Got talent? Sign up now for Suburban Chicago's Got Talent
Will a singer once again take the top prize for Suburban Chicago's Got Talent? Can a different kind of act rise to the top for 2015?
That all depends on the variety of performers who sign up for the summer-long talent competition, which is co-sponsored for its fourth year by the Daily Herald, the Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg, Onesti Entertainment, the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce and AMITA Alexian Brothers Health System.
Registration is now open, and all kinds of family-friendly acts are welcome.
In the past three years of Suburban Chicago's Got Talent (SCGT), vocalists made up the majority of contestants vying for two top prizes: a STARter Kit promotional package to help further a budding artist's performing career, presented by Onesti Entertainment, and a Fan Favorite prize of a Funjet Vacation for two that is voted on by the general public online at dailyherald.com.
“While vocalists have dominated the competition in recent years, I'm certain audiences and judges would welcome contestants who have other talents such as dancers, spoken-word artists, storytellers, comedians, instrumentalists and actors,” said Daily Herald staff writer and theater critic Barbara Vitello, who will reprise her duties as a SCGT judge for 2015. “Come to think of it, we've never had a magician, I'd love to see a magician on stage.”
This time around there are only 70 audition spots available, so those who want to compete need to sign up as soon as possible at dailyherald.com/events. There you'll find the complete rules and regulations for those wanting to audition June 4 through 6 at the Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg.
From the general auditions, judges will choose 20 contestants to compete. The Top 20, Top 15 and Top 10 contestant rounds are all respectively set for Sundays, July 5, 19 and Aug. 2, at the Prairie Center. The ultimate grand prize and Fan Favorite winners will be announced at the final Top 10 performance at Taste of Arlington Heights on Saturday, Aug. 8.
Once again, online Fan Favorite voting will play an important part in the competition. Profiles and competition videos of the performers will be featured at dailyherald. com. The contestant with the most online votes after each competition round is guaranteed a spot in the next round. And the act with the most overall votes throughout the competition wins a Funjet Vacation.
“There are so many talented people living in our communities, and this is a chance for them to shine,” said Eileen Brown, assistant vice president and director of strategic marketing and innovation for the Daily Herald. “It has been our honor to showcase their hard work, dedication and talent.”
Helping to nurture local talent is a major reason why Ron Onesti participated with SCGT in the past, both as a visiting judge and a major prize contributor.
As the president and CEO of Onesti Entertainment Corporation, which runs the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles and the outdoor Rock & Roll Concert Series at Festival Park in Elgin, Onesti offers the winner the chance to perform as an opening act for a major headliner at the Arcada. The performance is part of the STARter Kit grand prize package, which also includes a professional concert-style photo shoot, a promotional music video (drawn from live SCGT competition footage) and professional talent mentoring.
“It takes time, it takes effort, and it takes energy to help aspiring and developing artists,” Onesti said. “That's why I'm happy to be a part of this because what I do offer as part of the prize package is something that can help these artists take it to the next level.”
As the grand prize winner in 2014, singer-songwriter Dennis Caravello of Mount Prospect said he has used his win in efforts to get gigs around town.
“It was a great opportunity,” Caravello said. “In booking shows locally, it looks good to have it. It's definitely an advantage.”
And even those contestants who don't win get the chance to hone their skills and stage persona through advancing rounds of the competition.
“We get positive feedback from the performers who are grateful for the chance to get on stage in front of a live audience,” Brown said. “Not only that, our judges offer them a lot of positive advice and direction to help move their artistic careers forward.”
Get all the latest SCGT news on Facebook and Twitter by following #DHTalent.
Suburban Chicago's Got Talent 2015
Groups or individuals interested in auditioning should read the rules and register at <a href="">dailyherald.com/events</a>. Registration is currently open.
Auditions
• Audition spaces are limited. All registrations will be reviewed. Only the 70 chosen entries will be invited to the private auditions. No walk-up auditions will be allowed.
• Audition times are 4 to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, June 4-5, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 6, at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg.
