Tag: Canada talent show

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Eye4Talent: Application Tips

Here are some tips for your submission to be part of Season 1 of Eye4Talent:

  1. Your set-up doesn’t need to be fancy.  You don’t need to submit a professionally filmed and edited video.  In fact, the best things can happen by filming with just your best friend and your phone.  Don’t stress about having a high-quality video, we won’t be taking your video quality or editing skills into consideration.  Keep it simple!
  2. Start your video with a brief introduction with your name, age, where you’re from and what you do professionally.  If there is more than one person in your act, please only provide your act’s stage name.  Give brief explanation of your act and jump into it!
  3. Don’t necessarily use your best stuff!  That might seem counter-intuitive but remember, your video audition is just to get you to the Stage Auditions and that’s where you’ll really like to shine.  If you use your best material in your video audition, your Stage Audition better be phenomenal!  Do enough to get you to the next round.
  4. If you’re adding in or using footage that has been prerecorded from an event or show that you have done, please make sure the footage is clear and if you are speaking, that the sound is audible.
  5. Be original!  To make it into the Stage Auditions with the judges, we want to see and know what makes you different from every other act out there.  Unlike competitions focused on one core talent (ie. singing), you’re competing against a wide variety of talents and so you need to stand out.
  6. Along the same lines, don’t be boring!  Even though it’s a video audition, we still want to feel engaged and as if we’re there seeing or hearing what you’re doing in person.  We love to feel like we’ve been part of the excitement so make your video creative and think outside the box.
  7. Dress like you would on stage.  If you have a particular outfit or costume you wear for your act, wear it in your video!  If you don’t have a particular outfit or costume, dress like you would if you were going to a job interview or in such a way that helps us understand who you are and what your brand is.
  8. Have fun!  If you’re having fun, we’ll feel that and have fun too!  That’s ultimately what Eye4Talent is all about: emotion, awesome talent and having fun!

Video auditions are open now.  Don’t wait, apply today!

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Where Are They Now? Winner of Season 2 James Downham

Season 2 winner James Downham has been one of The Shot’s most vocal and active ambassadors since taking home the trophy back in March 2015.  Since his winning performance of Tim McGaw’s “Live Like You Were Dyin'”, James has started a band, been writing and recording new music and has called The Shot the breath of air that brought new life into his passion for music.  Here’s what James had to say about his experience on The Shot and where he’s been and what he’s been doing since the big win:

What was your favourite part of The Shot?  What did you take from doing it?  How did The Shot help you grow as an artist?

 I think the best thing that I got out of participating in The Shot was becoming part of a community of people who are supportive of each other, who have a sincere desire to see others succeed, and cheer them on as they move forward.

The Shot was a true catalyst for my music career. It gave me the confidence boost I needed to do something I’d been yearning to do for a long time. Truthfully, there was nothing stopping me but myself and my own self-doubt. But joining a community of wonderful singers, artists, and fantastic supports from the community, and seeing others who were pursuing the same path, helped to remove the fear and the doubt.

How was The Shot different from any of your other experiences with performing or doing other competitions?

 I’d never participated in a competition like The Shot before. I honestly expected it to be very different. I thought it would be more competitive – as in, each participant looking out only for themselves, and looking to win. That’s not at all what I experienced.  I think the difference was the coaching and mentoring aspect, and spending time with the other participants. The whole event was framed as a development opportunity (perhaps as much self-development as artist development). Regardless of the outcome, anyone who wanted to learn and grow as a person and as an artist had the opportunity to do so, and to make some friends for life.

What advice would you give someone who is thinking about auditioning for Season 6?

 Do it. Only good things can come out of it. Be prepared to work hard – during and after Season 6. The opportunity is whatever you make of it.

What have you been doing since The Shot?

 Wow! I’ve now put together 2 bands (The James Downham Band and my newest project, the Durham County Band). I’ve released 3 songs to radio across Canada (2016’s “Don’t Talk To Girls” and current James Downham release “Fly Away”; current Durham County Band release “Valentine’s Day”); I’ve been gigging, recording, and having fun! Durham County Band’s album will be coming out summer 2018 and I’m really excited about it!

 Where can people find you or hear your music online?

 Search for artists James Downham and Durham County Band in all the usual places… iTunes, Amazon Music, Google Music, Spotify, YouTube, SoundCloud, and all the rest! www.jamesdownham.com and www.durhamcountyband.com

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Questions REVEALED: What the Judges Might Ask You in Auditions

Earlier in the week, big changes to The Shot format for Season 6 were announced by producers in what might be the biggest shift for the hit competition since opening to singers age 16 and over from anywhere in the world.

The sixth installment will focus more heavily on development and mentorship of artists and will take a more “Dragon’s Den-like” approach to the singing competition format.  Auditionees can expect for their vocal performance to still play a big part in the judges’ decision to put a singer through to the next phase in the process but those stepping in front of the panel can also expect to be asked more in depth questions about who they are as an artist, their aspirations and how serious they’ve been and intend to be about pursuing a career in music.

While auditions are still several months away, the production team has already begun drafting a list of questions for the judges to potentially pull from when interviewing a hopeful contestant.

We’ve managed to snag a copy of the list to share with those who have already applied or are planning to apply for auditions this September.  Here’s a sample of those questions:

  1. How long have you been performing?
  2. Do you or have you work/ed with a vocal coach or received any sort of training?
  3. What is the largest audience you’ve ever performed for?
  4. How often do you perform in public?
  5. Do you write your own music?
  6. Have you released any of your original music?
  7. Who or what inspires you to do music?
  8. What’s your social media following like?
  9. What made you want to do The Shot?
  10. Where do you see yourself, musically, in 3, 5 or 10 years time?

This is just a portion of the list and these questions may not be verbatim when they’re asked later this year but we expect the judges to pull some inspiration from the suggestions.

Along with the questions above and others, performers will be asked to tell the judges about themselves and their backgrounds.

Whether the questions will come before or after an artist’s performance hasn’t been revealed yet but knowing the judges and their propensity for liking to switch things up,  don’t be surprised if they aren’t held to a formal structure.

The Shot is now accepting video audition submissions for Season 6 and applications are open for the live, in-person auditions on September 8th, 2018.

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