Idols returns for 9th Season

The immensely popular, ratings-dependent, singing competition, Idols returns to South African television in 2013, for its 9th season. Once again, hopefuls are expected to fill ultra-long queues, before strutting their vocal magic before judges, who have not yet been confirmed for the upcoming season. There was speculation earlier, that an alleged media personality would join this year's panel, but nothing has become of those talks. However, music honcho and the dubbed, 'Mr Mean' Randall Abrahams is slated to return this year, bringing a different opinion to the table- an opinion we are not accustomed to hearing him express. Does this mean he tones down or becomes more stern? Guess we'll have to wait see, how the drama unfolds, when Idols debuts on local channel, Mnet and DStv later this year.

Hopefuls are allowed to bring musical instruments into the venue, and must be over the age of 16 to enter. If applicants are under 18 however, they must be accompanied by someone who is. Identity documents must be available at registration, and participants are urged to arrive early for what might just turn out to be, the biggest season of South African Idols yet.

Audition dates & Venues:

Cape Town
Date: Saturday, 2 February 2013
Venue: Grand West Entertainment World

Soweto
Date: Saturday, 16 February 2013
Venue: Soweto Theatre

Durban
Date: Saturday, 2 March 2013
Venue: Playhouse

Johannesburg
Date: Saturday, 23 March 2013
Venue: Sandton Convention Centre

For further information, go to the MNET page and make sure also to stay in touch, by following the SA Idols twitter page, by simply clicking here

Talent Promo & Development Programme

The word, Impikelelo simply means; persuasion, or rather directly, go on towards your goal, and that was exactly the agenda behind the godsend-of-a-creation of the Impikelelo Talent Promotion & Development Programme. The initiative was created in order to sustain, nurture, develop and groom emerging local talents, of every genre, from Music to Drama, and it seeks to enable aspiring artists to achieve their dreams of entering the entertainment and arts industries alike, as trained, well-groomed and like-minded individuals.

Joining up for the programme will expose vernal artists to the otherwise "closed" world of arts, and also assist them in driving towards their goals. While I am not sure whether or not there's a fee for the programme, by reading through the description of the company, which can be found here, I am certain that participation could only lead to heaps of success and life-altering opportunities.

There's currently an opportunity to do a photo shoot+ interview, which will be included on the Impikelelo website, launching Monday, August 6 2012, and the reel will be made available and ready-for-viewing throughout the next year, and information pertaining to that can be found on the Impikelelo Facebook page. However, please note that the photo session and interview will be taking place as soon as tomorrow, so make arrangements to be available, if you're interested in attending.

So you want to be famous, huh?

Everybody wants to be famous; even people who have no concept of the word 'talent', or what exactly it entails to be a public personality. Fame is a construct, built entirely around talented people, who serve as the building blocks of the greater structure. Being famous is about more than just showing up to glitzy events in designer apparel, and posing beautifully for the cameras. Fame is a way of life; it is life for some, especially the authentic creative geniuses who use fame, as passion metamorphosed into business.

Even though I am nowhere near the fame I so boldly speak of; growing up and always keeping my eye close to the entertainment industry, seeing the perks, as well as the pits of fame, being an ardent fame-chaser myself, grants me the audacity to type this blog, with more confidence than Madonna.

So here's an unofficial list of a few things you need to get in order, to make sure you reach fame, and ultimately renowned, and acclaim status:

- Make sure you have the right attitude, and a personality brighter than any summer's day, and also bolder than Helena Bonham Carter, could ever be.
-Ensure that you remain positive, and keep in touch with your abilities at all time.
-Try to stay focused on your goals, and work towards them, slowly, but never lag.
-Be patient.
-Accept rejection, even if it's the millionth time; rejection doesn't imply failure.
-Market, yet never exploit yourself.
-As much as you're selling yourself, never make the mistake of pushing anyone down, or neglecting to help others who want to be where you are.
-Be honest, and willing to make sacrifices.
-Reserve time to look for agents, audition notices, and castings, and never become despondent when there seems to be a lack in notices, just keep looking, and modifying your searches.
-Start a blog, website, and/ or Twitter page; use this to market and promote your talents, products, etc. Use these platforms to showcase your true, and most alluring personality traits, while also demonstrating true passion, and skill.
-Don't ever sell yourself short.
-The most important step is finding a casting agency/talent agency who may represent you, so that you are not considered an unsolicited performer; you have more credibility with a portfolio to your name, and an agency justifying your craft.
-Be aware of cheap, and fake agencies who only want your money, and are looking to exploit you.
-Starting with drama courses through well-known, and reputable drama, music, writing, and film academies, are a great way to gain skills, and experience in the field. Courses like these also help in the development of your attitude, and personality.
-Lastly, keep believing in yourself; stop dreaming, and go for the dream instead. Don't ever let your image, and appearance keep you from going for your goals, be ambitious, and make it more about what you do, and less of what you think people are going to see you as.

Hope my advice is able to help you.
If you are looking for any information regarding castings, casting agents/ agencies, and auditions, and competitions etc, please contact me, and I will, with great effort, endeavour to assist you.

SHAKE YOUR TITS, and poop GLITTER!!


Raeez