OPENING ACT: Rules & Registration
1. Eligibility: Opening Act: Band Edition is open to anyone age 13 and older at the time of entry. Anyone under 18 must have a parent or guardian sign a waiver to participate. Spirit 92.9 staff, judges and previous Opening Act winners are not eligible to enter or win. All contestants must provide a government issued photo I.D. for verification.
2. Entry: Entrants must submit a demo of no longer than 3 minutes by Tuesday, September 15th at midnight. Entries may be submitted via cd, mp3 or YouTube video by one of three ways only: MAIL: Please mail your demo cd to: Spirit 92.9 Opening Act, PO Box 547, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 E-MAIL: Please e-mail your mp3 to friends@spirit929.com YOUTUBE: Please send the link to your YouTube video to friends@spirit929.com All entries must include the following information:
1) Band name or alias
2) Song title
3) One contact person name with e-mail, phone number and mailing address
4) Brief band statement, which may include band purpose or mission, statement of faith, current ministry activities, long-term vision or explanation of worship style or beliefs (500 words or less!) You will receive a confirmation of receipt of your entry within 24 hours of submission. If you do not receive confirmation, please contact Jessica jessica@spirit929.com or 320-251-1780. Entries will not be judged on quality of media submitted but will be used to gauge overall ability for participation. The judges will choose 18 bands to compete and they will be will be notified by Friday, September 18th
3. Semi-Finals: Each band will perform in ONE semi-final event on ONE of the following evenings: Thursday, October 1st, 7pm, Cold Spring Thursday, October 8th, 7pm, St. Cloud Thursday, October 15th, 7pm, Monticello Bands must be available on all three nights as semi-final events will be assigned and are not transferable. You will be notified of the date and location by Friday, September 18th as well. Each band will have no more than ten minutes to perform 2 songs, talk, and engage the audience in worship. 6 bands will perform at each semi-final event and two will advance. ONE will be chosen by the judges and ONE will be based on audience voting. All semi-final events are open to the public. Anyone present, including band members, may vote once.
4. Judging: Each band will receive a sample judging form prior to the semi-final event. Entrants will be judged on the following criteria:
(1)Musicality including, Instrumental Ability, Lyrics/Vocal Quality, Rhythm/Tempo, and Song Structure.
(2) Stage Presence including, Energy Level, and Crowd Interaction.
(3) Creativity / level of difficulty
(4) Professionalism including, Set-up/Tear-down Efficiency, and Time. Note: for the Time category, points will be deducted for every minute an entrant goes over the specified time limit of 10 minutes.
5. Final 6: The 6 remaining bands will perform on Thursday, October 22nd at 7pm in St. Cloud. Each band will have 10 minutes. 2 groups will advance based entirely on audience voting.
6. Final 2: The final two will have a professionally-produced demo of one competition song which will be posted on Spirit 92.9's website for on-line voting, as well as being played in rotation on Spirit 92.9 during the remainder of the Opening Act promotional period.
7. Voting: Starting October 26th and following for a ten day period, listeners will be able to visit www.spirit929.com to hear the demos and vote for their favorite Opening Act contestant. The winner will be announced at the Mark Schultz and Point of Grace concert on November 5th and will perform at Higher Ground Music Fest in Winsted MN in August, 2010.
8. Technical Information: A stage with a PA with 24 inputs including 4 D.I.s, 4 monitor mixes, 4 SM58 microphones with stands and cables will be provided. A 5-piece drum kit of sufficient quality with standard equipment including high-hat stand, crash stand, and ride stand will be provided. Drummers are required to use this kit, but must provide their own sticks as well as any additional hardware if necessary. They may use their own snare drum, cymbals and/or kick pedal. A bass amp of sufficient quality and power will be provided. All bassists are required to use this amp. A keyboard will be provided with sustain pedal, but it is the right of the group to choose whether or not to use it. Guitarists and any other instrumentalists are required to bring their own equipment. Stage crew as well as a monitor and front of house engineers will be provided. All bands must use these personnel. No exceptions.
Other Rules & Regulations: By auditioning for Opening Act: Band Edition, contestants grant Spirit 92.9 and all affiliated sponsors, judges and churches the right to use audio/video/photographic likeness and/or content for promotional means. Contestants age 13 - 17 must have a parent or guardian complete an "Acknowledgement and Acceptance of Opening Act Rules on Behalf of a Minor" form, and the parent/guardian must be present at the semi-final event. Spirit 92.9 retains the full right and ability to refuse or eliminate any contestant for any reason without explanation or possibility of legal ramification. Contestants must be at least 13 years of age at the time of entry. Any individual with a current signed contract with a record label is not eligible to try-out. Should a contestant become unable to perform, Spirit 92.9 will determine if a replacement is suitable. If a replacement is required, Spirit 92.9 will have sole control of selecting the replacement. Spirit 92.9 will provide production of a demo for each of the final two bands. This demo remains the property of Spirit 92.9. Song choice and selection for these demos will be up to the discretion of Spirit 92.9. Spirit 92.9 will then post each contestant's demo on the website for a listener voting process. All prizes in this contest, advertised or implied, are not guaranteed. Whether by decision, or circumstances beyond control, Spirit 92.9 is in no way legally bound to deliver or make good on any prize (or portion of the grand prize). Spirit 92.9 can, in no way, be legally held for any perceived damages to contestants and contest participants, or anyone related in anyway to such persons (regardless of the nature of such damages). Spirit 92.9 is in no way legally liable or responsible to any contestant or participant, as all such persons are considered voluntary participants without right to any form of compensation. Spirit 92.9 is in no way required to give intellectual domain to any contestant for any product or by-product of this promotion, even if such product is found existent prior to the said promotion.