Let's Get Ready to Rock Band

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Rock Band competition nearing end, qualifying round Wednesday night June 9.

By Ray Schweibert

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Jun. 8, 2010

The winning Rock Band band in the final competition July 1-2 at Bally's will win $10,000 and an opportunity to meet Ringo Starr.

Last March nearly 500 foursomes signed up to participate in the Harrah’s Entertainment Total Rock, Total Rewards Rock Band competition, which involved 18 Harrah’s Entertainment properties in four regions throughout the country.

With that kind of contest response and interest generation, is it any wonder Harrah’s and MTV Games decided to team up and do it all again?

The second annual Total Rock, Total Rewards Rock Band qualifying competitions began in May and end on June 13, with one of the qualifying rounds taking place this Wednesday, June 9, at the Mountain Bar at Bally’s, Park Place and Boardwalk in Atlantic City.

Bally’s is among five participating Harrah’s properties to host competitions, and MTV Games (the producers of Rock Band — a band-simulation game combining guitar, bass, drums and vocals) is providing an additional 15 venues across the U.S. for a total of 20 venues.

The top-scoring quartet from each venue will get to compete in the championship at Bally’s Atlantic City on July 1-2, and the winning band will receive $10,000 and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet the legendary Ringo Starr.

This year’s competition is an extension of the overwhelming success of 2009’s Total Rock, Total Rewards contest in which the winners — the Gurn Killers from New York City — received $10K and got to open for the B-52s at Showboat’s House of Blues in Atlantic City.

“Harrah’s is very excited to again work with MTV Games and the iconic Rock Band brand this year, and we are looking forwarding to building on the successful events from the 2009 season,” says David Norton, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Harrah’s Entertainment, in a media release.

“Total Rock Total Rewards Rock Band events create a lot of excitement in our resorts, bringing in new guests and providing another entertainment option for our returning guests.”

“For the second year in a row, Harrah’s is helping to extend the Rock Band brand across the nation with innovative and interactive experiences that bring it to life,” says Christina Glorioso, vice president of marketing for MTV Games, in the release. “We can’t wait to see how this year’s competition unfolds with Rock Band fans sure to blow us all away.”

To enter the June 9 competition at Bally’s, call Jessie Brudon at (609) 340-2000 or see ballysac.com for a registration form.

In addition to advancing to the finals, Wednesday’s winner will also receive a $100 Total Rewards Gift Card for each band member. The second-place band will get a $50 Total Rewards Gift Card for each band member, and third place gets a $25 Total Rewards Gift Card per band member.