Talent Quest 2009
set to begin Feb. 1
by William Smythe
The National Karaoke Singing Contest "Talent Quest" has searched for the best vocalists in the world for eight years. They offer a contest for singers to showcase their talent to the national and local public. Even though Talent Quest is a National contest, they had 214 top singers from the United States, Canada, Australia, Russia and New Zealand who competed for the top spots at the nationals, making it a world-wide event.
Talent Quest starts out at local levels, mostly in Karaoke lounges and nightclubs. Winning contestants from the local level contest advance to state regional level and then to a national week-long competition in Laughlin, Nev. at the Tropicana Express Hotel & Casino. The local contests will run this year from Feb. 1 through June 30, 2009. If you would like to participate by hosting the contest or singing go to: www.talentqst.com.
The top three singers in each category from the local contests, male & female pop, country & age 50 & up, move on to local finals. The top three singers in each category at the local finals move on to state regional level. State regional contests this year will run between July 17 and Aug. 14, 2009. Most regional contests are on two different weekends, pop one weekend with country or 50 and up another weekend. The state regional contest is run similar to the nationals where each contestant sings two songs before elimination is made.
The nationals this year will be at the Tropicana Express Hotel & Casino in the river resort town of Laughlin, Nev., Sept. 21-26, 2009. This week-long competition is where people from the entertainment industry (talent agencies, movie producers and record labels, etc.) judge the contestants on their vocal ability, stage presence and attire. Each contestant performs two songs, Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday, before elimination. On Friday, Talent Quest 2009 has a semi-final round to determine who advances to the Saturday night finals.
Talent Quest hosts open-mike Karaoke every day of the contest in the Caboose Lounge of the Tropicana Express Hotel & Casino, from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. for contestants to sing and perform before the public.
With video production going on the week-long event in Laughlin, you can purchase your performances for your future projects or myspace.com. The one thing I love about this contest is if you don't agree with the judges on the local or state level you can always pay your own way to the nationals to have a better judge tell you the same thing the previous judge said.
For more information call (405) 256-6492, tell them you read about it in Positively Entertainment and Dining.