The Prog On The Ranch Grid Guide
Quick Guide 2027: (The Essentials)
1.) SATURDAY: You begin with FIVE RED VIRTUAL CHIPS in your Chip Bank, which on this first day, you can ONLY use to ADD NEW SONGS to The Grid.
2.) SUNDAY: You get FIVE BLUE VIRTUAL CHIPS, solely to JOIN EXISTING SONGS. If you have still have RED CHIPS remaining, they can now be used to either JOIN or ADD songs.
3.) If you're on a Dream Team Set or Snap Set, your spent chips will be automatically deducted from the Chip Bank (except backing vocals & aux. players).
4.) "No-Brainer:" If you're sitting on a song by yourself for much longer than a day, assume there's no interest. Drop the song and join another... Trust us!
5.) Take a few minutes to read through the information below, whether you are new to The Grid, or as a refresher, since there are a few changes from last year.
Comprehensive Guide: (Optional)
1.) All participants have the opportunity to select parts for the songs they want to play at Prog On The Ranch. You can ADD NEW SONGS to "The Grid" and/or JOIN songs that other participants had previously added. Once your song has a full roster of players, your song is complete. At that time the song will "GO GREEN" on The Grid, which means that it WILL be scheduled to be performed at Prog On The Ranch. You can add up to two parts to any song. EXAMPLES: Lead Vocals & Bass Guitar, Drums & Backing Vocals, etc. Choose songs that you feel will have enough appeal to the other musicians, that it will get completed on The Grid. If you choose a particularly obscure, top forty or mainstream song, don't be surprised if very few (if any) musicians join you. This means the song may not "GO GREEN" and ultimately may not be performed at Prog On The Ranch at all. You're encouraged to reach out to other players to join your songs (that's part of the fun). Unless otherwise noted on your Song Request Form, the "original studio version" will be the default.
2.) VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE READ CAREFULLY: Once again we are utilizing the "POTR CHIP SYSTEM" which we have used very successfully for over years. All participants will begin with a total of TEN VIRTUAL CHIPS. Each new song that you ADD or JOIN are represented by either a RED CHIP (for adding new songs), or a BLUE CHIP (for joining existing songs). As always, we are expecting a "feeding frenzy" when The Grid opens, and we expect The Grid to close within 2 to 3 days of opening (it used to take 3 to 4 months). The chip system will help keep things visually organized and easier for everyone to understand. You are not required to use all your chips. Some players prefer to perform on fewer songs, or even just one song. It's all up to you. REMINDER: If you are on a Dream Team and/or Snap Set, the Grid will open with your chips already appointed.
3.) IMPORTANT: If you don't use all your Red Chips on Saturday, your remaining RED CHIPS CAN NOW BE USED UNIVERSALLY to ADD and/or JOIN songs. However your BLUE CHIPS can ONLY be used to JOIN existing songs. If you added a new song with a RED CHIP and that song is not getting any attention after a day or two, we would advise you to DROP that song, and either ADD or JOIN a different song. There is a lot of competition as The Grid unfolds, but collaboration is actually what The Grid is all about. Every entry you submit on The Grid is digitally time-stamped. So if you see someone else's name on a song slot that you had also requested, that means that they clocked-in before you, possibly just a second or two before you. If this does happens, don't waste too much time. Move your chip to another song that you're interested in, or maybe you'll want to help another player to complete a song and turn it "GREEN". There will be many to choose from.
4.) If you're still confused, anyone on our Production Team will be glad to help in real time, as will any of our alumni players, who will be very happy to guide you through, so don't hesitate to reach out if you need assistance while The Grid is live. We promise you that you will "get it" very quickly once The Grid opens. We will be keeping track of how much "live performance time" remains on The Grid. This is all dependent on the average length of the songs, and the average amount of time it takes to transition between songs. Once we run close to the limit, The Grid will begin to wind down, and notifications will be posted on the Facebook PROG ON THE RANCH Grid page once we get down to the last few song slots, to allow the players to make their final choices before it closes.
