Fancy yourself as the next Susan Boyle and a queer version at that? Well, Queer As Talent (QAT, rhymes with twat) is the way to go. It's a nationwide gay lesbian etc talent contest starting in October all over the island with London finals in December. If you fancy your chances visit the website at www.queerastalent.com. It's open for business.
They say:
This summer, a nationwide talent contest aimed specifically at the LGBT community is
launching.
Queer As Talent is a brand new competition that aims to find the UK’s most talented singers, dancers, drag queens and performers.
“Queer As Talent is a national talent quest open to all members of the LGBT community and their friends and families,” says Tony V, an Australian but now London‐based entrepreneur who’s masterminding the venture. “We’re hoping to find the best of the best in the nation and provide an opportunity for our community to get up and be proud.” Tony says that since he moved to the UK with his partner Graeme two years ago he’s been hooked on primetime TV shows such as Britain’s Got Talent, American Idol and X Factor, and thinks it’s time a similar contest was launched aimed specifically for gay people. “Only a small amount of participants on existing shows are openly gay,” Tony observes. “And even these are sometimes ridiculed, laughed at or totally embarrassed. I thought it would be great to put on a competition where anyone with a burning passion for performance – whatever their talent, and whether they’re gay, lesbian, trans, bisexual, bears, drag queens, whatever – can take part, be themselves and show off their uniqueness and diversity.”
“I believe that there are many, many talented members of the LGBT community that have parents that don't think they will get anywhere with their talent because they are ‘queer’. It's time to show them and the UK what they have.”
Queer As Talent is scheduled to start in October at ten major gay and gay‐friendly venues around the country, taking in Brighton, Bristol, Bournemouth, London, Manchester, Liverpool, Torquay, Newcastle, Reading and possibly Scotland and Northern Ireland (the full list will be announced in 3SIXTY magazine shortly, which is the official supporter of QAT).
• After the October try‐outs, the heat finals will take place in November, again in all ten towns and cities. During December the chosen semi finalists get to take a break and brush up on their act before the semi finals back in their selected cities in January, before the finals in London, at a major venue to be announced soon. The finalists and the winner will then embark on a national tour.
• A panel of three will judge as each participant performs, made up of Tony V and two as yet unnamed people (rumour has it a very well‐known drag artiste is about to sign on the dotted line – more details soon).
• The winner will receive a very substantial cash prize, and the chance to shine at venues around the country.
• Tickets will be on sale to at all venues at all shows, however there may be an age limit to enter the licensed premises, so check the Queer as Talent website (www.queerastalent.com) as the venues become public.
• Entry is via the website, www.queerastalent.com. This is already open for business.
