STAGE ONE - ENTEREasy really, click any of the “Enter” buttons on this site and carefully follow the instructions through the online entry form; you have to be in to win! You will need to select your category, either Band or Solo/duo, what your region is, and enter the contact details of the acts members (so have those handy!). You can enter in a band and a solo-duo (although please note that if you’re entering in both categories, your solo-duo entry will need to be in the ‘online’ region.)You cannot enter multiple in solo-duo acts or multiple bands - just one of each. If you have any questions about your eligibility after reading the Terms and Conditions (link here), flick us an email to help@smokefreerockquest.co.nzEntries for 2023 open in mid Feb. STAGE TWO - REGIONAL EVENTSRegional HeatMost regions will have a regional heat. You must compete in your own region. At the heat Bands and Solo-Duos will perform 1 song/ 4 minutes. After watching the acts perform, the judges will select the regional winning solo-duo acts, along with the top 12 bands. The winning solo-duos will be invited to enter a video submission for national top 30 selection, and the Top 12 bands will perform again at the regional final. Regional FinalThe top 12 bands in the region come back, this time to perform 2 songs/ 7 minutes. After watching the acts perform, the judges will select the winning bands for the region, along with presenting some other awards (such as the musicianship award, and ZM Best Song). The top 2 winning bands, join the region's top two solo-duos to enter a video submission for national Top 30 selection.STAGE THREE - NATIONAL SELECTION VIDEO SUBMISSIONActs that place 1st or 2nd in the region in either category are invited to submit a three-song video. The videos are then viewed/assessed and judged by a panel of industry professionals. From this, the Top 30 are announced.STAGE FOUR - TOP 30 + TOP 10 NATIONAL FINALIST SELECTION The Top 30 from Stage 3 are then re-viewed/re-assessed and re-judged by a new panel of industry heavyweights. From this stage, the top 10 acts are chosen as the National Finalists. (No further video submissions are required for this stage.)STAGE FIVE - NATIONAL FINALISTS & NATIONAL FINALSThe acts chosen to perform at the National Final will have 8 minutes (two songs). This is the time to really give it your all. Along with the wicked prizes up for grabs, the pride of being crowned a National Winner in either Band or solo/duo category is within reach.The National Final will be held on 16 September 2023. If you have any questions after reading how it's going to work, flick us an email to help@smokefreerockquest.co.nz.
BANDS + SOLO/DUOS There Are Two Categories Within Smokefreerockquest. These are Band + Solo/Duo. Bands compete against bands, Solo/duos compete against Solo/duos. There are winners and prizes in both categories!BandsIf your SFRQ entry has three (3) or more performers, you must enter the Band CategorySolos / DuosSolo – If your SFRQ entry has only one (1) performer, you must enter the solo/duo category.Duo – If your SFRQ entry has two performers, you must enter the Solo/duo category unless one of the performers plays a drum kit, in which case you are to enter as a band.
REGIONAL PRIZESBand Category1st $500 Musical equipment from the Rockshop2nd $400 Musical equipment from the Rockshop3rd $250 Musical Equipment from the RockshopSolo/Duo Category1st $250 Musical Equipment from the Rockshop2nd $100 Musical Equipment from the RockshopAdditional awardsSmokefree Tangata Beats AwardMusicianship AwardSmokefree Best Vocals AwardZM Best Song AwardAPRA Lyric AwardRockshop Electronic Assist Performance Award
NATIONAL PRIZESBand Category1st place band wins - $10k Musical equipment from the Rockshop, plus an NZ On Air Recording and Video Grant2nd place band wins - $5k Musical equipment from the Rockshop3rd place band wins - $3k Musical Equipment from the RockshopSolo/Duo Category1st place solo/duo wins - $3k Musical Equipment from the Rockshop, plus an NZ On Air Recording and Video Grant2nd place solo/duo wins - $1k Musical Equipment from the RockshopAdditional awardsZM Best Song Award wins - a song professionally recorded songMusicianship Award wins - $500 cashSmokefree Best Vocals Award wins - $500 cashAPRA Lyric Award wins - $500 cashRockshop Electronic Performance Award wins - Ableton Push 2 Live Performance Instrument USB/MIDI Controller, and Ableton Live 11 Suite Edition Music Production Software
Smokefreerockquest Terms and Conditions 2023Eligibility1. All contestants must be enrolled in and attend a school for at least 15 hours a week. If you leave school (sign out) during the course of the competition, you become ineligible to continue. You can change schools during the competition. (School means secondary, area, intermediate, primary, official home school or correspondence school.)2. All contestants must be no older than 19 (nineteen) years of age on 3rd May 2023, i.e. you are not eligible if you turn 20yrs old before entries close date (you may be asked to supply proof of eligibility).3. Smokefreerockquest is for unsigned acts and individuals only. You cannot enter if you have signed a recording or management contract and cannot sign during the competition without the prior written approval of Rockquest Promotions Ltd.4. No student can enter in more than one Smokefreerockquest band OR more than one Solo-duo. (You can enter a Band AND a Solo/duo if the Solo/duo is entered in the Online Solo/duo Region).5. No student can enter into a category (Solo/Duo OR band) that they have already received 1st place in at a previous Smokefreerockquest National Final.Regions6. Bands must compete in the region their school is closest to. Where a band represents multiple schools, it must compete in the region closest to the school the majority of members attend.7. Solo/duo entries must compete in the closest region to a school their act represents. In the greater Auckland area, all Solo/duo entries must compete in the Auckland Solo/duo Region.8. Due to COVID-19, we have added an Online (video submission) Band Region for 2023. Any band can elect to compete via this region or change to this region at any time prior to their first performance, where one or more performers is unwell, at higher risk, or subject to self-isolation after a COVID test.9. Bands and Solo/duos will not be allowed to compete in an incorrect region or more than one region. 