REINDEER LAUNCHES NEW STATEWIDE COMPETITION FOR YOUNG DJs

May 11, 2012

REINDEER LAUNCHES NEW STATEWIDE COMPETITION FOR YOUNG DJs

Reindeer Records—creators of The Rock-Off and The Off-Ramp competitions—are launching another unique and exciting competition, this one for young DJs across Maine.

The Reindeer Spin-Off is an opportunity for young DJs under the age of 21 to show their creative deejay skills and stage personality while being able to rock a crowd with some great music.

The Spin-Off kicks off with a summer pilot series at Club Texas in Auburn.  Showcase dates are Sunday July 22 and Sunday July 29, with the Finals set for Sunday, August 19.  Additional showcase dates are possible depending on demand.

Each Showcase will feature up to 8 artists who will be evaluated by a celebrity panel who will apply the same criteria used in similar events in major cities nationwide—Music, Technique, Image, Stage Presence and Audience Appeal.

The deadline for interested DJs to sign up is Sunday June 10.  FMI – contact Reindeer at 857-9002 or events@reindeergroup.org, or visit www.reindeergroup.org.

The Spin-Off is designed to raise money and awareness for Reindeer’s Alternative Music Program (RAMP) and its efforts to create and implement an accredited music program for Maine’s Alternative Education students.

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THE RESISTANCE WINS REINDEER’S OFF-RAMP:EXIT 27 COMPETITION

May 6, 2012

THE RESISTANCE IS “BEST YOUNG BAND IN MAINE”

The Resistance, a neo-classic style alternative/hard rock quartet from the Waterville area, took the honors of “Best Young Band in the State of Maine” in Reindeer Records’ statewide Off-Ramp: Exit 27 high school band competition.

Since last November, The Resistance was one of three bands that faced unique music industry-based tasks that were evaluated for certain criteria by various panels of judges.  The tasks included Songwriting (this year’s theme was “Second Chances”), The Recording Studio Experience, Marketing, Live Event Production and Music Video Production.

The Resistance represented Maine Central Institute, Erskine Academy, Warsaw Middle School and Edward Little High School and featured Sierra Carey on lead vocals, Jerad Smith on lead and rhythm guitar, Jessica Smith on drums and Patrick Buzza on bass.

“The Resistance did consistently well on all the tasks,” said Off-Ramp Executive Producer and Reindeer Group President Louis Philippe.  “Not only are the musicians talented, but the band leadership is very defined, their goals and passion are very clear, and they embrace challenge and responsibility in a role-model way…that’s a recipe for success,” Philippe added.

“When we first saw this band in last year’s competition, they were a soft-spoken shy band from up North that was right out of the box for the first time.  Today, they proved they are serious about their music and professionally-focused with a tremendous attitude.  Plus, they’re great kids, they truly deserved to win,” Philippe noted.

The results were announced Sunday in a video broadcast on Reindeer’s website, www.reindeergroup.org, which also includes music and videos from all of this year’s participants and critique sessions for fans who were following the bands on their journeys.

Other contenders included Last Man In Space from Mount Blue High School and Saint Monday from South Portland High School (which had been recently disqualified).

In addition to the title, The Resistance won some cash, as did some of the other participating musicians.  “Rather than give one winning band a huge lump sum, we reconfigured the prize money to reward all the bands for their commitment, hard work, and superb effort,” explained Philippe.

The Off-Ramp is designed to raise money and awareness for RAMP (Reindeer’s Alternative Music Program) and the larger goal to create, produce and implement an accredited music curriculum for Maine’s Alternative Education outlets.  More info can be found on Reindeer’s website.

Early registration for next year’s competition, The Off-Ramp: Exit 28, will begin in August—but it’s never too early for potentially interested bands to sign up.

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JOEL CARPENTER TO HOST LOCAL MUSIC NIGHT

April 5, 2012

Reindeer Recording Artist Joel Carpenter, a Portland-based acoustic singer-songwriter, will be hosting another night of local talent as Coffee House Bookings presents Local Music Night, Saturday, April 21^st, at The Portland New Church, 302 Stevens Ave., Portland.

