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| Bo
James, owner of Launchpad DMI Entertainment
in Des Moines, is giving away $5,000 cash
to the winner of “The Show.” The talent
contest is open to local artists in all
genres and will be held Friday, Dec. 30
at Adventureland Palace Theater in Altoona.
Visit http://www.theshow.us or call 729-7671.
Photo by Jarred Brannon of Serious Universal
Media |
By Michael Swanger
scenescribe@mchsi.com
Bo James, owner of Launchpad DMI Entertainment
in Des Moines, a talent and production company,
plans to provide some holiday stimulus to the
local music economy on Dec. 30 when he awards
$5,000 cash to the winner of his new and unique
talent contest, “The Show,” to be held at Adventureland
Palace Theater in Altoona. Along the way, he
hopes to discover the next star in the making
while assisting a local non-profit group.
“Every performer will see the briefcase full
of cash because it will be handcuffed to a security
officer sitting in a barricaded section in front
of the stage during the show. At the end of
the night, the winner gets the briefcase with
the money and an escort from security. Once
it’s over, it’s over. The winner takes it home,
no strings attached,” said James, 39.
“The Show” is open to performers of all ages
and genres in an attempt to help upcoming and
established acts launch their talent. Artists
must register by Dec. 20 to compete and pay
a fee of $250 for solo acts or $350 for groups.
James calls it “the only contest where there
are no losers” because participants are allowed
to sell as many as 20 or 25 tickets, respectively,
to their fans at a cost that they determine
to help recuperate their fee. The registration
fee also includes 100 flyers, a booth to hawk
merchandise, a video of their performance and
other perks.
“This is unprecedented because we’re paying
people to sign up and giving away the gate,”
said James, noting that proceeds from the event
benefit the Eddie Davis Community Center in
West Des Moines. “It’s a win-win situation for
everybody involved. I’m doing this because I
sincerely want artists to know that they deserve
to be compensated for what they do, and they
shouldn’t play for free, but that they need
to put in the effort to promote themselves.”
“The Show” will include three preliminary rounds
held throughout the day on Dec. 30, starting
as early as 10 a.m. where contestants will be
scored by three sets of judges on skill, originality,
delivery, stage presence and showmanship. Each
act is allowed three minutes to perform one
“G” rated song for the family-friendly event.
As of press time, confirmed judges include Cityview
music writer Michael Swanger, DMMC and 80/35
founder Amedeo Rossi, Iowa House of Representative
Ruth Ann Gaines, House of Bricks owner JC Wilson,
Channel 13’s Aaron Brilbeck, filmmaker James
Serpento and local artists DJ Hollywood, Don
Brown, Leonard Bell, Liz Sharp and DJ Episode.
Twelve finalists from each preliminary round
will compete in a final round of competition
to be held on Dec. 30 at 8 p.m. The winner will
be determined solely by the audience, hence
the incentive for participants to sell tickets
to their fans. Organizers will use a decibel
reader to gauge the audience’s reaction and
thus determine the winner.
“It’s going to be a red carpet event,” said
James, who wears many hats in the local music
community, working as an artist, concert promoter,
talent buyer and business owner.
“The Show” is also an extension of James’ dedication
to the local music scene.
“I’ve always had a passion for music, the city
and the state. I’ve seen the talent here, it’s
amazing. People here perform music strictly
out of the love for it,” he says. “That’s what
music is about, passion. We have as much talent
and passion here in our music scene as anywhere
else in the country. This is just one way of
promoting it and celebrating it.” CV
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