Saturday, September 13, 2008
   THE BERKELEY FARMERS' MARKET STRING BAND CONTEST!    

Civic Center Park, MLK and Center Street, adjacent to the Downtown Berkeley Farmer's Market.
Contest starts at 11am, ends at 3pm
Sign up 10:30am -11am
Warm-ups continuous from dawn!
Limited to 20 bands!
Free to enter!
Youth category!
Halftime performance by the Brandy Snifters!

CRAFTS FAIR sponsored by the Farmers Market
for Crafts Fair Information, contact kirk@ecologycenter.org

 The Berkeley Farmers' Market/Ecology Center sponsors the String Band Contest.

Check 'em out at:
www.ecologycenter.org

The Brandy Snifters are Jon and Marcia Pankake, Lyle and Liz Lofgren, and Bud Claeson.  They're a living-room band who have been entertaining (mostly themselves) in and around Minneapolis, Minnesota, since 1961. Until he retired, the Brandy Snifters' titular leader was Uncle Willie (Willard Johnson), who directed their tastes toward string band music as it was played on 78 RPM records prior to 1935. They have tried to remain true to Uncle Willie's vision, with occasional foresliding into the 1940s.

http://www.lizlyle.lofgrens.org/BrnSnift/BrandySnifterHome.html

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THE DIRECTIONS:

Civic Center Park, MLK and Center Street, adjacent to the Downtown Berkeley Farmer's Market
Just one block from "Downtown Berkeley" BART Station, easily accessible by bus too!

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THE DETAILS:

Pre-registration for the String Band Contest begins on Sept. 1, 2008.
Pre-registration is strongly recommended!

To pre-register, please provide us with the following info:
1. Name of band (please specify if you are entering the Youth Showcase) - you can change this later if you want to.
2.  Number of members and instrumentation (including vocals).  This can be tentative info, but it will help us in planning to have it.  If you are entering the Youth division, please indicate which members of your band are 18 or under.
3.  Contact person for band
4. Contact person's phone number (including area code)
5. Contact person's email address

Please send this info to:
Email: contest AT berkeleyoldtimemusic.org

PLEASE do not send this before Sept. 1, 2008!

Snail Mail:
String Band Contest
2935 Piedmont Ave.
Berkeley CA 94705

Phone number:  510-848-5018

On the day of the contest, all bands, whether pre-registered or registering on the day of the contest, MUST check in at the registration table during registration time (10:30 to 11 AM) to receive their number for performing. Contest starts with Youth Showcase at 11 AM sharp. Regular String Band Contest will begin immediately afterwards. Contest runs from 11 AM to about 3:00.



YOUTH SHOWCASE: The "Youth" division is for bands with any members aged 18 or under. Teachers are encouraged to bring students to perform as a group. Both old-time and bluegrass string bands are permitted. The Youth Division will be a showcase (not a contest) -- all Youth Division participants will receive Certificates of Merit. The Youth Showcase participants will play first, starting at 11:00 AM. Rules and Criteria for Youth Showcase bands are the same as for the regular contest, except that at least one member of the Youth Showcase band must be aged 18 or under. Bands may not enter BOTH the Youth Showcase and the String Band Contest. Of course, musicians aged 18 or under are welcome to enter the regular contest instead if they wish.

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THE RULES:

No entry fee.
Entry limit:  String Band Contest is limited to 20 bands total (not including the Youth Showcase bands). Bands can enter via email, via snail mail, or during registration time the day of the contest (if slots don't fill up by pre-registration). There are always some no-shows among the pre-registered bands, so it's worthwhile to show up on the day even if you didn't get it together to pre-register!


RULES

1. All bands must report to the registration table during the check-in/registration time (between 10:30 AM and 11:00 AM). The Youth Division will play first. By 11:00, all bands will be given a number that signifies the order of contestant bands. To make the contest run smoothly, bands should be backstage when the number previous to theirs is called, and ready to perform when their number is called. If not present, they will be disqualified. Please announce the name of the tune or song before you begin, but do not give time-consuming introductions or explanations.

2. To be judged, bands must consist of at least three but no more than seven members (with the exception of Youth Division which has no limit on number in band.) Each band must contain at least one banjo or fiddle.  Any kind of old-time music is fair game -- oldtime Appalachian, bluegrass, rebetika, Mexican, etc. No electric instruments, drums, or recorded music will be permitted. Electric pickups will not be permitted.

3. Contestants may not play in more than 2 bands, and may not play the same instrument in more than one band. This rule does not apply to the Youth Showcase bands.

4.  VOCALS ARE ENCOURAGED!

5. Contestants and bands need to be prepared to play two selections.  If the judges decide a playoff is needed (unlikely), the finalists would each play one selection.

6.  Total time for the round should be no more than 6 minutes (for both selections).

7. Bands will be judged on rhythm/timing/pace, intonation/tonal qualities, expression/soul, musicianship/style, difficulty/technique and stage presence/ease and confidence in performance.

8. Accidents beyond the control of the contestant (such as broken strings) may result in a replay if the judges so merit.

9. Decisions by the judges are final.

THE PRIZES:

First prize:  $150 Berkeley Farmers' Market gift certificate (shared among band members) plus a choice of Farmer's Market tote bag or tee shirt for each band member
Second Prize:  $75 Berkeley Farmers' Market gift certificate (shared among band members)
Third Prize:  $50 Berkeley Farmers' Market gift certificate (shared among band members)

All Youth Division participants under the age of 18 will receive a certificate of merit.

For more information:
contest AT berkeleyoldtimemusic.org