Stay focused, listen to your band mates and perform for your audience, are the words of advice given by the co-director of Smokefreerockquest to high school acts entering the Central Otago regional final in Queenstown tomorrow night.
Former music teachers Glenn Common and Pete Rainey founded New Zealand's only live nationwide original music youth event 22 years ago.
Mr Common will double as backstage manager at the regional final, when it is held at the Queenstown Memorial Hall for the first time.
Between 16 and 19 teenaged bands and soloists from Wakatipu High School, Mt Aspiring College, Cromwell College and Maniototo Area School are given seven minutes to play their original songs before a paying audience.
Among the prizes on the night are vouchers for music gear for first, second and third placegetters but the real prize is a shot at the national final.
"Some of the bands will be getting their first experience of performing live," Mr Common said.
"Keep focused, listen to each other and perform for the audience.
"Central Otago has produced national finalists in the past and the standard is very much what's happening in the rest of New Zealand."
Mr Common said honing the craft of songwriting and tenacity were instrumental in today's Rockquest competitor becoming tomorrow's international recording artist.
Midnight Youth, Opshop, Evermore, Ladyhawke, Minuit, Die!Die!Die!, Cut Off Your Hands, the Datsuns, Brooke Fraser, Anika Moa, Anna Coddington, Phoenix Foundation, the Feelers, the Black Seeds, the Checks and Fur Patrol were among the many acts launched by Rockquest.
Two finalists from the regional final will have just over three weeks to record 15 minutes of their strongest original material on DVD.
Music industry professionals and artists would shortlist entries to eight bands or soloists who would go ahead to the national final, at Founder's Theatre, in Hamilton, on September 11.
Rockquest would announce the final eight next month.
"Anyone who gets to the national final has the ability to make it and we challenge them to do so," Mr Common said.
• The Smokefreerockquest 2010 Central Otago regional final is on at Queenstown Memorial Hall tomorrow, at 7pm.
Tickets cost $15 at Play it Again Records in Queenstown and Base in Wanaka, or $20 at the door.
