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PLEASE READ THIS AWESOME OPPORTUNITY!

You know those Free Credit Report commercials with the guys singing the hilarious jingles while playing the role of a struggling band? Well, they've decided to switch gears and names and they want to add a real live band (since the guys you see on the ads right now are just actors) and they are reaching out to Just Plain Folks to see if we have the band they are looking for!

Thanks to our friend Michael Lourdeaux of 1776 Media Network who brought this opportunity to my attention this week, we've got a couple weeks to get the best bands (2-5 member) in any genre (with vocals), who are all over 21 and US Citizens (since that is their market for this) to post a 1 minute jingle of one of the 5 jingles they have posted on the contest page. There's no charge to enter, just an amazing chance to be a part of their new campaign. There's even a chance you could be in a commercial during the upcoming MLB Baseball All-Star Game. And who knows, imagine if your band became their regular spokesband? How many times have you seen those commercials? Talk about potential exposure? In my opinion that could exceed even the exposure that a hit song or winning a big TV show like American Idol... but let's not get ahead of ourselves.. the first thing you need to do is read their rules, visit the official entry page, follow the rules, kick major butt during your 1 minute video (I'd make sure you blew their socks off, made them laugh and go "WOW!!!!" but that's just my opinion on it). You can see some of the entries you're competing with and I know some of you can shine big time in this. So without further ado.. here's the guidelines and rules! Now get the band together, get your video camera ready, pick a jingle, learn it and blow them away! Let's keep the success roll going!
Here's the official guidelines, prizes and info from Free Credit Score!
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For every band that rocks out in their basement or signs autographs for fans in their neighborhood bar, there is the chance to be discovered during a nationwide search by freecreditscore.com(tm) for a new band to star in its advertising campaign. As freecreditscore.com increases its consumer focus on providing free credit scores, the company has set its sights on finding a new band to represent the brand and is giving talent from anywhere in the country a chance to enter the search.

Bands that wish to be considered must submit a demo video in which band members perform one of the freescreditscore.com jingles posted on the website. The search is open to bands with members 21 years of age or older, in any genre from country to indie rock. Bands can find freecreditscore.com songs, lyrics and guidelines for uploading their audition videos posted on http://www.freecreditscoreband.com.

Four finalist bands will be chosen to receive national media exposure during the Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star game, as well as prize packages from musical instrument leader Gibson Guitar and Live Nation. The three runners-up will each receive a $7,500 check to be divided among band members. The winning band will receive a $10,000 check, an exclusive Gibson Guitar prize package and a Pearl drum kit valued at $12,000, a studio session with music industry veterans and a chance to walk the red carpet at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards.

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. The Free Credit Score Band Search is promoted by ConsumerInfo.com, Inc., an Experian company. Search is open to unsigned bands or bands signed with an independent label they own and control who are legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, 21 and older. Search begins 12:00:01 a.m. ET on 5/11/2010 and ends 4:59:59 p.m. ET on 6/16/2010. For participation terms, which govern, visit http://www.freecreditscore.com.
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So what are you waiting for? Time is VERY short to get involved, so get the band together and get in gear! Please let us know if you get chosen and we'll follow up in the newsletter and on there site.

I've gotten a bunch of email questions about this Audition. All the details I can offer can be found on their site or above. I don't want to guess at anything else not covered, but I am happy to try and answer anything I can here and have asked those folks to come here if they don't find what they need on that site.

Whichever band (or bands) they might choose for their next wave of commercials are going to get more exposure than they can ever imagine (and I'd expect significant royalties for the effort). I know I searched to find the band involved in the original commercials and was disappointed when I found that it was just actors (though the main singer was a French Canadian singer-songwriter and actor, and I bet he'll be doing some acting gigs from all his notoriety.

I expect to see a lot more bands sign up for the audition but the earlier you post I think the better. Voting starts soon.

Brian

Wow, this IS a great opportunity, Brian!

I bet the Too Little Time guys could have fun with this!

Would be good to see someone at JPF win. Not much time though. The all-star game is in July. Wish I had a band. Yes it would fit TLT's forte'.

Anyone who auditions has to get it going NOW.

Wow! If a certain thing can get me out of early retirement, this is it! Baby boomer bands can be crossovers as far as demographics.

As I was reading the post, I was thinking,,,,Man! what timing, to have our band disband for my Tinnitus getting really bad and this cool opp comes up that would be fun just to try. (I just got bad news on my energy system invention idea three days ago). A complete no go, engineering wise.

But then I saw our band name mentioned in this thread, and was of course flattered and honored. And then I thought, "I have to try!" The guys would love to at least TRY! I can deal with extra whatever, for when there is something to go for, no one could be more competitive than me.

