THE RULES
Cowtown Rocks is a competition between rock/garage bands in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Up to seventeen bands will compete at Southwest High School on Saturday, April 30th 2011 for a first place $1,000 cash prize a large trophy and time in a local recording studio. The form will provide the rules for the event.
- The competition is for high school bands. At least 75% of the band members must be in high school. All lead vocalists must be in high school. The other 25% cannot be more than one year out of high school.
- To enter the competition the band must submit an entry form either via email to info@cowtownrocks.com or via mail to Cowtown Rocks c/o Transwestern, 100 Throckmorton, Suite 700, Fort Worth, Texas 76102 by April 1, 2010. Additional entry forms are available on the web site at www.cowtownrocks.com. The Judges will want to listen to at least three songs in the preliminary evaluation. If a web site is provided please indicate the location of the songs they should listen to/watch. If a site is not available please submit a DVD or CD with entry form. Please also indicate whether or not songs are original.
- Because the contest can only accommodate a limited number of bands, there will be a preliminary screening based on three criteria: 1) musicality, 2) showmanship and 3) fan support.
- A group of independent judges from the music industry will evaluate the bands’ My Space page or You Tube link (or DVD) and rank the bands by musicality and showmanship. The top bands based on this screening will be selected to continue to the fan support evaluation.
- Posters will be placed at the high schools promoting the event and encouraging students to go to the Cowtown Rocks web site between April 10th and April 16th to vote for their favorite band. Bands can promote the event via social networking sites as well. At the end of the voting period, the bands will be ranked in order based on the total number of votes received. This ranking will be added to the average of the preliminary judges rankings to provide a combined score. This score will be used to determine the order of performance for the event. Thus, the order will be determined by the combined musicality and fan support scores with those bands receiving the highest combined scores going last.
- Up to 17 bands will be selected to perform in the contest on Saturday, April 30th . The times will start at 10:00 a.m. and will go until 6:30 p.m. The schedule will have a band playing every 30 minutes.
- The contest will be held in the Southwest auditorium. Each band will have 10 minutes to set up, 15 minutes to perform and 5 minutes to take down. The backline will include a drum kit on a riser with a base, 3 toms, a snare, high hat, stool and three cymbal stands. There will be mics on the drum set. Drummers are expected to bring their own crash cymbals and may also want to bring their own base pedal and snare. There will be two guitar amps, a keyboard amp, a base amp and three vocal microphones. There will be mics on all the amps as well. There will be stage crew there to help bands set up. Bands that use the backline provided may have time to play 20 minutes if they can set up quickly. Bands that choose to bring their own equipment will need modify their schedule so that they allow more time for set up and take down.
- We will be on a tight schedule so bands must honor the time allotment. Failure to do so could result in disqualification.
- Three to five independent judges from the music community will evaluate the bands and provide written comments designed to provide constructive feedback and suggestions to help bands improve their performance. The judges will evaluate bands based on music quality, technical ability, showmanship, originality and crowd appeal.
- We plan to also have one or two clinicians at the event who will provide feedback and offer suggestions immediately after the performance.
- While not required, a portion of the score (originality) will be based on original music. However, there is also a crowd appeal score which may be enhanced by playing a more popular cover song. Bands may choose to play of mix …possibly two original songs and one cover. Bands are responsible to obtaining any necessary approvals for cover songs.
- This event is designed to be a fun, wholesome opportunity for bands to showcase their talent. Vulgar, crude or suggestive lyrics and profanity will not be tolerated. Violation of this rule will result in immediate termination of the performance, disqualification and possible disciplinary action under the rules of the school district codes of conduct.
- Judges sheets will be scored at the end of the night and tallied during the final headliner band performance. Winners will be announced at the end of the night. The first place winner will receive a $1,000 check, a certificate for time in a recording studio and a trophy which will be displayed until the next year at their school. 2nd and 3rd place winners will also receive an award.
- There will also be concessions, t-shirts and music items sold at the event. Bands will be encouraged to sell their CD’s (if applicable) as well. Best Buy will have a guitar hero booth set up and Category 5 Amplification will be demonstrating some of their equipment.
- The 2011 Cowtown Rocks - Battle of the Bands is being organized by the Paschal Band Booster organization. Approximately 45% of the proceeds will go to music lesson scholarships for low income students. Another 45% will go to support Bread for a Hungry World. The remaining 10% will go to participating bands based on fan turnout.