whatzup Battle of the Bands Rules

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whatzup BATTLE OF THE BANDS VIII

Presented by whatzup and 98.9 The Bear

Hosted by Columbia Street West

Sponsored by Digitracks Recording Studio, Sweetwater Sound and Wooden Nickel Music

RULES

Who May Enter:

1. Battle of the Bands is open to any kind of musical act.

2. All performers and/or band members must be at least 18 years old at the time of their Preliminary Round performance. Bands with members who will turn 18 during the period of the Battle of the Bands must provide those members' names and birthdates on their application form.

Schedule:

1. The schedule is tentative and subject to change depending on the number of bands entering.

2. Preliminary Round: Beginning at 9 p.m. on eight consecutive Thursdays beginning May 5, 2011; four bands (or performers), each performing 30-minute sets. Two bands (or performers) will advance from each preliminary round.

2. Quarterfinal Round: Beginning at 9:00 p.m. on four consecutive Thursdays beginning Thursday, June 30; four bands (or performers), each performing 30-minute sets. Two bands (or performers) will advance from each quarterfinal round.

3. Semifinal Round: Beginning at 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 28 and Thursday, Aug. 4; four bands (or performers), each performing 30-minute sets. Two bands (or performers) from each semifinal round.

4. Finals: Thursday, August 11, beginning at 9:00 p.m. The Finals will consist of four bands (or performers), each performing 30-minute sets.

5. If when the contest begins there are less than 32 bands or performers entered, one or more slots during the eighth preliminary round (June 23) will be awarded to the bands with the highest judges scores that otherwise would not have advanced to the Quarterfinal Round based on their crowd votes.

Registration & Payment:

1. To participate, bands (or performers) must completely fill out the registration form published on this website and weekly in whatzup and send $40 payment, a band bio not to exceed 80 words, a band photo and performance order preference to whatzup, 1747 St. Marys Ave., Fort Wayne, IN 46808. Bands who submit payment and all required materials on or before 5 p.m. Friday, April 1 may enter for a reduced fee of $25.

2. Registration will remain open to all qualified bands or performers until Thursday, May 5, or until 32 bands or performers have entered and submitted their payment, whichever comes first.

3. Once registration is closed, band or performers may be accepted as alternates who will be invited to compete in a Preliminary Round if a registered band is unable to perform. Alternates will be designated as "first alternate," "second alternate" and so on, based solely on the order in which their registration form and payment were received. Alternates unable to perform when a performance slot becomes available will move to the last alternate number available at that time.

4. Once accepted for the competition, entry fees are non-refundable. Entry fees for alternates will only be deposited if that band (or performer) actually competes in the Preliminary Round. Entry fees will be returned to alternates who do not get to perform.

Scheduling and Order of Performance:

1. Each registering band must properly fill out the Order of Performance preference on the registration form.

2. Bands may also black out up to two Preliminary Round dates on which they will be unable to play.

3. In the Preliminary Round, bands will be scheduled in the order their registration is accepted by whatzup. Bands will be assigned to the first date on which their first choice of playing time is available and that band is available to play. If the band's first choice of playing time is not available on a night that band is available to play, the band will be assigned to the first date on which their second choice of playing time is available. If neither the band's first or second choice of playing time is available, the band will be assigned to the first date on which their third choice of playing time is available. This process of scheduling bands based on their preferred playing time will continue until all slots are filled.

4. In subsequent rounds, Order of Performance will be based on each band's preference as given on its registration form and the Judges' score from the preceding round. (The band with the highest Judges' score from the preceding round will have first choice of playing time, based on its stated preference; the band with the second highest Judges' score from the preceding round will have second choice, based on its stated preference; and so on.)

5. Assignment of performance dates and times are final. Bands unable to perform during their assigned Preliminary Round date and time and who notify whatzup at least two weeks in advance may become alternates and may still qualify to compete.

6. If a Band is unable to perform during their assigned Quarterfinal, Semifinal or Final round date and time, that band will be replaced by the band with the highest judges' score from the previous round not otherwise advancing. If that band is unable to perform, the band with the next highest cumulative score will be invited.

7. If one or more Wildcard Rounds are scheduled, bands will be invited to participate in Wildcard Round(s) based on their judges score.

Scoring and Judging:

1. Scoring in all rounds except for the Final Round is based 50% on audience voting and 50% on Judges' scoring.

2. Audience voting: Each paying member of the audience is given a ballot when they pay cover (non-paying audience members may not vote). To vote, audience members circle or mark the name of the band they want to win and turn in their ballots. The percentage of the total audience vote earned by each band will be added to Judges' scoring percentage for each band to achieve a final score.

3. Judges' scoring: Each Judge awards points to each band for four criteria: Technical Skills (up to 25 points); Song Quality (up to 25 points); Originality (up to 25 points); and Stage Presence or Showmanship (up to 25 points). Total scores will be averaged to determine a percentage score for each band (0 to 100%). Those percentages will be added to each band's percentage of the audience vote to achieve a final cumulative score..

4. Scoring for the Grand Finals are the same as for prior rounds, except that judges scores make of 75% of the final cumulative score, and audience votes make of 25%.

5. In the event of a tie, tie-breakers are as follows: 1st tie-breaker, judges' points for Technical Skills; 2nd tie-breaker, judges' points for Song Quality; 3rd tie-breaker, judges' points for Originality; 4th tie-breaker, judges' points for Stage Presence. If tie-breakers cannot break a tie, a coin toss will determine the winner.

6. Scores will be tabulated immediately following each show, and results will be announced immediately as soon as they are available. Official results will be posted on www.whatzup.com the following day.

