Band Quest Rules / The Competition

Why do we need to pay a deposit?

The deposit is merely a safeguard to ensure the smooth running of the platform, confident and quality promotion of the events and to be sure bands don't misrepresent the platform. So, the terms on which the deposit is repayable are below. Bands are entitled to a full deposit return from 31st July subsequent to the completion of the competition phase and having replied to the emails relating to the request for deposit. Deductions may be made if a band chooses to utilise this money for services provided during the quest. Any further income generated by the bands and retained by Band Quest Operators above the deposit level will need to be used on services or products nominated by Band Quest.

Please review terms & conditions.

NB. Terms and Conditions may be changed throughout Band Quest and updates made available.

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Why are bands not allowed to perform cover versions?

Band Quest seeks to promote and help original music. Therefore, cover versions are not allowed to be performed at any stage. However guest bands may be brought in to add to the nights entertainment.

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How are winners decided, voting and judges?

Voting: Is this the Fairest Way? We have looked at ALL the known band competitions and come up with balanced voting system, it isn't a battle of the fans nor should any one person be able to decide the destiny of any one band. In fact even a heat can offer a direct route to our showcase finals.

Our scoring system will be based on a 50% Crowd vote (those who attend shows) and 50% Judges vote (3 judge panel), so here's how it breaks down. There will also be a section for the judges who will also be scoring in another way on top of the night results and creating a 'Professional Score' which will be collated and announced at the end of the Heats Stage.

Here is the breakdown of the heats and semi finals nightly scoring platform:

The Crowd: We will be giving every person coming to each show a scoring card, with 3, 2, and 1 points on them, there will be 3 bands per night and voting will be based on best, 2nd n third, the crowd have to vote for all the bands or none at all, this gives a reflection of how each person felt about each band that night. We then add up all the votes and then create an average.

The Judges: 3 judges per night will be scoring in 5 categories, each will reward bands 3,2,1 points based on who was the best in each category. All points have to be allocated to ensure a full 100% casting of points and a mathematical perfection.

The formula (an example):

Crowd Vote e.g. if 78 people come to a show, they are given 6 points each (3,2,1 voting slip) if all votes are cast the total would come to 468 points cast, this could be Band 1 = 168, Band 2 = 153, Band 3 =147, (of the 468) so we create and present the score as a Percentage as Band 1 = 35.90%, Band 2 = 32.69%, Band 3 = 31.41% (Total 100% of the crowds score).

Judges Vote e.g., 5 categories with 6 points form 3 judges means a pool of 90 points, The Judges, might score Band 1 = 29 points, Band 2 = 39 points and Band 3 = 22 points, this would create a percentage score of Band 1= 32.22%, Band 2 = 43.33% and Band 3 24.44%. (Total 100% of the JUDGES score).

We then take the 2 scores and merge them to create an average, the highest being the winner: Band 1 Ave = 34.06%, Band 2 38.01%, Band 3 27.93%, thus making BAND 2 THE WINNER for this event!!

Judges Votes and Separate Professional Status Score:

3 Judges will be voting on each night, based on 5 categories, they will allocate 3,2,1, points based on quality of bands on each night. The 5 categories will be worth 90 points and this will be split between the 3 bands and turned into a percentage. The bands however are not judged on who they are up against, they are in fact being scored on how well they have done in respect of their type of act. This means that it won't matter what genre or style the band is it's how well 'they' pull it off on the night.

Below are the 5 categories that bands can impress the judges with:

1. Musicianship: Playing Ability, Style of Play, Creativity of play
2. Style: Visual Presentation, Suitable Dress/Costume, Physical Posturing
3. Crowd Reaction: Movement, Noise Made, Cheering, Clapping, Singing Along, Whistling
4. Song Quality: Writing, Vocal presentation, Hooks, Riffs, Rhythm
5. On The Night Professionalism: Conduct, Set Management, Handling Difficulties, Working the Non Fans, Encouragement towards other bands, Understanding the Rules, Reading the Situation!

Based on the number of applicants to the area you are playing, a number of invites will be offered to bands who have shown outstanding contributions to Band Quest to play at the finals and stand a chance of winning prizes. These categories will be ranked based on Band Quest's managers considered opinion and level of importance including but not limited to any of the following categories:

• Most Professional Act
• High Aggregate Score
• High Judge Score
• High Crowd Score
• Highest Ticket Sales
• Highest Contributor Score
• Highest Scoring Semi Final Runner Up

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Overall Professionalism - Another way to be rewarded

Through the undertaking of over 100 events in previous years we have decided to add another criteria to the judges score. The judges will now have a standalone category called 'Overall Professionalism'. This will NOT form part of the 'on the night' result but instead offer a possible route to the final to a band who have shown the most professionalism during the course of the competition but have failed to progress in the traditional means.

The judges will have small section they complete which recognises how far a band has come and measures how far a band has to go. The aim here is to generate a score for the highest quality bands based on the following:

1. Equipment: Standard of, Prepared to bring All, Condition of
2. Merchandise: Sellable Merchandise, Music Copy and Where to buy stuff
3. Quality of Performance: The strength in delivering their set
4. Promotional Value: Do they have anything to say, give away
5. Communications: Does the band clearly define itself to the audience before and during set

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Heats, Semis, Final and basis for each section of Comp

The heats will be made up of 3 bands per night and 30 min slots per band, we aim for the slots to be around the imes 8.30. 9.30 and 10.30. the time of a performance is generated by the order in which a band has joined the platform and chosen a date. This means if 3 bands want a date the band who chooses to be involved at the earliest point will get the 10.30 slot and the second will get the 9.30 slot unless previously arranged and agreed with all bands o that show. The voting commences 15 mins into the final bands set and last for up to 30 mins. Each vote is counted and voting slips must be fully completed by each eligible voter to count. (Some late night venues will be 30 mins later) We ask all bands to arrive between 6pm and 6.30pm on all evening heats or a min 2 hours before set time.

Semi finals are made up of the 3 or 4 heat winners, either heats 1-3/1-4, 4-6/5-8, 7-9/9-12. Bands that finish 1st in the Semi-final will go through to the final, the bands that finishes second will take part in a 2nd tier final and the bands in 3rd we will be looking to reward in another way. There will be 36 finalists (18 Metal and 18 Alternative) All will receive a prize worth £100 or more in value no matter where they finish.

Each of the 4 finals will consist of between 6 and 10 competitive bands; these will be ranked based on their score's in each of the semi finals. A Minimum of 3 bands will be winners from the semi finals and 3 further bands will be invited into the final, based on best crowd score, best judge's score and any band the judges felt deserved another chance. Further slots are created through bands scoring highly in the Various categories. A headliner band will be picked to play upto a 1 hour set so to enable scores to be collated accurately and prizes fairly allocated on the night. Prizes are based on those offered and aquired and bands choose their prize based on ranking on the day of the final.

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Metal to the Masses - Bloodstock An Amazing Opportunity in 2012

The various schedules will allow us to create a number of heats producing that many heat winners which will play off in groups of 3, this gives us a multiple of winners from upto 4 venues and 1 Venue final per venue. We'll also include best of's to add to the Final. Our final from End of May to end of July will have in attendance representatives from Bloodstock who will pick a minimum of 1 band from the bands they see. Bands who played last years bloodstock, can only be chosen by Bloodstock reps and only have the chance to be considered for Main Stage this year.

We have been appointed to allocate 6 slots for our local bands this year in our various regions, we do not control the out-right winner at the final as that falls to the representative from Bloodstock. However, we will look to hold a second stage where bands may be considered for a slot at Bloodstock Open Air 2012.

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