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| NO LIP-SYNCHING FOR YOUR LIFE | Voice of Pride’s top 12 will need to follow new rules in ’10. (Photo courtesy David Berryman) |
Tavern Guild tweaks rules for Oak Lawn singing competition, adds primo prize
As Voice of Pride is about to get underway for its seventh year, the Dallas Tavern Guild is shaking things up — and upping the ante. As Heidi Klum might say, one singer will be in … a plane headed to England. And for the first time, a group will take a trophy.
Guild executive director Michael Doughman says VOP needed a shot in the arm.
"We thought we’d freshen it up and create additional opportunities," he says. "This will make the competition better."
The Tavern Guild, which sponsors the VOP competition every year among its member clubs and bars, polled singers from previous contests their interest in creating a group category; they realized the interest was there.
Duos, trios and quartets are eligible to participate. Groups can sing a capella or to a recorded track, but cannot sing with musical instrument accompaniment. The latter was simply a logistics issue.
"Nine of the 18 clubs have the capability of hosting groups, but not to set up a situation to satisfy with speakers and instruments," Doughman says.
This is a pilot effort —Doughman says if it doesn’t warrant enough support or the extra time and effort, Voice of Pride will scale back to solos. The Guild just wants to be prepared.
Solo singers will also find new rules. Each preliminary round is limited to 10 contestants. Any additional hopeful will need to attend a prelim at a different club to compete. Any entrants not making the cut can compete at up to nine other preliminaries.
"We think this will spread out the competition, but they need to read the rules, especially returning singers who are used to the old ones," Doughman says.
One other criterion for the solo competitors, especially those who advance, is the require of having a passport. The winner of this Voice of Pride will head to Manchester, England, to perform at its Pride event.
"We struck a deal with the Manchester tourism board," Doughman says. "If [a singer] doesn’t have a passport or can’t prove they are getting one, they will be disqualified."
Doughman feels the changes will increase the excitement of the contest.
"We want to keep VOP legitimate, fun and these additions take it to a whole other level and we are excited to be able to offer it."
For more information, visit DallasTavernGuild.org.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition May 28, 2010.
It’s a shame that this contest is more about who ya know & who ya blow than it is about actual talent – don’t get me wrong, the winners have all been incredible singers, and I am friends with several of them, I just mean I wish they would refine the rules on who can, and cannot enter more – they’ll disqualify you if you don’t have a passport, but they won’t if you have actually recorded or performed professionally (and yes, some of the top 3 / winners have been in this boat)?? I thought this was an amatuer talent contest?? and what about a limit on the number of times you can enter in a given amount of time?? several of the top contestants have been in the top almost every year – not to mention several of the winners have placed in the top 3 several times – I’m all about being able to make yourself better, and come back and try again, but in this what, 6th year I believe,and they’re still the same ones from the first year over and over again advancing, where does that leave the other people who are just as talented? or, are these all we’ve got for talent, so instead of just not doing it, they keep putting the same people through? Don’t get me wrong, I think this is a great contest, and this years changes are a good step – obviously the group idea comes from the show “GLEE” because a lot of people are moving their contests to this idea – but I just think there shoud be some other things they look at. I could mention what other people seem to complain about “why are their straight people winning, why are they even allowed to enter, I thought this was a gay contest”? I’ve heard this over and over again; it’s not really an issue to me I guess – it seems that most of the hetero’s that enter either have gay family members, friends, or are very strong straight allies who come to most all the festivities to show support – I don’t think they just think “I bet I can go beat the gays” and have never stepped foot in the neighborhood before (although I’m sure it’s happened); although I can see the point of the other’s view, I tend to think that if we want equality, we need to be the bigger group, and be courteous of there support, after all, we wouldn’t want to not be allowed to enter a contest at any other venue based on our orientation now would we?
~Just some thoughts and opinions – I’m sure some will disagree with me, and that is their right, I’m willing to listen to everyone’s point of view. BW