ABOUT

Rockshop Bandquest is Aoteaora’s live music event for Primary and Intermediate aged school students. In its fourteenth year, the programme annually hosts hundreds of young bands in venues throughout the country.

Presented by the Wright Family Foundation, and powered by NZ Rockshop, the programme is run by RQP (Rockquest Promotions) - the team behind Smokefreerockquest, Smokefree Tangata Beats, and Showquest performing arts competitions.

After noticing during the Smokefreerockquest & Smokefree Tangata Beats event seasons that there was a demand for a live music programme focused on younger students - the RQP team collaborated with their longtime partners at NZ Rockshop to launch Rockshop Bandquest in 2011.
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The kaupapa is to encourage Primary and Intermediate aged musicians onto the stage; learning through experience and developing their performance skills alongside their teamwork, communication, goal-setting and leadership skills.

Rockshop Bandquest is designed for students who are not quite at the point of writing their own songs yet, to give them a chance to get up on stage and get a taste for it.
Entrants get to perform in a supportive and encouraging competition format, with a focus on education, inspiration, and entertainment.

More information on the history of RQP can be found on the Smokefreerockquest website - here

FAQs

When do entries open?

Entries open on Tuesday, 2 April, and close officially on 23 July, or when your regional event is full.

What are the Rockshop Bandquest Conditions of Entry?

The link to the terms and conditions can be found here.

I can’t make it to my regional event, can I enter in a neighbouring region instead?

Unfortunately not. If you can’t make it to your own region’s live event, you can enter in the online region by submitting a video of your performance to this category. If you're unclear, email us at help@bandquest.co.nz, and we'll point you in the right direction.

When will the photos from our region be in the Gallery to view?

We try to upload to the site as soon as we can after each event, but due to the number of photos and events, there can be a delay. Generally, the photos go up one to two weeks after the event. The best place to view them is on our Facebook page (@bandquest).

What kind of gear will there be to play on at the events? Will there be footswitches? What do we need to bring?

All the backline provided (drum kit, amps, leads, footswitches, and a keyboard). You will need to bring your own instruments (guitars, basses, etc.). Prior to each event, you will be given info on what you need to bring.

What time do the shows start and finish?

The shows will start at 6.30pm - but the bands will need to be there ahead of time. The timings and details for this will be sent to the contact teacher ahead of time. If you don't have the details for any reason a few days out from the event, please contact us: help@bandquest.co.nz, (03) 545 6574.

How much are tickets to regional finals? Are there door sales?

For ticket prices, best to check with the event ticket seller in your region.
Yes, there are door sales, providing that the event is not sold out.

Who can enter Rockshop Bandquest?

1. All contestants must be enrolled in Intermediate, Area, Primary, Preparatory, or Correspondence school, and must be no older than (school) year 8.
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2. A student can only enter in one Rockshop Bandquest band.
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3. There is a maximum of 10 students performing on stage in any band.

Can students play in more than one band?

Students can only enter in ONE band.

What happens after winning a regional final?

If you place 1st you are eligible to submit a video entry to go into the selection process towards the National Online Final.

What format do videos have to be when submitting to be evaluated for the National Finals? Can it be of us playing live?

If you win in your region, you will be given all the information on your next task, including dates, etc.

How your video is presented is up to you – it could be footage of a live performance at a concert, or it could simply be a video of the band performing in their music room. The only requirements are that it HAS TO BE LIVE! This means no overdubs, edits, or corrections, and no Teacher/adult accompanist. We are not looking for a Music Video, we want one-camera continuous footage of a live performance please, and the judging will be on the quality of the performance, not the quality of the video production.

The video file must be no larger than 1 GB (.mp4 and .mov files are preferred). After the video has been captured, the next step is to upload it to our website via the upload tab on the home page, or here.

What is the running order for my region’s event?

You'll find out when you get there!

Do we get any feedback from the judges following our performance?

Yes. Your judging sheet will be emailed to your teacher. Comment sheets from video entries to be considered for the National Finals will be sent out at the conclusion of the process.

Do we get a soundcheck at any of the events?

Not in all regions - but in most. This varies region to region depending on a few different factors (such as how many acts, and what time we have access to the venue). If you do have a soundcheck scheduled - your teacher will be notified, and these happen in the afternoon of the event day.

What if I live in an area of Aotearoa that doesn’t hold an event? Can I still enter?

Yes! We have an online region for exactly this reason – so everyone can enter no matter where you live. If this is you – please select ‘online region’ during your online registration process. Once your registration has been processed, you will receive an email with the information about how to submit your video.

What happens if my band wins our region’s event?

Your band then becomes a National Finalist, and you will need to submit a video of you all playing your two songs. This could be a video of the performance that you did at your region’s event, or a new video. All of these performance videos will then be judged to determine our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places as well as other award winners, with the results announced online.

Do we have to write our own songs?

You don't have to - but you can if you want to! There is an award for Best Original Song, so if you've got a killer track you want to showcase, go for it!

Who do I contact if an entrant, or their friends or whanau who will be attending an event, has ACCESSIBILITY requirements?

If there is something we can do to make an event more accessible for you (such as ensuring wheelchair access, providing a sign language interpreter, or reserving seats closer to the front for low visually impaired attendees) - please send us an email to help@bandquest.co.nz or give us a call on (03) 545 6574 .
There is a notes section on the entry form where this information can also be submitted to our team. Please let us know at least 3 weeks before an event to ensure the needed arrangements can be made.

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