First Hartsville Idol contest

Hartsville residents and others looking for a quick ride to vocal glory should start loosening their larynxes now, because the first Hartsville Idol competition kicks off with auditions July 25 at the Black Creeks Arts Center.

The City of Hartsville and the Hartsville Downtown Development Association is presenting the contest featuring auditions July 25, Aug. 1, Aug. 8, and Aug. 22 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the BCAC. There is no entry fee for contestants at any point in the competition and singers of all ages are welcomed.

Contestants need only attend one audition, and the one audition will be performed A cappella before a panel of judges on a first-come first-sing basis. The eventual grand prize: $1,000 cash and total prizes projected to be in the range of $2,100.

But first, from the four audition rounds, 64 contestants will be chosen to perform in quarterfinal rounds Aug. 29 and Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. at Burry Park in Hartsville. Then 32 of these entrants will progress to the semifinal round on Sept. 19 at the same location and time. Finally, on Sept. 26, a crop of 16 contestants will sing-off to become the first Hartsville Idol (again at Burry Park at 7 p.m.). Bring lawn chairs and blankets; food and beverages will be for sale.

Solo, duet, or trio performances are allowed, and while full bands are not allowed, singers may accompany themselves with instruments (after the A cappella round).

Audience participation is a critical component: beginning with the quarterfinal rounds audience voting will determine who moves on to the next round. Upon arrival at Burry Park, audience members will receive ballots to vote for contestants for the next round.  In the Sept. 26 final, audience votes will determine the winner of the competition and second through fifth place.

Volunteer Event Coordinator Jeff Martin, who operates the Southern Candy Kitchen in Hartsville with his wife Oneida (who is also co-chairing the event), said that multi-night event will attract people downtown and show off how beautiful the area is.

“There will be people who think they can sing, and also those who will blow you away,” he said. Sounds like a certain television show, doesn’t it?

He emphasized that downtown businesses were mainly sponsoring the event, and that more sponsors and volunteers were needed. The Martins have experience helping produce similar entertainment events elsewhere in South Carolina and North Carolina, and have theater experience as well.

“You never know, we may find someone who moves on to do something bigger,” Oneida said.

The Martins are basing the structure of the event on Idol-like contests held in Liberty, S.C., which have attracted thousands of people to their downtown. How’d they find out about that contest? Easy, Oneida, herself a singer, is currently in the final eight there after initial rounds.

“There are large crowds [in Liberty] on Saturday nights, and the town is smaller than Hartsville,” she said. “We know this is a great opportunity for our community to get together and to do something on a Saturday night that’s a fun, family event.”

Nancy Myers, a volunteer with the Hartsville Downtown Development Association, said that this event is the newest effort to generate commerce for local businesses, following the energy provided by such events as the Good Living Marketplace held the first Saturday each month. Businesses will be encouraged to be open during the events to take advantage of the traffic and to give people more to do once here.

“(Hartsville Idol) is going to be another total community effort of the kind that makes Hartsville, Hartsville,” Myers said.

Local businesses are beginning to report increased sales in association with the marketplace events, and she welcomed fresh ideas such as Idol. Regardless if there’s a recession, economy-stimulating events are needed downtown to create buzz and take advantage of the city’s many assets.

The Hartsville Downtown Development Association hopes the event grows with popularity and that the prize money grows with it, as well as the number of weeks the contest lasts. The point is to bring more people downtown to stave off the current economic doldrums and to provide yet another avenue for economic impact, all the while giving singers a forum to exhibit their talent.

“We’re hoping the event can get bigger in all respects,” HDDA Executive Director Judi Elvington said.

The contest’s format has already been ironed out. In the quarter final round, contestants will sing a song of their choice from the ‘50’s, ‘60’s or ‘70’s era.  Then 32 of these entrants will progress to the semifinal round on Sept. 19 where performances will be a song of the contestant’s choice from the ‘80’s, ‘90’s or 2000’s.  At this point the field will be narrowed to 16 for the final round.  On Sept. 26 the final 16 will perform any song of their choice before an audience that will decide the ultimate outcome. Thousands of karaoke songs will be available to choose from.
Additional details can be obtained from Jeff Martin at (843)332-3231, or from Judi Elvington at Hartsville Downtown Development Association at (843)332-1600.