[Solo/Duo] [Bands] [The IBC Event]
The Greater Twin Cities Blues Music Society is sponsoring a solo/duo act to compete in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, February 2005. Our Road to Memphis Competition is scheduled to be held at the Coffee Grounds in St. Paul on Sunday, October 17th starting at 1:00 PM. The competition will be judged. One act will be selected to journey to Memphis to compete in the International Blues Challenge (IBC). Scoring for the International Blues Competition is weighted in the following order: blues content (x4); talent and originality (each x3); stage presence (x2) and overall impression (x1). The Road to Memphis will mimic the IBCs scoring method.
The Blues Foundation started the International Blues Challenge (IBC) to cultivate new talent and keep the blues alive. In 2004, approximately 29 solo/duo acts competed in the IBC finals in Memphis. There is only one winner, but the most beneficial aspect from participating in the IBC is networking. Competition is judged based on talent, blues content, stage presence, originality and overall impression and it is subjective. See the Blues Foundation website for more details at www.blues.org
If you think you would like to sign-up for the Road to Memphis Gathering for Solo/Duo Acts for a chance to be selected to compete in Memphis, 2005, please fill out the application form below. The Foundation imposes entry restrictions to afford the opportunity for discovery to musicians that are truly unknown and unsigned:
No Band or Solo Performer that enters the Challenge may have a contract with a nationally distributed recording company. No musician who is a member of a band with such a contract can compete as a solo performer. If a band formerly had such a contract but does not currently have one may complete only if that band has had no new product released nationally within the past ten years. Reissues do not apply to this criterion. A musician can only compete in one act of the competition. Any band that has released a CD on a label that is nationally or internationally distributed is ineligible. If a band has self-produced a CD, or has released a CD that has only regional distribution, the band retains its eligibility. No other entry restrictions apply. This means that management contracts and booking agent contracts have no bearing on eligibility. This also means that performance contracts, even those that include regular television or radio broadcast, but do not include a nationally distributed record contract, have no bearing on eligibility. Cautionary note on "ringers": The use of "ringers" - that is pairing side men who are professionals that may have appeared on nationally released albums - with an "unknown" front man is not prohibited by the entry criteria. However, use of such personnel falls outside the intentions and goals of this competition, and as such, is likely to be frowned upon by the semi-finals and finals judges.
We have no funds to assist the performer with IBC associated costs, BUT we will cooperate with you to help raise funds by holding "Get Out of Town" fundraisers.
Please submit the application information to the Society no later than Wednesday, September 15th or by mail and postmarked no later than 12 midnight, September 15. Each application must include the application fee. Entry fee is $5 for each solo act and $10 for each duo act. Funds will be dedicated to the Get Out of Town Fund to help defray costs of travel for the selected act.
SINGLE - DUO APPLICATION
FOR 2004 ROAD TO MEMPHIS
GATHERING at THE COFFEE GROUNDS,
SUNDAY OCTOBER 17TH, 1 PM
use the link above for an application that you can print
The Coffee Grounds has a sound system you can plug into. Check with owner, Dave Lawrence at 651–644– 9959 if you need specific information about the sound system. No musical equipment will be provided for this event so bring your own! If you would like additional information about this contest, please contact the Greater Twin Cities Blues Music Society at 651 407 0845.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008lengeTHE TRIP TO MEMPHIS 2004:
Blues Band Applications
Use the link above to read about the upcoming blues band contest sponsored by GTCBMS.
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page last updated:
Wednesday, December 2, 2020
