River City Ohio Blues Competition
2013 Rules

The Blues, Jazz, and Folk Music (BJFM) Society sponsors this event yearly. It is a prime opportunity to enhance and pursue your music career. The rules have been modified and set in accordance with the International Blues Challenge which opens up many opportunities for musicians.
Prizes:
First Place - $1200 and entrance into the International Blues Challenge in Memphis February 2014. Offers of playing at our River City Blues Festival March 16th and in Pomeroy during the Big Bend Blues Bash.
Second Place - $600
Third Place - $300

Eligibility: Participants must play or sing the blues. You can be a group or duo/solo performance. Both will receive an equal chance of winning the competition. An individual may not compete in more than one act as a solo artist and as a member of a band. If an individual, in their capacity, has been included on the Blues Music Awards ballot for the coming year, that person is not eligible. This rule will not bar sidemen or songwriters.

Demo Tape: A demo tape or CD of the band must be submitted with the entry form. It is a requirement.
Event Format: The competition is a two day event. It will begin on Friday night, February 15th, with 6 acts competing and 2 finalists chosen. On February 16th, Saturday afternoon will have 12 acts compete with four finalists chosen. Saturday night will hold the finals with the winners from the 1st and 2nd Preliminaries and first, second, and third place winners will be chosen and announced.
 
Judging: will be according to rules from The National Blues Foundation, and as such will be the average of raw scores weighted as follows:
  1. Blues Content (x4), most important
  2. Instrumental Talent (x3)
  3. Vocal Talent (x3)
  4. Originality (x2), blues covers will work as long as they are arranged in your own style
  5. Stage Presence (x2), look and act professional

Time slots: Any special requests for a time slot should be noted on your application, but not guaranteed. When you are assigned a timeslot, it is the competitor's obligation to make themselves available for the day of the competition to fulfill their allotted slot. As much as we understand that everyone would like the 'desired' evening or later spots, we follow the same guidelines of the Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge. When a slot is given to you, you are expected to perform at that allotted time.
Time Limitation: We limit each band to a performance of 20 minutes. This performance is timed from when the act strikes its first note. An amber light is flashed at the act when there are 2 minutes left to play and a red light is flashed when time is up. Acts are penalized one point from the combined judges' scores for each ten seconds that they run overtime. There is no penalty for using less than the allotted time.
 

Check In At Competition:

Competing bands need to check in at pre-function tables 1 hour prior to your time slot and before load in. You need to be ready to play when you are slotted. There will be 18 slots available for competitors. Just as in Memphis at the IBC, you will need to take the time slot you are allocated.

At check in, each act must present 8 copies of a typewritten set list which must be followed on stage. Note which songs are originals and which songs are covers. Preliminary and Final sets may be the same or different. This is entirely up to the bands. There will be a new set of judges for the Finals.

Participating band members will be admitted FREE for the weekend. An additional special guest ticket or weekend pass may be purchased, at membership price but limited to one per band member.
Booking Information: Please provide promo information about your group and business cards if you have any for our tables in the prefunction area for inquiries. You are also welcome to sell band merchandise.
Time Slots: Any special requests for a time slot should be noted on your application, but not guaranteed.

Application must be received by Friday January 4, 2013. Bands will be notified of acceptance or rejection two weeks after that date after a review of the demo tapes by the Board of BJFM. Print and mail this application together with your $40 entry fee for bands or $20 entry fee for solo/duo (check or money order made payable to BJFM) to Competition Director, John Gifford c/o Peggy Bolen, 809 1/2 Second Street, Marietta OH 45750. If you do not make it into the competition, your money will be returned with your music. Strive to make yourself better and please try again next year.

Any questions, just contact Competition Director, John Gifford at 740-680-6338 after 7 p.m. weekdays, anytime on the weekends or (e-mail jgifford17799@roadrunner.com); or contact Assistant Competition Director, Steve Wells at 304-295-4323 (e-mail bluesphotog@gmail.com); or e-mail bolen@bjfm.org.

Page last updated February 2012
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