We can feel it coming in the air tonight…yes, the annual Air Sex championships are upon us. And if you’re wondering what air sex is—it’s just like air guitar. In both cases, you’re pretending to get down. And you can probably do either to your favorite Prince album. And you’re probably not making anybody happy but yourself….in other words: it’s just like real sex. (Thanks very much, and don’t forget to tip your waitress!)

New Orleans Air Sex Championship 2013 at One Eyed Jacks on August 10.

But seriously, folks: Some of those oddballs in Austin, Texas came up with the idea of an air sex championship at the Alamo Drafthouse five years ago; it’s now turned into a national contest that will happen in 14 cities this year, with the finals to be set in December. It’s been on a few TV shows (including Real Time with Bill Maher and America’s Got Talent) and the original Austin crew just raised $15,000 on Kickstarter to make a film about it. Austin-based comedian Chris Trew comes to each city to judge the contests.

Your time onstage can’t be longer than two minutes and all orgasms must be faked (again, the parallels to real sex are striking); you need to provide your choice of musical soundtrack; and all sex acts must be performed with at least one imaginary partner. Otherwise, the choice and variety of act is entirely up to you. While the comedic possibilities are self-explanatory, it apparently helps if there’s some actual erotic content as well. In New York last June, the winning contestant, calling herself Jam Out With My Clam Out, acted out a scene in which her imaginary husband had died and she revived him orally. Also as with real sex, lack of imagination will get you nowhere.

[Air Sex Championships at One Eyed Jacks, 615 Toulouse St., Saturday, August 10 at 9 p.m. Admission is $7].