In addition to performing songs from his recent debut CD “Dirty Words” Joel will be turning the stage over to a great line-up of local acts that will include Tom Cook, Louis Grassi and Whit Walker.

Doors open at 7 PM.  All ages are welcome.  Tickets are $10, available from the artists, at the door, or by visiting facebook.com/joelcarpentermusic.com.

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OFF-RAMP BANDS ADVANCE TO TASK #4: PRODUCE A LIVE EVENT

February 29, 2012

March will be a busy month for the three high school rock bands that are competing in Reindeer’s statewide Off-Ramp: Exit 27 competition.

After 25 years of producing the wildly popular Rock-Off events, Reindeer created The Off-Ramp as a more in-depth educational and hands-on experience for young musicians.  It is also designed as a fundraising and awareness effort for RAMP, Reindeer’s Alternative Music Program, and its plans to incorporate the elements of the competition into an accredited music curriculum for Maine’s alternative education students.

 LAST MAN IN SPACE from Farmington, SAINT MONDAY from South Portland, and THE RESISTANCE from the Waterville area, have already completed three of their five tasks in this unique six-month industry-based competition—Songwriting, The Recording Studio Experience and Marketing.

For their Live Event Task, each Band is asked to “produce and host a sensational live show to benefit RAMP’s curriculum goals.”

“Effective branding of the Reindeer/RAMP product is a very important factor of this Task,” said Reindeer President Louis Philippe.  “This task not only challenges their creative planning, organizational, communication and marketing skills, but it gives young musicians a chance to promote the cause of making music possible for students who may not be as fortunate as they are, who might be outside the mainstream.”

 The schedule of live shows is as follows:

SHOW MOVED

Host Band: THE RESISTANCE (Off-Ramp Band from Waterville area)
Special Guests: Saint Monday
With: Louis Grassi, Nate Britten
Date: Saturday, March 31st         Time: TBA
Venue: Palermo Legion hall, 33 Veteran’s Way, Palermo
Tix:  $7/advance; $10/door, all ages welcome
Contact:  Jerad Smith – 465-6518

Host Band: SAINT MONDAY (Off-Ramp Band from South Portland)
Special Guests: Last Man in Space and The Resistance
Date:  Saturday, March 17th         Time: 6 PM
Venue: Woodfords Club, 179 Woodford Street, Portland.
Tix:  $3/all ages welcome
Contact: Izaak Onos – 400-7641

Host Band: LAST MAN IN SPACE (Off-Ramp Band from Farmington) 
Special Guests:  The Resistance, Saint Monday,
With:  Neurotik, After the Rush Hour, and The Brother’s Cup
Date:  Sunday, March 25th           Time: 3 PM
Venue:  Emery Community Arts Center, Main Street, Farmington
Tix:  $2/students, $5/adults, all ages welcome
Contact:  Eli Cohen – 778-4965

For more information about The Off-Ramp, the RAMP curriculum, or this year’s participating bands, visit reindeergroup.org.

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REINDEER NEEDS YOUR HELP!

Reindeer needs your help!
Reindeer Group Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, is hoping to score a slice of the $100,000 in grants that is being made available in the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation’s Community Matters More initiative.
Next month, Bangor Savings Bank will distribute grants to 68 local organizations who have garnered the highest amount of online votes. Reindeer Group would use the grant money for R.A.M.P. (Reindeer’s Alternative Music Program) to create a music-industry curriculum for Maine’s alternative education students.
Reindeer is asking all its friends and supporters of alternative education programs to write in their vote for Reindeer Group at www.bangor.com/cmm, under the Greater Portland/Lewiston/Auburn list of organizations. The deadline for voting is March 5th.
For more info about R.A.M.P., the Off-Ramp statewide band competition, and other Reindeer programs visit www.reindeergroup.org.

REINDEER’S OFF-RAMP BAND COMPETITION REACHES HALFWAY POINT

REINDEER’S OFF-RAMP BAND COMPETITION REACHES HALFWAY POINT

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Three Maine high school rock bands are now halfway through Reindeer Records’ new statewide annual competition called The Off-Ramp:Exit 27.

