Minimum Event Requirements

These are the baseline requirements that every organizer must follow to ensure professionalism and fairness in hosting a battle on the Vanguard platform. They apply equally to all events — paid or free, professional or beginner, audio, video, rap, or beatmaking.

Failure to meet these requirements may result in the closure of the event until issues are resolved. Organizers are expected to act promptly to fix any problems.

1. Transparency

- Each battle must include an "About the Organizer" page with the organizer’s full name, photo, contact details, and a short biography.
- Anonymous battles are strictly prohibited.

2. Content Standards

- Avoid spelling and grammar mistakes.
- Offensive language, insults, and incitement of conflict are not allowed. See also Site Rules.
- News, descriptions, and updates must be clear, informative, and professional.
- Each piece of news should include a short summary that complements the headline. Avoid low-effort entries such as “Check this out!!!” or random links.
- Minimize the use of emojis and filler. Write as a professional representing both participants and the wider community.
- Mandatory pages for every battle: About the Event, Prizes, Judges, Rules, About the Organizer. These should be accessible from the main menu.
- Judge bios are required: introduce judges, their background, music taste, and links to their work or social profiles.
- Use the proper sections: Pages for static information, News for updates.

3. Branding & Design

- Beginner battles may use standard layouts, but professional battles should apply consistent, well-designed branding.
- Color schemes must be harmonious; avoid designs that strain the eyes.
- Visuals should be integrated into a unified design. No “patchwork” layouts.
- If you are not confident in your design skills, hire a designer or keep the default template.
- Header size should fit within a single screen height — users shouldn’t scroll endlessly to reach content.

4. Prize Fund

- Only promise prizes you can realistically deliver. Inflated or false prize claims are prohibited.
- At the request of the platform administration, organizers must provide proof of the announced prize fund.
- If the prize pool cannot be delivered in full at the end of the battle, negotiate installment payments with winners and communicate this clearly on the site.

5. Rounds

- First paired rounds must be fully populated (8, 16, 32, 64, 128, or 256 participants).
- Battles with fewer than 8 participants are not permitted.
- Fake accounts to inflate participation numbers are prohibited.
- If fewer than 70% of participants submit tracks for a round, the next round may not proceed. Extend the deadline or cancel the battle.

6. Promotion

- Do not spam. Your battle is already listed in the catalog. Use official promotion channels instead.

7. Paid Battles

- If you are hosting your first battle, do not make it paid. Focus on building credibility first.
- Entry fees are handled outside the platform. At present, Vanguard does not process payments directly.

8. Contests & Automatic Passes

- Automatic passes into paired rounds are prohibited.
- Automatic passes into qualifying rounds are allowed if announced in advance (contest-based or paid).

9. Organizer Conduct

- Organizers must remain impartial. Do not praise or promote specific participants during the event.
- Establish clear rules before the battle begins: judging methods, extension policies, etc.
- Create a discussion thread for each round to allow participants and viewers to engage.

10. Moderator Review Checklist

Moderators will check the following before approving a battle:

Organizers
- Full name
- Contact details
- Photo
- Links to social media
- Short background in hip-hop/rap culture (past battles, festivals, releases, etc.)

Judges
- Biography
- Links to music/videos
- Links to albums or mixtapes
- Social media profiles
- Evidence of prior judging experience

Prizes (if applicable)
- Prize list (monetary and non-monetary)