10. If you are entered in a band and also enter as a Solo/duo, the Solo/duo entry must be entered in the Online Solo/duo Region. Any Solo/duo can elect to enter the Online Solo/duo Region.Conduct11. Smokefree supports Smokefreerockquest, and Smokefree Tangata Beats allows emerging musicians to play their songs to crowds throughout the country. Because you are the essence of these events, we ask that you respect their smokefree status. Band names, song lyrics and titles, and clothing cannot contain smoking, e-cigarette, vaping or tobacco product references or depictions. By entering this competition, all entrants are declaring their smoke-free and vape-free status in connection with the event and will be required to sign the following declaration with their Video Submissions. “As an entrant, I understand that for interviews, Regional and National Submissions and events, press conferences, and Webisodes orradio appearances, it is a requirement for me to be smokefree. If I, or any of my group members, fail to comply with this declaration, it will result in the group’s immediate exclusion from all parts of this event.”12. The use or possession of alcohol, cigarettes or illegal drugs, or vaping by any group member at any Smokefreerockquest event or in any Video Submission will result in the instant disqualification of their entire group.13. In all aspects of Smokefreerockquest, you are representing your school. Therefore, you must adhere to your school’s policies regarding behaviour. If in doubt, seek the guidance of your teachers.14. Any entrant defacing or destroying Smokefreerockquest property or property/venues used by Smokefreerockquest will be disqualified and held accountable for damages. This includes P.A. equipment, recording studios, regional final venues, accommodation venues, and any place used for photo shoots or interviews, e.g. radio stations.15. Smokefreerockquest does not condone censorship. Smokefreerockquest does support the NZ music industry and therefore urges entrants to consider the commercial potential of the material they write. While not wanting to put constraints on the creative process of songwriters, we would like to point out that sexually explicit lyrics or lyrics that may offend may not have commercial potential and therefore may not suit this competition. Judges for this event are drawn from the NZ music industry. Entrants are urged to consider this point carefully16. All acts will be required to follow all COVID-19 policies and requirements as set out by the Ministry of Health, their school, and Rockquest Promotions. Performance Requirements17. Performance requirements are subject to change depending on the government's Covid-19 regulations at the time.18. Act members cannot be changed or added after your first performance.19. If your live performance is electronically assisted, you need to indicate this on your entry form. In addition, all electronic elements need to be the original work(s) of one of the entered members of the Act.20. All lead vocal lines, and at least one instrumental part must be performed live.21. All performed songs must be original – i.e., written exclusively by one or more band members.22. A song can only be performed in one category; either Band or Solo/duo, but not both. 23. If your SFRQ entry has three (3) or more performers, you must enter the Band Category. If your SFRQ entry has only one (1) performer, you must enter the Solo/duo category. If your SFRQ entry has two performers, you must enter the Solo/duo category unless one of the performers plays the drums, in which case you are to enter as a band.You can have a maximum of ten (10) band members. Judging Process24. Judging decisions will be based on discussion, their industry experience and knowledge.25. The Judges’ decision will be final. No correspondence or discussion will be entered into. Other Conditions & Requirements26. All students must have the signature of their parent or guardian on the entry form, giving consent to us to release contestant information, images and recordings to media and sponsors, to send promotional material from the event organisers and sponsors, and agreeing to all conditions of entry.27. Entrants may be filmed and/or photographed at the event or elsewhere and be included as part of the Smokefreerockquest Webisodes, website, social media, and future promotional campaigns.28. The Top 30 acts cannot sign a recording or management contract before 31 Dec 2023 without the prior written permission of Rockquest Promotions Ltd.29. The Top 30 are to allow one song to be included on an SFRQ 2023 Highlights compilation, which will be distributed free in 2024.30. The national winners (Band and Solo/Duo categories) music videos will be hosted exclusively on the SFRQ website and social media pages.31. Entrants are not permitted to submit songs for the National Final selection round, or at the National Final, that are entered in, have been entered in, or will be entered in other music competitions other than Smokefree Tangata Beats, or submitted for an NZ on Air Grant, in this calendar