• Participants must read and sign the Suburban Chicago's Got Talent policies and waiver and bring a signed copy to the audition.
• Participants must be available to perform at all of the following:
Top 20 show: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday, July 5
Top 15 show: 7 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday, July 19
Top 10 show: 7 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2
Final performance Saturday, Aug. 8, at the Taste of Arlington Heights. Winner will be announced following the performances.
Outdoor concert at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5, as part of Schaumburg's Septemberfest.
For the audition
• Participants must prepare one 1- to 2-minute routine.
• Limited slots are reserved for bands to audition, so early registration by bands is encouraged to guarantee an audition slot. Each band will have 10 minutes to load in, 2 to 3 minutes to perform and 10 minutes to load out. Provided equipment will include three monitors, six inputs and three vocal mics. There will be two crew members available to assist with load in and load out. Additional details will be provided when the audition time is assigned.
• Singers can sing a cappella, with recorded music or with live instruments only. A keyboard will be provided. Participants must supply their own accompanist. CD players and a connection for an MP3 player will be available. Performer is responsible for playing the music.
• Basic tech support such as extension cords will be provided. If there are have other technical needs, please ask when the audition time is assigned.
• For the auditions, routines must be able to be performed in the audition space: 25 feet wide, 20 feet deep, 12 feet high. The actual SCGT performances will take place in the theater. The stage is 35 feet wide, 28 feet deep, 19 feet high.
• Acts MAY NOT include fire, sharp objects, weapons, explosives (pyrotechnics), fogger, hazers, nudity or animals.
• Acts MAY NOT contain material that is sexually explicit, obscene, pornographic, violent (e.g., relating to murder, the sale of weapons, cruelty, abuse, etc.), discriminatory (based on race, sex, religion, natural origin, physical disability, sexual orientation or age), illegal (e.g. underage drinking, substance abuse, etc.), offensive, threatening, profane or harassing, each as determined by Suburban Chicago's Got Talent in its sole discretion.
• Participants under age 18 must be accompanied to their audition and to any show (if applicable) with a parent or legal guardian.
• All participants must perform sober and illegal drug-free.
• All acts must be family-friendly as shows will be open to all ages.
• Only amateur acts will be seen. Acts with professional representation will not be eligible.
Judging
• Acts will be judged by a panel of judges selected by SCGT. All decisions of the judges are final. Acts will be scored on a 100 percent scale based on the following three criteria: Entertainment Value & Appeal (40 percent), Creativity (30 percent) and Ability (30 percent).
• Judges will select the 20 acts with the highest score to perform at the preliminary round shows. SCGT reserves the right to pick fewer than 20 acts, or extend the auditions in its sole discretion if it does not receive a sufficient number of eligible and qualified entries. If there is a tie in number of votes, then the judges shall decide the top 20 acts based on the scoring criteria. The same process will repeat to determine a Top 15 and Top 10.
• The overall winner will be decided by combining judges' votes and in-audience votes. Patrons in the audience must follow the audience voting guidelines. These will be explained at the Prairie Center for the Arts during each SCGT show.
• Online voting will also determine a Fan Favorite, during the selected rounds, who will have the opportunity to advance in the contest.
Performances
• No free tickets to any show will be provided for acts, or for their family or friends.
Prizes
• The overall winner will receive the grand prize STARter Kit package valued at $5,000. The winner of this prize, as well as the Fan Favorite prize, is responsible for paying all applicable taxes.
Photo/video releases
Participants agree that SCGT and the Village of Schaumburg may use any image, photograph, voice or likeness, in promotional materials and publicity efforts without additional compensation. Participants understand that these photographs, images, video or audio may be retouched or enhanced and may further be used in publications, print ads, electronic media (e.g. video, CD-ROM, Internet, or other media now known or hereafter created, anywhere in the world). Participants further understand that by participating in the photography or filming, they release SCGT and its representatives, licensees, employees, photographers and their designees from any and all liability for any violation of any privacy or proprietary rights.