The 'Back 40'

Welcome to "The Back 40"! For those of you making your way here via PM invitation, we're glad you have found it. If you've found this thread just by dropping in while surfing the message boards, you are also welcome to join in.

This thread has been started as a discussion forum as a result of many requests from fellow 'Snappers' that they be notified in the event of starting a contest of my own. That time has come. In presenting the outline below, it is my hope that you will offer up your comments, concerns, questions and other feedback in order to have as many details as possible worked out before starting the competition. I will personally monitor this thread daily to take into account what is being posted and will respond as necessary - either via PM or making a post so that information regarding your queries can be answered in the most effective way.

Once the contest starts, this forum will also serve as the 'chat-room' for the contestants and other members throughout the entire competition, giving you all a central place to exchange pleasantries, pictures and other propaganda. The reasoning behind this should be evident from the information below.

The logo above represents the theme presented to you as to how this contest will be conducted - 'No Bull'. If this concept is accepted well enough, it just may well be continued as a series of invitational contests in the future. The idea has come as a result of some of the struggles I have encountered here at SingSnap, being limited to dialup internet access. Mind you, this is not whining.. just a statement of fact. With this limitation, it has been very time-consuming and difficult to listen to some of the great talent on this website.

"No Bull" means just that... the frills of 'glitter-graphics' and pictures will be limited to this 'Back 40' thread. They are not to be posted on the contest thread or in the comment sections of songs submitted for this competition. All contest entrants will be required to disable their webcams for songs submitted for this competition. If you are among those that customize your song pages, ensure that your 'bling' uses only 'still' images. NO 'glitter' or moving graphics. Please make use of the 'flagging' feature to add this thread, in addition to that of each round, to your message board favorites for quick access.

Interaction between members in a social atmoshere is a large part of what the SS community is all about. I encourage such fellowship and it shall be the continuing mission of this thread to provide the proper place for friendly banter, sharing of general interest conversations and other non-contest related activities, as well as a secondary thread for informational posts.

The contest thread shall be used for the contest - limited to posting of songs and updates as well as information pertaining to the rules and directions of each round. Sifting through pages and pages of unnecessary 'bumps', 'check-ins', spam links, etcetera.. makes it difficult to determine exactly what is or is not useful information , pertinent to the contest and of interest to all contestants and judges.

Contestants will be expected to read, understand and comply with the rules and directions posted at the beginning of each round along with any additional official information given on the thread up to that point before making any posts on the contest thread. Posts made within the contest thread that are incomplete or do not meet the guidelines may be ignored and/or considered as automatic disqualification, WITHOUT NOTICE.

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The 1st 'N.B.C. Invitational' will be a country music competition which will require more of the contestants time and energy than just merely recording a song, posting it and waiting for the deadline. Formatting is as follows:

We will start with 75 contestants for the auditions. The first 50 spots are reserved for those who have recieved invitations to this thread. Once the audition round is posted, there will be a limited time for only those with invitations to post their entries. AFTER that time expires (or after the first 50 spots have been filled), remaining spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis by those from the general SS community who wish to join the competition. There will be no 'reserving' spots prior to the end of the invitational section of the auditions.

When judging has been completed in the audition round, 25 contestants will be cut - the remaining 50 will form the field for Round 1, where 15 will be cut. Round 2 will field 35 contestants, where another 15 will be cut. Round 3, the semi-final round, with 20 contestants in the running, will be narrowed down to 5 for the finals in Round 4.

Themes for the rounds will be selected from these topics: 'Favorite Country Solo Artist', 'Favorite Country Group', 'Favorite Country Song', 'Gender-Bender', 'Top 10 Hits', 'Classic Old Country' and 'Best Of The New Country'. There will be NO mandatory 'Duet' rounds. Yes, your math is right.. 7 possible themes and only 5 total rounds - finalists will not know which of the 3 remaining themes will be used to determine the winner until the round is posted.

After the audition round, there will be opportunities in each round, except for the finals, to score optional bonus points and/or possible 'free passes' that may be used for regaining a spot in the competition after being cut from a round. (**Possibly valid for use in securing a spot in the finals** if cut at the end of Round 3.. this may be where your feedback may help in making the best decision on this.) This, of course, may increase the number of actual number of contestants to begin the next round. In which case, the number of those cut at the end of the round will also increase as to reflect the planned number of competitors who will progress to the next round.

Each round will be open for 6 days. (Less than that if all entries are posted before the deadline.) This competition will last, at most, 5 weeks from start to finish. At the time each round is closed, it will be 24 hours later that information on the next round will be posted - both on the contest thread and here at the 'Back 40'.

Judging: Perhaps the most critical part of any competition, I will be looking for three members who have (or are willing to install) Yahoo Instant Messenger, to volunteer their services. (We have all experienced problems with SS servers on occasion and it is my belief that YIM would be a more efficient way to communicate, share information and exchange scoring data.) There will be instructions given to those volunteers as to how scoring is to be done. I will also be scoring all entries, but my scores will only be used in the event of tie-breakers or should we find one of our other judges unable to fulfill their duties.

A spreadsheet has been created to tabulate the scores from all judges to insure accuracy and consistency. The use of an **accumulating scoring system** throughout the contest that will end when the finals begin, is being considered. Again, this is where your feedback on this thread may determine the final decision on this matter.

Your judges, myself included, will be submitting songs that meet the criteria for each round, subjecting themselves to your own 'scoring'. With this, you may understand that your judges are going to be busy. Well, so are you - after the audition round, all contestants will be required to listen to all other competitor's main songs (Bonus songs, if applicable, will be optional) and to leave a comment in text form only. Leave the 'graphics' for your listens and comments outside of this competition.

