Reindeer announcement for high school musicians
Since 1983, thousands of high school musicians in hundreds of bands looked forward to taking part in Reindeer Records’ flagship competition, The Rock-Off. But after 25 years, Reindeer pulled the plug on the event, leaving many young creative musicians without the chance to experience the trademark exposures and networking benefits the event uniquely provided.
This week Reindeer announced the creation of a new “bigger and better” competition that they are launching when high school musicians are back in school.
THE OFF-RAMP is being described as “The Rock-Off” meets “The Apprentice” and will take the very best 12 bands on a journey filled with music industry experience and education. “We’ve taken the better elements from our 25 years of producing experience and incorporated them with elements of a reality tv show,” said Executive Producer Louis Philippe.
THE OFF-RAMP is not a battle-of-the-bands but a marathon six-month program that will challenge each band with five music industry tasks—Songwriting, The Recording Studio Experience, Marketing, Live Event Production and Music Video Production— that will determine who is “Band Enough” to make it to the top.
Throughout the entire competition, all 12 Bands will gain incredible multi-media exposure as friends, fans, the industry and the world will be able to follow their journeys via online polls, broadcast updates, live shows, etc. MaineToday.com is once again a media partner.
“Just as we did with The Rock-Off, THE OFF-RAMP will present even more and far-reaching facets of educational and career opportunities, artist development, networking, industry and media exposure, marketing and promotion, even making money,” Philippe noted.
The “journey” will come to an end in May at The Final Showdown—a “star-powered,” red-carpet extravaganza saluting all 12 bands and all event partners. One band will be named a winner and be awarded $1,000 per bandmember.
But as much as THE OFF-RAMP will be fun and beneficial for all 12 participating bands, it is designed to raise funds and awareness for another Reindeer “sibling”—Reindeer’s Alternative Music Program. RAMP’s goal is to develop a 45-hour curriculum to be presented through Maine’s Alternative Education programs. The youth-empowering-youth course focuses on the same five tasks that the bands will be challenged with, integrated with the Maine Learning Results standards so that Alt Ed students can learn about the music industry and earn academic credit.
To produce the high-quality innovative curriculum, Reindeer needs to raise an estimated $145,000 for administrative costs, manpower, equipment and training, critical research and development to expand the curriculum, create others, and market these products to pertinent outlets statewide, regionally and nationwide.
The 12 Bands who make it to THE OFF-RAMP will be recognized as “Musical Partners” in Reindeer’s effort to create a long-lasting curriculum that will benefit other young people for a long time.
THE OFF-RAMP is open to all original high school bands in Maine. Audition Showcases will be held on Saturday, November 6, at the all new, state-of-the-art Westbrook Performing Arts Center, and will be open to the public.
Deadline to sign-up is October 22nd. For registration packet, contact Reindeer at 857-9002 or by email at events@reindeergroup.org.
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