LAST MAN IN SPACE from Farmington, SAINT MONDAY from South Portland and THE RESISTANCE from the Waterville area have each successfully completed three of five music industry assignments designed to answer the question: “Are you band enough?” Through the entire process, band member learn vital aspects of the music industry that will help them become better, stronger and successful musicians.

The Off-Ramp: Exit 27—marking Reindeer’s 27^th year of providing opportunities for Maine’s high school rock musicians—kicked off on November 1^st of last year and will culminate in a live extravaganza on Sunday, May 6, at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center.

“The competition is six-month hands-on music business study with a lot of empowering and engaging benefits built in,” according to Executive Producer Louis Philippe, who created The Off-Ramp after 25 years of producing the wildly popular Rock-Off event.  “With a lot more focus on video, The Off-Ramp is like “The Rock-Off” meets “The Apprentice,” Philippe noted.

The Off-Ramp evaluations are based on five tasks:  Songwriting, The Recording Studio Experience, Marketing, Live Event Production and Music Video Production.  Each band was required to create an original song called “Second Chances,” and to document their process of recording that song.

As part of their Marketing Task, the bands are attempting to market their way to the highest number of streams and downloads of their versions of “Second Chances” which are now available online at many popular digital distribution sites (iTunes, Amazon, etc).  Fans, friends and the public are invited to support their favorite band by buying their single online at reindeergroup.org/Second_Chances.html.

The bands are currently planning their fourth task—to produce a live show that will benefit RAMP (Reindeer’s Alternative Music Program) and brand its goal to create and implement an accredited Alternative Education music curriculum.  That curriculum will comprise the very same five areas of study as the tasks that the bands have been challenged with in the competition.

Full details about the curriculum and competition—including band pics, bios, music, video interviews, online poll and more—can be found at www.reindeergroup.org.  Reindeer Group is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization

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THREE BANDS TO BE FEATURED IN REINDEER’S OFF-RAMP COMPETITION

November 14, 2011

 

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Despite an apparent short supply of bands this year, three talented young bands—from Farmington, South Portland and the Waterville area— will be featured in The Off-Ramp, Reindeer Record’s annual statewide competition for high school rock bands.

LAST MAN IN SPACE from Mt. Blue HS, SAINT MONDAY from South Portland HS, and THE RESISTANCE , representing  Edward Little HS, Erskine Academy, Maine Central Institute and Warsaw Middle School, will be featured in THE OFF-RAMP:Exit 27—marking Reindeer’s 27^th year of producing events for high school bands.

After producing the popular Rock-Off events since 1983, Reindeer created The Off-Ramp in conjunction with its efforts to create a music curriculum for Maine’s Alternative Education students.

Described as “The Rock-Off” meets “The Apprentice,” The Off-Ramp is a six-month competition filled with music industry challenges designed to provide music education, industry experience, media exposure, networking opportunity and lots of chances to develop many skills.

“It’s very much like a music course in itself, combined with a reality show, and definitely a learning experience the bands will never forget,” said Louis Philippe, Off-Ramp’s Executive Producer.

Beginning in December, each band will face five tasks:  Songwriting, The Recording Studio Experience, Marketing, Live Event Production and Music Video Production.  The event culminates in May with a live concert and results show at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center.

Friends, fans and family will be able to follow each band on their journey at the website of Media Sponsor Current Publishing, http://www.keepmecurrent.com/arts_and_entertainment/off-ramp.

While the enthusiasm is running high with all three participating bands, Philippe reported that the response to this year’s event was low.

“At first I thought maybe our competition was too hard, or for some reason we just were not reaching bands, but after hearing from several high school band directors from around the state, a different picture was emerging,” Philippe said.

According to the record label president, band directors confirmed a shortage of high school bands for several reasons, including:  conflicts with year-round sports commitments; lack of money to buy instruments and amps; lack of parental/adult encouragement; lack of knowledge and determination required to form a band; an overwhelming challenge by electronic games, online activities and social media; less venues for high school bands to play; and the popularity of dj’s.

