Drummers can now sign up for the Drum-Off competition at any of Guitar Center's locations in the United States. Free and open to drummers across the country, entrants will compete for a chance to win a grand-prize package valued at over $45,000 that includes $25,000 cash, loads of gear, endorsement deals (winner's choice), and magazine features.

Previous Drum-Off winners
The Drum-Off competition has proven to be a launching pad for a flourishing professional career as a drummer. Past Drum-Off winners have gone on to play with Prince and Beyoncé (Cora Coleman-Dunham), Mars Volta and Trash Talk (Thomas Pridgen), and Jay-Z (Tony Royster Jr.).

Here's the 2013 Drum-Off Winner Dawud "D-Mile" Aasiya-Bey:

How the drum competition works
The Drum-Off begins with store preliminary competitions at participating Guitar Center locations all over the United States.

Contestants will be judged on a three minute performance, and one winner from each store finals competition will be chosen to move up to the quarter finals, followed by semi-finals at five store locations.

Five winners chosen at the semi-finals will then convene at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, CA to compete for the grand prize in Guitar Center's Drum Off finals on January 17, 2015 in front of a live audience and a panel of judges. More information on rules and regulations at guitarcenter.com/drumoff.

Guitar Center Drum-Off is presented by DW, Promark, Orange County Drum & Percussion, LP, Meinl, Roland, Gretsch, Pearl, Vic Firth, Zildjian, Sabian, Remo, Tama, Evans, Drum Channel, Converse, Modern Drummer, and GoPro.

Guitar Center: drums too!
Guitar Center is probably the largest chain of musical instrument retailers in the world with around 250 locations throughout the United States. Despite its name, the company is also a major seller of drums and percussion. 2014 marks the milestone 50th anniversary of the Guitar Center brand.

GC Drum-Off history
Developed to spotlight the drumming community, Guitar Center's Drum-Off is the music retailer's longest running artist-discovery program, providing an outlet for drummers to be recognized for their skill and attain success in their field. For a quarter of a century, the program has unearthed some of today's top undiscovered drummers and provided a platform for established drummers to be acknowledged.