Sing your way to cash
We had a total of 18 contestants accept bids for the Myrtle Beach Karaoke Challenge at Tavern in the Forest
After our second round of eliminations on Feb. 15, we're down to 12 contestants. The next night of competition is Wednesday, Feb. 22 - when the remaining contestants will do two songs of their own choosing. (For a complete list of contest dates, continue reading.)
After each week of competition, we'll post which songs the remaining contestants have done - remember, no repeats. As contestants are eliminated, their names will be erased from the list (original contestant number will remain for reference).
1. Ivy P. – Ten Thousand Angels, Son Of A Preacher Man, Black Velvet
3. Dee R. – F*ckin Perfect, Russian Roulette, Lady Marmalade
4. Demi M. – Weak, Sold, Fancy
7. Randy A. – Ballad of Curtis Loew, Beast of Burden, Fool In The Rain
8. Ryan G. – The Cave, Let Her Cry, Folsom Prison Blues
9. Nick K. – Devil Went Down To Georgia, Tearin' Up My Heart, Great Balls of Fire
10. Kiereese M. – Hero, Killing Me Softly, All The Man I Need
12. Amanda J. – You and I, If I Ain't Got You, You Oughta Know
13. Steven A. – Hard To Say I’m Sorry, Please Forgive Me, I'll Make Love To You
14. Sam B. – If You’re Not In It For Love, I Hate Myself For Loving You, Why Haven't I Heard From You
15. Ridge A. – Anything Goes, Why, Bennie And The Jets
18. Priscilla P. – Beautiful, Landslide, Gun Powder And Lead
Our Eighth Karaoke Contest at Tavern in the Forest will be different than any other we've ever done. Instead of contestants attempting to qualify, this invitation-only format will work its way from 18 singers down to the top three.
Beginning in the second round, we'll eliminate the lowest scores from competition, and continue the competition with the remaining. This contest will also include the most popular portion of our past three competitions: The Roulette Round.
In Weeks 3, 5 and 7, the remaining singers will be forced to sing one song randomly out of a selected genre. Those songs are scored the same as the others.
On top of all that, no singer will be allowed to repeat a song throughout the duration of his/her stay in the competition. This forces the most diverse to the top. If you don't have a broad range, you're not going to be around very long.
We'll post updates and comments after each night of competition, including which songs the contestants have already done.
The specific week-to-week breakdown, scoring, rules and payouts are below.
Best of luck to everyone, and let's have another great contest.
HOW IT WORKS
For seven weeks of competition that span approximately two calendar months, we whittle down our list of invited contestants to the top five, with eliminations happening every week (beside the first). Instead of contestants qualifying for the contest, we do an invitation list of the best and most dedicated to the show over the course of the last two years.
Week 1 (JAN. 25): This is how the contestants formally accept their invitation. They show up, do one song each and have a chance to size up the competition. There is no cut-down on this night. However, if you do not show up, you are officially out of the contest.
Week 2 (Feb. 1): This is our first cut-down night. We will pare this list of singers from 18 to 16, eliminating the two lowest scores. Each contestant will do one song this night.
Week 3 (Feb. 15): Second cut-down night. The remaining contestants will do one song each of their own choosing and one song in the first of our roulette rounds of the competition. We’ll pare the list down to the final 13 singers. Those eliminated this night will receive a small prize pack courtesy of some of the show's sponsors.
Week 4 (Feb. 22): On this night, we cut our list of 12 singers down to the top 10 with another two-song performance. Both of these songs will be of the singers’ choosing. Beginning this week eliminated singers this week will receive $25 house cash.
Week 5 (March 7): Our 10 singers who have made it this far sing two songs each in order to make it to the top eight. One of the two songs will come via the competition’s second roulette round, and this time, the roulette round will come via competitors’ suggestions. Eliminated singers will receive $25 house cash.
Week 6, Semifinals (March 14): Our final cut-down night prior to the finals will have our eight semifinalists doing two songs each, again, with no repeats. We’ll get rid of the three lowest scores, and those three will receive $50 house cash.
Week 7, Finals (March 28): We’ll take a week off to prepare for the finals, and then the five finalists decide which three walk out with the cash via two songs of their own choosing and one from the roulette round.
START TIMES:
Each night of competition will begin at 10 p.m. Contestants must be in-house and signed up by 9:30 p.m.
FINALS PRIZES
$750 (first), $250 (second), $100 (third)
ADDITIONAL RULES
1. As we have done with most of our contests, contestants must be 21 or older, and they must be local.
2.Contestants can sing any song in the book they believe will get them to the next round. However, repeats are not allowed throughout the duration of the contest. Other contestants can do another song already done by another competitor, but not on the same night.
3. Any singer who does not show up on a scheduled contest night is automatically eliminated. If a contestant does not show up, we reduce the number of contestants cut that night.
JUDGING
As in the past, the judging categories will include:
1. Singing Ability
2. Stage Presence
3. Stage Appearance
4. Crowd Response
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PREVIOUS CONTESTS
Contest No. 6 (June 2011) Winners: Jessica (1st place, $750), Mike (2nd, $250) and Nick (3rd, $100). These three separated themselves from the pack and walked out of Tavern on June 29 with the cash.
Contest No. 7 (Oct. 2011) Winners: Randy (1st place, $750), Jessy (2nd, $250) and Steven (3rd, $100).
