First Night's Got Talent Auditions Start Thursday at the Bradford Library

This year's talent competition for First Night's Got Talent will be changing directions this year-- and will feature social media as it's main venue. With voting scheduled to start in ten days, organizers are extending the invitation for regional talent to submit their videos for the competition this week!

"We're really hoping to change things up this year, and do things in a new and innovative way," says Josh Hatcher, "We are hoping to get all kinds of talent to audition. We don't want just singers, but we want people who can do all kinds of things to give it a shot."

For the first round of competition, contestants can submit a youtube video through the First Night's Got Talent website: www.firstnighttalent.com, or they can attend one of the taping sessions to have their audition recorded and uploaded for them.
Recording sessions will be held:

Bradford Library – Community Room
Thursday November 3rd 11AM-1PM

Open Arms Community Church – Auditorium
Friday November 4th 6PM-8PM

Bradford Library – Community Room
Monday November 7th 11AM-1PM

Open Arms Community Church – Auditorium
Wednesday November 9th 11AM-1PM

Bradford Library – Community Room
Wednesday November 9th 5PM-7PM

On November 11, at 11:11 - the first round of voting will be open to the public - and people can vote online at firstnighttalent.com for their favorite acts. The winners of the first round will be announced November 26th, and those semi-finalists will go on to perform their talent live on December 2nd at 7PM at Open Arms Community Church. The performances will then be added to the website for another round of online voting to select the finalists, who will compete for the grand prize during the First Night's Got Talent finals on New Year's Eve. The Grand Prize packages are still being put together, but, Hatcher says, there will be cash, as well as other items, and the chance to perform at a venue for the following year.

"This will give the public one last chance to vote for their favorite talent. They will receive a ballot with their First Night Bradford Admission Button, and they can vote after the final performances." says Hatcher.

"We're hoping that by opening the voting up to the public, it gives the contestants more of an opportunity to get support from their family and friends, and to get more people active and involved in the competition."

Previous winners of First Night's Got Talent and performers who have been paid to perform by First Night in prior years are ineligible to compete in this year's competition, but performers of all ages and with all kinds of talent are encouraged to participate.

Hatcher says, "We would really like to have jugglers, poetry, dancing, singing, gymnastics, comedy, magic, or any kind of talent to showcase. I'm convinced that we've got some extremely talented people in the Bradford area, I'd really like to see help people discover and develop those talents. I think this will give them a great showcase for just that!"