The Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation will conduct a competition to choose its band representative at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis Tennessee January 31, 2012 to February 5, 2012.Any member blues band is eligible to submit a request to compete in the competition as long as it has never been nominated for a Blues Foundation Blues Music Award. The band must consist of at least three musicians. Vocalists are counted as musicians for the purpose of the competition. Both electric and acoustic instruments are allowed. An act may not compete and be the Foundation’s representative three years in a row.

ELIGIBILITY PACKET

As a condition of eligibility, each applicant is to submit its request to participate, in writing or by email, on or before September 2, 2011 to the Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation, c/o  Gene Iadanza, 952 Sycamore Ave, Tinton Falls NJ 07724.

. The request must include the band’s name, band members’ names, a contact person’s address, phone number and email address; and if you have not performed at one of the Foundation’s events or a Long Branch or Keyport music event in the last 3 years, the following additional information: 1) Band bio, 2) copy of the band’s most recent CD ( unless one has been previously submitted to the Committee in a previous IBC submission). All participants must submit a check payable to JSJBF for the 2011-2012 band dues (if they have not already been paid) in the sum of $65.

COMPETITION SCHEDULE

The committee will review the information supplied by the applicant bands and choose up to 8 bands and 4 solo/duo’s (and up to 2 alternates) to compete.

The competition will be structured to mirror, as much as possible, the IBC’s procedures (with the exception of the set length). Each band participant will perform in a thirty minute set; each solo/duo  20 MINUTE SET (A participant may play slightly less than the allotted time to avoid penalty points but may not exceed the time limit).. The committee will assign the time slots for each competitor. Each competitor must arrive at least 1 hour before their allotted time slot.

SCORING CRITERIA

Scoring will be based on the system utilized by the Blues Foundation. The categories include: Blues Content, Vocals, Talent, Originality and Stage Presence:

1. Blues Content: Everyone has his or her own interpretation of what is and is not the Blues. Any given three- judge panel will include members with varying opinions covering the spectrum of Blues whenever possible, from the most traditional to southwest blues and rock/blues. Bands should pick their materials 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 (they refer to this as the “No Mustang Sally rule.”)
2. Vocals: The act’s vocal skills.
3. Talent: The act’s instrumental skills.
4. Originality: Original work is encouraged. Cover tunes are allowed but playing recorded rendition lick by lick is discouraged; will not be looked on favorably by the judges and will be reflected in the scoring.
5. Stage Presence: Over the years the quality of talent has risen so dramatically at the IBC competition that it is no longer considered 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 may be.

The raw scores, based on a maximum 10 points per category, will then be adjusted by a “weighted multiplier” of X-4 for blues content, talent and vocals X-3, and  originality and stage presence X-2.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS

The Committee will select the panel of judges and provide the names to the band participants, to the extent possible, at least one week before the competition dates. Any conflict concerns with the committee’s selections must be made to the event Chairman within 24 hours of receiving notice of the list of judges. The Committee’s determination on selection, after consideration of any concerns expressed, is final and not subject to challenge.

A band may not substitute members participating in the competition between the semi-final and finals, without the permission of the Committee. Permission will be granted, at the discretion of the Committee, based on emergency situations only (illness of band member or immediate family member; death in family, etc.) As prior notice of the competition dates is provided, attendance at conflicting engagements or events will not be considered as good cause to allow a substitution .It is the responsibility of the bandleader to insure that the same band members are available for both nights of the competition. Substitution without approval of the Committee will result in disqualification of the band.