(i) Preliminary And Final In-Store Competitions: The Preliminary Competitions will take place at all participating Guitar Center stores. See www.guitarcenter.com/drumoff for a list of participating store locations and for the dates and locations of the phases of the Contest. Contestants must register (“Registration”) at any participating Guitar Center by the date of the Preliminary In-Store Competition in which they wish to compete and must meet the eligibility requirements set forth in Paragraph 4 below. Each store will designate the first fourteen (14) individuals to Register at that store as the twelve (12) contestants and two (2) alternates to compete in each Preliminary In-Store Competition on a first-come, first-served basis based on the date and time of each Registration. Registration will begin on August 1, 2016. Preliminary In-Store Competitions will be held on September 13, 2016, and September 20, 2016.. The contestant with the highest score (as described below) from each Preliminary In-Store Competition (the “Preliminary Store Winner”), and the two contestants with the second-highest and third-highest scores from each Preliminary In-Store Competition (the “Preliminary Store Runner‑Ups”) will advance to the Final In-Store Competition, which will be held on September 27, 2016. If either the Preliminary Store Winner or the Preliminary Store Runner‑Ups decline to compete in the Final In-Store Competition, then the contestant who received the next-highest Final Score will be invited to compete in the Final In-Store Competition. If necessary, that procedure will be repeated until three contestants from each Preliminary In-Store Competition have agreed to compete in the Final In-Store Competition. The order in which contestants perform at each Preliminary and Final In-Store Competition will be determined by a random drawing held thirty (30) minutes prior to the start of the competition (The “Random Drawing”). ALL CONTESTANTS MUST ARRIVE TO THE CORRECT GUITAR CENTER LOCATION AND BE PRESENT FOR THE RANDOM DRAWING TO BE ELIGIBLE. ALL CONTESTANTS AGREE THAT THE OFFICIAL TIME SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE ONSITE GUITAR CENTER ACTING MANAGER AND SHALL BE BINDING. Any contestant who is not at the correct guitar center location and present for the random drawing will be disqualified and will not be eligible to compete in that competition. Each contestant will have three (3) minutes to perform. SNARE DRUM, DRUM STICKS, BASS PEDAL and DRUM THRONE are the only personal pieces of gear contestants may use during their performance. Contestants will compete on a 5-piece drum set complete with cymbals, hardware, cowbell, tambourine, a pair of wood blocks, and a drum throne. Contestant may replace any of the following items with their own personal equipment (SNARE DRUM, BASS PEDALS AND/OR DRUM THRONE only). The brand and model of the drum set, hardware, throne and cymbals will vary by region. Each contestant will be judged according to the criteria described in Paragraph 2. The contestant with the highest Final Score AT THE FINAL IN‑STORE COMPETITION will be the Store Winner, provided THAT THAT contestant meets the eligibility requirements SET FORTH in Paragraph 4 and satisfies the conditions set forth in Paragraph 7. A tie for the highest Final Score will result in an additional round of competition (“Tie Breaker”), in which all tied contestants will have two (2) additional minutes to perform. The Tie Breaker will be judged according to the criteria described in Paragraph 2. The contestant with the highest Final Score in any Tie Breaker will be the Store Winner, provided that THAT contestant meets the eligibility requirements set forth in Paragraph 4 and satisfies the conditions set forth in Paragraph 7.

(ii) Qualifying For The Quarterfinals Competitions: There will be thirty (30) Quarterfinals competitions. Each Store Winner will be invited to compete in the Quarterfinals Competition for the District in which the Final In‑Store Competition in which he/she participated took place. Store Winners who qualify to compete in the Quarterfinals Competition will be notified in accordance with Paragraph 3(viii). If a Store Winner declines the invitation to compete in the Quarterfinals Competition, then the contestant who received the next-highest Final Score in that Final In-Store Competition (“Store Runner-Up”) will be invited to compete in the Quarterfinals Competition and will be notified in accordance with Paragraph 3(viii). If Guitar Center so elects, in its sole discretion, that procedure will be repeated until a contestant from each Final In‑Store Competition has accepted the invitation to compete.

