FOOM FAQ (Frequently asked questions )

When I enter can I join as a SCALA member and pay the lower entry fee?

Of course! If you enter more than one song it more beneficial to join as a SCALA member.

What about collaborations (more than one writer)?

To take advantage of the membership rate ALL collaborators need to be financial members. At least one of the writers needs to be a Full Member. Other collaborators must at least join as Associate Members ($5 each).

SCALA needs a separate entry form for each song so do I need a separate CD for each entry? And should I write a separate cheque for each entry and put each entry, entry form and cheque in a separate bag?

Emphatically NO. Yes we do need an entry form for each song but it helps us administratively if you can provide all your entries on one CD, clearly marked with a track listing, with one cheque and all in the one post bag. Naturally if you've sent an entry/entries in and then come up with another song that you want to enter before the due date that's ok.

I have put words to a traditional tune. Does that qualify as "original"?

The intention of the competition is to encourage new material. It would be advisable to enter such a song in the Lyrics Only section.

I want to enter a song that has been sent to a few radio stations on CD-R. / I've burned my song/s to CD-R and sold a few at gigs. Can I enter these in FOOM?

No. Rule 4 applies. We realise that it's relatively easy nowadays to burn off CDs for these purposes and it's likely that offering material to the public for download over the internet will become more common shortly as well. People who can do this are very fortunate.

Original musicians who have the means to offer their songs to the public through sales or radio airplay can choose to not distribute their material before the competition is completed for the year. Note also that the aim of the FOOM Song Competition is to encourage the writing of new material.

Why do you want CDs not enclosed in jewel cases?

We destroy CDs after FOOM but jewel cases are not so easy to destroy and they become a space and disposal problem for us. So we urge entrants to put CDs in thinner CD envelopes instead.

Unlike most other song competitions you ask that lyrics and CDs contain the names of the writers. Doesn't this influence judges?

In the first place we don't want to encourage copyright owners to disseminate their material without conforming with International copyright requirements. As for the judges, we expect them to be impartial even if they know the writers of a particular song. We also expect them to declare any direct conflicts of interest to us when judging.

If I win the live or demo section and get to record my song does SCALA supply the musicians to play on the song too?

No. You are responsible for organising, rehearsing (and paying for) any musicians you might want to play on your recording.

I want to enter a song in the live section but my songs really need more than two performers. What if I take more than two performers on stage? After all people with MIDI can make it seem like a whole orchestra is on stage.

We'd encourage you to enter the demo or studio categories if you need a number of musicians on your songs. You'd be disqualified in the live section with more than two performers. We don't encourage excessive instrumentation and the judges are instructed to consider the song rather than the performance.

I've entered FOOM before (not in the Studio section) and the judges have commented on my performance. How come if they're supposed to consider the quality of the song?

Some judges do make comments about the performance and presentation of a song. That doesn't mean they've taken performance into consideration in judging that song. They might see a different performance approach simply as one way of beginning to improve the song.

So if I enter the Studio section/s the song has to be recorded in a professional studio, right?

Not necessarily. The winning song/s in these sections must be "ready for CD release and radio airplay". That's a standard that is usually achieved in professional studios. But some people have home recording equipment and the expertise that is good enough to produce a "professional" recording. Conversely, a song is not necessarily at a "professional" standard just because it is recorded at a "professional" studio.

Why has "Master" section been renamed "Studio" Section?

To avoid confusion about studio recordings and mastered recordings. Entries in the Studio section do not have to be mastered but it's probably an advantage if they are.