Greatest Songs Contest: Battle of the Years
2012 and Inaugural Edition
Rule Summary - Final Version

Object of the Contest: To pick the best songs, win the most points, claim the victory. No tangible prize specified. Intangible: bragging, gloating rights, schaedenfraudic revelling in others' bitterness

How it Works:

1) Each contestant must play a song from their chosen years, as follows:

Brian - 1978 and 2005
Derek - 1979 and 2004
Stu - 1969 and 1994
Marc - 1973 and 1999
Kyle - 1967 and 1992
Mike - 1972 and 1997

2) The contestant against which they're paired plays on song from his chosen years.
3) All contestants vote on what song played is the better/greater song.
4) Process repeats itself until all contestants have had a chance to play a song.
5) Round ends and the process begins again.
6) There are 10 rounds total
7) Any potential ties will be resolved with an additional round between the tied contestants. After all songs are played in the tie breaker, those not tied vote. A winner is then declared or another tie breaker commences with whomever remains tied until a winner is declared.

Specifics:

1) There are 15 possible pairings of contestants
2) Each contestant faces another contestant twice, for a total of 30 pairings total (3 pairings per round, 10 rounds)
3) The pairings will be as follows:

1. Brian-Derek
2. Brian-Kyle
3. Brian-Marc
4. Brian-Mike
5. Brian-Stu
6. Derek-Kyle
7. Derek-Marc
8. Derek-Mike
9. Derek-Stu
10. Kyle-Marc
11. Kyle-Mike
12. Kyle-Stu
13. Marc-Mike
14. Marc-Stu
15. Mike-Stu
16. Stu-Mike
17. Stu-Marc
18. Mike-Marc
19. Stu-Kyle
20. Mike-Kyle
21. Marc-Kyle
22. Stu-Derek
23. Mike-Derek
24. Marc-Derek
25. Kyle-Derek
26. Stu-Brian
27. Mike-Brian
28. Marc-Brian
29. Kyle-Brian
30. Derek-Brian

Note: I had originally suggested printing out all the pairings. However, this will cause some delays when pairings are pulled randomly and contestants who have already played in the round are pulled up again in the next draw; this will happen a lot. An alternative, better plan is to simply put all 6 contestant names in, draw the names, have players play in the order in which the names are pulled, and we simply cross off the pairing from a list.

4) Each round begins with two names being pulled out of a hat.
5) Contestants on the pairing play their songs. Order of play is determined by whose name was pulled first. The next time the two play, the order is reversed, regardless of whose name was pulled first from the hat.

6) Vote occurs; tear sheets with each person's name and round listed will be provided in order to help keep track of the voting, expedite the voting, and ensure that someone just doesn't repeatedly toss their own name in multiple times per round.

7) Process repeats itself until all 6 players have played a song.

8) Next round begins.

For example: Stuart and Brian are the first names drawn. Stuart plays a song. Brian plays a song. Everyone votes by tossing the name of the contestant they think has played the better song into a bowl. Two new names are drawn: Kyle and Marc. Kyle plays a song. Marc plays a song. We all vote. Two new names drawn: Mike and Derek. Mike plays a song. Derek plays a song. We vote. Round ends. We begin anew.

Additional notes:

-Year requirement: Contestant can play a song from whatever year but cannot play 3 songs in a row from the same year. So: Mike can play 1997, 1997 for the first two rounds and his next round he has to play 1972. He can then play 1997, 1997 for the fourth and fifth round, then has to play 1972 again. Etc. Note: This is just an example. He doesn't have to play any one year first.

-Song Length: It is asked that you not exceed the 5 minute length no more than twice in the contest. All songs will be cut off after 8 minutes. Players have the option of fast forwarding in order to highlight a section of the long song if they wish.

-Tie-breaker at the end of the rounds: If two or more players are tied in points at the end of 10 rounds, a sudden death final round occurs where each surviving player plays one song (chosen by a random selection) and we vote on the best played. The tied players do not get a vote in this round (that way, if an odd number are tied, we have a chance of quickly determining a winner).

Safe travels Mike and enjoy the prep everyone.

See you all tomorrow night!