Sign up for Competition to be the NJ representative for the 2020 International Blues Challenge!
The JSJBF IBC Committee is seeking interested Blues Bands to sign up to participate in our local competition to choose our representative to the 2020 International Blues Challenge in Memphis Tennessee January 29-February 1, 2020 for the 36th anniversary of the largest gathering of blues bands in the world.
Two years ago we went back to our old format of a one-day competition and holding it on a Saturday afternoon so that participating bands wouldn’t have to give up a gig to perform and we continued to use the Blues Foundation’s scoring format. The band response was favorable so we’re following that format again this year. So, the local competition will consist of a one-day event. The set length will depend on the number of bands competing. It will take place on October 19, 2019, at Paul’s Tavern, 1705 Lake Como, NJ from 1-7pm.
A BAND MAY ENTER A LOCAL CHALLENGE WITHIN 250 MILES OF IT’S LOCAL AFFILIATE PROVIDED THE AFFILIATES ARE IN AGREEMENT TO ALLOW IT. IF YOU ARE NOT SURE IF THERE IS A LOCAL AFFILIATE IN YOUR AREA YOU CAN CHECK WITH THE BLUES FOUNDATION.
Scoring will be, as in the past, based on a maximum 10 points per category with the scoring multipliers used by the Blues Foundation (4x for Blues content; 3x for originality; 2x for instrumental and vocal talent and stage presence. There will be a $15 per person entry charge for all who attend the competition except for the judges and band members( spouses, girl/boyfriends, significant others and family members of band members will be required to pay the entry fee).
Any band that wishes to participate must be available for their designated time slot on October 19. In addition, the winner of our local competition should be prepared to perform at their own fundraising events to help defray the cost of attending the IBC Competition in Memphis. The Blues Foundation strongly recommends that the participants arrive on Tuesday, January 28, 2020, for the competition that will start on Wednesday, January 29, 2020.
In order to eligible for our local competition, your 2019-2020 band dues (for Sept 1-August 31, 2020) must be current at the time of your performance. Any questions about your dues should be addressed with the Foundation’s Office Manager Doris Lazur at 732-933-1984.
The bands competing in our local competition will be expected to help advertise the event by listing its participation on its web site, notifying the persons on its email list and through their social media and encouraging them to attend the competition.
Assigned set times will be provided to the bands after the SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 deadline to request to participate.
THE FOUNDATION RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CANCEL THE COMPETITION IN THE EVENT AN INSUFFICIENT NUMBER OF BANDS EXPRESS INTEREST IN COMPETING.
The Foundation will contribute 50% of the net money (there may be costs for a sound man but no cost for the rental fee for the premises which has been paid by a sponsor) collected at the door to the winning band.
If you are interested in participating, please email the JSJBF IBC Chairperson Gene Iadanza at eaijsc@aol.com with your band name, mailing address, email address, and name, phone number and email address of the band’s contact person. For more information about the competition and official rules go to the Blues Foundation’s web site at www.blues.org and click on ‘events’ and then ‘IBC’.