BEAN BLOSSOM HARMONICA CONTEST
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WHO, WHERE, AND WHEN
Anyone can enter The Bean Blossom Harmonica Contest - any age, any skill level, and any style of player is welcome. The only requirements are that all those interested in competing must be at the Hippy Hill stage of the Bill Monroe Music Park in Bean Blossom, 5 miles north of Nashville, Indiana on Hwy 135, at 3:00pm on August 24, 2013. They must check in at the Judges' table near the Hippy Hill stage between noon and 3pm that day, and give their name and age. There is no entry fee required, but all contestants 13 and older are required to be paid attendees of the Bean Blossom Blues Fest.
HOW TO WIN
Show-up - Check-in at the Hippy Hill stage at 3:00pm ready to play. Blow-Up - Play your best songs, with all the passion you can muster. Choose songs that best demonstrate your harmonica playing skills. Have fun - This contest was created to give harmonica players an opportunity to share their music with their Bean Blossom buddies. Players might work on something all year just to share it at this contest. There are no losers; everyone who enters adds significantly to the enjoyment of everyone else. It's all about the fun!
CONTEST RULES
1.) Contestants can use any brand or type of harmonica including diatonic, chromatic, tremolo, bass, chord, and octave. 2.) Any musical style is permitted, but all players are required to play some recognizable melody. 3.) Contestants must use the sound system provided; there will be no special microphones or electronic accompaniment permitted. 4.) Contestants will play for no less than 3 minutes, and no more than 5 minutes. Judges will stop contestants at the 5 minute mark. There is no deduction for having to be stopped. 5.) All contestants from all ages and skill levels are welcome, but the contest is organized into 3 divisions: ADULT (16 and over), YOUTH (15 and younger), and GROUP (any age, all members of group must play a harmonica). In order to have a division there must be at least two enteries - for example, there will be no Group Division if only one group enters the contest. 6.) All contestants must sign-up to enter the contest no later than 3pm Saturday, August 24, 2013. We'll stop accepting contestants at 3pm sharp. To enter the contest, you just click here and give us your name and age. If you are entering as a group, note that. It's best to sign-up now - it's free and there's no obligation to show-up - if you don't show-up, we'll just skip to the next contestant. Some believe it's advantageous to play last so you can see how the competition has performed before you; the first to sign-up shall play last! See the sign-up sheet at the bottom of this page for a listing of contestants and the order in which they will perform. In addition to signing-up online now, you can sign-up between noon and 3pm just before the contest start's at the Judge's Table located at the Hippy Hill Stage where the contest will be held. NOTE I: The 1st Place Winner of the Youth Division will be permitted to compete in the Adult Division. NOTE II: In addition to the prizes listed below, winners will have their name posted on this website for an entire year. NOTE III: Regardless of age, once a youth has won 1st Place in the Youth Division, they cannot compete in the Youth Division in the future - they must compete in the Adult Division at future contests. NOTE IV: Just because you have won this contest in the past does not mean you can't compete again. You can compete and win in the Group and Adult divisions as many times as you want. NOTE V: Judges' Demonstration - Prior to each contest, one or more of the judges will perform and give the crowd and contestants an example of what they are hoping and expecting to see from the contestants.
GROUP DIVISION
Place	2012 Winner	Prize
1st	Louis Elliott and Jimmie McDonald	A Delta Frost T-Shirt for each member, Bragging rights
2nd	Beginning in 2013, we will award 2nd and 3rd places in this division.	An Official Bean Blossom Blues Fest T-Shirt for each member
3rd	Beginning in 2013, we will award 2nd and 3rd places in this division.	A congratulations given from the main stage when the winners are announced
YOUTH DIVISION
Place	2012 Winner	Prize
1st	Carson Diersing Fountaintown, IN	A 1st Place Winner's Trophy, a Bushman Delta Frost Harmonica, Delta Frost T-Shirt, 2 Tics to the 2013 Bean
2nd	Beginning in 2013, we will award 2nd and 3rd places in this division.	Bushman Delta Frost Harmonica, Delta Frost T-Shirt, 2 Tics to the 2013 Bean
3rd	Beginning in 2013, we will award 2nd and 3rd places in this division.	Bushman Delta Frost Harmonica, Delta Frost T-Shirt
ADULT DIVISION
Place	2012 Winner	Prize
1st	Louis Elliott Elberta, AL	A 1st Place Winner's Trophy, Bushman Delta Frost Harmonica, Delta Frost T-Shirt, 2 Tics to the 2013 Bean, Invitation to play for 5 minutes at 9pm on the Main Stage of the Fest in front of thousands!
2nd*	Paul Armstrong Richland, MI	Bushman Delta Frost Harmonica, Delta Frost T-Shirt, 2 Tics to the 2013 Bean
2nd*	Jimmie McDonald Elk Falls, KS	Bushman Delta Frost Harmonica, Delta Frost T-Shirt, 2 Tics to the 2013 Bean
3rd	No 3rd Place Awarded in 2012	Bushman Delta Frost Harmonica, Delta Frost T-Shirt
*Note: In 2012 we had a tie for 2nd Place between Paul Armstrong and Jimmie McDonald. No 3rd Place was awarded.
GROUP DIVISION SIGN-UP SHEET
Performance Order	Contestants
1	Louis Elliott and Jimmie McDonaldJim
YOUTH DIVISION SIGN-UP SHEET
Performance Order	Contestant
ADULT DIVISION SIGN-UP SHEET
Performance Order	Contestant
1	Bruce Spratling
2	Jim McDonald
3	Paul Armstrong
CONTEST MC - Penny Lane Penny Lane, radio talk show host with WSVX in Shelbyville, Indiana, is the Master of Ceremonies of the Bean Blossom Harmonica Contest. She is also in charge of any shows, events or seminars that take place at the Hippy Hill Stage of the Bean Blossom Blues Fest. In addition to her job of keeping things running on schedule, Penny brings a spirit of fun and excitement to our contest. CONTEST MANAGER - Doc Malone Doc Malone is the manager of the Bean Blossom Harmonica Contest. As the harmonica player for Big Bill Morganfield, Doc brings experience and "harmonica love" to our fun contest. Doc will be a judge, and he will appoint the other judges. He will instruct judges on the scoring system, and make sure the contest is fair. Contestants will be judged on tone, technique, timing, and their ability to render a pleasing melody, but overall entertainment quality will be the most heavily weighted factor. With part of 1st prize being an invitation to open for the headliner on the Main Stage of the Bean, this contest is exciting. After reading below, if you have any other questions, call 812-334-4420.
The Bean Blossom Harmonica Contest is Sponsored by...
Bushman Music Works * PO Box 7424 * Bloomington, Indiana 47407