Operation Rising Star tryouts have been completed and the top 12 contestants have been selected. Last Wednesday and Thursday the tryouts were being held at the Sportsman Lodge and they asked for all contestants to come back on Friday, yesterday, to see if they were chosen to move on.
I was one of the contestants that tried out on Wednesday, number 11, and was chosen to move forward in the Operation Rising Star competition. What is this competition? Well it is like a Military American Idol. All Military (Active, Retired, Dependents, Reserves, National Guard over 18 are encouraged to come out and audition.) They had a room set aside and when your number was called, you walked in, were handed a microphone and told to say your name and what you were singing to 3 judges sitting at a table and a video camera behind them. It could be very intimidating to some and yes, I was nervous. I always am when I stand before anyone and sing.
The song I auditioned with was Strawberry Wine by Deanna Carter and half way through the second verse I messed up my words but they said it was good, that I sang more than I should, then asked if that was the song I was practicing or was I on the fence with another song. I told them I was thinking of another one also. They asked for me to sing it. So, I sang I Just Call You Mine by Martina McBride. When I got to the chorus and hit that high note, they all threw up their hands and said "Yes, that is what we are looking for!".
With this competition, it is 8 weeks long with themes for each week. At the end of the 8 weeks they will have their winner who will move on to the Army-wide finals. There will be 12 there and from what I have seen watching last year, they break it down to 6 the next day, then the next will be the winner. The winner will receive an all expensive paid trip for 2 to Los Angeles, CA to record a 3 song demo in a professional recording studio valued at approximately $18,000. The judges will be different for the Army-wide and I believe you will be able to call in to vote, not sure yet.
BUT first I need to get support from all of you to help move me to the finals. The way this competition works is 50% of the votes from the audience and 50% of the vote from the judges is what moves you forward to the next week. So, if I am performing and only 3 people show up to vote, I will more than likely not move on. There will be other competitors that will have family and friends and their unit there to support them. Last year there was a Soldier from our Unit, 160th SOAR, out of Washington that made it to the finals. He had support and talent. It cost $0.00 to get in and if you order anything to drink (soft drinks) and eat, you get more voting cards to write the singer you think should move on.
This year our themes and dates will be as followed:
- August 7 - Billboard Top 100 (I made it through this round)
- August 12 - Birth Year (I made it through this round)
- August 21 - Michael Jackson (Will find out the 28th if I moved on)
- August 28 - Song from a movie soundtrack (Singing Faith Hill's "There You'll Be" from Pearl Harbor)
- Sept. 4 - Country
- Sept. 9 - Rhythm & Blues (R&B)
- Sept. 18- Musicals
- Sept. 25 - Patriotic
Each Friday the competition starts at 6 pm. The following week at 6 pm they will tell us who is not moving on and those who do will sing the song they prepared for. It will continue like this until the end.
The Prizes:
- 1st Place: $500 and a chance to advance to the Army-wide finals
- 2nd Place: $250
- 3rd Place: $100
The unit that supports the most votes during the whole competition will win a cash prize that will go to their FRG.
Hope to see you out there!
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