2012 Cincy Blues Challenge - Application

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 View/Download Rules:  click here

September, 2011

Hi Blues Musicians,

It’s time for the 14^th Annual Cincy Blues Challenge that will take place on Sunday, June 3, 2012 at Germania Park in Colerain, Ohio. Applications must be received by April 18^th to be eligible.  Please be aware that this is a local blues competition and if necessary, local acts from the Cincinnati area will be selected before acts from out of town. We will also consider if an act is a member of the Cincy Blues Society, along with the date when your completed application is received by us, so please send back the required forms promptly. If your act is not selected to compete, your entrance fee will be refunded.  After an act is notified that they have been accepted, no refunds will be given. Should we have more than 25 entrants we will schedule the Solo/Duo competition to be the following Sunday at Arnolds Bar & Grill on 8^th Street in Cincinnati.

Please read the rules thoroughly and share them with others in your group!

The Blues Challenge will feature competitors in both the BAND and SOLO / DUO categories.  The winner of each category will represent the Cincy Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis during the beginning of 2013. Information at www.blues.org tells about the advantages of competing and doing well at the IBC. Musicians may enter our Challenge in more than one category.

The first-place winner of the Cincy Blues Challenge in the Band category that represents the Cincy Blues Society in Memphis will receive a $1,000 stipend to help pay travel costs.  The first-place winner of the Cincy Blues Challenge in the Solo / Duo category that represents the Cincy Blues Society in Memphis will receive a $300 stipend to help pay travel costs.

The first and second place winners in the Band category, and the first place winner of the Solo / Duo category, will also be invited to play at the 2012 Cincy Blues Fest – to be held August 10, 11, 2012 at Sawyer Point. Several of the top bands from the Challenge will be asked to play on our Fest Local Stage but as of this date, we don’t know how many acts can be scheduled.

To enter the competition, complete the enclosed two-page application at the end of this letter and mail it along with your entry fee, a quality picture of your act and a band bio to: Tom Thiem 5896 Willow Oak Lane Cincinnati, OH 45239. The entry fee for a band is $40 and $20 for a solo/duo act.  It must be received at Tom’s address by 6pm on April 20^th. We cannot accommodate anyone dropping off an entry at any location. Before entering, please read the eligibility requirements and the competition rules enclosed in this packet. It explains the competition in detail and should answer most of your questions.

If you have further questions or concerns feel free to call me at 513-562-0603. For Staging and Backline questions, please contact our Stage Manager, Tom Thiem at 513-919-3285 or challenge@cincyblues.org.

Thanks for keeping our Blues so Alive,

Mike Wayne
challenge@cincyblues.org
Cincy Blues Challenge Committee