BAND SELECTION CRITERIA FOR THE BLACK & WHITE BALL 
Auburn's Black & White Ball has grown over the years, to become one of the premier social events in Northern California. The intent is to draw 5000-8000 people to Auburn, including local residents, people from the Sacramento region, and even the San Francisco Bay Area, to expose them to the wonderful city of Auburn. We utilize entertainment / bands that can help draw attendees from areas other than Auburn, and that will also attract local residents who will pay $70 to see them perform at the Ball. The bands are the "entertainment aspect of the Ball", the premier "drawing card", to attract ticket purchasers from all over Northern California.
The committee meets each year starting in January, to plan the Black & White Ball. Once the "theme" for the event is determined, the committee begins the review of promotional packages submitted by bands, to find bands that are a suitable fit for the Ball. We review information from over 40 bands each year. The selection process includes consideration to the following items:
- CD/DVD/VIDEO - how does the band sound? We usually listen to or watch selections from 4-5 songs per band. We look for at least one band each year to fit the "theme" of the Ball.
- Song List - what type of music does the band play? Does the song list include songs the audience will recognize and be able to dance to? Is the music tasteful and appropriate for the Ball?
- Promotional Materials - submitted by bands / entertainers should include the following:
- Photos - does the band wear costumes? What do they look like? (This is important for our promotion campaign in the Auburn Journal and other publications.)
- Biography - information on the individual band members - how long have they been together? How many members in the band? What instruments do they play? What is their background?
- Website - how big is the band's fan base? What materials do they have to further promote the Black & White Ball to their fans? Will they link our website to theirs?
- Past Clients - Where else have they performed? How many times? How large an audience? Are there references we can call for feedback?
- Price - what fee is the band charging, do they have their own sound system, and are there other required considerations such as hotel rooms, travel charges, etc.?
After reviewing the packages submitted by all bands / entertainers, the committee collectively votes to make the entertainment selections. The top 4-5 bands (depending on how many stages we have) that receive the majority of votes, based on their ability to "entertain", song repertoire, and ability to draw 5000 people to the streets of Auburn at a price of
$70 per ticket, are offered the opportunity to perform at the Black & White Ball.
The entertainment decisions are based on the above criteria only, and are fair to everyone. Our primary objective is to bring an exciting, professional event to Auburn. We invite you to submit a package to the Chamber of Commerce, and we will be happy to consider your band for next year's Black & White Ball.
Submit promotional packages to:
Auburn's Black & White Ball
Auburn Chamber of Commerce
601 Lincoln Way