Talent show success
Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
After taking a one-year hiatus, the Strathmore Talent Show came back better than ever. The show began on Aug, 1 and was spread throughout the weekend. Audience members were the judges, and each act that moved on had a chance to perform more than one night.
“The talent show went awesome, we were really pleased with how it all panned out. The new format worked really well, I think maybe even better than having it at the Civic Centre,” said Chairperson Judi Wilson.
The sound system was so much better on the Encana stage, and so the talents were really able to exercise their talent when it came to singing and playing, said Wilson.
She is thinking the entire show may all be on the Encana stage next year, but it will of course depend on the timing and a few other things.
“We may have to have an elimination round prior to the rodeo starting,” said Wilson.
She would like to maybe see some sort of stage in the arena so that the grandstand audience will be able to participate in the judging, but again she said they’re all ideas to be looked at for the future.
The talent show began with 12 participants. The audience was asked to vote for their top five picks, and those five then performed on the Encana stage on Aug. 2.
“We just let the acts perform and get their feet wet on that stage. The original idea was five perform and then four and then three and then two on the final day,” said Wilson.
“The way it worked out the first vote took place Saturday and we had over 400 votes cast. Sunday we had 320 votes cast and then Monday I counted them up and there was 260. It worked out really well, really well. (I’m) really pleased with the audience participation.”
Jaret Matthews from Rimby, Alta took the first place spot, winning $800. Shelby and Rayanne Laycock from Strathmore were in second and given $400 of the prize money. Michelle Gadue and Chad Haas from Strathmore took third, Julie Sorensen was fourth and Danai Allen was fifth. Each of them were awarded $100 of the prize money.