Why are we changing the rules? First, there have been CDs that have "double-dipped" or "triple dipped" in the BOCA contest. In earlier years when world class college a cappella was more rare, we accepted this trade-off. Now, however, quality college a cappella abounds, so we think it's more fair to "spread the wealth" with BOCA honors. Second, an unintended consequence of this policy was that our friends producing college a cappella CDs had a frenzy of one-off recordings in the two months leading up to November 1. This wasn't good for their health, mental or otherwise. So we're doing everyone a favor by making all college groups plan ahead and get their full CDs completed by BOCA deadline time.

If the shrink-wrapped version isn't out yet, just send us two advance CDR copies of the final mastered disc. Remember: if the finished product comes out before Dec. 31st, you need to send two finished copies ASAP to CASA (not to Varsity Vocals) to be eligible in the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs). This was different from the old way of doing things beginning in 2003, when BOCA and the CARAs were no longer being managed by the same individual.

Last year we submitted some songs on CD-R. We released the full CD this year - can we still submit it?

Yes (for 2008, no for future years), but please include a list of the songs that were included on the previously submitted CD-R. We won't re-consider those, but we will consider the "new" tracks.

What Recordings Can Be Included On BOCA?

Any college a cappella recording in the pop/rock, jazz, gospel, classical, barbershop, country, Hebrew, Hindi, etc. style, from anywhere on the planet.

We prefer recordings made or released in the current year, but if your group just found us, we'll consider your old CDs too (you deserve the same chance as everyone else).

Tracks will be chosen by CASA Founder Deke Sharon and A-Cappella.com Manager Amy Briggs. Important factors include 1) a good song; 2) a song not released on an earlier BOCA; 3) no tuning problems; 4) an effective arrangement; 5) well-balanced vocal background; 6) impressive solo (although impressive groups numbers are ok too); 7) production quality that doesn't detract.

Our CD is live. Should we not bother to send it?

We want to hear it anyway. We've never used live cuts but we've come very close, so you never know if your group will be that lucky one.

Should we send it if we think it's not likely to make BOCA?

You never know. We've shocked groups that never thought they'd make it. The requirements for the annual BOCA are strict, yes, but there are other thematic BOCAs in the idea stage and you never know if what you've got fits what we may want for one of them.

Also, CDs submitted for BOCA are eligible to be sold in the A-Cappella.com online store. A-Cappella.com will be able to use your BOCA submission to scan the cover and input the song list, so you can start reaching the 3,000 visitors per day that browse their site. For more details, see here for details on selling through A-Cappella.com.

Our submission is going to be late! I'm panicking - will you accept late submissions?

Don't panic! First, let us know when we should expect it, by emailing amy@a-cappella.com. We will let you know if it's going to be in on time. We give a few days leniency as long as we are informed ahead of time - that is, we need to receive an email from you by 5:00 pm EST on November 1 to let us know it will be coming. We respect how hard you have worked to produce your recording, and know first-hand that sometimes delays happen. We also want to respect the hard work of groups who are able to meet the deadline. However, no CDs will be considered after the selections have been made, which will usually be the second or third week in November (in 2006 it will be earlier, November 7-8). And no, you cannot email or FTP a late submission (see below). If you do miss the deadline, the CD can always be submitted for consideration the following year.

What format will you accept?

We'll take CDs and CDRs. Sorry, we do not accept electronic submissions such as e-mailed MP3s or FTP'd WAV files. When it comes to going into the studio, we will just take the track directly off the CD you submitted, which is why tapes aren't acceptable. Also, please do not send MP3s on disc, DATs or mini-discs. These will be discarded and ignored (sorry, but you've been warned!).

What should we send with our CDs?

If you're sending the finished product (shrink-wrapped and all), throw in a business card and call it done. Everything we need should be in the liners (ie, soloist, arranger, name of the song, etc).

For those sending CDRs:

- Put the group's full name & school on the CD (and the case). With seven groups named the Accidentals, eight Sirens, four Gentlemen, three Chimes, three Mixed Companys, three No Strings Attached, three Overtones, etc, in our database, we need to know fast whose CD is in our hands.

- Include a track list with soloists and arrangers.

- Put the CD in a proper CD case or sleeve. Don't just wrap the CD in newspaper, and please don't put both CDs in the same case - we ask for two copies because they get separated to go to two different offices.

- Please include full contact information. The MOST IMPORTANT contact information is your correct e-mail address. If we are trying to reach a group whose business email is bouncing, whose website is down and who didn't give us a phone number - guess what? They won't be included.

Does it cost anything to appear on BOCA?

Yes. Groups are required to pre-purchase 50 CDs at $5 apiece, for a total of $250, in order to appear on BOCA. Note that you are not limited to 50 CDs; some groups have bought many more and sold them on campus for much more than $5 each.

What do we get out of appearing on BOCA?

Bragging rights for one. More than 100 CDs are submitted each year for BOCA, of which we will choose fewer than 20. You can sell your copies at any price, though you only pay us $5 for them, so at $15 per, you make a 200 per cent profit.

You also get international publicity, and we include contact information in the liner notes so people who like what they hear can order your disc.

What's the difference between BOCA & the CARAs?

They're run by two different organizations that work closely together.

- BOCA is a compilation CD by Varsity Vocals, one of the Mainely A Cappella family of companies (co-produced with CASA).

- The CARAs are run by CASA. These are awards based on vocal performance as well as recording quality, so achieving recording perfection isn't as important. Many CDs not selected for BOCA produce CARA nominations for Best Soloist, Best Arrangement, Best Song and even occasionally Best Album.

Also, the CARAs require the CD to be commercially available before it can be eligible, while BOCA will accept yet-to-be released CDRs.

The BOCA deadline is NOVEMBER 1st -  two months before the CARAs December 31st deadline, so if your CD is at the plant when BOCA is being done and you've submitted CDRs, please make sure you remember to send the finished product, two copies, as soon as it's available to CASA if you want to be considered for the CARA Awards.

We sent our CD to CASA - do we need to send it to you, too?

Yes. Send separate copies to Varsity Vocals in Southwest Harbor, ME for BOCA submission and 2 copies to CASA in San Francisco, CA for CARA submission.

Do we need to go to an expensive studio for our CD to be accepted?

Bill Hare, who as of BOCA 2007 has produced 43 cuts that appear on BOCA, posted this in 2002 on rec.music.a-cappella (reprinted with his permission):

10 years ago, it was easy to tell which recordings were home made, and which were done in studios. With today's cheap digital technology, a very clean recording can be made by anybody, it's the production quality that is out of reach without years of engineering experience.

That being said, high production levels aren't always needed. There are some 4 to 5 member groups I've worked with that have "recording only" arrangements - 12 to 20 part opuses that cannot be replicated live, and those of course need some level of control and production.

As far as equipment goes, yes, there is a difference between my $5,000+ mics and whatever you might use, but you can still get your point across just fine. There are lots of nth degrees in recording, and the more you have, the more you pay. It's always nicer to go from point A to point B in a Limo, but a '66 Volkswagen Beetle will get you there at the same time (yes, it might break down a couple times, but you'll get there eventually, with slightly rumpled clothes) If you can, try to find someone with a little experience under their belt to help you record, as doing it ALL yourself can really get in the way of your art. I'm sure there are some other students there at OBU who'd do it for a week of lunches, who might already have a decent little studio in their dorm room. Check around. If you do end up using your own equipment, do have a "5th member" around to run it for you so you can just sing - not run back and forth from the mic to start the recorder!

THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT YOUR CD FOR BOCA IS NOVEMBER 1st each year.