Interested in being part of the Sturgis Buffalo Chip's Showcase Music Experience?
Please submit an Electronic Press Kit, My Space links and Youtube links to:
artists@buffalochip.com
Showcase artists are an integral part of the Chip Experience. The Chip takes pride in its emerging Showcase Artist series. We are excited to promote both signed and unsigned artists and help to provide them with the maximum amount of exposure possible.
All artist submissions will be reviewed. If interested, and if scheduling and space is still open, artists will be contacted for further consideration.
Due to the sheer volume of artist entertainment interests, Please do not send traditional paper/hard copy press kits or contact via telephone.
Thank you for your interest in performing at the Best Party Anywhere.
Below are some FAQ’s that will hopefully answer any questions you may have.
Showcase Experience FAQs
1) How big is Sturgis Buffalo Chip?
The Buffalo Chip was the first and is the largest biker-dedicated destination entertainment facility in the world. It is located in Sturgis, South Dakota and coincides with the Sturgis motorcycle rally. The Legendary Buffalo Chip’s physical size is 560 acres that provides on-site camping for the thousands of bikes and bikers each August who party, swim, shoot machine guns, watch 250 hp bikes climb hills, watch 2500 hp pickups race in the mud, eat, drink and make merry while also enjoying entertainment provided by the likes of Aerosmith and Toby Keith. It is an Outdoor Venue.
2) What was the attendance at the Buffalo Chip for last year?
The attendance at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip is more than at any other biker party in the world. The attendance figures are proprietary information and Woody simply does not give them out. The government estimates the Sturgis motorcycle rally attendance ranges from 440,000 to 700,000. The Buffalo Chip is recognized as the Sturgis motorcycle rally's center-piece and it's obvious that a large percentage of Sturgis rally attendees make it to the Buffalo Chip. Millions of bikers have partied at the Buffalo Chip over the last 3 decades. The huge media presence, multiple television shows and word of mouth has made it known the world over.
3) How can my band become a "Showcase Band" at the Buffalo Chip Campground in Sturgis?
As you may already suspect, the Buffalo Chip Campground literally receives hundreds of performance inquiries about performing at the Chip each year. Many bands have support, a strong desire to be there, or seek exposure.
Some performers sponsor stages by providing sound and PAs in exchange for performance time.
Bands must always provide their own backline and may also be required to bring their own sound and PA. Each situation is unique.
Contact us via email if you are interested in performing at the Legendary Buffalo Chip in Sturgis.
4) How do I become a Stage Sponsor?
Anyone can sponsor a stage at the Buffalo Chip: bands, sound companies, equipment manufacturers, and individuals. Stage sponsorship is available on different levels and can be as simple as a band supplying production and sound for the event.
Buffalo Chip stage sponsors and performers have the opportunity to increase their national visibility through media presence and performances. In 2008, a total of 950 Million estimated media impressions were generated for the Buffalo Chip and its partners.
The Buffalo Chip has been featured world-wide in highly rated music & biker television specials on such networks as VH-1 Classic, Travel, Discovery, and National Geographic and national and international news stations.
5) What is a Showcase band?
The Buffalo Chip is a Festival venue outside of Sturgis, SD with 4 Stages. They are: The Wolfman Jack Stage, The Kinison stage, the Bikini Beach stage and The Hoyt Axton stage. Well known national acts play on the Wolfman Jack main stage and Showcase artists on the others. The Buffalo Chip Showcase stages also host bikini contests, burlesque shows, comedy acts, etc. Showcase artists share time on these three stages and need to be very flexible. The event is such that schedule changes will occur as unforeseen circumstances present themselves. There is no other venue like the Buffalo Chip in Sturgis or anywhere else in the world.
6) What should Showcase bands expect for performance attendance?
On certain nights and times, depending on weather and headliner, support stages can have a crowd of hundreds. It is an outdoor event and it is always unpredictable. The Sturgis rally gains momentum throughout the week. Customers get to know who, where and when their favorite Showcase bands are playing. The actual entire Buffalo Chip amphitheater could hold about 60,000 and the rest of the campground seems to be unlimited and has never sold out. It is a fun festival. Expect a varied attendance in terms of numbers. Sometimes people will be out in front dancing, sometimes banging their heads, sometimes the artists music will be ambient. There is no guarantee how people will react to an artist or how many people will be standing out front of the stage, or which stage is popular that night. It varies.
7) How Are Artists Promoted at the Chip?
Band info is posted on the Buffalo Chip website in multiple locations. The Bands and Stages link gives a release and description of each band, their play location, and other info. Artists are also mentioned in our online newsletter, social media, and placed on our LED Jumbo-trons that rotate stills daily left and right of the Main stage.
More than 10 radio stations broadcast live every night from the Buffalo Chip Campground. Bands are encouraged to give interviews, play a song, and generally promote themselves throughout the week via this outlet.
Bands are also encouraged to post promos and flyers regionally and throughout the campground and to let campers know where and when they are playing.
8) How many shows does the band need to perform, how long are the sets and how many nights?
Sets are generally 90 minutes, sometimes shorter or longer depending on the need. Showcase Artists usually dedicate 5-9 days depending on how the schedule can be arranged. Generally the longer block the better: The customers get to know about the performances and where to find the band throughout the week. Longer blocks have the highest degree of benefits and chance of exposure .
9) Where do artists stay?
Bands usually bring an RV or Bus or camp with the rest of the bands. Occasionally a band will fly in and get motels, but this is generally discouraged because it is expensive and because the performers miss out on the true experience by leaving the grounds. Bands are given wristbands to the campground and amphitheater. There are showers, restaurants, vendors, general store, bars... it is a little city that has everything to survive for the duration.
10) What is the cutoff date for the band entries?
We don't have a cutoff date. We fill spots as the rally approaches. We try to keep a varied choice of genres and openings.