Guitar Center's annual Drum-Off, the nationwide search for the top undiscovered drummer in the United States is back for its 24th year. Guitar Center is the largest chain of musical instrument retailers in the world with 230 locations throughout the US. The competition sets out to discover the best drummers in the country.
Are you going to succeed last year's champion, JP Bouvet? Other past Drum-Off winners include Cora Coleham-Dunham, who has gone on to play with Prince and Beyoncé, Thomas Pridgen, currently of The Mars Volta, and Tony Royster Jr (who has worked with Jay-Z among others).
Contestants are required to perform on a 5-piece acoustic drum kit complete with hardware, cymbals, cowbell, throne and the option to incorporate the Roland SPD-30 Octapad into the competition kit. You will be evaluated by a panel of independent and credible judges on the following criteria: skills, technique, style, stage presence, groove, and overall performance.
You must be 16 years of age or older to compete and must be a legal resident of any of the 48 contiguous United States or the District of Columbia.
This contest is for qualified amateurs. A "qualified amateur" is defined as one who does not earn more than $20,000 adjusted gross income per year as a professional musician, based on the previous tax year.
The competition is broken down into 3 store preliminary competitions; 1 store final (store prelims and store finals take place in 230 Guitar Center stores); 25 quarter finals; 5 semi-finals and 1 grand final. All stages of the competition take place at a Guitar Center store with the exception of the grand finals. Grand finals will take place at the Club Nokia in Los Angeles.
All finalists will win significant prizes including instruments, drum equipment and accessories, as well as gift cards from Guitar Center and key sponsors.
The grand prize package, valued at nearly $50,000, includes a cash prize, gear, and pivotal endorsement deals.