You are invited and encouraged to voluntarily form **your own judges panel** (to score the judges, only) from amongst yourselves, the contestants. How well that will work, with people being cut at the end of each round, will depend on how much you are willing to work with one another as the competition progresses. Even better still, would be to have those that may have been cut to stick around and finish out the remainder of the competition as a 'judge-judge'!

If you are interested in offering your assistance as a judge for this competition, or even volunteer for anonymous, 'behind-the-scenes' training (for use in future contests or as a 'secret' judge that could fill in, in case we lose one of our regular judges), please PM me so that we can be prepared to start when the crew has been assembled with all instructions given and understood.

Also being considered: **Conversion of your usernames, as posted in the updates, to hyperlinks** that would allow other contestants to click on your 'nic', opening up the private message window from your profile for quick PM access, bypassing the need to go through your profile page to send you a personal message.

Now the gate has being opened.. Please feel free to post your opinions, questions, concerns about the material presented here and discuss it amongst yourselves. Of special interest is your input regarding the sections framed with '**asterisks**', that are subjects that are being considered, but your feedback may determine final decisions on.

With almost 3 years spent as a KJ, I have learned that shows and contests are not about me - it is all about you. Let's all make this a competition one that you would like to do again and again!!

The forum is yours... Have Fun!!

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bipolarbetty wrote:How did you arrive at your list to invite? Were they your friends or...?

From a previous comp that went bad.. run by an inexperienced young host

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Thanks, Donna and Darren.. lot of work to get things all in place. Once we get judges signed up and prepped, we'll get the show on the road. Make sure to read thru and offer up other comments, as there's still a couple of items to get decided.

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johngolf wrote:(edited...)You did a great job on the last contest which was aborted.. ..you tried to help with no gratitude at all.. Would be glad to join you KD, I'm sure you would do a great job... Let us know when we can start..

When we're ready to start, the audition thread will be posted here at the 'Back 40'

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Thanks, Peter.. don't envy ya, bud.. moving is NO fun!! Even 18 may be too young in some cases.. maturity is biggest factor in gaining experience at dealing with people, so age not so much a factor, really. I have noticed a few comps running pretty well by some young teens - just depends on where their head is at.. if'n it's screwed on right!! LOL!! Check in with us.. would ya? Might be a few days before we get on with it.
Later... AJ

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marie-almond wrote:I am in, thanks for the invite...
one question...what is "nic"?

YVW.. 'nic' is short for your nickname (or username)

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Binky- wrote:why is this in general discussion? should this be in auditions or contest section? ? ?
im just curious why post it here?

This was posted here for reasons mentioned within the post itself. By reading the first two posts, you will answer your own question and possibly even more about my proposed contest.

Please feel to post any other questions or comments when you have read what's here.
Thanks for your interest! AJ

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Binky- wrote:(edited...) i still believe that this should be in the audition section or contest for that is what it truly is even as a "guideline" perhaps even suggestions would work there very well..... so it is a proposed contest? & im still a touch confused.... or maybe its just too early for me to concieve this much detail... lol

Sorry for any confusion. (I, too, have a comprehension deficit problem until enough caffiene gets in the bloodstream.. LOL!!) It is intended to post in auditions when we have judges signed on. Trying to be like a good Boy Scout here and have everything prepared before we start. There are a few items that some feedback is desired so that the best decisions can be made BEFORE beginning. Though I'm good at it, flying by the seat of the pants and making up the rules as we go along is not my idea of how competitions should be run.

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t-reid wrote:(edited...)just wondering what the contestents would be judged on.. seen too many of these contest judged on friendship..

Very good question, Tony!! Basically, the system that the judges will use will be based on a 30 point system - 10 points each for: Pitch Control, Vocal Clarity and Lyrics/Timing. This system will be modified for a round or two - details on those mods will be posted with each round. This is a tested system used during my days as a KJ and another reason I will be waiting to have judges in place and trained for this comp B4 we start

Seen too much favoritism myself and despise those who try and cheat others. The spreadsheet that has been created should reveal any 'oddities' or inconsistencies in judges scores to help eliminate such practice.

Edited on July 6, 2008 at 2:56 PM Quote

donnyxxx wrote:shouldnt this be in contests.......i think it needs moving.......ADMIN

RNNAL is right, Donny.. until all of the ducks are in a row.. this thread is right where it is intended to be.. and will remain here as a chat thread for those in the contest, once it does start. Of course, this has been explained already in the original two posts on this thread. AJ

Edited on July 6, 2008 at 4:29 PM Quote

peachygurl wrote:I did read the thread and agree it is where it belongs. Borderline call BUT it isn't an audition and it does pertain to the general going's on at Snap.

However, IF it becomes a discussion about an ongoing contest OR gives an open call for auditions, then yeppers, it is gonna get moved.

Understood, peachygurl... then I would be best advised, in order to save this thread, it would be necessary to once again send PMs to those who wish to join such a comp..? I had planned on posting the audition round in the appropriate category when ready and posting the link for the auditions here, leaving this as a general discussion thread for the contestants and other members to post as they please.

Edited on July 6, 2008 at 5:11 PM Quote

connieg wrote:Sorry but we can't have everything pertaining to contests in General discussion.

This is about contests and idle banter about a contest.
If we allow this here we have to allow all others to do the same.

So we're gonna get moved? If so, to where, may I ask?

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Promotions might be the most appropriate.. URL to remain the same?

Edited on July 6, 2008 at 5:24 PM Quote

Thanks, Connie!!

Edited on July 6, 2008 at 5:30 PM Quote