So far, Marnie and Iggy are in. I KNOW Doc will be in as soon as he wakes up and reads my email. I hope Roon will also accept the challenge. We have several side stories, in addition to being just another band trying out. NO band could also have more "character" than the one I am lucky to call back into action.

I hope we can represent Just Plain Folks in the best light possible, just applying in the contest. I love a good jingle, even if I hear more sleigh-bells from it! I'm going to hear them anyway,,,so why not make it all worth it?

Brian got me back to playing out in 2005, which led to having this Too Little Time band. Now with his and Ben's kind mentioning of us, I have found a fresh start all over again"!

And the story continues,,,,Just when I thought I was out,,,,,they pulled me back in again!

Thank you! Just the "try" is all worth it. It always has been. I feel refreshed and recoiled too, with having 13 weeks off.
Now it's back to "musical" work! (Where I belong).

Johnny D

Johnny D, the Comeback Kid, strikes again! Go Johnny go!!!

Midnite

Ha!

Roon's In! Talked to him tonight. He said, "Of course I'll do it". He mentioned about us being named in this thread as being an added incentive, wanting to be respectful to Brian and Ben for their thinking of us.

Getting together one time for it, probably Sunday, with the guys having the mp3 of the song we'll play. We have a little treat for the ending of the video, since we'll have about 25 seconds left to fill up the minute we get. (The 2LT song chorus maybe)? With someone's company name instead of ours as the hook? We'll see how it fits in.

we would all love to see you do it Johnny

its made for your talents and current situation......you have big shoes to fill cause that other band did it so well............but I know y'all are up to it.....

best of luck

Tom

Thanks Tom. Creative ad-like talents of Iggy especially, should have us produce something different and entertaining. We're working on some fun ideas now. Approaching it as if directing a commercial, for just about any band can play the song good enough.

We'll see. With playing it live, there's not the editing that would make it look more like a TV ad, but we're on some things that could help.

If there are other bands here that will be playing the song "Credit Cards", notice their error of a "Ab" placed right after the Eb chord on the third staff line of the lead sheet.

The Eb Bb Cm Ab chord progression does not change, as the lead sheet wrongly indicates in that third staff line.

Johnny

Ah, there's something in the air and I don't know what it is! And leave it to my musical director, Johnny D. to point out chord errors on the chart. That's what he does.

What I'm doing now is stapling up batting fabric on the walls. But they are too thin to make a difference in sound reduction. NOW I realize that! Might have to go with shag carpet on the walls over top of that Batting, RED shag!...oh baby. LOL

Help! Come over and join this stupid think tank,,,,you'll fit right in.

Brian and folks, "Too Little Time" is going to be filming our ad/performance this Sunday, starting around 5:30 PM. EDST. We'll upload it that evening to the contest site, and confirm that here for anyone wishing to review us, and possibly voting for us.

We have some things up our funny looking shirt sleeves, and a new designed room, gear setup, and sound, (huffin and puffin!), along with hiring one of my friends to film us with a pro camera. We're able to use our big Mackie board for all the sound, (no room sound, right off the board, live, into his camera). He owns "Creative Images Design" of Voorhees, NJ. Mike Passanati. Used to work with NFL Films. And he helped Buddy and I when we needed music editing for a film we scored in 1999 that went on to be one of the top 13 indie scores that year, according to ASCAP and Sony Pictures. Should be a good shoot, at least on his end!

Hope "we" can pass the audition.

Looking forward to this Sunday! We're doing the song, "Credit Cards".

"Too Little Time" Band

Johnny

GOOD LUCK TO YOU [color:#FF6600]TOO LITTLE TIME BAND[/color]
Knock 'em dead!! How cool would that be?!?
All the Best
Joanne

Hi Joanne!

Given our ages, it would be "just a bit outside" of a miracle, if not one! But yeah,,,cool. BUT, just doing it, (playing if just for this short time), is going to be real cool. I'm happy for the guys!

Thank you!

Johnny

Good luck guy's. I'll vote for you. They already have commercials on the air telling people to vote.

I guess they'll judge the numbers on a curve then.

Thanks, but hear and see us and all others before voting. Merit is not a bad thing.

Johnny D

The commercial is just a precurser. I don't think the voting started yet. Could be something Jody and his band might also be interested in doing. Can't wait to see the video.

I wish you guys and any other JPF'ers that gives this a go the very best. I listened to several of the bands already and one thing that came across to me is probably to make sure the words of the jingles come across very clearly to the listening audience, remembering it's a commercial and not a concert. I'm guessing they are going to be looking for something very different from the last band (even though they were very good) just to switch it up a bit. Have fun!!

Best to all,
Lynn

Make sure you show the band members personalities, find a little humor at least and please please please: make sure the sound quality is excellent. Half or more of the entries have sound so bad you can't even make out the vocals...

