On Saturday 1st October BPM will once again play host to the Gemini Freestyle DJ Competition, an opportunity for DJs to compete against each other for recognition, exposure and equipment prizes. The competition is open to DJs of all ages*, playing any style of music and using any playback technology.
Gemini have upped the stakes with this year’s prizes. The 2011 Gemini Freestyle DJ of the Year will take home a pair of Gemini’s brand new CDJ-700 professional DJ media players together with a PS-626USB Mixer and a pair of DJX-05 Headphones – a prize worth well in excess of £1000. The CDJ-700 is Gemini’s new flagship CD, USB and SD card DJ player and MIDI controller, which is set to be officially launched in the UK at BPM 2011. As well as the equipment prize, the winner will also get an opportunity to play a Saturday night set at their choice of any Luminar Leisure LIQUID or OCEANA venue. They will also be invited back to play a Main Stage set at BPM 2012 and also provided with overnight accommodation.
The second place runner up will also take home a prize that is well worth winning. The judges’ number two choice will win one of Gemini’s new CNTRL-7 MIDI DJ Controllers together with a pair of iKey M-505V2 monitor speakers – a package worth over £450.
The other two finalists will also take home a pair of Gemini DJX-05 headphones, while every DJ who participates in the live heats will win a pair of Gemini DJX-03 headphones.
The competition will take place on the Main Stage in the BPM Arena beginning with 16 contestants competing in 4 heats to impress a panel of industry judges. During the heats each DJ will have just five minutes to show what they can do behind the decks, before the judges choose a winner to go through to the final. The judges will base their decision on technical ability, music selection and crowd interaction. The final will take place on the Main Stage at the end of the day, with each finalist performing another five minute showcase mix. The judges will then select a runner up and the winner who will become the Gemini Freestyle DJ of the Year 2011.
There are two ways to enter the competition, make it to the final 16 and compete in the live heats:
1) Online Voting
8 of the places in the heats will be decided in advance. To enter you first need to record a video or audio demo mix and then upload it to a sharing site that supports embedding (e.g. YouTube or SoundCloud). The next step is to fill out the online registration form on the BPM website at www.visitbpm.co.uk/enter/. It will then be down to the public to vote for their favourite mix and the 8 entrants with the highest number of votes will progress to the live heats. You’ll be able to enter at any time, but the online voting will run from Friday 26th August to Friday 23rd September (4 weeks), so you’ll have a better chance if you get your entry in before voting begins.
2) Live Audition
The second 8 places in the heats will be decided on the day of the competition. You’ll be able to audition live on the Gemini Stand (B3) from 11am to 12:30pm. Auditioning will be open to any DJ (aged 16 or over) attending BPM, including those who were unsuccessful in the online voting. There will be a very limited amount of time for each entrant to show what they can do, and the decision of the Gemini staff will be final.
Terms & Conditions
1) *Entrants must be 16 years of age or older on the 1st October 2011.
2) The judges’ decisions will be final.
3) No cash alternative will be offered for the prizes.
4) Entrants will be able to play from any media format in the heats and final. Industry standard CD players, vinyl decks and mixers will be available (although specific models cannot be guaranteed). Entrants will be welcome to bring their own laptop and/or MIDI controller, but will only have 3 minutes in which to setup before they compete.
5) By entering the competition, entrants consent to their competition performances being filmed and photographed.
6) All Entrants will require an Entry Ticket for BPM 2011.