year. 32. Entrants are not permitted to submit songs for the National Final selection round or at the National Final, where the songwriter (or any of the songwriters) is no longer part of the act.33. The National Finalists agree to Rockquest Promotions Ltd. (or appointed agent) acting as their exclusive agent in all matters regarding recording and management contracts until 1 May 2024. The National Finalists cannot enter into a recording or management contract before this time without the permission of SFRQ.34. The National Finalists agree that, if used as a guest band at a subsequent regional event, they will do so without charge. (SFRQ will cover costs) The National Finalists agree to give SFRQ up to two free National Final guest performances in future National Finals.35. Contestants are required to gain approval from the organisers to use props, clothing or equipment bearing product branding of products other than those of our sponsors in their submissions. Permission will not be withheld unless the organisers believe the security of the event sponsorship is at risk. This does not apply to the normal name branding appearing on musical instruments.36. By virtue of entry, the entrant agrees to hold Smokefreerockquest and its agents indemnified against any breach or infringement of copyright or rights held by any third party/parties, and the entrant undertakes to observe all such rights statutory or otherwise. By virtue of entry, the entrant agrees to hold Smokefreerockquest, and its agents indemnified against any claim or liability for loss or accident resulting from any individual’s involvement in the event.37. If any further changes to the Conditions of Entry are required to comply with any changing Covid-19 regulations, all contestants will be notified.
Thanks to the Ministry of Education we provide mentoring for all Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Tangata Beats participants. This mentoring comes in different ways, through the different parts of the programme. Each act gets written feedback following each of their performances from a judge. The judges we select are from within the music industry (and many past participants!).All National Finalists get face to face mentoring. Mentoring is not only a great opportunity to get feedback, but also to ask questions about the music industry.
You have the option to use electronic assistance as part of your live performance in both the Solo/duo category and the band category. This will enable the use of Ableton Live, preloaded looping pedals and other similar supporting technology.Your lead vocal line (if you have one!) and at least one instrumental part still needs to be performed live.All programmed/produced material must be the original work of one of the acts’ entrants. If you have a non-performing producer working with you, they must also be an entered member of the act (there is an electronic content producer option in the instrument list), and meet all conditions of entry. The emphasis of the judging will be primarily on the song and the live aspects of the performance, however credit will be given for how well the act integrates and manages the technology aspects as well.There would be limited set up time available, so acts should design and prepare their electronic setup accordingly.
This region was originally established to allow individuals to compete in both Band AND Solo/duo Categories, and it is still for this. But, given the ongoing possibility of community cases of COVID19, the Online Solo/duo region has been extended to include bands in 2023 to give students who are unwell, self isolating, or waiting on test results and should not be attending live events, an alternative way of still competing. You can only compete in one region.Solo/duos MUST compete in this Online region if an individual is also entered in a band. Any Solo/duo can elect to enter in the online region instead of competing in person at your closest regional event, but you cannot enter in both.Bands can choose to enter in this region or change to this region at any time up to their first performance, if a band member becomes unwell, is at greater risk from COVID-19 infection, or is directed to self-isolate.
Part of the magic of live performance is that you can never predict exactly what will happen. You can prepare but sometimes, things still don't go your way – strings break, leads fall out, bass players fall off stages, drummers lose their sticks or break limbs the day before, keyboards mysteriously slip into transpose mode, and singers lose their voices, can't hear themselves or just have a bad night. If things on the night don't go your way for some reason, and you meet the following conditions, then you can get a SECOND CHANCE – we're not promising you a spot in the National Final, but we will listen to you again and compare you with the other National Final contenders.You qualify to submit for a Rockshop SECOND CHANCE consideration, if ;1 - at least 50% of your act, are in your final year at school this year OR 2 - at least 50% of your act have been awarded 1st, 2nd, or 3rd at a previous SFRQ final. OR 3 - you are directed to submit by the Event organisers, due to exceptional circumstances.
The APRA Award is for lyrics, and is judged separately from any video submissions – so you do not need to be in a band or solo-duo entering in Smokefreerockquest or Smokefree Tangata Beats in order to enter for the Lyric Writers Award. If you are submitting a video as a performer though, you can submit any lyrics you like – they do not need to be the lyrics of a song you have performed (but of course they can be!). A winner will be selected from within each region, and then a national APRA Lyric Writers Award winner will be selected.
