Sound Off

About the contest/showcase

The Square Room is accepting applications for its inaugural Sound Off competition, in which local bands will be pitted against each other for a prize package that will include studio time, packaging and pressing of a CD EP, guaranteed radio airplay, and a headlining show at the Market Square club. The contest starts in October and will run one Wednesday a month for five months, with a final showdown in March.

How to Win

1) Judges designated by 4MS Entertainment will choose 25 bands to compete for the Grand Prize. Finalists will be contacted by a 4MS representative. The 25 selected finalists will be divided into five groups of five and will be assigned a day to compete. A winner from each evening’s performance will advance to the finals to take place on March 3, 2010. Selection of the top 25 bands will be in the sole discretion of the Judges, and is not subject to dispute or appeal.

2) The 25 semi-finalists will be contacted by 4MS by telephone or email as they are selected after September 9, 2009 and assigned their date of performance. Each artist/band will be assigned one of the following dates to perform. One winner will be selected each night and will advance to the finals.

  • Wednesday, October 7, 2009
  • Wednesday, November 4, 2009
  • Wednesday, December 2, 2009
  • Wednesday, January 6, 2010
  • Wednesday, February 3, 2010

3) The 25 semi-finalists and 5 finalists will be judged on a variety of criteria. Crowd reaction will account for 30% of the scoring and ‘celebrity judges’ will score the remaining 70% of each band/musician’s performance on various levels of skill such as songwriting, cover song, stage presence.

4) Each artist/band will perform a total of three songs. Two songs will be original music by the band/artist and the 3rd will be a cover song. Artist/bands will be notified 2 weeks prior to their performance which famous artist/band they will be covering. It is up to each individual band/artist to select the song, 4MS Entertainment will assign which famous artist to select from for each month’s event. For example, if the artist of December is Bob Dylan, artists/bands may choose any song by Bob Dylan to perform.

5) The Grand Prize winner will be announced following the March 3, 2010 final competition.