SOUTHERN ARIZONA BLUES HERITAGE FOUNDATION
2007 Tucson Blues Challenge
Rules and Regulations
Eligibility Criteria:
SABHF requests that the winning ACT perform at an SABHF fundraiser (to benefit the SABHF) to defray contest expenses to send the winners to Memphis. Additional funds, except for the First Place prize monies, needed to attend the IBC (International Blues Challenge) in Memphis are the sole responsibility of the winning ACT.
Restrictions:
1. Any artist whose name has appeared on a final Handy/Blues Music Award ballot is ineligible for the IBC. All other musicians who have had peripheral and/or professional contact through performing with a Handy/Blues Music Award nominee, including but not limited to touring band members and studio musicians, are deemed eligible for the IBC.
2. Any artist who has participated in a previous IBC in Memphis, Tennessee, unless as a peripheral member of the current band.
3. An individual may not compete in more than one act in any capacity.
No other entry restrictions apply. This means that management contracts, booking agent contracts, recording contracts, performance contracts (even those that include regular television or radio broadcast) and nationally distributed recordings have no bearing on eligibility.
Accompaniment:
All accompanying music must be live; taped accompaniment will NOT be permitted. It is the responsibility of the ACT to provide their own backing musicians. The same personnel must be used in both the qualifying round and the finals unless written permission is granted in advance by the Southern Arizona Blues Heritage Foundation.
Scoring:
SABHF will use the same scoring guidelines used by the IBC. Categories include: Blues Content, Talent, Stage Presence, and Originality.
a. Blues Content. Everyone has his or her own interpretation of what is and what is not Blues. Thus, any given judge panel will include members with varying opinions of Blues, covering the spectrum of Blues whenever possible, from the most traditional to soul/blues and rock/blues. ACTs should pick material carefully. At the Memphis semi-finals and finals, the judges are Blues Professionals, not a bar crowd, and are likely to be unimpressed with song selections that are uninspired.
b. Talent. This category is self-explanatory; the ACT's vocal and/or instrumental skills.
c. Stage Presence. Over the years, the quality of talent has risen so dramatically that we no longer consider this an "amateur" competition. Most contestants have performed on stage enough to know that they are not simply playing music, but putting on a show. This category rates how "sellable" a band or artist may be.
d. Originality. Original work is encouraged. Cover tunes are allowed but playing the recorded rendition lick by lick is discouraged; it will not be looked upon favorably by the judges and will be reflected in scoring.
To reflect the relative importance of each category in the success of each ACT, the ACT's score in each category is weighed. Raw scores for Blues Content is multiplied by four, Talent is multiplied by three, and Stage Presence and Originality are each multiplied by two. The total in each category represents the Weighted Score for that category. Total possible weighted score is 110.
Performance Time:
Each ACT should plan for a performance time of 15-25 minutes; the amount of time per ACT will be determined by the number of contestants in the Challenge. The IBC first round allows for about 15 minutes of play time, with very little set-up time, so we are trying to structure our first round event to a similar time frame. The final round will allow for ACTs to have more time to perform.
Equipment:
ACTs are provided with ample stage performance area and professional equipment, including a sound system, basic drum set, two guitar amplifiers, and one bass amplifier. Due to the limited set-up time for each ACT, additional equipment should be used only if needed. Musical equipment required by the ACT but not listed above must be provided by the ACT and so listed on the Application Form.
Guest Passes:
All members of the ACT will be admitted free of charge on the day they are performing. NO other guest passes can be provided due to the number of musicians involved in the contest. There will be a $5.00 charge at the door for all non-performing musicians.
How to Enter:
1. Go to www.AZBlues.org to print and complete the application form.
2. Please submit:
a. a short ACT* bio (100 words or less)
b. a digital color or B&W photo with a 300 dpi resolution
c. a short audition tape/cd. This tape should include the basic members that will be performing in the Challenge
d. a $20.00 fee/donation is respectfully requested with the application form. Please make a check or money order payable to "The Southern Arizona Blues Heritage Foundation."
When:
The qualifying rounds will be held on Sunday afternoon and evening, September 16, 2007. The top performers will advance to perform in the final round on Sunday, September 23, 2007. Each ACT must be available to perform at both the qualifying round and the final round.
Where:
All rounds will be held at Club Congress in the Hotel Congress, 311 East Congress, Tucson, Arizona.
Deadline:
The application deadline is August 25, 2007 (extended to August 29, 2007). Please return your application, with donation/fee, audition tape/cd, picture, and bio to:
The Southern Arizona Blues Heritage Foundation
2007 Blues Challenge
P. O. Box 42168
Tucson, AZ 85733-2168
Prizes:
The First Place winner will be eligible to represent Tucson, Arizona, in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 31 through February 2, 2008. If the First Place winner cannot attend the IBC, then the next highest scoring ACT that can attend will be entered. Travel expense money of $2,000.00 will be awarded to the ACT going to the IBC as the official representative of SABHF. It is the responsibility of the ACT attending the IBC in Memphis to fill out the application and submit the required photo to the IBC. There are strict time constrictions for submitting information timely and this is the sole responsibility of the ACT chosen to attend. The First Place winner will also have a 30 minute set (non-paying) at the SABHF Blues Festival on Sunday, October 21, 2007. In the event that the ACT is already scheduled to play, the second place winner will have an opportunity to perform at the festival.
*The IBC adheres to the following criteria for what constitutes a band and what constitutes a solo/duo act:
BAND: any act with three or more musicians. Vocalists are counted as musicians for the purpose of this competition. Both electric and acoustic instruments are allowed.
SOLO/DUO: any act with one or two musicians. Vocalists are counted as musicians for the purpuse of this competition. Both electric and acoustic instruments are allowed.
