| To all entered bands, |
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Thank for your entry and welcome to the 2009 Battle of the Bands! With your participation, we can continue and build upon the success of last year’s competition. The Blade is particularly excited about the quality sponsors who have joined us this summer. Yark Automotive sees the value of supporting the contest, as well as Best Buy and the University of Toledo. Best Buy’s involvement will help us produce a CD featuring music performed by the semifinalists for distribution in the chain’s stores. We tried to offer this prize in 2008, but it took until now to finalize the details. For its part, the University of Toledo will provide technical support at Battle of the Band events. We urge you to support these sponsors in return for their support of you. Last year was the first year for The Blade Battle of the Bands, and we did hit a few bumps in the road. Fortunately, we’ve ironed out the problems. The contest’s primary goal was to give a local band valuable exposure and the opportunity to play in front of a superstar-sized crowd. We’re proud to say, we accomplished that goal. Twice. Once during the 4th of July celebration at Promenade Park and again at the Rib Off where the 2008 co-winner opened for Ted Nugent. It isn’t easy to convince a national act to share the stage with an unknown. Any star who values his or her reputation insists on hearing a band’s tape before approving the gig. That’s why we can’t promise the same prize this year… yet. We are, however, in negotiation with this year’s Rib Off performers, Foreigner and Tracy Lawrence, to ensure a similar billing for our 2009 winners. And we believe we will get the job done again. Exposure and recognition for local talent – that is what The Blade Battle of the Bands was about in 2008. That is its goal again in 2009. Despite any glitches we may have encountered during our debut year, we hope you appreciate the spirit in which it was created. Right now, area fans are listening to your music online and are voting for their favorite band. That voting ends June 25. You will be notified as soon as possible after that date if you’ve made it into the semifinal round. The number of semifinalists will be determined by the number of entries in each category. Judges will intercede in close calls and to deal with discrepancies in the voting system. In the meantime, please leave July 3 and 4 open on your calendars, as well as August 6-8. Semifinalists will perform at Red, White, KABOOM in July and, if all goes well with our negotiations with Foreigner and Lawrence, the winners will appear at the Rib Off in August. A few final notes about changes from last year’s Battle: This year, single/duo semifinalists will perform on the big stage in Promenade Park; cover songs will be allowed, so you can play whatever music showcases your talent best; and there will be no hairsplitting between so-called “professionals” and “amateurs”. Let every performer take their shot at thrilling the crowds. We wish all of you luck. May the best band win. Sincerely,
Michael Mori |