HAVEN FACTOR EXPRESS - introductory post
Apr 4, 2023 15:21:53 GMT 1
ManicKangaroo, greendemon, and 6 more like this
Post by Shireblogger on Apr 4, 2023 15:21:53 GMT 1
Now that Haven Factor 11 has finished, I thought I’d post an introduction to Haven Factor Express, to whet the appetite and allow people to start thinking about their choice of act.
Firstly, four guiding principles:-
1. It is based on Haven Factor rules and format.
2. It is for lesser known acts.
3. It will be quick fire.
4. The quality of songs should improve as the competition progresses.
Quickfire
There will be seven rounds, including the final, if there are 15 or fewer entrants. There will be eight rounds if there are 16 or more entrants.
Each round, including the sing-off, will last a week. Five days for the regular round, two days for the sing-off.
To make this work smoothly, I will need sing-off songs submitted before we know who is in the sing-off. And I will need the next round’s songs submitted before each sing-off ends.
Quality Improvement
Regardless of the number of entries, there will be four finalists. And each finalist will enter just one song. Therefore, you should probably try to save your act’s best song for the final.
To get down to four finalists in just seven rounds, there will probably need to be double-elimination rounds. These will be the later rounds, not the earlier rounds. For example, if we have 13 entries, then rounds 1, 2 and 3 will be single-elimination, to whittle us down to ten. Round 4, the quarter-final and semi-final will be double-eliminations, to reduce the field to eight, six and then four.
No one will be eliminated without competing in a sing-off, except in the final.
If you play a good game, and don’t end up in a sing-off, then you will be able to win Haven Factor Express with just seven songs (or eight if there are 16 or more competitors).
Lesser Known
This means lesser known, not totally obscure. Although you are welcome to enter totally obscure artists if you want, please don’t start moaning if you’ve heard of most of the entries, and know that some of them have had number one hits on some Haven members’ personal charts. In fact, this is a great opportunity for you to take your own personal favourites, and share them with a wider audience.
The general idea is that we get a broad field of very good acts who you had been considering entering into Haven Factor, but were deterred because you didn't think they had enough hits to last very long in the game. Now they have a genuine chance of winning.
Four rules govern the definition of lesser known.
1. No acts that have already appeared in Haven Factor.
2. Your act can never have had a UK Top 3 album. (Refer to the OCC website to check this).
3. Your act can have a maximum of 3 “well known” songs. A song qualifies as being well known in two ways:- (a) by being a Top 75 hit (refer to the OCC website or Polyhex to check this), or (b) by being certified silver (refer to the BPI website to check this).
Thus, for example, your act can have two Top 75 hits and a different song certified silver, and be eligible. Likewise, if the same three Top 75 hits have been certified silver, that is fine. But as soon as a fourth song gets a silver disc or becomes a hit, then the act cannot be used.
Within these criteria, the magnitude is irrelevant. Thus you could pick an act with three number one singles, just as long as they never had any other Top 75 hits or tracks certified silver. Likewise, you could pick an act with three multi-platinum tracks, just as long as they never had any other tracks certified or in the charts.
4. No dubious entries. Don’t pick the former lead singer of a well known band, for example. Likewise, don’t pick a covers band like The Bootleg Beatles or Bjorn Again. This rule will be applied entirely at my discretion.
These eligibility criteria apply on the day the competition starts. Thus, if an act gains a fourth “well known” song, or a first Top 3 album, while Haven Factor Express is running, then that’s fine. They won’t be disqualified.
These three rules mean that there won’t be an album track round, or any other special rounds (e.g. covers, live recordings…). You will have total freedom to choose whichever song you want in whichever round you want.
The finer details and scoring system will be decided nearer the time. And the starting date has still to be decided.
When we are close to the start date, I'll create a sign-up thread. But note, as this is Haven Factor Express, the sign-up thread and choice of act will be first-come first-served. Premature entries will go to the bottom of the pile.
Firstly, four guiding principles:-
1. It is based on Haven Factor rules and format.
2. It is for lesser known acts.
3. It will be quick fire.
4. The quality of songs should improve as the competition progresses.
Quickfire
There will be seven rounds, including the final, if there are 15 or fewer entrants. There will be eight rounds if there are 16 or more entrants.
Each round, including the sing-off, will last a week. Five days for the regular round, two days for the sing-off.
To make this work smoothly, I will need sing-off songs submitted before we know who is in the sing-off. And I will need the next round’s songs submitted before each sing-off ends.
Quality Improvement
Regardless of the number of entries, there will be four finalists. And each finalist will enter just one song. Therefore, you should probably try to save your act’s best song for the final.
To get down to four finalists in just seven rounds, there will probably need to be double-elimination rounds. These will be the later rounds, not the earlier rounds. For example, if we have 13 entries, then rounds 1, 2 and 3 will be single-elimination, to whittle us down to ten. Round 4, the quarter-final and semi-final will be double-eliminations, to reduce the field to eight, six and then four.
No one will be eliminated without competing in a sing-off, except in the final.
If you play a good game, and don’t end up in a sing-off, then you will be able to win Haven Factor Express with just seven songs (or eight if there are 16 or more competitors).
Lesser Known
This means lesser known, not totally obscure. Although you are welcome to enter totally obscure artists if you want, please don’t start moaning if you’ve heard of most of the entries, and know that some of them have had number one hits on some Haven members’ personal charts. In fact, this is a great opportunity for you to take your own personal favourites, and share them with a wider audience.
The general idea is that we get a broad field of very good acts who you had been considering entering into Haven Factor, but were deterred because you didn't think they had enough hits to last very long in the game. Now they have a genuine chance of winning.
Four rules govern the definition of lesser known.
1. No acts that have already appeared in Haven Factor.
2. Your act can never have had a UK Top 3 album. (Refer to the OCC website to check this).
3. Your act can have a maximum of 3 “well known” songs. A song qualifies as being well known in two ways:- (a) by being a Top 75 hit (refer to the OCC website or Polyhex to check this), or (b) by being certified silver (refer to the BPI website to check this).
Thus, for example, your act can have two Top 75 hits and a different song certified silver, and be eligible. Likewise, if the same three Top 75 hits have been certified silver, that is fine. But as soon as a fourth song gets a silver disc or becomes a hit, then the act cannot be used.
Within these criteria, the magnitude is irrelevant. Thus you could pick an act with three number one singles, just as long as they never had any other Top 75 hits or tracks certified silver. Likewise, you could pick an act with three multi-platinum tracks, just as long as they never had any other tracks certified or in the charts.
4. No dubious entries. Don’t pick the former lead singer of a well known band, for example. Likewise, don’t pick a covers band like The Bootleg Beatles or Bjorn Again. This rule will be applied entirely at my discretion.
These eligibility criteria apply on the day the competition starts. Thus, if an act gains a fourth “well known” song, or a first Top 3 album, while Haven Factor Express is running, then that’s fine. They won’t be disqualified.
These three rules mean that there won’t be an album track round, or any other special rounds (e.g. covers, live recordings…). You will have total freedom to choose whichever song you want in whichever round you want.
The finer details and scoring system will be decided nearer the time. And the starting date has still to be decided.
When we are close to the start date, I'll create a sign-up thread. But note, as this is Haven Factor Express, the sign-up thread and choice of act will be first-come first-served. Premature entries will go to the bottom of the pile.