A SLEW of talent competitions have hit the island in recent years, but now organisers in Paphos have come up with a unique idea.
“Can’t sing, won’t sing” is aimed at people who dream of singing but haven’t got the nerve or experience to sing in front of an audience.
The ten week event is being organised by local forum, the Paphos People, and will see ten contestants being taught how to sing and perform in front of an audience.
The competition will start on February 10 and run for ten weeks with a live show every Sunday at the Friends Bar in Paphos.
“This is strictly for non professionals – people with no singing experience at all, not even karaoke,” said spokeswoman for the event, Oxana Strelnikova.
So far, eight willing participants have come forward and there are just two places left in the competition which has a one thousand euro winning prize.
“If people think that they can’t sing at all, or that they sound like a drowning cat, it doesn’t matter. If they love music and have the desire to sing better, then they should apply to enter,” she said.
According to organisers, participants will receive weekly coaching from two professional Paphos based singers. Stevie Dean is one, while the second has yet to be confirmed.
The weekly show will be slick and professional and will be fronted by presenter and entertainer Matthew Edmonson. Contestants will also have professional hair and make up done before each performance and will be advised on what outfits to wear onstage.
“To get top scores during the contest, people need to be audible and entertaining and capture the attention and hearts of the audience, so that they will vote for them as their winner,” Strelnikova said.
The prize money will be split fifty-fifty between the winner and their coach, so there is an incentive for the coaches to get the best out of the performers.
Registry for the competition can be made via the Paphos People forum.
“Once people have signed up, we will ask them to describe themselves and provide a list of their favourite songs – we need at least ten, as well as a song they will perform on the first night,” she said.
As contestants will have had no training at this point, their first performance will have the original artist’s track in the background.
The two coaches won’t be able to see the entrants at the first event, only hear them. They will each have to pick out five contestants to work with.
The contestants will then each have an individual class with their coach each week, as well as specifically structured homework.
“We decided to organise this event as we wanted to promote entertainment in Paphos – as it’s really dead during the winter.
“It’s all about having fun and giving people the confidence to sing as we all do in the shower or when we think no-one else is listening,” Strelnikova said.
Organisers are aiming to film the event which will stream live via the Paphos People website, so that audiences who are unable to attend will be able to watch from home.
www.paphospeople.com/cant-sing-wont-sing
