The limelight is shining.
The question for local singers is "do you want some of it shining on you?"
Limelight Quest (it used to be called PG Idol) is an open competition for singers of any kind. That includes the young and the old, the male and the female, the pop and the opera, the lone and the accompanied, those of the karaoke and those with instruments.
"We want to see the best of Prince George talent. This is a showcase so people can break into the music scene, or use the skills they've already built because they've been doing it for years," said event promoter Dawn Boudreau.
"We have new people already signed up we have never had before, and it's great to see new applications, but we know there are so many more out there, and we have room for as many as 40 so give it a shot, no matter who you are," she added.
This is the fifth year for the competition. The previous winners were, in chronological order: Sheena Muir, Chazz Amos, David Baycroft and last year's champion Jessey DaCosta.
"Sometimes it takes a few tries to win it," said Boudreau. "I hope people don't feel that if they already gave it a shot that they shouldn't try again. Look at Jessey - she was in it every year since the beginning and she nailed it on her fourth attempt. Everyone is welcome."
One of the reasons Boudreau changed the name of the competition was the connotations sticking to the Prince George showcase from the television show American Idol. The TV program put all its emphasis on young contestants and pop music. Boudreau didn't want anyone to feel the local showcase had thoughts like that.
"We have had people as young as seven and several who were over 40, but we could take anyone over 50, over 70," she said. "We just want to see your talent. We have had blues, folk, rock, country, jazz... We just want your singing passion, no matter what style that takes. Variety is the spice of Limelight Quest."
Unlike the televised competitions, the P.G. show allows for backup music. Only soloists can enter, but they can have an instrument in their hands if they choose and/or have a musician friend accompany them on a backup instrument or harmony vocals. Competitors can pre-record that accompaniment or have that musician be live on stage.
Past contestants have told Boudreau that they did it to gain experience, or see how their stage presence stacked up with others, or they knew booking scouts would be in the audience looking for musicians to hire at future events.
Some were in it to win it, some were there just to take the next step in their progression. All Boudreau asks is each contestant check their ego at the door, if any such baggage is in tow, and support each other - veterans and rookies alike - to put on their individual best performances.
"We use a point system to determine the winners, so it isn't a popularity contest. We have had rounds won by people without a single supporter in the room. Talent really does come to the top, the way we do it. I think that takes a lot of the pressure off, it's not about knocking anyone down. If you perform well, you will do well. The top talent wins out in the end."
Each round has the audience vote by ranking their top four favourites. First place gets four points through fourth place getting one point. Four must be chosen or the entire ballot is disqualified. By accumulating these points from a multitude of sources, even from those who did not come into the room already knowing you, the better singers get the higher scores.
The preliminary rounds will take place July 5-8 at Dreamland School of the Arts. The semifinals will be held on July 11 and 12 at Art Space. The finals go down on July 17 at the Canfor Theatre at UNBC. Audiences buy tickets to get in on the performances and the voting, plus the special guest performances and other features on-stage each night.
The competitors are vying for personal development plus prize packages that include cash, concert bookings at local high-profile events, recording studio time, professional photo shoots, vocal lessons, and other benefits for the music biz.
Singers must have their applications in by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday. Boudreau will also be available for consultations on Saturday night at Art Space when she hosts her own concert at 8 p.m. with special musical guests Danny Bell, Jose Delgado-Guevara, Justin Frey and members of the Zavan Trio.
For full information look up LimelightQuest on Facebook or at dawnboudreau.com.