7. The following scores will be posted on www.whatzup.com for each round: Total score; Audience vote percentage; Judges' score for each judging criteria and Judges' total score for each band. Individual judges' scores are not disclosed.

Band Personnel:

1. Only the members of the band listed on your registration form may perform. If you have a lineup change during the course of the competition, the lineup change must be submitted in writing to whatzup for approval, either by mail or e-mail (whatzup@whatzup.com) at least 10 days prior to your scheduled performance.

2. Guest performers are not permitted.

3. Only registered band members are admitted free of charge. There is no guestlist, and roadies, techs or Band-Aids are only admitted as paying patrons and may not enter the back room at Columbia Street prior to 8:30 p.m., when doors are opened, except to load in equipment.

4. All members of each band are required to be present at least 30 minutes prior to their scheduled performance time; and at least one member of each band must be present for the 8:45 p.m. scheduled band meeting each performance night. Pre-show band meetings are not held for Quarterfinal or Semifinal rounds; for the Finals round, the pre-show meeting will be held at 9:15 p.m.

5. No one under the age of 18 may perform; and band members under the age of 21 are allowed inside the club only during their band's set-up, performance and tear-down.

Equipment:

1. Equipment provided each night: Bass rig (upon request), mics and mic stands. Bands must bring all other gear, including drumsets..

2. Any special equipment needs must be reported to sound technician Richard Reprogle at least one week prior to the band's scheduled performance date.

3. All equipment must be delivered to Columbia Street West and either set up on stage or stored in the elevated seating area stage left between 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. on the night of performance. No one but judges and registered musicians are allowed in this equipment area from 7:30 p.m. until the end of each night's contest.

4. A stage manager will be on hand between each set and will assist in tearing down and setting up.

5. Bands should keep in mind that 20 minutes are alotted for tearing down and setting up between sets and plan accordingly. Up to 10 points may be deducted from a band's Judges' percentage score for delays in set changes caused, in the determination of the judges, by the band either setting up or tearing down. Penalties for delays in setting up or tearing down will be determined by judges in consultation with the sound technician and stage manager.

5. Bands are responsible for any Battle of the Bands or Columbia Street West equipment damaged or lost during their set-up, set or tear-down.

Performances:

1. This is an original music competition. Only one cover is permitted per set, and that cover must not exceed one-fourth of the performer's set length (seven and one-half minutes of a 30-minute set).

2. A cover can be a medley of cover songs, provided it does not exceed the maximum length.

3. A cover or partial cover included as a fragment of an original song counts as that band's allowed cover.

4. Bands intending to perform a cover song or song fragment must identify the song or song fragment to judges prior to their performance.

5. Rules concerning cover songs and song fragments apply to hip-hop as well as other genres. Hip-hop acts may bring pre-recorded music and press "play," but their material must be original. A "sample" is considered a cover, and the same rules apply as other types of covers.

6. These requirements should not be construed as an effort to discourage bands from including a cover song or song fragment in their set. Points for originality are not deducted because a band performs a cover; in fact, if a band performs a cover song well, it can help its overall scores, both with judges and audiences.

7. Sets are not to exceed 30 minutes. A points will be deducted from a band's Judges' percentage score for each minute it plays over its alotted time. Bands playing more than five minutes over their alotted time will be disqualified.

Other Rules:

1. All participants are required to be courteous and respectful toward other participating musicians. Participants who fail to respect other musicians' performances will be subject to point deductions and/or disqualification.

2. It is a good idea to tell your family and friends not to lobby the judges on your band's behalf. This does not help (and can actually hurt) a band's score from judges.

3. Bands that must from the competition must inform whatzup in writing at least two weeks prior to their scheduled performance. Bands who fail to show for their scheduled performance or withdafter this deadline will be barred from participating in any future whatzup or Columbia Street West event, including Battle of the Bands and Whammy Award Shows.

4. All judges decisions are final.

CD Production:

1. A CD including the 16 performers with the highest Judges scores in the preliminary round will be recorded, mixed and mastered at Digitracks Studio in Fort Wayne and released to retail outlets and radio stations in the Fort Wayne area approximately two months after the conclusion ofthe competition. Each of the 16 participating bands or performers will receive 50 copies of the CD to distribute as they wish.

2. Songs for the CD may not exceed 4 minutes and 30 seconds in length and must be original. No non-original material, including samples, etc., may be included in any song without prior written consent of the owner of the material.

3. whatzup reserves the right to reject any material that does not meet its publication guidelines, including, but not limited to, obscenity, libel, or promotion of illicit drug use or any other illegal activity.

4. Bands (or performers) will be allowed one full work day for set-up and recording at Digitracks Recording Studio at a time mutally agreed upon by both the band and the recording studio. Mixing will be completed separately. Performers will be given time to critique and approve the mix prior to publishing of the CD. If an appointment is missed, rescheduling will be considered as time allows.

5. In the interest of meeting CD production deadlines, Digitracks and whatzup each reserve the right to replace bands or performers who are unable to schedule and complete their recording session in a timely manner.

6. Bands (or performers) may submit their own pre-recorded material for the CD, provided that the material meets the above criteria and the sound quality is approved by Digitracks (a non-mastered version in 44.1-192khz 24 bit fs data is preferred).

7. The recording process will begin as soon as bands (or performers) qualify for inclusion. If for any reason a band or performers drops out of the competition after their song has been recorded, their song will not be included on the CD and ownership of the recording will be retained by Digitracks.

8. All bands included on the CD must sign the Discmakers' Audio Manufacturing Agreement and must agree to digital distribution of their recorded song by whatzup and/or Digitracks Recording Studio.

9. All decisions by whatzup and Digitracks are final.