“On one hand, it’s a sad state of affairs for high school musicians,” Philippe noted.  “On the other hand, it makes me very thankful to have the opportunity to work with three excellent, dedicated and focused bands.”

With only three bands in this year’s event, Philippe looks forward to “super-sizing” the benefits and exposure for this year’s musicians, with more video infusion and interactive website fun.

Reindeer Group Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.  For more information about The Off-Ramp and the R.A.M.P. (Reindeer’s Alternative Music Program) curriculum, email events@reindeergroup.org, call 857-9002, or visit facebook.com/reindeergroup.

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REINDEER STILL LOOKING FOR A FEW MORE HIGH SCHOOL ROCK BANDS

October 17, 2011

The deadline for Maine high school rock bands to sign up for this year’s Reindeer Records’ statewide competition has been pushed back to November 1^st.

Reindeer is looking for up to 12 bands and is now signing up bands on a first-come, first-serve basis.

After producing The Rock-Off for 25 years, Reindeer launched its all-new competition called The Off-Ramp last year.  Described as “The Rock-Off meets The Apprentice,” The Off-Ramp is a more focused and educational-based six-month competition that challenges each band with five music industry tasks:  Songwriting, The Recording Studio Experience, Marketing, Live Event Production and Music Video Production.

“For several reasons, the response to the original registration deadline was slow,” said Off-Ramp Producer Louis Philippe.  “Maine seems to be in a slump right now when it comes to high school rock bands,” he added.

Having been in touch with many High School Band Directors across the state, Philippe said that his suspicions about why there are so few young bands out there were confirmed.

“Young musicians just don’t seem to have the passion to put a band together,” he said.  “With a host of family, economic, social, entertainment and cultural challenges, it’s sad to say but there doesn’t seem to be a lot of young musicians right now who dream of making it big.  Plus with the introduction of year-long sports programs, many young people don’t even have time for pursuing their music goals.”

But Reindeer is optimistic it will be able to complete its Off-Ramp line-up by November 1^st.  Any band interested in registering, or more info, can contact Reindeer at 207/857-9002, events@reindeergroup.org, or facebook.com/reindeergroup.

CALLING ALL MAINE HIGH SCHOOL ROCK BANDS…

September 1, 2011

 

High school rock bands from across the state are invited to sign up for Reindeer Records’ annual competition, THE OFF-RAMP: Exit 27, a six-month music marathon that takes original young bands on a journey filled with music industry challenges, live shows and educational opportunities.

Showcase Auditions are slated for Saturday, October 23, at the new state-of-the-art Westbrook Performing Arts Center, and 12 bands will be selected to compete in the event.  Registration deadline is October 1^st.

A semi-final run-off will be held in April to determine the top five bands that will go on to the Final Showdown in May.  The top three bands will split $3,500 in cash.  One band will earn the title of “Best Young Band in the State of Maine.”

Since 1983, thousands of high school musicians in hundreds of bands have taken part in Reindeer Records’ flagship competition, The Rock-Off.   But after 25 years, Reindeer pulled the plug on its trademark event and created a bigger-and-better competition, closely linked to its bigger goal to develop an innovative and accredited music program for Maine’s Alternative Education students.

Making its debut last year, THE OFF-RAMP is described as “The Rock-Off” meets “The Apprentice.” “We’ve taken the best components from our 25 years of producing experience and incorporated them with elements of a reality tv show,” said Executive Producer Louis Philippe.

“ THE OFF-RAMP (Exit 27 marking Reindeer’s 27^th year of service) offers a broad spectrum of educational and career exposures, as well as opportunities to develop stage skills, artist expansion, marketing, promotion, audio-visual, communication and organizational skills—all while gaining networking, industry and media exposure.” Philippe noted.

Throughout the entire competition, friends, fans, the industry and the world will be able to follow the bands on their journeys via online coverage by Media Sponsor Current Publishing (keepmecurrent.com).

But as much as THE OFF-RAMP will be fun and beneficial for all the participating bands, it is designed to raise funds and awareness for another Reindeer “sibling”—Reindeer’s Alternative Music Program.  RAMP’s goal is to create a 45-hour accredited curriculum for Maine’s Alternative Education students.

