Got Questions? We've Got Answers!

Regional and Final FAQ:

NOTE: All questions asked for the regional and final competitions will be posted here so that all bands can have the same information, be sure to check back daily.

Q: Where will the Hammond Regional competition take place?

A: The Hammond Regionals will take place in The Venue, the stage set up will be custom for this one event.

Q: Are there any types of costuming that is prohibited?

A: Masks are not allowed on the casino floor, you may wear a mask as part of your costume but it will need to be put on in the dressing room and worn only on stage.

Q: Can I play on breakneck speed?

A: Yes, you may play on breakneck speed, the game will be calibrated for regular speed gameplay, it will not be adjusted.

Q: Can band members switch instruments?

A: Each band member must play a different instrument, you may switch instruments during the song, however, at no time may a band member be playing more than one instrument simultaneously.

Q: I know that each band performs two songs, will the songs be performed back to back?

A: No, each band will perform in round 1, the random choice song, then there will be a 15 minute intermission and all bands will come back to the stage in round 2 to perform their free choice song. You do not play the songs back to back.

Q: How is the performance order being determined?

A: The bands will perform in a random order, the order will be determined by a drawing by the competition officiator.

Q: Is it legal to use additional people on-stage in our performance providing they have no impact on gameplay?

A: No one other than the 4 competing band members may be on the stage at any time during the competition, if the band wishes to have other performance elements including additional people it must be done off and not touching the stage in any way.

Q: Can I pause the game directly before the song starts in order to use the microphone to address the audience?

A: Once the game is initiated you must play the song start to finish, you may not pause the game. Prior to both of the songs there will be interaction between the host and the band, at that time the band will be allowed to address the audience. The official judging does not begin until the start of the song.

Q: Where will the Hammond Regional competition take place?

A: The Hammond Regionals will take place in The Venue, the stage set up will be custom for this one event.

Q: Are there any types of costuming that is prohibited?

A: Masks are not allowed on the casino floor, you may wear a mask as part of your costume but it will need to be put on in the dressing room and worn only on stage.

Q: Can I play on breakneck speed?

A: Yes, you may play on breakneck speed, the game will be calibrated for regular speed gameplay, it will not be adjusted.

Q: Can we change our band name?

A: Yes, you may change your band name, please notify us if it is changed on your band questionnaire.

Q: What Rock Band setup will be used?

A: All regional locations will be using the ION drum kit and the Rock Band 2 guitars and mic.

Q: How will the contest be scored?

A: The contest will be scored as follows: 50% is game score, 25% is style and 25% is performance. The scores (game, style and performance) in each category will converted to ranking ordinals according to who scores the highest. All of the rankings will be weighted per the category and added together to determine the overall ranking of the band. The judges will determine the final winner.

Q: Are we allowed to calibrate the instruments during sound check?

A: The game will be properly calibrated prior to sound check. If during sound check there seems to be an issue, the MTV special events staff will address it. None of the bands will be allowed to calibrate the game themselves.

Q: Can we use any fog/strobe effects from Official Rock Band props?

A: No, all props must be able to be carried onto the stage, not have to be plugged in and must be able to be set up in under 60 seconds.

Q: What songs can we play?

A: There is a new song list for the regional and finals. It includes 6 songs for the first round, random selection and a new list for the bands to choose from. All songs, both rounds must be played by all band members on medium or higher, not everyone has to be on the same level.

Q: Can bands play the same random choice song?

A: No, once the song has been played by one band it will be taken out of the random selection. All of the songs on the random selection list have been chosen carefully to provide a list that has relatively the same amount of maximum points, bands will perform in the finals in a random order.

Q: Is Teen Age Riot on or off the list for the semi final random song part?

A: It is a new list and that song is not on it.

Q: At what point do we find out which random song chosen by the judges we will be playing?

A: You will find out on the stage but all bands will see the selection of 6 songs prior to the competition. Bands will receive the song list with their winner confirmation letter from Harrah’s and it will be posted on the competition microsite.

Q: Do we have the opportunity to plug in an additional microphone to the sound board that will play over the speakers on stage? We don't need it the game to register it, we just want to add a few additional live (not pre-recorded) vocal effects for the audience.

