HARVEST JAM - RACE FOR A PLACE BAND CONTEST
Harvest Jam Acoustic Music Experience
RACE FOR A PLACE CONTEST RAISES PRIZE MONEY
Echoing the Harvest Jam theme of helping good bands become better bands, the purpose of the contest is to provide an alternative method by which member groups can pursue a place at the MBOTMA Festival, provide an alternative method for MBOTMA to select the best acts to appear at the MBOTMA Festival, and help educate bands and the general public about what characteristics and talents are needed for prospective bands to perform well and get more and better engagements of any kind. This year The Race For A Place host band will be TBA. They will break the ice for the contestants at 10:00 AM, perform during a break in the contest at 1:00 PM, and wind things up after the contestants are through and while the final results are being tallied. The champions will be announced about 4:50 PM and invited to play a short set at 7:00 PM that evening right after the banquet dinner and just before our Saturday evening concert featuring Monroe Crossing and Peter Wernick. Schedule details for the contest are below.
10:00 host band To be eligible for the contest entry bands must be acts that have not previously won the contest, and they must allow The Harvest Jam to use their name for advertising purposes. Entries also pay a $35 entry fee and band members purchase their own general admission to the festival. And of course they must be available and willing to fulfill the winning obligation of a Saturday main stage set during the next Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival. Entries will be accepted on a first-come first-serve basis as their registration and payment is received, and the bands choose their performance time from the remaining open scheduled times in the order their registration and payment was received. Entry forms are available by calling 800-635-3037 or download a form below.
Each group is expected to provide a minimum twenty minute performance that will be judged by a panel of three judges who will score each group up to 100 points total. The scoring criteria includes playing together and in time with each other, playing in tune individually and together as a band, singing in tune and blending vocally, emcee work and interaction with the audience, stage presence and showmanship, choice of repertoire and original material, personal and performance appearance, and desirability of hiring them to represent MBOTMA at the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival. The top prize includes a year’s band membership with Minnesota Bluegrass as well as an $1,000 contract to appear before an audience of thousands for a Saturday set at the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival on August 13th, 2011. To Enter: Download Registration Form (PDF) or contact Jed Malischke to request a copy of the Contest Registration form by email, mail, or fax. Remember, you're not registered until your payment is received. # # # |
Race for a Place Band Contest. The 2010 Race For A Place Band Contest will be held from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday November 20th 2010 during the Harvest Jam Acoustic Music Experience at the Marriot Minneapolis West Hotel. Ten groups will have a chance to compete to win a $1,000 contract for a spot on the Saturday Main Stage of the 2011 Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival. 
Download Registration Form (PDF)