Pickin' in the Pines Band Contest - September 14-16, 2007

September 14–16, 2007 • Flagstaff, Arizona
Pine Mountain Amphitheater / Coconino County Fairgrounds

Pickin’ in the Pines Band Contest

In keeping with the diversity of the various styles of bluegrass and traditional acoustic music that Flagstaff Friends of Traditional Music represents, this band contest is not confined to a specific genre of acoustic music. Rather, it is an opportunity for a broad variety of acoustic bands to display their talents, musicianship and entertainment abilities to a wide audience. E-mail PIPinfo@pickininthepines.org or call (928)525-1695 for more information.

Schedule:

The Pickin' in the Pines Band Contest will take place at the Fort Tuthill Commercial Building on Saturday, September 15, 2007 from 9 am to 12 pm. The top three contestants will then move to the main stage for a band contest playoff at 1:00 pm. Contest winners will be announced on the main stage at 2:30 pm.

Contest Prizes:

Our goal is to have the best band contest in the region and we want to attract musicians from throughout the Southwest and Intermountain area with a $1000 cash prize for First Place! Thank you to our generous sponsors who are making this possible. Check out these great prizes and start working on your chops.

$1,000 cash sponsored by Arizona Music Pro and Valley Medical Center plus a $250 gift certificate to Arizona Music Pro

1. Registration: Entry in the Pickin’ in the Pines Band Contest is on a first-come, first-served basis and will be limited to twelve contestants. Entry fee is $30.00 for each band. All contestants must purchase a festival ticket; no discounts or free passes will be granted. Entry fees are non-refundable after September 7, 2007. Any entries received after all 12 bands have entered will be placed on a waiting list and entry fees will be refunded if no other cancellations occur.

For early registration, call (928) 525-1695 or PIPinfo@pickininthepines.org. Contestants may mail the attached form with a check for $30 to:

At least one representative of each band must report to the registration table in the Commercial Building at 9:00 am to draw for their place in the lineup, review the rules, and ask any questions pertaining to judging. Contestants must be backstage and ready to perform at their scheduled time. If not present, they will be disqualified. Contestants must remain in the band contest stage area in case of a tie. If a playoff is required and a contestant band is not present, the award will go to the other competitor.

The top three contestants from the band contest will perform on the main stage in a playoff round at 1:00 pm on Saturday, September 15. Winners of the band contest will be announced at 2:30 pm.

2. Musical Styles, Material and Instrumentation: Each band will play three selections: a slow vocal song, a fast vocal song, and an instrumental number, in any order. Each band’s total performance must last at least 10 and not more than 15 minutes. Talking between songs is allowed and encouraged, since it reflects a band's rapport with the audience. Any type of traditional acoustic music is allowed in this contest, including bluegrass, old-time, Celtic, Western, newgrass, swing, gospel, or other acoustic forms. To avoid delays with band setup, all bands must use a single mic setup provided by Pickin’ in the Pines. A separate bass mic is allowed, at the band's preference. While the contest is not restricted to any specific genre of music, contestants must perform with acoustic instruments; no electrically amplifiied instruments, pickups, or contact mics, with the exception of electric bass, are allowed in this contest. Minimal percussion instruments, such as a snare, shaker or hand-held drum are allowed. Accidents beyond the control of the contestant (such as string breakage) may result in a replay at the bands request and if the judges so merit.

3. Band Members: A band will consist of at least three, but no more than seven members. Songs, material, and dress must be of an appropriate nature suitable for family entertainment. No band member may compete in more than one band. Any contestant appearing under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be allowed on stage. Paid performers, employees of Coconino County Parks and Recreation or Pine Mountain Amphitheater, LLC, or members of the Pickin’ in the Pines organizing committee may not enter this contest.

4. Judging Criteria: Contestants in the Pickin’ in the Pines Band Contest will be judged on:

30% - Material Selection - difficulty, taste, authenticity/originality. You'll get more points for playing a simple tune well than a difficult tune poorly.

30% - General Instrumental Musicianship - rhythm & timing, intonation, expression, for both solos and overall instrumental blend.

30% - Vocal Performance - intonation and overall vocal quality for both leads and harmony.

10% - Stage Presence - audience rapport and entertainment value, with the highest scores going to bands exhibiting high entertainment qualities, showing comfort with the audience and expertise with their music.

5. Finality: Decisions by the judges will be final and not negotiable. Contestants may view their score sheets and judges are encouraged to provide comments to provide constructive feedback for band contestants.

6. Recording Rights: All commercial recording rights are reserved and shall become the property of Flagstaff Friends of Traditional Music. Signing of the registration form by contestant acknowledges such recording rights and acceptance of all rules and regulations of the Pickin’ in the Pines Festival and Band Contest.

Pickin’ in the Pines Band Contest

Schedule:

Contest Prizes:

Click Here for Band Contest Entry Form

Contest Rules: