Calling all talent

Times Reporter

 

The Strathmore Talent Show is back, and they are looking for talent of all types to register. The show, which took a hiatus last year, is put on as a way to help raise funds for the Wheatland Cowboys and Cowgirls Rodeo Society. 

“We’re taking the first 20 eligible entries and they’re not necessarily (from) Strathmore and district. We’ve opened it up, we’ve put our posters up all over Calgary, Red Deer, Ponoka, everywhere,” said Chairperson Judi Wilson. 

“I would love to see dancers, I would love to see ventriloquists, I would love to see jugglers, acrobatics, that kind of stuff. It’s not a singing (show), even though it seems like that’s all we get.”

This year Ranchman’s Cookhouse and Dancehall from Calgary is sponsoring the event, which will begin on August 1. 

There have been a few changes that are coming for this year’s show. One of the biggest changes is that the panel of judges has been done away with. It will now be up to the audience to vote for who they would like to see move on. The first show, on Aug. 1 with all 20 contestants, will be accompanied by a dinner at the Civic Centre. 

“Then after the audience votes, the top five acts will continue on and they will perform Friday night on the Encana stage. The audience will vote, and then the top four then will compete Saturday and so on until the final two on Monday, the last day of the Stampede,” said Wilson. 

“There is a $20 entry fee for all entries. They get to perform and a dinner (on Aug. 1) and they get tickets into the fairgrounds.”

Each day after each act from the top five performs on the Encana stage, local songstress Kirstyn Johnson will perform for 20 minutes while the audience deliberates. 

Wilson said there is no age limit or maximum for contestants, she just hopes to see a wide variety of acts sign up. 

There is $1,500 in prize money up for grabs. All of the top five will get a portion of the prize money, though exact amounts are to be determined at a later date. 

Tickets are on sale now for the Aug. 1 show and can purchased through the Ag Society. They are $40 each and sponsor tables are $400. The doors will open at 5 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m. and the show will start shortly after dinner. 

The entry date deadline for the talent show is July 15. 

Anyone interested can enter by going online to www.strathmorestampede.com.