Uncle Dave Macon Days

1. Check in with the stage manager as soon as your category is called.
2. Remain backstage throughout the entire duration of the category.
3. While waiting in the backstage area, be respectful of others and the proceedings onstage. Practicing or “warming-up” must be done away from the immediate backstage area.
4. Failure to appear when called may result in disqualification and loss of entry fees
5. No additional registrants will be allowed in a category after the first contestant begins. Exceptions may be granted at the discretion of the Chairman of Judges.
6. A contestant’s number will remain the same throughout the preliminary and final competitions (if applicable). The order of performance will be determined at registration. Finalists will perform in reverse order from the preliminaries.
7. There will be no finals in a category, unless it is so indicated in the official schedule. The following categories generally do not have finals (Consult the official program or the stage manager for any revisions).
   a. Old-time Singing,
   b. Beginner Instrumental,
   c. Harmonica,
   d. Dobro
   e. Uncle Dave Macon FreeWheelin’
   f. Blues Singing (acoustic)
   g. Guitar
   h. Mandolin
   i. Dulcimer
   j. Contest Fiddle
   k. Traditional Fiddle
8. Contestants in categories without scheduled finals are expected to perform two (2) selections.
9. If a finals competition is scheduled, three (3) finalists will be selected from the preliminary round. Finals will be held in the following categories (consult your official program or the stage manager for any revisions):
   a. All Dance categories
   b. Bluegrass Banjo
   c. Old-Time Banjo National Championship
   d. Bluegrass Band
   e. Old-Time Band
10. In music categories with scheduled finals, contestants are expected to perform one (1) selection in the preliminary round and two (2) numbers in the finals. Finalist contestants are not allowed to repeat their selection from the preliminaries.
11. NO SINGING may accompany the contestants in any category except the following:
   a. Old Time Singing,
   b. Blues Singing,
   c. Uncle Dave Macon FreeWheelin’,
   d. Bluegrass band,
   e. Old-Time band.
12. Electric bass may be used in the bluegrass band contest only. Otherwise, electric amplified instruments are not allowed in any category.
13. Drum kits are not allowed in any category. Traditional hand-percussion instruments are permitted as appropriate.
14. No back-up instrument is required in any music category (except bands). The presence or absence of back-up instrument(s) will not be a basis for judging the performance, unless the accompaniment overshadows or distracts from the main instrument.
15. In individual instrumental categories, a maximum of two (2) back-up instruments is allowed. However, contestants are encouraged to limit the accompaniment to only one (1) back-up instrument.
16. The duration of contest songs or tunes should not exceed approximately three (3) minutes. Judges may interrupt the performance and/or disqualify any excessively long entries.
17. No traditional tunes or songs are “banned” from the competition. However, contestants are encouraged to choose selections which are truly appropriate for the categories. The playing of “overused” selections is discouraged. Feel free to consult the Chairman of Judges with any questions about the appropriateness of a selected piece of music.
18. Uncle Dave Macon days is a family oriented event. Lewd, vulgar or otherwise generally offensive material may not be performed. At their discretion, the judges may disqualify inappropriate performances.
19. If time becomes a constraint, the chairman of judges and/or festival director may restrict the number of tunes/dances performed in any category or make other changes to the rules and schedules as required for contest administration.

Additional Guidelines:

Old Time Singing
1. Songs should be in an authentic old-time style such as: Jimmie Rodgers, the Carter Family, Uncle Dave Macon, The Delmore Brothers, etc.
2. Modern (post 1945) songs should be avoided. If in doubt about a selection, please consult the Chairman of Judges.
3. Contestants will perform one (1) song.
4. A maximum of two (2) backup instruments is allowed. No accompaniment is required.
5. Duet and trio singing is permitted. The above accompaniment rules apply. No full bands allowed.

Blues Singing (with acoustic accompaniment)

1. Songs should be in an authentic, traditional, southern blues style.
2. Modern (post 1945) songs should be avoided. If in doubt about a selection, please consult the Chairman of Judges.
3. A maximum of two (2) acoustic backup instruments is allowed. No accompaniment is required.

Beginner Instrumental

1. Open to musicians twelve years of age and under as of the contest date.
2. Contestants may play any traditional instrument that is allowed in the general categories.
3. Contestants who enter this category may not enter the regular competition for the like instrument. However, beginner instrumental contestants may participate as members of a band.

Traditional Fiddle

1. Tempo, drive and phrasing should be conducive for dancing. Rhythmic bowing is more important than ornamentation
2. Cross-tuning and re-tuning are allowed.
3. Accompaniment is optional. Otherwise the general guidelines apply.
4. Fiddle Players in this style include: John Carson, Arthur Smith, Tommy Jarrell, Ramona Jones, Curly Fox, Gid Tanner, and Earl White.

Contest Fiddle

1. This category features Texas, bluegrass, and fancy contest type fiddling. Here greater flexibility in tempo and melodic variation is allowed and encouraged.
2. Phrasing, melodic structure, and tasteful ornamentation are generally considered more important than simple rhythmic bowing.
3. This style is judged more for listen ability than for dancing.
4. Notable fiddle players in this style include: Benny Thomasson, Texas Shorty Chancellor, J. T. Perkins, Mark O’Connor, Howdy Forrester, and Kenny Baker.

Old-Time Banjo (National Championship)

1. This category features pre-bluegrass banjo playing styles such as: clawhammer, frailing, two-finger picking, up-picking, stroke style, etc.
2. The use of finger pick(s) is optional.
3. Notable artists in these styles include: Uncle Dave Macon, Doc Boggs, Tommy Jarrell, Stringbean, Grandpa Jones, Hobart Smith, etc.
4. Modern (post 1945) tunes should be avoided. If in doubt about a selection, please consult the Chairman of Judges

Dulcimer

1. Appalachian (lap) and Hammered dulcimers are permitted

Beginner Instrumental

1. Open to musicians twelve years of age and under as of the contest date.
2. Contestants may play any traditional instrument that is allowed in the general categories.
3. Contestants who enter this category may not also enter the regular competition for the like instrument. However, beginner instrumental contestants may participate as members of a band.

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