May 10-August 30, 2007
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. Preliminary Round will be held at Columbia Street West, Fort Wayne on 10 consecutive Thursdays beginning May 10, 2007 and concluding July 12, 2007. Preliminary Rounds will consist of five bands (or performers), each performing 20-minute sets. The final Preliminary Round date may be designated a Wildcard Round, with those bands with the highest judges’ total score but otherwise failing to advance being invited to compete in the Wildcard Round(s) for a second chance to advance to the Semifinal Round.
2. Two bands (and/or solo performers) from each Preliminary Round will advance to the Quarterfinal Round held at Columbia Street West on consecutive Thursdays beginning Thursday, July 19 and concluding Thursday, August 9. Quarterfinal Rounds will consist of five bands (or performers), each performing 20-minute sets.
3. Two bands from each Quarterfinal Round will advance to the Semifinal Round held at Columbia Street West on Thursday, Aug. 16 and Thursday, Aug. 23. Semifinal Rounds will consist of four bands (or performers), each performing 30-minute sets.
4. Two band from each Semifinal Round will advance to the Finals to be held at Columbia Street West on Thursday, August 31. The Finals will consist of four bands (or performers), each performing 30-minute sets.
5. If a band that has advanced to the next round withdraws before participating in the next round, that band’s spot in the next round will be taken by the band with the highest judges’ total score in the previous round that would not otherwise advance to the next round.
6. In the event of a tie score among bands being considered for advancement to the next round or to the Wildcard Round on the basis of their judges’ total score, the tie-breaker will be the bands’ combined total score (judges percentage score plus crowd percentage score).
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 $35 payment, a band bio not to exceed 150 words, a band photo and performance order preference to whatzup, 2305 E. Esterline Rd., Columbia City, IN 46725. Bands who participated in the whatzup Battle of the Bands I, II or III are not required to send in new photos.
2. Registration will remain open to all qualified bands or performers until event organizers announce on this website and in whatzup that registration is closed. Registering performers are subject to acceptance by Battle of the Bands organizers and judges in the event that more than 50 bands register for the competition prior to May 1.
3. Once registration is closed, band or performers may register as alternates by following the steps outlined in No. 1 under “Registration” above. Alternates will be invited to compete in the event of a cancellation by any registered band. 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 non-accepted performers will be refunded. 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’ raw score from the preceding round. (The band with the highest Judges’ raw score from the preceding round will have first choice of playing time, based on its stated preference; the band with the second highest Judges’ raw 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 cumulative score from the previous round not otherwise advancing.
Scoring and Judging:
1. Scoring in all rounds 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). Ballots must be completely filled out with different bands ranked first through fifth (or fist through fourth in later rounds) and turned by five minutes after the final performance of the night (improperly filled out ballots will be disqualified). Four points are given for each first-place vote; three points for each second-place vote; two points for each third-place vote; and one point for each fourth-place vote. 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 of four Judges awards one to five points to each band for each of four criteria (Originality, Technical Skills, Stage Presence and Song Quality). The votes are tallied to achieve the Judges’ raw score, after which a percentage of the total Judges’ raw score will be calculated for each band. Each band’s Judges’ scoring percentage will be added to its percentage of the total audience vote to achieve a final cumulative score.
4. In the event of a tie, tie-breakers are as follows: 1st tie-breaker, number of audience votes; 2nd tie-breaker, number of audience first-place votes; 3rd tie-breaker, number of audience 2nd-place votes; 4th tie-breaker, Judges’ raw score.
5. Scores will be tabulated immediately following each show. This can take a half-hour or longer, depending on the number of votes cast. Results will be announced immediately. The announced results are tentative and subject to checking for counting and math errors the following morning. Official results will be posted on www.whatzup.com the following day.
6. The following scores will be posted on www.whatzup.com for each round: Total score; Audience vote percentage; Judges’ raw score for each judging criteria and Judges’ total raw score for each band. Individual judges’ scores are confidential.
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 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 8:30 p.m. scheduled band meeting each performance night.
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, mics and mic stands. Bands must bring all other gear (NOTE THAT WE ARE NO LONGER PROVIDING A DRUMSET).
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 15 points may be deducted from a band’s Judges’ raw 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 (five minutes of a 20-minute set; 7-1/2 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 fragement 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 30 minutes in the Preliminary Round and 30 minutes for each subsequent round, with 20 minutes allowed for set changes between bands. Five points will be deducted from a band’s Judges’ raw score for each minute the band 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.
3. Bands that must withdraw 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 withdraw after this deadline will be banned 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.
Prizes:
1. First place: $1,500 cash, $1,500 gift certificate from Sweetwater Sound, $1,350 gift certificate from Monastic Chambers, $500 whatzup advertising credit.
2. Second place: $1,000 cash, $1,000 gift certificate from Sweetwater Sound, $900 gift certificate from Monastic Chambers, $250 whatzup advertising credit.
3. Third and fourth place: $500 cash, $500 gift certificate from Sweetwater Sound, $450 gift certificate from Monastic Chambers, $100 whatzup advertising credit.
5. Fifth thru eighth place: $250 gift certificate from Sweetwater Sound, $100 gift certificate from Monastic Chambers, $100 whatzup advertising credit.
Last updated 3/6/2007