Our Mission
Trick or Beat 2026 Virtual Drumline Exhibition
Trick or Beat is back for 2026!
Presented by The Percussion League, the Trick or Beat Virtual Drumline Exhibition brings drumlines together from across the country and beyond for a Halloween-themed virtual showcase built around performance, creativity, entertainment, and community.
Participating ensembles will submit their performances virtually, giving groups of different styles, sizes, and backgrounds an opportunity to showcase what they do while connecting with a larger drumline audience. Performances will be featured throughout the Trick or Beat event, with select awards and prizes determined through a combination of performance evaluation and fan voting.
More than a traditional competition, Trick or Beat is designed to celebrate the personality of each ensemble. Groups are encouraged to bring their own identity to the event—from musical and visual performance to costuming, themes, presentation, and overall entertainment.
Whether you're coming to compete, create something different, represent your community, or simply put on a great show, Trick or Beat 2026 is your opportunity to bring the noise to the virtual stage.
Rules & Regulations
Trick or Beat 2026 Virtual Drumline Competition Guidelines
Event Overview
The Trick or Beat 2026 Virtual Drumline Competition is an exciting event that allows drumlines to showcase their talent in a virtual setting. This event will serve as an evaluation & exhibition opportunity for drumlines participating in any Percussion League events during the 2026-2027 Season and as a performance opportunity for any non-member drumlines. Below are the key guidelines for participation:
1. Submission Requirements:
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Deadline: All participating groups must submit a performance video no later than October 25th at 11:59 pm.
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Video Format: Videos should be submitted in widescreen format (16:9) with a resolution of at least 1080p to ensure high-quality visuals.
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Audio Quality: The video must have clear audio where all sections of the drumline can be heard distinctly. This is essential for judges and audience members listening through both headphones and standard speakers.
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Camera Setup & Effects: Groups may choose to use either a single camera angle or multiple angles. However, on-screen graphics or special effects are strictly prohibited.
2. Video Content:
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Performance Length: Each group may perform a piece between 1.5 and 4 minutes in length.
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Editing Requirements: All groups must remove any blank space at the beginning or end of their videos to ensure that the focus remains on the performance itself.
3. Judging and Classification:
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Judging for this year's event will be strictly based on Fan Voting. However, placements for Classification will be determined by the Percussion League executive team and advisory board.
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Classification Outcome: Groups will be classified as either Alpha or Bravo class for the upcoming 2026-2027 season based on the judges' evaluation.
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Score Privacy: Scores will be provided privately to each group without public ranking.
4. Fan Engagement and Voting:
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Fan Favorite Voting: Each group will have the opportunity to promote their performance for fan favorite voting. The group with the most votes will receive an incentive provided by one of our sponsors (details to be determined).
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Public Promotion: This serves as an opportunity to gain community support and visibility for your ensemble.
5. Performance Requirements:
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Minimum/Maximum Performance Length: Each video submission must be between 1.5 to 4 minutes.
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Editing Rules: No additional graphics, titles, effects, or animations are allowed in the video to maintain fairness and focus on live performance skills.
6. Communication and Inquiries:
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Contact Information: Directors and instructors may contact events@percussionleague.com for any questions or concerns regarding participation, submission details, or technical requirements.
Additional Notes:
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The entire event will be released on October 31st via YouTube
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This virtual competition serves as a non-ranking event intended to evaluate readiness and allow for classification.
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Groups are encouraged to prepare their performance under the guidelines of clear, high-quality presentation to enable proper adjudication.
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Please ensure your submission adheres to these guidelines for a successful entry into the Trick or Beat 2026 Virtual Drumline Competition. We look forward to seeing your incredible performances!
Participation & Prize DISCLAIMER
Participation in the Trick or Beat 2026 Virtual Drumline Exhibition is voluntary. All participating ensembles enter the event as independent performance groups. Participation does not establish an employment, contractor, agency, partnership, sponsorship, or other compensatory relationship between participating ensembles and The Percussion League, The Drumline Network, or any event partners, sponsors, affiliates, staff, or representatives.
Registration, submission, acceptance, or participation in Trick or Beat does not guarantee or entitle an ensemble or its individual members to compensation, appearance fees, reimbursement, prizes, merchandise, awards, or other financial or material benefits.
Any prizes, awards, recognition, or other allocations offered as part of Trick or Beat will be distributed according to the applicable eligibility requirements, performance evaluation, judging, and/or fan-voting procedures outlined within the official event rules and information published on the Trick or Beat event page.
The Percussion League, The Drumline Network, and their respective partners, sponsors, affiliates, staff, and representatives are under no obligation to provide additional prizes, compensation, reimbursements, services, benefits, or other consideration beyond those expressly advertised as part of the event or specifically confirmed in writing directly to a participating ensemble by an authorized representative.
References to potential prizes, sponsorships, awards, opportunities, or benefits through promotional materials, social media, informal conversations, or other communications should not be interpreted as a guarantee unless expressly identified as an official event offering or confirmed directly in writing.
By registering for or participating in Trick or Beat 2026, ensembles acknowledge and accept these conditions and agree to abide by the official event rules, eligibility requirements, submission guidelines, judging procedures, and fan-voting processes established for the event.