Over the coming months, secondary school students from across the country will be given a once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase their talent and to become the Next Big Thing in local entertainment.{{more}}

This as local Soca giant, Gamal ‘Skinny Fabulous’ Doyle and Stickman Entertainment have collaborated with the St Vincent Brewery Limited and Vita Malt to stage the ‘The Next Big Thing’.

The promotion was launched at the Brewery at Campden Park on Tuesday, January 24, and, according to Doyle, is expected to help one lucky youngster in further developing his or her career in the fine arts.

“I attribute a large part of my success to my participation in a talent search back in 1998 put on by C.P.R Promotions. I didn’t win. I placed second…Nevertheless, that talent search provided me with an invaluable opportunity to hone my talent, and it served as a springboard to catapult my career,” Doyle said.

He also explained that he was confident that based on his personal experience, this production had the potential to provide the much needed exposure and training that will lead to the country’s ‘Next Big Thing’.

Students representing all secondary and tertiary level institutions, excluding the Division of Teacher Education of the SVG Community College, are eligible to enter the competition.

Participants can enter in one of two categories, singing – where they can do renditions in a genre of music of their choice – and musical instrument, conventional and unconventional.

Students can also demonstrate their talent in other areas, including beat boxing and other forms of unique talent.

The format of the competition, according to Doyle, is that there will be three rounds of auditions, which are scheduled to be held every Thursday and Saturday at various locations to facilitate students from rural areas and the Grenadines.

Auditions begin on February 16 with all entrants being given a two minute time slot to impress the judges with their talent.

This number will be reduced to 50 for the second round and 25 for the third and final round of preliminary competition.

Twelve finalists will be selected for the grand finale which will be held at the Victoria Park around mid April.

“I don’t want to be too specific about the date, but mid-April,” Doyle said.

Prizes include $4,000 to the winner of the singing category, in addition to having the opportunity to record a single with one of this country’s Soca artistes. The single will be produced by Alex ‘Kubiyashi’ Barnwell and will have a one year endorsement from Vita Malt.

The winner will also win $1,000 for their school.

In the instrument category, the winner will receive $2,000 and will have his or her musical abilities featured on one of Barnwell’s productions.

The format of the competition allows for participants to receive up to 20 per cent of their total points via text voting and Digicel has joined in the effort to facilitate this.

The general public will be given the opportunity to vote for their favourite Next Big Thing when highlights of the auditions are aired on IK TV.

Registration got underway on Tuesday, January 24, and runs until February 13. Forms can be collected from the various schools throughout the country and is free. However, one basic requirement is that all entry forms must be signed by the participant’s parent or guardian and the principal of the respective institution, Doyle said.

Shafia London, Regional Commercial Officer for the St Vincent Brewery, applauded the effort of Doyle and his team, saying that the competition is being looked at as an avenue for young people not only to develop their musical talent, but to develop holistically.

“And that is what Vita Malt is all about. We see it as providing for our young people to enter a career in the fine arts,” London said.

“We are very happy to be associated, and we look forward to supporting initiatives like this one,” she continued.(DD)