Guitar Center’s Drum-Off Celebrates a Quarter Century of Discovering the World’s Best Drummers with the 25th Annual Competition
The nationwide competition in search of the next great undiscovered drummer offers the chance to a win career-launching prize package
Guitar Center’s 25th annual Drum Off begins accepting submissions today
Westlake Village, CA (August 1, 2013) – Guitar Center’s Drum-Off, the world’s premier drum competition, launches its 25th annual search for the next great undiscovered drummer. 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.
Starting today, Guitar Center’s Drum-Off will once again set out to provide a platform for the best undiscovered drummer in the country. Free and open to ages 16 and up, drummers nationwide can visit their local Guitar Center to enter. All in-store quarter and semi-finalists will take home significant prize packages including instruments, drum equipment and accessories, as well as gift cards from Guitar Center and key sponsors. The grand prize package, valued at over $45,000, includes a cash prize, gear and pivotal endorsement deals.
To find a local Guitar Center store location and enter the 25th Season of Drum-Off, visit: http://www.
Guitar Center’s Drum-Off Grand Prize Winner to Receive:
- $25,000 cash
- A Roland TD-30 electronic drum kit + SPD-SX
- Write-Up in Modern Drummer Magazine
- Cover Feature in Guitar Center’s Drum Buyers Guide
- Custom drum kit by DW, Tama, Pearl, Gretsch or OCDP
- Complete Set of Sabian, Zildjian, or Meinl cymbals
- Drum, Stick, Cymbal and Drum Head endorsement deals (*subject to the vendors terms)
- VIP Experience at NAMM 2014
How the Competition Works
Guitar Center’s Drum-Off breaks down into three rounds of store preliminary competitions at 250 Guitar Center locations nationwide. Every contestant will be allowed five minutes of set up time and three minutes to perform. One winner from each store finals competition will be chosen to move up to the quarter finals, (hosted at 30 Guitar Center locations nationwide), followed by semi-finals at five store locations at which point performance time will be increased to allow five minutes to each contestant. The winners from these five semi-final locations will convene in Los Angeles, CA to compete in Guitar Center’s Drum Off finals on January 18, 2014 in front of a live audience and a panel of celebrity judges.
Each contestant will be 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. All contestants will be evaluated by a panel of independent and credible judges on the following criteria: skills &technique, groove, originality, stage presence, and overall performance.
“Over the last 25 years the Drum-Off has been dedicated to supporting up and coming drummers and providing them the opportunity to take their careers to the next level,” said Maria Brown, manager of music and entertainment marketing for Guitar Center. “In doing so, it has become one of the drumming community’s most beloved events and one of Guitar Centers most time honored traditions. We are incredibly proud of all that this program has accomplished and there is no better way to celebrate this milestone than by offering yet another deserving drummer the chance to shine.”
Drum-Off Competition Dates:
- Launch/Sign Ups: August 1, 2013
- Store Prelims: September 10, 17, 24
- Store Finals: October 1, 2013
- District Finals: October 22, 2013
- Regional Finals: November 12, 2013
- Grand Finals: January 18, 2014
In years past, some of the world’s most renowned drummers have participated in and supported Guitar Center’s Drum-Off, including: Terry Bozzio, Aaron Spears (Usher), Dennis Chambers (Parliament/Funkadelic),Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Steve Gadd, Questlove (The Roots), Travis Barker (Blink-182), Tommy Lee (Motley Crüe), Dave Lombardo (Slayer), Carmine Appice, John Tempesta (The Cult), Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), Steve Smith, Gavin Harrison, Jojo Mayer, Thomas Lang, Josh Freese (Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle), José Pasillas (Incubus), Billy Cobham, Niko McBrain (Iron Maiden), Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction), Danny Carey (Tool), Brann Dailor (Mastodon), John Blackwell, and more.
As the world’s largest retailer of musical instruments, Guitar Center is dedicated to supporting the global music community and providing musicians with opportunities to get their music heard. Guitar Center’s commitment to unsigned artists runs deep with a full calendar year of diverse programs aimed to enable musicians by providing the opportunity and exposure they need to be successful. No other retailer is developing platforms for their customer like Guitar Center.
Guitar Center’s musicianship programs include the award winning music television series Guitar Center Sessions, the weekly radio show Connections Made By Guitar Center, and the acclaimed podcast series At: Guitar Center with Nic Harcourt as well as various competition based programs such as Guitar Center Drum-Off, Guitar Center Presents Your Next Record, Guitar Center Singer-Songwriter, Master Satriani, Guitar Center On-Stage and Guitar Center’s Battle of the Blues. More information on Guitar Center can be found by visiting the Company’s Web site at www.guitarcenter.com.
Guitar Center Drum-Off is presented by: DW, OCDP, PEARL, GRETSCH, TAMA, LATIN PERCUSSION, MEINL, SABIAN, ZILDJIAN, REMO, EVANS, PRO-MARK, VIC FIRTH, ROLAND, MODERN DRUMMER, CONVERSE, SHURE
About Guitar Center
Guitar Center is the world’s largest retailer of guitars, amplifiers, drums, keyboards and pro-audio and recording equipment. Our retail store subsidiary presently operates 251 Guitar Center stores across the U.S. We are also the largest direct response retailer of musical instruments in the United States through our wholly owned subsidiary, Musician’s Friend, Inc., and its catalog and Web site, www.musiciansfriend.com. In addition, our Music & Arts division operates more than 100 stores specializing in band instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors and students. More information on Guitar Center can be found by visiting the Company’s Web site at www.guitarcenter.com.
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