Frances Folk Gathering 2010 - Competition Rules
The Frances Folk Awards 2010 are not restricted to any particular type of musical instrument. However, instruments should be acoustic and not electric, although it is acceptable to play acoustic instruments through microphones to boost their sound levels. Amplification will be provided at the event. See "Acoustic Instruments" below.
The single exception to the "acoustic" rule is that, for the junior categories only, a portable keyboard may be used provided it is carried on and off the stage, and played in conventional "piano" mode for the performance. It is allowed to be plugged into power for operation, but may not be connected directly to the PA.
Traditional Music:
The music or songs used will be based on traditional music, and music judged to be within the Folk style, or else the style of a particular specified genre (eg Bluegrass).
Sections for 2010:
Youth Sections
(to perform in the Future Folk Marquee)- Under 12 vocal and instrumental
- Under 15 vocal and instrumental
- Under 18 Vocal
- Under 18 Instrumental
- Under 18 Duet/Trio
- Under 16 Busking (to perform simultaneously outside the shop)
Other Sections (any age group)
(to perform in the Competition Marquee)
- Intermediate Vocal
- Intermediate Instrumental
- Open Vocal
- Open Instrumental
- Open Duet/Trio
- Learner's Encouragement
Bandemonium
(to perform in the Main Tent on Saturday evening)
Section Entries:
Open Sections: For all singers or instrumentalists of any ability, professional status, or qualifying instrument. Winners of the open sections from the previous year are not eligible to enter for the following year.
Intermediate Sections: For singers and musicians who do not play in a professional or semi-professional capacity - that is, they do not earn money for their playing.
Learners’ Encouragement: Open to learners of any age with less than 12 months of singing or playing the instrument they enter with. Please be sensitive with this. It’s a learners’ encouragement award.
Age Groups: Must be within the age group they enter on the day of the competition. For example, to enter the under 18 competition, your 18th birthday must occur after the Saturday competition. In any age group ensemble, all members must comply with this age requirement, however, individual age group contestants may use a non-qualifying accompanist.
Buskers - Under 16: Individual, duo or trio (all players within the age range, no additional accompanist allowed).
Duet/Trio: Any combination of acoustic instruments and vocal - including acapella. Any professional status. Any "folk" style, including Celtic and Bluegrass. If a duo has an additional accompanist, it will be regarded as a trio - with all members being equal. There can be no more than 3 performers on stage for this section. No person can enter as a member of more than one duet/trio.
Band Entries: Individuals may enter as a part of more than one band, but any band containing more than two members from another band will be deemed to be that other band. In other words, a four-piece band cannot substitute one of their members and enter again as another band!
The decision of whether an entrant is suitable for any given class is entirely at the discretion of the adjudicator.
Accompaniment:
Contestants may be accompanied by one other instrument (except in "duet/trio" ensembles, and Buskers).
The accompanist must also qualify for the class they are accompanying in terms of age and experience, except in the age-based categories where a more experienced accompanist may perform.
The accompanist may not take a dominant role in the performance, as this gives the contestant the best opportunity to show their skills. For example a guitar is likely to accompany a fiddle, not the other way round.
If the accompanist dominates the performance it prevents the judges from being able to concentrate on the performance. In this circumstance they will deduct marks for poor quality.
Singers can either accompany themselves, have a separate accompanist, or do both.
Acoustic Instruments:
All instruments will be played acoustically – into a microphone. Contestants will not be permitted to 'plug-in' to the power or the sound system (except as allowed for the junior sections, and for ‘Bandemonium’ — see below).
Contestants cannot bring their own amplification, nor have any control over the PA provided.
Performance:
Contestants (other than Buskers) will have an allotted time of 4 minutes for their performance. Buskers have 15 minutes.
You may play a single tune/song or medley of your own choice - provided it qualifies under "Traditional Music" above.
Your total performance, including introduction must not exceed the time limit for performances in that category.
A bell will be rung for you to begin and again 30 seconds prior to the end of your time. You may request the bell to not ring if you wish.
Marks will be deducted for poor timekeeping. Exceeding the time will reduce your score and be likely to affect your placing.
Bandemonium:
The Bandemonium Section will be held on the Saturday evening and judged at the end of the event. Bands must consist of a minimum of four people. Musicians are permitted to plug into the sound system in this event.
Busking
Busking will take place outside the Post Office/shop and will be judged there. Busking may be done as a solo or as a duo or a trio. Buskers will play to the public outside the General Store for a minimum of 15 minutes. All entries will play simultaneously.
Winners/Prizes:
All prizes will be awarded to the contestant — not to the accompanist. In the duet/trio sections, all participants are regarded as equal contestants. Winners will be announced at the end of the competition - usually early on Saturday evening.
Judging:
Judging is by a chosen panel of judges who will assign points according to various criteria. These criteria are:
- Performer’s Introduction - 10 points
- Tone/Tuning - 10 points
- Rhythm/Tempo - 10 points
- Creativity/Interpretation - 10 points
- Expression/Feeling - 10 points
- Overall Performance - 10 points
- Technical Ability - 10 points
- Completion within time limit - 20 points
- Judges’ Appreciation - 10 points
Points assigned to these criteria are accumulated into a total. The person with the highest total in any category is the winner.
