SAN FRANCISCO — The 29th annual Exotic Erotic Ball and Expo has announced that it will renew its longstanding commitment to promoting independent music by offering three prime-time, full-paying gigs exclusively to independent artists that submit an electronic press kit through Sonicbids, an online company that finds the right band for the right gig.

To be considered for the gigs, bands must request consideration on or before Sept. 5. All entries will be juried, rated and three winners will be chosen to play before thousands of fans at the Exotic Erotic Ball and Expo, Oct. 24-25, at Treasure Island in San Francisco. The 2008 show marks the ball's second annual collaboration with Sonicbids.

In 2007, the two winning bands were Black Betty and the Bad Habits, from Boston, and the Los Angeles-based Doxy. They performed on the same bill with Snoop Dogg, Peaches, Donald Glaude, the Spyderz and others.

"It was a true highlight for us that we'll always remember,” Black Betty and the Bad Habits lead vocalist Jenny Langer said. “That was one fun and crazy crowd."

"When I heard we won,” Doxy's Ana Lovelis said, “I remember asking myself how one prepares for performing at such a great event like the Exotic Erotic Ball? First thing we did was cut down on our mood stabilizing medications, because the anticipation alone was an aphrodisiac."

"This is a natural collaboration," ball founder Perry Mann said. "The ball is visible, and virtually any band with a sexy lead singer or provocative lyrics feels they are a great fit with the show. Many of them are, but the problem for us is that we receive hundreds of DVDs, CDs, mp3s, emails and links, and we don't have the time or manpower to sift through them. This has always bothered me, because I have a real commitment to indie music. Our relationship with Sonicbids allows us to show that support. Every submission goes to the same place, where they get heard and rated. I look forward to shaking hands with the 2008 winners on stage at the ball."

"There is so much creative musical talent among today's independent and unsigned bands," Sonicbids’ David Ellis said. "When a long-running event like the Exotic Erotic Ball acknowledges this by actively looking to the indies to discover the right talent for their event, this is something we can get behind. We heard great things from the bands selected last year, and look forward to offering up our platform again for them to discover three new bands in 2008."

According to organizers, over its 29-year history, live entertainment has included Joan Jett, Chris Isaak, Grace Jones, Greg Allman, Snoop Dogg, George Clinton and Everclear, with untold numbers of celebrity guests and over a thousand burlesque, fetish, and novelty acts. This year, the Genitorturers will be among those performing on the ball's musical stage, and performance artist Mobius8 will be bringing his multimedia stage show to the ball's electronic stage.

The electronic press kit submission site for artists is here.