A Rockpage Jam Fest? (Title changed as the event changes)

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » Sunday Jul 30, 2006

Are you guys up for this????

December 29-30th, 2006. Winner takes all. I've got some information from a few soundmen....I will pick one of them to work with. They will get their cut from the door. The winner will get the remainer from the door, plus the money collected as votes.

Since I'm very new at this, I will be following advise from different individuals from rockpage and a few other individuals who have been around the music scene in Central PA for years.

This is an event for only rockpage bands (Unless I don't get enough qualified, good hearted, fun playing bands. Then I'll go outside of rockpage).

If your band is interested in giving us a try via this means, either post a serious post here with information on how I can hear your work (website, myspace, upcoming gigs, etc) Also let me know which day of the two day event would work better for your band. I will try to work the schedule around other bookings. If you are booked both days and really want to do this, let me know if you can do an early set.

This event benefits nobody but the bands. I'm also going to try hard to see if I can get a radio sponsor. I know I will have no problems getting a beer sponsor.

You guys have all been a very good resource for me. I'm up for the challenge from you to learn how to pull this off. Let's take 2006 out with a rocking bang and show the locals what they can expect from 2007!

Btw.....I was thinking of charging $5 cover...you get a wristband for the entire two day event....please give me your opinion on that too...afterall, its your money.

Killjingle · Post by **Killjingle** » Sunday Jul 30, 2006

Killjingle will be into if:

a. There are judges. Crowd favorite BOTB's blow.
b. 1/2 the cash raised earned by the winning band goes to a charity of thats bands choosing, but in the competition's name.
c. Sound system has to be adequate, a reasonable monitor mix, and no jack off's running sound. I hate soundguys that are jack offs.

MeYatch · Post by **MeYatch** » Sunday Jul 30, 2006

I think this is a good idea. You always seem to have pretty good ideas, I like what you are doing up there, I just have no idea where houtzedale is or I'd go check it out some night.

Judges are probably a good idea, and they are a must if you are doing two days, because you may have a better crowd one night than the next. Just make sure they are fair.

You will have to figure out all the details, how long will a band play, and etc. Are you planning on opening it up to only original bands, or originals and cover bands?

Its very hard to get a fair comparison between the two.

just a few thoughts that came to my mind.

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » Sunday Jul 30, 2006

Ok, my biggest concern about having judges is knowing who to have as judges and who not to have as a judge....Plus, I was going to use the money that people use to vote as part of the winnings???? But, more input on it...discuss it as I really don't know how to do this yet.

Original or cover? Hmmm....This is another reason I was wanting to go with the audience choice. I say let's have both. I want to know what those who come out for it like to hear. This would be the major benefit to our bar ya know...find out what brings people out.

Killjingle - I do like the thought of having 1/2 of the prize winning donated...but if its the band's prize, who I am to say they need to do this? The Alley Popper has always been involved in fundraisers and benefits and fully support that ideal. But its got to be up to the bands. More input will help decide that one.

Afterall, I'm claiming this to be a rockpage event folks....Trust me on this...you guys as a whole will be deciding most of the details.

Killjingle · Post by **Killjingle** » Sunday Jul 30, 2006

u do what u need to do... I just refuse to play BOTB without some donation to charity....

JP might be a good 1st judge, he needs a break from the grind.

covers, originals, blah blah... its all music and its all supposed to be from the heart, however... if 2 bands are EQUALLY awesome, one is cover one is original... I know where my vote would go.

EyesOfAnguishbassist · Post by **EyesOfAnguishbassist** » Sunday Jul 30, 2006

Killjingle has a good point....BOTB that are based on how many ppl you bring and not the actual bands talent suck. It would be alot cooler to have actual judges.... and if its a 2 day event have maybe cover bands one day and orignal bands the other day maybe...just my 2 cents haha

AtoMikEnRtiA · Post by **AtoMikEnRtiA** » Sunday Jul 30, 2006

1) Judges - Annonoymous, inpartial, third party judges (yes and that means JP cant judge, no disrespect) - I say third party only because I know people on RP who will remain nameless that hold some anomosity towards cover bands, and I think if we all totally know that the judges are third party, nobody will piss and moan. Keep them "annonoymous" so none of the bands know who they are

2) If cover and originial bands are both involved.. it MUST be judge vote. In this area, the general public given the choice between a good original band, and a crappy cover band - the cover band will still win. You can dispute that all you want - it's the truth.

those would be my 2 major concerns. everything else has been covered.. i hope this happens, it would be fun!