A: No, all props must be able to be carried onto the stage, not have to be plugged in and must be able to be set up in under 60 seconds.

Q: How are the Stage Presence & Costume/Props be judged? Is there a point scale, etc?

A: The judges will judge the style, performance categories on a scale of 1 – 10, 1 being the lowest score and 10 being the highest score. The objective is to receive the highest number of points possible for these two categories.

Q: Will each band know their score after their performance, or will they all be announced at the end of the competition?

A: Each band will receive their score at the end of their song, the two rounds will be combined the end and the final winner will be announced.

Q: Can we adjust the level of the microphone?

A: No, the microphone will be adjusted so it’s appropriate for the size of the room and all bands must perform on the same settings.

Q: Can I bring my own set of drum sticks?

A: No, you must use the set provided

Q: Can the drummer bring his own drum seat?

A: Unfortunately, no. The drum seat is part of the drum set. You are not allowed to bring any of your own Rock Band equipment. You must use the instruments and equipment provided by the venue

Q: Do all 4 members of the band need to register online?

A: Only 1 band member needs to sign up the band. However, all 4 members must be at least 21 and the band must check in together the night of the competition in order to perform and compete.

Q: How does the competition generally work?

A: You can register early at Harrahs.com/rockband, or on-site prior to the start of the competition at your local casino. Check with your local destination for registration times.

If you register online, you'll get a confirmation e-mail or call from your local venue confirming your registration was received.

You must register in-person to schedule your performance time slot, even if you signed up online. When you register on-site, you'll need to complete a registration form at the registration desk. A completed registration form will be needed, including: full names and contact information of all four group members, everyone's Total Rewards numbers, a band name and the title of the song being used in the competition. A signed release for each member of the band will also be required.

Everyone in the group must have a Total Rewards card to participate. It's free to sign up, if you or your band mates aren't already members. You can sign up for Total Rewards just prior to the competition, at your local casino, assuming you allow enough time to do so.

Once your paperwork is completed and turned in, you'll receive an approximate time slot for your performance.

You and your fellow performers should be in the competition area approximately 15 minutes prior to your performance time.

Performances at the local competitions will be strictly point-based.

Have fun. Did we mention that? Win or lose, it's going to be a blast.

Q: I want to compete in the Total Rock, Total Rewards Competition, what do I need to do?

A: We love your attitude! First, get your band together. A band is four people: a singer, guitarist, bassist and drummer. Once you have your band together, you can either go to your local Total Rewards location on the scheduled competition nights to register and compete. Go here to see the participating locations. You can register online in advance.

Q: When are the competitions?

A: You can view the list of participating locations here. Each location has different competition nights, so check with your local location for further details.

Q: I registered online but don't know when to go to the competition?

A: Chill, you're covered. After you register online, someone from your local competition will contact you by e-mail within 24 hours to confirm the date and time you'll be competing.

Q: It's been more than 24 hours and I don’t have a confirmation.

A: Sorry! We'll make sure someone gets back to you. Let us know if you've had a problem. Just make sure to tell us which property you registered for.

Q: I have to be a Total Rewards member to compete. How do I become one?

A: Easy! Just stop by any Total Rewards Center at any of our nearly 40 destinations. Find out more about Total Rewards here. Membership is free and easy!

Q: Why am I limited in my song choices for the competitions?

A: We like your spunk, but to make the competition as fair as possible, we wanted to give everyone a choice of songs around the same length. Check out the list of song choices here. All players must play on medium level and above. The total score of the band, as a whole, will be used to determine the outcome of the competition. In the case of a tie, all the longest note streaks for all four competitors will be added together to break the tie.

Q: There isn't a competition location near me! What can I do about it?

A: If you're interested in the competition, but there isn't a participating location near you, feel free to contact your local Harrah's destination and let them know you'd be interested in seeing Total Rock, Total Rewards Rock Band at their venue. Of course, another option is to find some roadies and book a bus to one of the participating locations. Nobody said becoming a rock icon was going to be simple!