NEPA Scene’s Got Talent weekly contest to be held at Thirst T’s Bar & Grill in Olyphant starting March 24
Event will attract the best undiscovered local musicians, comedians, poets, magicians, actors, and more to compete for cash prizes and a grand prize vacation or simply show off their skills
One of the area’s biggest supporters of original local music, Thirst T’s Bar & Grill in Olyphant, is partnering with NEPA Scene to host NEPA Scene’s Got Talent, a brand new event that will give all types of local artists the chance to showcase their talents to a broader audience while rewarding the best standout acts with prizes and publicity.
Sponsored by Great Lakes Brewing Company; LT Verrastro, Inc.; TwentyFiveEight Studios; and Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, NEPA Scene’s Got Talent takes the format of an open mic night and turns it into a friendly competition, inviting local musicians, comedians, poets, performance artists, magicians, actors, and more to perform on Thirst T’s stage every Tuesday at 7 p.m., starting March 24.
At the end of each night, audiences who have enjoyed the free live show will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite act. The winner each week will receive $50 in cash and the headlining slot for the following Tuesday, and all other performers are encouraged to compete again as often as they’d like or simply show off their talents for fun. Everyone participating will be featured in photos and videos on nepascene.com.
After 12 weeks, the 12 winners will face off against each other in front of a panel of local celebrities who will determine the winner of the grand prize – a vacation package that includes $500 cash, three days and two nights in Cleveland, Ohio to tour the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and the Great Lakes Brewing Company, tickets to a Cleveland Indians baseball game, and a free recording session at TwentyFiveEight Studios in Scranton when they return home.
“From its inception last year, NEPA Scene has garnered a reputation for highlighting the best artists and entertainers in Northeastern Pennsylvania, including seasoned professionals and undiscovered talent who have yet to receive the media coverage they deserve. We promote them in ways that are unique to the area, including our former open mic nights in Wilkes-Barre, which gave all artists a chance to foster their talents and be seen by a receptive audience,” NEPA Scene founder and editor Rich Howells said.
The culmination of the Wilkes-Barre open mic nights was the successful NEPA Scene Mid-Winter Talent Showcase on Feb. 27, which featured 11 original acts discovered at the open mics performing jokes, poems, songs, magic, and more in front of a packed paying crowd at The Woodlands Inn with no out-of-town headliner, proving that area audiences are willing and eager to directly support varied local talent if given the opportunity.
“NEPA Scene’s Got Talent takes what we were doing to the next level,” Howells continued. “Thirst T’s is the perfect partner because they see the value in original NEPA performers and feature them regularly on their stage, and no other venue around here will be hosting a show quite as unique as this one. Our built-in audiences are supportive and open-minded, so artists can feel free to just come express themselves or present a polished act that’s ready for the competition in a welcoming environment.”
“We’re really looking to discover new talent. We know they’re out there – they just need the opportunity to reach people, and we’re giving them that stage with added bonuses,” Thirst T’s owner Tom “T” Tell explained.
“The audience is also an integral part of the show because their votes will decide the winners every week through the finals, so we’re encouraging everyone to come out and participate. You won’t want to miss the biggest talent contest in the area and the chance to find your new favorite artists before they hit it big.”
Join the event page on Facebook or view the event in our calendar section.
Location: Thirst T’s Bar & Grill (120 Lincoln St., Olyphant)
Dates: Every Tuesday, March 24-June 9
Time: Sign-ups 6:30 p.m.; show at 7 p.m.
Cost: Free
Events are 21+. The final contest for the grand prize will be held after June 9.
