GOLDEN TICKET CRITERIA
It is not guaranteed that a Golden Ticket will be rewarded at every open mic night. Performers must understand that performing at the LJMA Industry Showcase is an honor and those invited will be performers we feel are truly ready to present their work and artististry to industry professionals.
SONG PRESENTATION
Melody
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Original melodies
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Creative melodies
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Melodies that are catchy and easy to remember.
Lyrics
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Original, meaningful lyrics
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Creative lyrics
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Good storytelling
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Catchy, easy to remember.
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Well organized and clear rhyme scheme
Song Structure
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Clear song structure between sections (Verse Chorus, Bridge, Outro,etc.)
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Repeated chorus (highly encouraged, not required)
Marketability
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Could this song be played on the radio?
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Under or around 3 mins
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Is there a catchy chorus or verse that could be used on social media easily (sadly this is a huge aspect in what is required these days)
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Do the melody and or lyrics appeal to a wide audience
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Are the lyrics relatable, not too specific so it alienates a large proportion of listeners
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Could the song be heard on film/TV or as background to a commercial, scene, or theme
Accompaniment
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Well-played accompaniment
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Can be either self-accompanied or by someone else, but it should be a strong performance
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No stops and starts, correct notes, clear tempo, and dynamics
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It doesn’t need to be complicated or impressive. As long as the song flows it's fine, but the performance aspect should be solid and professional
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ARTIST PRESENTATION
Personality
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Confidence, not arrogance - be proud of your song and your creation, can you command the stage with ease, can you make us laugh, engage us, and open up to show us the artist that you are, not just present a song
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Engage the audience -are you entertaining in your intro and persona, do you explain what the song is about, how you wrote it, and what inspired you? We need to know you as an artist and get a feel for who you are in your intro and performance
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Good stage presence
Attire
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Dress as the artist you are. Make an effort.
Social Media
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Social media is now a huge aspect of being an artist and many labels and management companies will not take you on without a decent active following. If you have a specific social media account for your music, then make sure to announce that so people can follow you.