FOTMC CONTEST RULES

FOTMC Contest Rules

All contestants should read rules carefully!

I     REGISTRATION

  (a) In lieu of entry fees, contestants will pay regular admission (see admission registration table for daily or weekend fees). 

(b) Contestants may sign up for the contests of each block of contest times, at the specified time in the official FOTMC Schedule. Each block of contests has its own sign-up starting time. 

(c) A person or group can sign up for any contest in a contest block they wish to, unless contest rules specify otherwise. 

(d) The sign-up period ends when the contest ends. Therefore, a person can sign-up after the contest begins, but needs to turn his or her entry in to the contest registration person before the last known contestant finishes his, her or their contest performance. 

CONTEST TIMES ARE APPROXIMATE! IT IS THE CONTESTANT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO CHECK THE CONTESTS BEFORE HIS, HER, OR THEIR CONTESTS, TO ASSURE THEIR PRESENCE WHEN THEIR CONTEST OCCURS.

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A CONTESTANT SHOULD BE PRESENT AT THE BEGINNING TIME THE CONTEST BLOCK OF TIME HIS, HER. OR THEIR CONTEST IS TO HAPPEN. SOME CONTESTS MAY NOT TAKE PLACE IN A GIVEN TIME BLOCK! 

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CONTESTANTS SHOULD MAKE SURE CONTESTS ARE HAPPENING OR NOT, AND HOW MANY CONTESTANTS ARE BEFORE THEIR OWN CONTEST  PERFORMANCE.

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BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF OUR CONTESTS, WE NEVER HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY WILL ENTER ANY CONTEST. CONTESTANTS SHOULD 

FOTMC provides a flexible block of time with scheduled contests in that block of time. 

II    JUDGING

A.   Panel

      All contestants will be judged by a panel of three judges, except Old Time Fiddle Finals, Old Time Banjo Finals, String Band, and the Edward Lee Flemming, Jr. Award. These will have all five judges participate on the judging panel. 

B.   Appropriateness

      The concept of Old -Time music is not static, so the decisions concerning what is appropriate are ultimately subjective. The evolution of Old-Time music and the folk process in general take place within the boundaries of good taste, that, though difficult to state, are nevertheless familiar to those knowledgeable of the idiom. These rules are intended to provide guidelines for the conduct of the contest. Contestants are urged to exercise their own good taste and intuitive grasp of the spirit of Old-Time music.

C.   CRITERIA

THE JUDGES WILL AWARD POINTS IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: 

(1)  OLD TIME AUTHENTICITY AND SUITABILITY INCLUDING 

       CHOICE OF TUNE (10 PTS);  

(2)  TIMING & RHYTHM, INCLUDING DANCEABILITY WHERE 

       APPROPRIATE AND KEEPING IN-STEP WHILE DANCING (10 PTS);

(3)  MUSICIANSHIP - INCLUDING EXPRESSION, INTERPRETATION, AND   

      INTONATION (10 PTS).

THE JUDGES’ DECISIONS ARE FINAL!

D. ANY ATTENDEE SEEN HARASSING A JUDGE WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE EVENT BY THE EVENT DIRECTORS.

III.  GENERAL RULES

A.  No electric instruments, drums, music stands, or recorded music will be permitted in any category, for any reason. Electric pick-ups will not be permitted.

B.  Required Number of Tunes 

• Old Time String Band will perform two tunes. 

• Old Time Fiddle and Old Time Banjo will perform two tunes per round.

• At the discretion of the judges, a second round may be required for any contests. The judges may announce this before or after the first round. 

• Contestants in all other instrumental categories will perform two tunes unless the judges request the performance of one additional tune, or the category is limited to one tune. 

• Contestants in singing contests will perform one song unless the judges request one additional tune. 

• In the Beginning Banjo and Beginning Fiddle categories, contestants may play two tunes.  If, after finishing their first tune, a contestant thinks they have done their best, they can stop without retribution. 

• Contestants would be well advised to prepare enough tunes for a second round should the judges require it.

C.  If any contest has at least fifteen (15) contestants, four (4) finalists will be selected to play in a Finalist Contest.

D. Winners will be selected from the first round of competition in all contests having fourteen (14) or less contestants.

E.  Contestants performing in the individual performer categories may perform accompanied or alone. No performer may be accompanied by the same instrument he or she is competing in (e.g., fiddle competitors may not be accompanied by another fiddler), with the exception that guitar contestants may be accompanied by a rhythm guitar.

F.  The judges will be located adjacent to the performance area to allow both visual and auditory judging.

G.  Each tune (or song) in a medley counts as an individual tune. Contestants who exceed the prescribed number of tunes for their contest will not be considered in the judging. (See rule III-B for number of tunes allowed in each contest.)

H.  Vocals are allowed in every category. Vocals will be considered accompaniment except in the Old Time String Band and Old Time Singing Contests. You may, for example, enter the autoharp competition and accompany yourself vocally.

I.  Contestants in all categories should avoid tunes that have been “picked to death.” Note that Choice of Tune is part of the judging criteria. Performances of original tunes and songs are acceptable if they are in traditional Old-Time music styles.

J.   To make the contest run smoothly, please do the following: (1) Be ready to go on stage when it is your turn. (2) Announce the name of the tune or song before you begin, (3) Do not give time-consuming introductions or explanations.

K.  Judges will award ribbons of encouragement to young contestants who enter but who do not place in the contest.

L.   A “NO CONTEST” will be declared  in cases where one or less people register in a contest. This means that the contest will be canceled due to lack of contestants.   

IN THE CASES OF OLD TIME FIDDLE AND OLD TIME BANJO CONTESTS; 

(A)  Judges may recall certain entrants for a third tune if warranted, or

(B) Judges may request  that three to four tunes be played in the first round of the Old Time Banjo or the Old Time Fiddle contests where only two to four contestants are entered. 

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IV.  SPECIFIC RULES

A.  Old Time Fiddle

(1) Contestants will be required to perform two tunes. If there is a finalist round, the contestant may not repeat a tune that he or she has played in the previous round. 

(2) The following tunes are not permitted: 

Orange Blossom Special, Black Mountain Rag, Listen to the Mockingbird, and other novelty or trick tunes.

(3) Fiddlers are particularly urged to avoid other tunes that have been “picked to death.” 

(4) A waltz is not required.  

(5) Points earned in an elimination round will not carry over to a final contest.

B.  Old Time Banjo                                                (1) Contestants will be required to perform two tunes in each round. 

(2) A contestant may not repeat a tune he or she has played in the previous round.  

(3) Banjo contestants are particularly urged to avoid tunes that have been “picked to death.” Points will not carry over to the finals.

C.  Old Time String Band

(1) Any group of traditional instruments will be permitted, but the band contest is specifically not a bluegrass contest, and bluegrass styled entries will not be accepted. 

(2) At least one strictly instrumental (non-vocal) number will be required. Both selections can be instrumental, if so desired. 

(3) Each person may enter the band competition with only one band.  

D.  Old Time Singing Individual and Group

(1) Each contestant may enter both categories of Old-Time singing contest (individual and group) but may enter each category only once. 

(2) Singing may be done with or without instrumental accompaniment. 

(3) Instrumental accompaniment should be back-up instrumentation, and no instrumental solos or “breaks” should be a part of the contest performance. 

(4) Contestants in the individual singing contest cannot be accompanied by other vocalists. 

(5) The back-up instruments used should not overpower the singing. Singing voices are the most important feature in this category.

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