We’ve been living with the COVID-19 pandemic for almost a year now, and to say things are a lot different is an understatement. But we’ve got some good news for musicians + those who miss feeding their souls with live performances — it’s called Chattown Stages.

A past, pre-pandemic performance from the Camp House Songwriter Stage | Photo via Chattown Stages

An idea born from Camp House’s Songwriter Stage, Chattown Stages is a virtual adaptation to help artists meet and thrive. Ultimately, it’s a friendly competition with a panel of local judges who choose their favorite video performances submitted by regional artists. The winner will receive an awards package, which will change as sponsorship shifts.

Who can participate?

🧑‍🎤 Contestants must be 18+ or provide consent from an adult guardian.

🧑‍🎤 Open to residents of the Chattanooga region — from Dalton, GA to Athens + Sewanee TN, and up to the NC state line. A mailing address with zip code is required for verification and to mail your award.

🧑‍🎤 Open to amateur and professional artists.

Okay, how does it work virtually?

🎵 Interested artists must complete a profile including a link to a video of their performance.

🎵 The video performance is then judged by the panel + by the audience for an audience choice award.

🎵 Each contest series will be different — there are ongoing competitions in different genres. The first competition is for singer-songwriters.

View the contest schedule, current awards pool, and the judges’ criteria here.

I’m in — what do I do next?

✅ Register via this Google form or send an email to Chatttown Stages with private registration info + public profile information. (What you need to include is listed here.) The entry deadline is Feb. 20.

✅ Pay the $10 entry fee. All entry fees go into the awards pool.

✅ Review the official rules. If your entry does not meet the requirements, it will be rejected and you’ll have the opportunity to resubmit or receive a refund.

Bonuses:

✨ Sponsors will receive promotion from a contestant in their video + profile. If you’re interested in being a sponsor, find more details on how to sign up here.

✨ One more judge is needed for the first event. They are looking for folks with high credentials in the field + each event has new judges. If interested, contact Mark Anderson here.

Let’s get creative, Nooga. 💪 And if you’re feeling uninspired, check out some of the recent contest submissions.