(iii) Quarterfinals Competitions: The order in which contestants perform at each Quarterfinals Competition will be determined by a random drawing held thirty (30) minutes prior to the start of the competition (The “Random Drawing”). ALL CONTESTANTS MUST ARRIVE TO THE CORRECT GUITAR CENTER LOCATION AND BE PRESENT FOR THE RANDOM DRAWING TO BE ELIGIBLE. ALL CONTESTANTS AGREE THAT THE OFFICIAL TIME SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE ONSITE GUITAR CENTER ACTING MANAGER AND SHALL BE BINDING. Any contestant who is not at the correct guitar center location and present for the random drawing will be disqualified and will not be eligible to compete in that competition. Each contestant will have three (3) minutes to perform. SNARE DRUM, DRUM STICKS, BASS PEDAL and DRUM THRONE are the only personal pieces of gear contestants may use during their performance. Contestants will compete on a 5-piece drum set complete with cymbals, hardware, cowbell, tambourine, a pair of wood blocks, and a drum throne. Contestant may replace any of the following items with their own personal equipment (SNARE DRUM, BASS PEDALS AND/OR DRUM THRONE only). The brand and model of the drum set, hardware, throne and cymbals will vary by region. Each contestant will be judged according to the criteria described in Paragraph 2. The contestant with the highest Final Score will be the QUARTERfINALS Winner for that QUARTERfINALS Competition, provided That THAT contestant meets the eligibility requirements SET FORTH in Paragraph 4 and satisfies the conditions set forth in Paragraph 7. A tie for the highest Final Score will result in an additional round of competition (“Tie Breaker”), in which all competitors receiving that Final Score will have two (2) additional minutes to demonstrate their skills. The Tie Breaker will be judged according to the criteria described in Paragraph 2. The contestant with the highest Final Score in any Tie Breaker will be the Quarterfinals Winner for that Quarterfinals Competition.

(iv) Qualifying For The Semifinals Competitions: All Quarterfinals Winners will be invited to compete in the Semi-Finals Competition that corresponds to that Quarterfinals Competition. There will be (5) five Semi-Finals Competitions. If any Quarterfinals Winner declines the invitation or otherwise does not appear at the Semi-Finals Competition, then that Quarterfinals Winner will be disqualified and will not be eligible to compete in the Semifinals Competition or to win any additional prizes. Quarterfinals Winners who qualify for a Semifinals Competition will be notified in accordance with Paragraph 3(viii). If a Quarterfinals Winner declines the invitation to compete in the Semifinals Competition, then the Store Winner for that Region who received the next-highest Final Score in that Quarterfinals Competition (“District Runner‑Up”) will be invited to compete in the Semifinals Competition and will be notified in accordance with Paragraph 3(viii). If Guitar Center so elects, in its sole discretion, that procedure will be repeated until a contestant from each Quarterfinals Competition has accepted the invitation to compete.

The Regions are defined as follows: West Region includes: California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington; North Central Region includes: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, plus portions of Texas, Colorado, Arkansas, and Ohio; South Central Region includes: Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Louisiana, Colorado, plus a portion of Arkansas and Texas; Southeast Region includes: Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Tennessee Northeast Region includes: Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, and a portion of Ohio.

(v) Semifinals Competitions: The order in which contestants perform at each Semifinals Competition will be determined by a random drawing held thirty (30) minutes prior to the start of the competition (The “Random Drawing”). ALL CONTESTANTS MUST ARRIVE TO THE CORRECT GUITAR CENTER LOCATION AND BE PRESENT FOR THE RANDOM DRAWING TO BE ELIGIBLE. ALL CONTESTANTS AGREE THAT THE OFFICIAL TIME SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE ONSITE GUITAR CENTER ACTING MANAGER AND SHALL BE BINDING. Any contestant who is not at the correct guitar center location and present for the random drawing will be disqualified and will not be eligible to compete in that competition. Each contestant will have five (5) MINUTES to perform. SNARE DRUM, DRUM STICKS, BASS PEDAL and DRUM THRONE are the only personal pieces of gear contestants may use during their performance. Contestants will compete on a 5-piece drum set complete with cymbals, hardware, cowbell, tambourine, a pair of wood blocks, and a drum throne. Contestant may replace any of the following items with their own personal equipment (SNARE DRUM, BASS PEDALS AND/OR DRUM THRONE only). The brand and model of the drum set, hardware, throne and cymbals will vary by region. Each contestant will be judged according to the criteria described in Paragraph 2. The contestant with the highest Final Score will be the Regional Winner for that SEMI-FINALS Competition, provided that THE contestant meets the eligibility requirements SET FORTH in Paragraph 4 and satisfies the conditions set forth in Paragraph 7. A tie for the highest Final Score and/or Runner Up Score will result in an additional round of competition (“Tie Breaker”), in which all contestants receiving such Final or Runner up Score will have two (2) additional minutes to perform. The Tie Breaker will be judged as described in Paragraph 2. The contestant with the highest Final Score in any Tie Breaker will be the Semi-Finals Winner for that Semi-Finals Competition and the contestant with the highest runner up score will be the Runner Up for that Semi-Finals Competition.