I really think this thing is winnable if someone puts something good up... watch all the others (only about 35) and make sure you're better than all of them and get it up soon so folks can vote on you.. time is wasting!

Brian

I've watched all the bands, kind of got hooked. I agree wholeheartedly w/Brian about the personality factor, especially w/the lead vocalist. You guys have the personality, just let it shine. There's no time like the present!!

Working on it all, thanks! I'm brushing my teeth with Comet to make sure the ivories show up good!

Booked the good camera and operator for the only time available for us all, Sunday late afternoon.

Yes,,,the sound! We're going though our pro Mackie board, (the English EQ one)! ONYX 24,,,by "Perkins". I just set the gains on the bass drum on through all the drums and all instruments and vocals. THAT is most important with any board for best signal to noise ratio. Played everything, so I know the song on the band's gear. I'm a ringing dinging right now, but it felt so good to play music again after the band and I last did 14 weeks ago.

Two guitars, (Roon and I), and Iggy on keys. Doc on bass, and Marnie on drums. Roon, Iggy and I are preparing to sing the lead vocal, to either have a double tracking sound, or to work off the strongest and best sound once we all hear each other this Sunday afternoon for some harmonies.

We hope to have the people like our sound and personalities enough to catch our staged ending, right after the song. 1-2 punch, being it's short, and like is pointed out, the lyrics have to be put across good before anything staged or funny can work.

Short time for the band to play it together before filming, but we're certainly up for it. New room layout and new "setup" of the gear for simplest, cleanest results. Power pop with a hint of classic Brit Rock is our aim for the sound. With the good gear, it is up to us to play and sing up to that level. We have our work cut out for us in short time,,,,but that's the deal with our name anyway. So, we just have to do it. I'm treating this like my first showcase with Brian in Hatboro, PA. Prepare the best we can in the time we have. And have FUN!

Thanks for the nice words of encouragement. They will be in our
minds this Sunday. We hope we come through for JPF in a respectful attempt.

Look for us Sunday night. I will post when we're on their site. Please do hear as many bands as you can. Be fair. That is what we do here. And, there could be other JPF bands there too. May the best four videos take the top four spots.

Just waiting for the video to be cleared. (Man! It was so much FUN to make, despite the very hot and humid conditions in my little upstairs room). The air couldn't be on due to sound). Stage lights were HOT too. FUN though,,,and a testament to all the guys and Tracy who helped with the props and Mike Passanati, who filmed us, (sweating like they were near the Sun)! Amazing people to smile and work through that condition when the air conditioner was right there, "looking" at us!

It's in the hands of the promoters. They have a 24 to 48 clearing time. I submitted it Monday, around 6:30PM EDST. There may be an issue of logo use. Hope not. Other bands have logos of companies on their bass drum head and some shirts,,,so maybe there isn't a strict rule followed that is in the fine print of the massive rules.

Either way,,,,we're happy with just playing together again, and for the great time we all had in all the prep for it, and the many takes of laughing through the mistakes, as we did it with little time actually playing before taping. Trying all kinds of things. I hope to have a blooper tape.

As soon as we get on their site, I'll post it. Special Thanks to whoever is reading this. We really do appreciate your time and thoughts for us. You all are our 6th Member! Five is good, but Six of many is powerful! JPF will win if we just place somewhere.

But, if not, I can tell you that it was a huge win for us just to have so much fun that day, especially for Roon, Iggy and Marnie. You only have some idea of the extremely terrible time they have been going through lately. (Not for me to get that personal here). Just know they are remarkable people!

Thank you again!
Johnny

congrats on your submission-hoping y'all are chosen Johnny


I am sure they will be impressed with the talent and creativity of your band........

good luck-fingers are crossed for you all over the JPF community


Tom

Hey Thanks for that Tom. Very thoughtful again of you.

Well, it was uploaded Monday early evening. So, their 24 to 48 hour approval time expired. So, I don;t know. Maybe it was passed on due to some logo in our video. But I noticed many other approved bands that have drum company logos plainly showing. Or maybe the lawyers aren't in that often to take a look at the entries, for there are only 3 or four new bands about every 12 hours.

Hoping to get up there at some point. We'll see. Voting ends on the 21st. Many bands getting votes for a while now. We'll just have to work harder, that's all. Used to that!

Thanks again Tom,

Johnny

My band, Fritz's Polka Band has entered this contest. We weren't able to fit all the band members on camera, as we went for a narrow shot with a retro look (more black & white ish). Anyway, hope to get some votes. Thanks!

Fritz

Good luck Fritz!

For any next time, to get all the guys in with a normal lens camera, have as many members as possible line up behind one another, then have them peek their heads out to either side!

Johnny