In the event of a draw, a resolution will be implemented by the adjudicator to determine the winner, which may (or may not) include a ‘play-off’.
The adjudicator will preside in the event of any dispute and be responsible for handling the score sheets and checking score totals.
In all respects, the adjudicator's decision is final.
How to Enter
Entries open on November 1st 2009 and will close at 6pm on Saturday February 20th 2010. They will re-open on the day of the competition. See below.
Contestants are required to complete and submit an entry form. You can do this by 3 methods, the best way, the somewhat risky way and the really risky way!
No matter which way you choose, your entry will be managed on our web site, either by you doing it directly, or by us doing it for you.
Entries will close a week before the Gathering - that is - 6pm on Saturday February 20th 2010, and re-open on the Saturday morning of the competition for categories not already full.
The BEST way to enter
The SECOND-BEST, somewhat risky way
The LAST RESORT, really-risky way
Do it yourself on-line. The entry page for individuals and duets/trios is here.at www.francesfolkgathering.com.au/competitions/competitionEntry.php. Bands entry form is at www.francesfolkgathering.com.au/competitions/bandEntry.php. here.
Individuals will be asked for details, categories to enter etc. We will trust you to enter only categories you qualify for. If you are subsequently deemed unqualified for any category you have entered, we will change your entry and return that slot as vacant.
The moment you click “submit” your entry will have been accepted and the time noted. You will be shown a screen saying what categories you have entered. Please PRINT this page and bring it with you to the Gathering. If anything goes pear-shaped this will be your proof of entry.
If you want to subsequently change your entry, you’ll have to email or call us, and we’ll change it for you. The time stamp of any change (for example, entering another category) becomes the time of entry.
Download the entry form from www.francesfolkgathering.com.au/competitions/competitionEntry.php.here.
If you don’t have access to the Internet, write to us at Frances Musicianship Competition, PO Box 843, Brighton SA 5048 enclosing a stamped self addressed envelope, and we’ll send you an entry form. Make sure you include the envelope. No envelope = no form. Sorry.
Post the completed form to Musicianship Entry - Frances Folk Gathering PO Box 843, Brighton SA 5048. After we receive your postal entry, we will go on-line and enter your details for you. The time at which your entry is recorded will be when we get around to doing this.
Postal entries must be received by Friday February 12th. (No room for error here… after that, no-one checks the mailbox, we’ll be in Frances!).
Last year most categories were full before the festival started!
However, if you want to risk it, get the form, fill it in and bring it with you to Frances. If the competition is not yet full, we’ll include your entry. Otherwise you can go on the waiting list (see below).
Entries will re-open at 9am on the Saturday and all entries must have been lodged at the competition desk before 11am.
The organisers reserve the right to limit (including change) the number of contestants in any or all categories.
Contestants will be accepted on a first in - first accepted basis.
Full Categories:
There are limits to the numbers we can accommodate in each category. The best way to ensure you are accepted is to get your entry in early! There are no exceptions here.
Your entry is deemed to have arrived by the date/time stamp on your on-line database entry - that’s when someone goes on-line and enters your details. That’s why it’s best that you enter yourself on line. If you wait until you get to Frances, your category might (probably will) have already been filled.
The web site (and we) will not accept any entries in any category has been filled. If you enter – and later are unable to perform — please let us know.
Waiting List:
If a category is full, you can put yourself on the waiting list on the Saturday morning.
All pre-registered performers perform first in their allotted order. If someone fails to show up they forfeit their performance, and the following registered performers all move forward.
After all the registered performers have performed (or failed to show) the waiting list folk perform. The performance order for the waiting list is in the order people ask to be put on it, in other words, first come - first perform.
Performance Order:
Performance order will be based on the order in which entries are received on the web site. If you enter early, you will perform early within your category.
All categories and performers will be posted on a notice board near the competition tent on Saturday morning. It is your responsibility to take note of the time your category begins. Remember, if someone ahead of you fails to show, your performance time moves another 5 minutes earlier!
Performers cannot swap with others. If you are also performing elsewhere at the Festival, make sure you are free for your competition performance at the time you’re due.
No Shows:
Competitors must be in the immediate vicinity of the stage at the time they are called. If they are called to the stage and are not there, then they will forfeit their right to perform.
In this case the following registered competitors will be called until all registered competitors have either performed or failed to show. After this, the waiting list competitors will be called (in order) until the maximum number of performances for that category have been given.
A registered competitor may request to be added to the waiting list if they should arrive after their performance time - but they cannot perform in any other time slot until all other performances - including the existing waiting list - are complete.
The no-show of any performer does not open an opportunity for another to take their place.
Late Changes
The organisers may make changes if they believe it to be necessary. Any changes will be posted on the competitions page of the web site - www.francesfolkgathering.com.au/competitions.shtml. We will endeavor - but cannot promise - to notify existing entrants of any changes. Best to keep an eye on this page between now and the Gathering. Also, please make sure your contact details are correct when you enter.
Further Enquiries:
Please get in touch with us via the contacts page on the web site(www.francesfolkgathering.com.au/contact.shtml) or email us at comps@francesfolkgathering.com.au
Please get in touch with us via the contacts page or email us