(vi) Qualifying For The National Competition: All Semifinals Winners will be invited to compete in the National Competition. There will be one (1) National Competition. If any Semifinals Winner declines the invitation or otherwise does not appear at the National Competition, then that Semifinals Winner will be disqualified and will not be eligible to compete in the National Competition or to win any additional prizes. Semifinals Winners who qualify for a National Competition will be notified in accordance with Paragraph 3(viii). If a Semifinals Winner declines the invitation to compete in the National Competition, then the Quarterfinals Winner for that Region who received the next-highest Final Score in that Semifinals Competition (“Quarterfinals Runner‑Up”) will be invited to compete in the National Competition and will be notified in accordance with Paragraph 3(viii). If Guitar Center so elects, in its sole discretion, that procedure will be repeated until a contestant from each Semifinals Competition has accepted the invitation to compete.

(vii) National Competition: The order in which contestants perform at each National Competition will be determined by a random drawing held thirty (30) minutes prior to the start of the competition (The “Random Drawing”). ALL CONTESTANTS MUST ARRIVE TO THE CORRECT GUITAR CENTER LOCATION AND BE PRESENT FOR THE RANDOM DRAWING TO BE ELIGIBLE. ALL CONTESTANTS AGREE THAT THE OFFICIAL TIME SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE ONSITE GUITAR CENTER ACTING MANAGER AND SHALL BE BINDING. Any contestant who is not at the correct guitar center location and present for the random drawing will be disqualified and will not be eligible to compete in that competition. Each contestant will have five (5) minutes to perform. SNARE DRUM, DRUM STICKS, BASS PEDAL and DRUM THRONE are the only personal pieces of gear contestants may use during their performance. Contestants will compete on a 5-piece drum set complete with cymbals, hardware, cowbell, tambourine, a pair of wood blocks, and a drum throne. Contestant may replace any of the following items with their own personal equipment (SNARE DRUM, BASS PEDALS AND/OR DRUM THRONE only). The brand and model of the drum set, hardware, throne and cymbals will vary by region. Each contestant will be judged according to the criteria described in Paragraph 2. The contestant with the highest Final Score in the National Competition will be the Grand Prize Winner of this Contest, provided THAT thE contestant meets the eligibility requirements SET FORTH in Paragraph 4 and satisfies the conditions set forth in Paragraph 7. A tie for the highest Final Score will result in additional deliberation by the judges (“Tie Breaker”), where the performances by all contestants receiving such highest Final Score will be considered side by side, and the judges will decide on the ranking of such contestants’ performances. The Tie Breaker will be judged in accordance with the criteria in Paragraph 2 and will be based on such contestant’s performances in the National Competition only. In the event of a Tie Breaker, the contestant then ranked the highest in any Tie Breaker deliberation will be the Grand Prize Winner of this Contest.

(viii) Notification: Notification to all winners at each level shall be in person at the conclusion of each competition. Notification to any Runner‑Ups shall consist of a telephone call to the telephone number listed on the Runner‑Up’s Registration Form. By entering this contest, you agree that the notification methods stated herein are sufficient to give you notice in the event that you are a winner at any level. If any winner fails to respond BY AGREEING IN PERSON OR by TELEphone TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NEXT LEVEL OF COMPETITION within two (2) days of notification or does not appear at the next level of competition, then that winner forfeits his or her right to participate further in this Contest. Any Runners-Up will be notified within two (2) business days of the day that any winner fails to respond or declines the invitation to compete in the next level of competition.