Add this entry to Your Favorites | [0] Favorites [1] Comments

Please wait...

Well, we are getting in to that time of year when faithful fans will flock to the hometowns, or a close proximity, of their favorite Southern Gospel artists to attend their annual homecoming events. It seems there is another tradition that is continued this time of year as well. Groups and soloists alike will pack up and head to the destination(s) of their choice, pay $100 or so and compete in a Talent Contest / Search. Is it worth the price of admission? I guess that would depend on how you look at it.

Back in July of 2001, my family and I vacationed to Huntsville, Alabama. You know the usual visits to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama Constitution Village, Early Works Children's Museum, and the Historic Huntsville Depot. But our vacation included something else … a Saturday visit to Gadsden, Alabama – home of the Gold City Quartet. I was going to compete in their annual talent contest. I had mailed in my $100 and was ready to introduce Jim Hollis to the Southern Gospel world. I stepped on stage, sang my three and a half minute song (which I nailed by the way), and went my merry way. You probably already guessed that I did not win, or even place in the contest.

So would I say it was worth the “price of admission?” Again, I say it depends on how you look at it. For me, an artist that will never be anything more than a regional performer here in central Illinois, I would have to answer “no.” Now for the artists that are trying to expand and introduce their ministry to new areas or even contemplating trying to make a go at it full time, a contest / talent search like this has the possibility of providing some much needed exposure. Should you win or place, well that could lead to some really good things. Just ask the Hoskins Family, The Gospel Enforcers, and Paid in Full.

If you're interested, here is a list of some contests and links to their web sites for more information.

6th Annual Gospel Music Fan Festival Talent Contest
July 30 th 2005 Smyrna, TN http://gospelmusicfanfestival.com/talentcontest/

Midwest Southern Gospel Talent Search
August 13 th 2005 Goshen, OH
http://www.growing-in-grace.com/talentcontest.asp

Southern Gospel Music Fanfair
August 20 th 2005 Chattanooga, TN
http://www.sgmfanfair.com/index.html?row2col2=talentsearch2.html

National Quartet Convention Talent Search Competition
September 16 th and 17 th 2005 Louisville, KY http://www.natqc.com/ntalent.htm

Reader Comments

Add Comments

If you are seeing this form you are not a Member or have not logged in. Why not consider becoming a Member?

Membership allows you to have a prepared signature of your choice applied to every comment you make, as well as the ability to choose an avatar to display next to your name to help identify your posts. Members are also given opportunity to vote weekly in our Weekly Chart as well as special Members Only contests, polls and giveaways during the year. If you are already a member, login here, otherwise please register here.

**Note: Forums membership is a seperate membership.

By posting you agree to our Comments Policy

Name:
Email:
Location:
URL:
Comment:
	Remember my personal information
	Notify me of follow-up comments?
Please enter the word you see in the image below: