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The Band Tournament

(l.-r.) Julie Klinger (LifeLight), Nancy Aleksuk (Club 3), Noah Henson (Pillar), Rich Leone (Fuzzy Slippers Studio), Amy, Jim Worthen (Tooth & Nail Records), Dan Wynia (KTIS/Northwestern), Shane Boyd (Pure Tracking Radio Promotion, Heath Hollensbe (Reach Records). (front l.-r.) Guy Mahmarian (Vision Van Gogh), Tony Shore (Music Journalist), Rick Narvaez (Club 3 Manager)

A couple of weeks ago I was asked to go to Minneapolis to speak and to judge a band tournament at the state-of-the-art Club 3 Degrees.

So what do you get when you mix together promoters, label heads, radio guys, and lots of ex-rockers that have seen hundreds of bands over the years?

Well, you get a bunch of industry people saying times have changed and artists can’t rely on getting a record deal and airplay anymore. There’s been a shift, and luckily a lot of the bands up there are jumping on board.

The competition had begun with 80 bands last September. Now, several rounds and many months later, it was time for the final 10 to compete for 1st place.

Tony Shore, Amy, Shane Boyd

We judges were veterans of all aspects of the music industry, from graphic design to A&R, and included a guy that promoted one of my CD’s back in the day.

This competition is a well-oiled machine and the club director and I soon realized I had been a judge at the very first tournament along with former Prince guitarist Dez Dickerson! (The club was under the name The New Union at the time.)

Music styles ranged from screamo to hip-hop and things in-between. From a performance aspect, there were good ones and average ones. I was happy to find that the good bands had either heard Tom speak and/or were watching and studying the DVD’s and working on their shows.

On the final night the judges voted unanimously on the top 3 bands. Good performances were a huge part of them earning the top spots. Those bands have realized the importance of performing well – how it equals more bookings, more merch sales and more fans. It definitely made their 20 minute sets more fun to watch!

Want to know how to get your band from good to great? Check out Tom’s Band Workshop DVD.

That’s all for now friends. Until next time, Rock Well & Often!

Amy Wolter, Live Music Producer

Amy Wolter

As a trained Live Music Producer for Tom Jackson Productions, Amy Wolter brings her years onstage as a lead singer & keyboardist - along with her experience as a producer, arranger, and songwriter - to singers and bands who won’t settle for ‘good enough’. She’s worked with artists at all levels, and genres ranging from Rock to Celtic, empowering them to have confidence and authority onstage, and put on memorable live shows, a few of whom have been on two of the largest US tours in recent history. Some of her clients include Grammy award winners The Band Perry & Lacrae, CMA and ACM –winning country acts, Gloriana & Thompson Square, 2016 The Voice contestant Mary Sarah, CCMA (Canada) winners High Valley, Jess Moskaluke & Chad Brownlee, and Winter Jam Tour veterans Sidewalk Prophets & Love and The Outcome.

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Greenroom Comments

  1. Thanks so much for being a part of this tournament!

    Glad to meet you

    Jonah

  2. It’s fun to read your perspective on the tournament. So proud to be in the top 3 with Shasta! Tom’s gift definitely helped get us there! And there is still SO MUCH to continue working on. Thanks for the good times.

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