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » Monday Jul 31, 2006

Ok, so far, between private messages and postings here, this is what I'm hearing and how I'm leaning.......

Two nights - two themes.....One night cover, one night original. Maybe even two winners, with one overall out of the two? I'm also considering some sort of audience choice where the winner gets a few bookings in 2006 from our bar....And let our locals decide that the week following the event???? Most of you guys are very very fair and considerate of your rates and I think that if our local crowd selects you, we should be able to bring them back to pay ya what you are worth.

Judges decide.....I will need some help in locating judges but I have a few months that I can do some leg work on this one as well. As far as JP goes as a judge, if I have multiple judges, him being there as a judge will not throw the voting. My goal would be to have 5 judges...or at least 3. I would be honored if Mr. JP would help us with the judging aspect. I would also be willing to have some other bar owners/managers serve as judges so that they too can see the talent.

If your band is interested, when you notifiy me of your interest, please let me know if you would be willing to have part of your winnings donated to a charity of choice? Or even at that, Ice is one of our own...and although he's only asked for some emotional support, I'm sure that his family could use a little help over the next few months....think about it...and let me know.

I really do appreciate the input on this folks. I think together, we'll all make this a great event.

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » Monday Jul 31, 2006

Are bands charged for the opportunity to do Battle of the Bands???? Someone mentioned that in a message to me. I do not want to charge the bands. I'm hoping that we have enough people in and out all weekend willing to pay $5 for both nights of music to pay for the soundman and the prize pot.

BTW....I will have a neutral party working the door so that all bands are assured that the money collected is accounted for and that EVERYONE pays.

I'm rethinking the seperation issue of the Cover vs. Original. I think that if I'm going with judges, I want to have a winner in each area, but have them split among the nights. I think that we have great bands in each category and I want the people who can only make it out one night to have a chance to hear the different styles.

We will have judges.

iceman01 · Post by **iceman01** » Monday Jul 31, 2006

when you figure it all out the opposition (original) would love to be a part of it . this should be a very fun event and an opportunity for rockpagers to meet and mingle....................ice

RAM Z · Post by **RAM Z** » Monday Jul 31, 2006

I would def pay five bucks and bring a shitload of friends with me to come see all of the great bands on here in one room tear'n it up and supporting each other! Sounds like a Killer time in the works for sure!

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » Monday Jul 31, 2006

In most Battle of the Bands, what is the standard start time for the night...how long do each band play? And what is the amount of time needed in between? Thanks!

MeYatch · Post by **MeYatch** » Monday Jul 31, 2006

Lisa wrote:In most Battle of the Bands, what is the standard start time for the night...how long do each band play? And what is the amount of time needed in between? Thanks!

I'd say that depends entirely on how many bands you have that want to do it. I'd plan on the last band being done at like ten til two.

15 minutes between bands is around average in my experience, you always make concessions, shorter the time, the worse the band sounds, longer the time, people lose interest, and your battle of the bands ends up being way too long.

RobTheDrummer · Post by **RobTheDrummer** » Monday Jul 31, 2006

And remember folks, music is not a competition... It is a celebration of life!

Atomic Jim · Post by **Atomic Jim** » Monday Jul 31, 2006

Atomic Blonde would consider playing, too, but only if there were judges. First, nobody in Houtzdale has a clue who we are.

Second, back in bout 1983, when we were in a band called Heartbreaker, we played a one-day battle of the bands at the Pyramids in Johnstown. There were a lot of great professional bands there, but the contest was one by a bunch of high school kids and there shop teacher who organized the group and played guiter for them. I don't even remember their name, because in a month they didn't even exist. Meanwhile. a lot of the band there actually played for part or most of their livelihood, as we did.

The kid-band, to be polite, were not very good at all. How did they win? easy, the winner was based on how much money was collected. The kiddies had their parents stuffy money in their jar, and of course the shop teacher, who probably made more than any of the rest of us, probably stuffed the jar, too. We couldn't afford to do that, and probably most of the other musicians couldn't either. I'm not saying that we would have been the hands-down winner; there were a lot of good bands there. What I'm saying is that most of the bands there deserved to win more than the high school kids, if the judging was based on talent and showmanship.