IMPORTANT: THERE ARE NO PRIOR GROUP REHEARSALS. YOU WILL MEET YOUR "BAND" WHEN YOU ARRIVE ;-)
What is The Grid all about?
This is an online pre-production tool, and real-time song registration format from which our schedule is prepared, allowing participants to individually select songs, and rehearse them at home in the months leading up to the Prog On The Ranch Event. This is a multi-faceted event, assembled by our Production Team and a core of volunteer musicians and instrument techs. This unique format provides our musicians the opportunity to perform live onstage in dozens of different live performance configurations, over a three day period from Friday April 9th, through Sunday April 11th.
How Do I Get Tickets?
This is a private event by invitation and personal referrals only. HOWEVER, if you found us organically, or heard about us from a friend or otherwise, we want to hear from you! Please send us a message through this website's Info Page (or email us at: crimson444@usa.net) and we'll get you going.
What Do I Need To Bring?
Bring your instrument, and/or your vocal prowess, and be fully prepared to perform your songs. Bring your own Guitar or Bass (or make arrangements in advance to share). Keyboards will be provided, however you are welcome to bring your own keyboard. DRUMMERS - DO NOT BRING YOUR DRUM KIT, however you can bring your favorite peripherals including snare, cymbals, sticks, temple blocks, etc. We suggest bringing a spare set of strings if you are a guitarist or bassist, and a possibly a battery (or two) for your active instrument as well. Amps, Drums, Keyboards, Monitors, as well as a full state-of-the-art sound system will be provided. Vocalists can bring their own mics our use one of ours. If you're bringing gear you'd like to share, let us know.
What's all this all about songs "Going Green"
A song is completed and Goes Green as soon as ALL players are in position, and there are no available instrument or vocal slots remaining on this song. When a song Goes Green, all players are locked in place and the song will definitely be added to the POTR Performance Schedule, so those on the song can begin rehearsing their parts at home. The players on your song are encouraged to contacted each other (usually via a Facebook or Facebook Messenger) to discuss specifics of their song's key, tempo, endings, versions, etc. Groups that meet regularly on Facebook Messenger (or alternate platform) to coordinate their parts and discuss progress have a much better chance to pull off a flawless performance.
How will I know what Day/Time I will be performing?
The final schedule will be posted shortly after the POTR Grid fills up and closes. It will include the songs to be played, as well as the day and approximate times they are scheduled. Please be near the stage two songs prior to the song(s) you will be performing with your gear, ready to go. There will be a team to assist you. There will be tuners available at side stage. Please tune up BEFORE before you enter the stage.
Something unexpected came up & I cant attend. What do I do?
Please let us know as soon as possible, so we can determine how to fill your vacant slots. Otherwise, any songs you're on may have to be dropped at the last minute, so please let us know as quickly as possible.
Guidelines & Everything Else:
a.) Whether you are a Newcomer or Alumni, don’t choose the same player(s) to perform all your songs with. Part of the fun for you and the audience is watching different combinations of players on each song.
b.) Make sure you fully read and understand the entire section, and ask questions if you are unclear about anything BEFORE THE GRID OPENS. You can post your questions on the Facebook Prog On The Ranch Discussion page. Somebody is always willing to help.
c.) Please Do NOT participate if you are planning to learn your songs at the last minute!!! You may have the technical ability of your favorite Idol, but if you don't rehearse, YOU will be the reason that the song fails, and there will be at least a couple of videos on YouTube afterwards that may make you cringe. So if you don't think you are disciplined enough to actually learn the songs you choose, then this is probably NOT for you.
d.) Remember, the other players on your songs are counting on you (as you will be counting on them), so don't let your bandmates down by counting in too early (or too late), forgetting a chord progression, playing a passage in the wrong key or at the wrong tempo, etc. Nerves and adrenaline can get the best of us, and mistakes can happen. That’s ok. However, it’s fairly easy to tell if someone just got around to learning their part merely days before the event.