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2010 Contest Rules

Please note that this year, sign-ups for the fiddle contest only will start Friday, all other contest sign-ups begin at 8:30 am on Saturday and will be cut off 30 minutes before each contest. Saturday contests are limited to the first 10 people who sign up, except the fiddle and vocal contests which are the first 15 people. Sunday band contests are limited to the first 12 combined total entrants for Old Time and Bluegrass.

Each contest will be judged separately and a contestant may enter and place in an unrestricted number of contests. A SEPARATE ENTRY SHEET IS REQUIRED FOR EACH CONTEST ENTERED. Contests are open to anyone having a current day ticket, except those who are performing as a paid entertainer at the 2010 Santa Fe Festival, and anyone who was a First Place winner in that contest the previous year, with the exception of the Sunday Band Scramble and Band Contests. Previous winners may enter and place in any Saturday contest category which they did not win last year.

1. You must have your registration completed at least 30-minutes before the entered contest is scheduled to begin. Performance order will be by random draw, announced at the start of the contest. To keep contests on schedule, Festival Officials will limit competition to the first 10 entries in each contest, with the exception of Fiddle and Vocal (15 contestants) on Saturday and the first 12 entries combined total for the Old Time and Bluegrass Band Contest on Sunday. Entrants are to perform in the drawn order and may be disqualified by the MC and/or Judges if they are not available when called. (Note-the Miscellaneous Instrument and Duo Contests occur simultaneously. Persons entering Miscellaneous and Duo will go early in Miscellaneous and toward the end of Duo. However, persons are discouraged from entering overlapping contests, as you must be available when called or you will be disqualified as we cannot disrupt the overall schedule. ) Entrants are encouraged to remain in the immediate area or building during the corresponding contest.
2. There is NO entry fee for each of the Saturday contests. There are NO entry fees for any of the Sunday Band Contests.
3. In each contest, you must play two tunes of your choice in the style specified by that contest (please have a 3rd tune selected for use as a runoff tune in the event of a tie, see item #6 below). Selected tunes should be appropriate to the Bluegrass and Old Time objectives of this Festival. Contestants may use a maximum of one accompanist per tune (contestant may switch accompanists, but must be mindful of the six minute time limit). Accompanists may NOT take a lead break and violation of this rule will result in disqualification. The only acceptable electric instrument is the bass guitar--all others must be acoustic. Your total performance time should be limited to six-minutes or less, the judges will deduct for performances exceeding six-minutes. Saturday Contests Only: When called by the MC to perform, Contestants or accompanist (if applicable) are NOT allowed to speak before, during or after their performance while on the stage. Speaking during your performance will result in disqualification by the judges. Exception - one contestant in the Duo contest will be allowed to announce their songs only.
4. The "Miscellaneous Instrument" contest is for those instruments not covered by one of the other specific contests. The "vocal" category is for one person, who may also play an instrument and/or have one accompanist that may sing harmony and/or play an instrument only. NO lead breaks by the accompanists are allowed. Judging is on the lead vocalist only. The "Entertainment Duo" contest is for two performers playing and/or singing in any arrangement of their choice. Groups of three or more recognized instrument playing perfomers are to enter the "Band" contest. All band contests will be conducted using a single omnidirectional microphone, bands should be prepared to perform using the single mic arrangement.
5. A "Blind" judging system will be utilized for all Saturday Contests (with the exception of the Duo Contest). Judges will be stationed behind a curtain and will not be able to view the contestant(s). Sunday Contests will utilize a "Standard" judging system. Contests will be scored by three (3) judges. Judging is based on a 1 (low) to 10 (high) point system in each of the following equally weighted factors: (1) rhythm; (2) intonation and execution; (3) material selection (difficulty and appropriateness); (4) style and (for Sunday Band Constests) (5) Stage Presence. Judging for the "Duo" and "band" contests will include an additional "arrangement" factor that will be scored between 1 and 10-points and equally weighted with the prior 5 factors.
6. Judges are instructed to judge contestants on the basis of an individual's performance today only. Judges are to disregard any prior performances or reputation of the contestant. Judges must choose one winner in each category and may request a runoff tune at their discretion. All judging decisions are final. The purpose of the contest is the staging of Old Time and Bluegrass music in a fun setting for both contestants and audience. The contest organizers, SWT and BMA, set the above rules and instruct judges to maintain objectivity, but rating musical performances is inherently subjective.

2010 Songwriting Contest Rules

• Contest will be limited to the first ten officially registered contestants.
• Contestants will perform their compositions live to official judges and a general audience.
• Musical styles must be "Old Time", "Bluegrass", or "Gospel"
• Contestant's signature on registration from warrants that the composition entered is the original work of the contestant.
• Only the original songwriter and one accompanist may perform.
• Constants must submit three typed lyric sheets at registration.
• Judges will evaluate each entry based on song impression, lyric content, and melodic quality.
• First, Second, and Third place winners will be awarded prizes.

WAIVER--The Southwest Traditional and Bluegrass Music Association, a New Mexico non-profit corporation, expressly retains all rights to the performances of all contestants, including all media rights (including all electronic or video media), all reproduction rights, and the right to tape, video record and/or photograph each contestant. Your registration for any of the Santa Fe Festival contests shall constitute your acceptance of the foregoing.

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