By the way, I have nothing against teachers, my wife and bandmate Carol is one. My point is that if the winner is judged by the amout of money collected, then the band with the richest fans/members/relativies would win. If we were to take part in another BOTBs, especially one like this one where the winner takes all, I would bring a couple of thousand dollars with me, stuff the jar and make sure we won. After all, if the winner gets all the money, what would we have to lose?

The moral of the story? Good impartial judges who know something about music, and I agree, Jim Price would be the person to start with.

RobTheDrummer · Post by **RobTheDrummer** » Monday Jul 31, 2006

I think a battle of the bands should be a fun experience for all and not so much of a competition. It can be competetive in nature, but you should use it to meet others and have a good time doing so. Should just hand out those scoring card things to the audience and have them throw 10's up for ya! It's hard to judge a battle of the bands, unless you go by genre, experience, etc...Just have fun with the idea!

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » Monday Jul 31, 2006

Turning up the offering to the bands....I'm working with a music store now to help be a sponsor of a nice prize for the winner.....more details as they unfold....they have indicated that they are very interested and appreciate being invited to participate.

SpellboundByMetal · Post by **SpellboundByMetal** » Monday Jul 31, 2006

Condemned Existence would prob be up for this, but it would have to be done right and fair.. cover bands who play songs that people like and are popular shouldnt be playing when original bands do. i mean, shit, using someone else's material isnt really a battle !!!!!!

Original bands only. Im not saying anything bad abotu cover bands...but seriously guys....you are playing someone else's material...and you wanna make MORE $$ off that? let the bands that actually WORK and WRITE battle it out.

MeYatch · Post by **MeYatch** » Monday Jul 31, 2006

ha ha ha ha

I really do have to agree with spellbound on this though. Its almost impossible to get a fair comparison between the two.

I wish we had more originals, I'd love to road test them on people.

SpellboundByMetal · Post by **SpellboundByMetal** » Monday Jul 31, 2006

damn, im amazed!
you guys SHOULD write more originals and enter. i just find it waaaaayyy more enjoyable when someone likes the songs the bands WRITES.
its a better feeling than 'wow, we could be a bunch of legless ass-leeches and they would still love the songs someone else wrote...'

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » Monday Jul 31, 2006

We will have a winner in both...original and cover. In all honesty, one of the major reasons I want to do this is so that I can figure out what those who come out like to hear too. We will not be comparing apples and oranges. Maybe apes and gorillas....but not apples and oranges.

nightcrawler_steve · Post by **nightcrawler_steve** » Monday Jul 31, 2006

SpellboundByMetal wrote:damn, im amazed!
you guys SHOULD write more originals and enter. i just find it waaaaayyy more enjoyable when someone likes the songs the bands WRITES.
its a better feeling than 'wow, we could be a bunch of legless ass-leeches and they would still love the songs someone else wrote...'

And here is the "fly in the ointment" that will ruin it for everyone. This is why I would never get involved in something like this. Good luck though to everyone that does get involved. I really like the idea of all the rockpagers getting together - whether they play covers or originals. I think its more about the community SBBM. And cudos to Lisa for trying to put this together.

Guess well have to wait for the RP jams.

DirtySanchez · Post by **DirtySanchez** » Monday Jul 31, 2006

Just watch out for "The Pillage People" from the capital one commercial.
I love that commercial.

SpellboundByMetal · Post by **SpellboundByMetal** » Monday Jul 31, 2006

nightcrawler dude- how can you FAIRLY put cover bands and original bands together and say "ok guys, we want a winner". the band that plays a song that everyone loves will win. if you dont think so...then dude..seriously....step away from music. thats why cover bands are so popular! people like to hear songs they like. something new is too hard for most people. I have seen it, man. a band does a popular song and all the sudden they are the BEST band alive because. screw that! anyway. i dont think anyone would miss you anyway in the battle.

a cover band battle wouldnt even be fair to cover bands.

brokenstrings · Post by **brokenstrings** » Monday Jul 31, 2006

Sorry spellbound, but the nightcrawlers have no problem writing their own music. Check out the tune African Echo. Thats not your run of the mill local band song. I believe that if the Night Crawlers did the show, everyone with an open mind towards music would have to give them credit.