she should. Pageant schedules are usually jam packed with back to back events with time to do little more than eat and rest in between. And for older girls, boyfriends at the pageant  are a no no (in my opinion). Basically, serious contestants will have very little time to devote to tag-a-longs. They would be taking time that otherwise should be spent making friends and focusing on competing at her very best.

NAM State Queens pause for a pose during their rehearsal

2013 Texas NAM National Finalists have fun at their Team Texas Photo Shoot

5. Misunderstanding the word 'Casual'. OK first time contestants and mamas. It's a pageant, not a backyard barbecue.  When your pageant system outlines the dress code for pageant check in or rehearsal and the word causal is used, they don't mean jeans and a graphic tee! Under no circumstances should these items be part of your wardrobe unless it the official pageant attire for attire certain phase of competition.  You want to present a very well put together person at ALL times! The competition starts from the moment you enter that hotel lobby until the second the chairman of the judges hands in the scores. Period. Think: If you were the Queen, what would you be wearing?

NAM contestant Blayne Brown poses in her Casual Wear

Bria Jones poses in her Casual Wear Outfit

I hope this helps you compete at your very best, and puts you ahead of the other rookies at your next big pageant. Envision your reign.