Talent Shows - Making Them Work

Submitted by Martha Stanley, NBCT, Tallahassee, Florida

Idea posted February 2, 2004

Many years ago I developed a system where I could do a talent show single-handedly. And it worked/WORKS. Granted, another adult backstage is nice, but I've done it with none.

I create/copy a piece of clip art that I use on everything I print about the talent show, from audition to reminder flyers to the program to certificates. This creates visual unity and always helps me keep the paperwork separated from regular classwork or faculty stuff. Last year I found a cool picture of klieg lights that looked great in black and white.

I set up guidelines. Heck, not mealy-mouth words like guidelines... they are RULES! No follow, no perform. Now, while I'm pretty hard sometimes, I do help and encourage kids and make this a positive experience for them... AND for me. I do this for them and for love. No money crosses hands. I think I'll put out a donation box this year...

•  The show will last only 50 minutes - 45 is better.
•  It's a show, not a contest. No prizes. If I let you in the show, you're already a winner!
•  If you don't audition, you're not in.
•  If you don't turn in your SIGNED parent permission form to audition on time, you don't even audition.
•  If the form is not filled out accurately, it's a goner.
•  If you forget to turn it in, I'll forget to let you audition.
•  Every student in every act has to turn in a form, it's not one form per act.
•  Your audition has to be performance-ready AT the audition or you're not in. This doesn't include costumes. (Caveat - if at the audition it has potential and needs a little coaching or polishing, I'll help them, but I don't tell them that at this point.)
•  If the act is fun to do but not fun to watch, you're not in. I make a big deal out of teaching the difference and I think this is a valuable part of the process. I give some examples from real live kids.
•  If your act is acceptable at church, it's okay at school. If you wouldn't do it, sing it, dance to it in front of the preacher or President Bush, it won't cut it at school.
•  If it has any references to sex, drugs, alcohol, violence, or disrespect to any group including racism or sexism, it won't make it. Grab your crotch once, and you're a goner. We have a short Michael Jackson discussion - no, even HE wouldn't be in it if he did that!
•  Only students at the school may be in it. Your parent may play the piano while you sing, but that's the only sort of exception.
•  When you audition, you have to be able to do the act exactly the same way two times in a row. This is my way of ensuring that they have a plan, not just a fake-it situation.
•  Your act has to have a beginning, a middle and an ending that I can notice.
•  Three minutes max - two is better.
•  It has to be YOUR talent, not a CD's. No lip-synching or singing along with a tape that has the singer's voice on it.
•  All talents of a performing nature are encouraged. Gymnasts, Tae Kwan Do demonstrations, dances, fiddle players, singers, pianists, recorder players, original compositions, step dancers, cloggers, poem reciters... whatever. If they have their ducks in a row in a presentable form, they're probably in (time permitting).

The application indicates deadlines and appropriate acts and also a form that includes: student name, teacher name, name of act, other students in the act with you, a list of all the things you need to bring from home with you, things you need the school to provide (i.e., CD player, music stand, etc.), and a place for parents to sign. I add this for the parents:

I give my child permission to participate in the talent show. I understand that preparation by the child will not take place at school. I will help with props/special equipment as necessary. I have reviewed my child's act and I approve of my child's performance. It does not contain foul language, violence, sex, racism, sexism, drug references, etc.

I send home a reminder note to those auditioning so they don't forget their stuff. I get three to a page. It says:

This paper is to let you know when your talent show try-out time is scheduled. If you are not ready at your appointment time, you will not be able to be in the talent show. You need to be ready to perform your Talent Show act at:

If you are not ready at your appointment time, you will not be able to be in the talent show.

Auditions are during the student's regular music class, two weeks before the show. If they forget their stuff, and are properly contrite, repentant and they grovel... well, I'll usually give them a chance the next week. Sometimes I'll invite the child/ren in before school, but I don't tell them that ahead of time. If it's an act that needs adjustments to be acceptable, I coach them and give them another week to try out. This is supposed to be a positive learning experience after all. If 27 kids sign up for piano or dancing or whatever, I'll pick the best three. I get to make sure that the show is interesting and has lots of variety. It's MY decision.

If it's clear to me that the list of possible acts is too long, then I always tell those auditioning that I'll have to let them know later if they're in or not. I always blame the time element if they're on the borderline of acceptability. If I definitely know they're in, I tell them so right up front. If they're definitely out, I tell them so right up front, gently, gently with suggestions on how they could do it better next year. If they get a second chance because they needed some coaching or polishing, I let them know that, "You're in IF..." If accepted, they have another week left to practice some more, get costumes, etc.

I send home a note to every child scheduled to be in the show so that parents can try to make it. It's usually during school because evening transportation is a big issue. This way all the kids at school get to see it, if their teacher signs up to come. Our media specialist broadcasts it over ITV for any classroom that wishes to see it. This also keeps out the big brothers and sisters and the general rabble looking for a good time that we have experienced at night performances.

I give every child a certificate for performing.

I have the performance set up so that all I need are about five 5th graders to help me run the show.