Criteria

The entry fee is in place for one reason only: to get commitment from the bands. If you've paid to be there, you are more likely to show up. Plus, it's really not that much to pay considering what you could get back.

The bands are judged in several areas: performance, originality, potential and musicianship. Originality is a big one and we've seen many times where the judges were drawn more to a band whose influences were a little more difficult to pin down. Please honestly ask yourselves if you felt you deserved a high score in all of these areas, and be sure to practice up lots with proper equipment so that all members can hear what each other are doing. You really can win with originality and loads of practice.

The judges have no idea how many tickets you have sold, nor do they have any reason to care. They are not employees of Eclipse Concerts, but rather associates from the entertainment industry. The selling of tickets is meant to encourage bands to bring as many people out to cheer them on as possible. It has always been our opinion that the band who works the hardest at selling their tickets should earn the right to have first choice of set times. Then whoever sells the second most gets second choice etc. It's the only truly fair way. Tickets must be sold to pay for the huge expense of putting this event on, the publicity that the bands get and finally, the grand prize.