NEPA Scene’s Got Talent weekly contest back for Season 3 at Thirst T’s Bar & Grill in Olyphant starting March 1
The public demanded it, and now it’s back – NEPA Scene’s Got Talent, Northeastern Pennsylvania’s only multi-genre open mic and talent contest, will return to Thirst T’s Bar & Grill in Olyphant for its third season starting this Tuesday, March 1.
Hosted by NEPA Scene, the weekly event gives 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 Coors Light; LT Verrastro, Inc.; Fireball Cinnamon Whisky; Fidelity Bank; Laugh Out Lepka’s Comedy; and Thirst T’s, 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 (120 Lincoln St., Olyphant) every Tuesday at 7 p.m. through May 17.
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 from Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, the headlining slot for the following Tuesday, and a featured interview on nepascene.com; all other performers are encouraged to compete again as often as they’d like or simply show off their talents for fun. (Performers under 21 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at least 25 or older.)
Everyone participating will be featured in photos and videos weekly on NEPA Scene.
After 12 weeks, the 12 winners will face off in the Finals Showcase on May 31 in front of a panel of local celebrities that will determine the winner of the grand prize – $250 cash courtesy of Laugh Out Lepka’s Comedy; a $100 gift card from Fidelity Bank; a summer backyard prize package with a fire pit, wooden deck chair, grill, and cooler from Coors Light and LT Verrastro; a headlining slot at the 2016 Electric City Music Conference; and a guest spot on an episode of the NEPA Scene Podcast. The second place winner will receive $100 cash.
“So many great things have come out of our first two seasons of NEPA Scene’s Got Talent. I’ve watched friendships grow, new musical acts and events form, artists sharpen their skills and go on to get paid gigs, and an overall strengthening of the local arts and entertainment scene in the face of many people who claim that the scene is dying or already dead. It’s really just changing and developing new facets, and I’m thrilled that NEPA Scene has been a part of that evolution both online and in the real world,” NEPA Scene founder and editor Rich Howells said.
“I’m continually astonished and impressed by the varied talent on display each and every week, and anyone in attendance will be as well. This event is our way to not only give back to the artists who work so hard, oftentimes for free, to get their original work out there, but to show the public that there’s so much great entertainment right in their own backyards that they should be supporting regularly.”
Each week attracts crowds that are simply unheard of at traditional open mics, and the NEPA Scene’s Got Talent Finals Showcase is a formal affair unlike any other in the area, with a red carpet and performers dressed to the nines, packing the room and receiving coverage from both mainstream and independent media. Season 3 is expected to draw even larger crowds as word continues to spread about this fun and innovative event.
“Thirst T’s is proud to bring NEPA Scene’s Got Talent back for Season 3, and we’re excited to see who competes this spring. It’s a different show every week!” Thirst T’s owner Tom “T” Tell emphasized.
“We hope to see you there because it’s the audience that decides who wins; it’s anybody’s game. Some of the winners last season came down to just one or two votes, so you could determine who moves on to the finals! This is the future of local entertainment, so don’t miss it!”
Join the event page on Facebook and participate in the conversation throughout Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram by using #NEPAtalent and tagging us @nepascene.
Photo by Robb Malloy/Moon’s Eye Media/NEPA Scene