To produce the high-quality innovative curriculum envisioned, Reindeer wants to raise $145,000 for administrative costs, manpower, equipment, training, and research and development to expand the curriculum, create others, and market those products statewide, regionally and nationwide.

The 12 Bands who make it into THE OFF-RAMP will be recognized as “Musical Partners” in Reindeer’s effort to create a long-lasting curriculum that will benefit other young people for a long time.

For registration packet, contact Reindeer at 857-9002 or by email at events@reindeergroup.org.

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CROSSED OUT GETS SIGNED TO REINDEER

August 15, 2011

In 2007, when he was just a freshman at Gorham High School, guitarist Alex Verrill got word about Reindeer Records’ annual statewide Rock-Off competition for high school bands—his golden opportunity to get his band out in the local music scene.  In April of that year, CROSSED OUT made their first live appearance at Rock-Off 24.

“I remember being backstage with the other band members thinking, ‘wow, we made it, we’re real rock stars now.’  Of course we were very far from it,” said the band leader, and although his band didn’t fare all that well with its debut showcase, Verrill was determined and inspired.

A year later, in Rock-Off 25, CROSSED OUT made it to the top five.  “We felt a lot more content with our progression,” Verrill stated, “though we were saddened to hear Reindeer would no longer be putting on the Rock-Off competition.

In late 2009, the band released their first album entitled “Corrupt.”  Despite an appearance on Fox 23 TV’s Good Day Maine and a guest spot on radio station 106.3 The Bone, “we jumped another hurdle in the music world…but the band was ready to call it quits,” reported Verrill.

Then in 2010, the band got word that Reindeer had organized another competition for high school bands—The Off-Ramp—a six-month event that featured many music industry challenges.  “The band had huge success in the competition but still came home with no trophy,” remarked Verrill, who was weeks away from graduation and would therefore no longer be eligible to compete in future events.

A few days after The Off-Ramp Exit 26 Finale in May of 2011, Verrill received a phone call from Reindeer Records President Louis Philippe who wanted to discuss a possible record deal with CROSSED OUT.  “We were exhilarated,” Verrill asserted, “like we were finally being recognized for all our hard work.”

Immediately the band started recording what would become their debut CD as a signed artist, “Prelude to Darkness.”  “We were planning on recording another album regardless of our status in the competition, but the record deal definitely pushed us more to get it done,” Verrill noted.

“CROSSED OUT is the perfect example of a band that doesn’t ‘win’ but still has what it takes to make it,” said Philippe.  “Reindeer is all about process-vs-product, and CROSSED OUT has magnificently, humbly, professionally and victoriously embraced that process.”

“After dealing with CROSSED OUT for all these years, I can’t say enough about their dedication, attitude and cooperation,” Philippe reported. “And with Verrill’s superior communication and organizational skills, and the band’s commitment to stay together now that some members have graduated, there’s no doubt they will super-size this milestone opportunity.”

“CROSSED OUT has invested their time and talent to be a part of Reindeer for the past four years;  it’s a pleasure to be able to return the favor by investing in their future,” avowed Philippe.

Much of the summer was spent conquering the major challenge of writing, recording and mixing (“and re-mixing and re-mixing and re-mixing,” added Philippe).  The end result is a vision realized by a local hard rock quartet empowered by their hard work.

“I have worked tirelessly over the past four to five years trying to accomplish my goals of becoming a rock star” Verrill states, “I would have never thought years ago during Rock-Off 24 that the intimidating record label president would become a good friend and mentor.”

“We still have a lot more to accomplish in order to live out our dreams, but with our determination I see it as a real possibility,” the band leader affirmed.

CROSSED OUT is: Mike Allen – guitar, Justin Getchell – drums/vocals, Mike Tracy – bass, and Alex Verrill – vocals/guitar.

“Prelude To Darkness” is slated for a fall release.  Follow the band as their incredible journey continues by finding Reindeer Group Inc and CROSSED OUT on Facebook.

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