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'The Sing-Off' casting to kick off soon: Why you should be forming your a capella group now!
Season 2 of "The Sing-Off" was a big success for NBC last December and, arguably, it gave the network the confidence to move forward on its own entry into the reality singing competition genre against "American Idol" and "X Factor" with "The Voice" premiering in April.
So, it wasn't a surprise after averaging close to nine million viewers an episode that NBC gave it a Season 3 pick-up. Now, Zap2it learns that production is starting to ramp up already for Season 3 and the producers are about to launch the casting process for its contenders with the hope that top groups are already forming with their eye on the prize.
Sure, in some cases, the groups are longstanding ones such as last season's Yale University Whiffenpoofs. But, in other cases, the groups can be carefully constructed as with finalists Street Corner Symphony, a group of Nashville singers who joined for the sole purpose of winning "The Sing-Off."
So, have you started forming your group? Here are some reasons why you should:
Winning is so sweet: Winning this contest can mean the difference between performing at your church and on The NAACP Image Awards with the legendary gospel singer Mavis Staples, as is the case with last season's champions Committed, who are doing just that tonight (March 4).
Plus, we don't have to emphasize how tough it is to get a record contract, so let's just say life as a musician can be much better with a Sony recording contract and some cash in your pocket.
The exposure: Winning isn't everything. But with an average of nine million viewers an episode, the exposure for all the groups can be life-altering. Even as runner-ups, Street Corner Symphony has opened in several cities on judge Ben Folds' recent tour.
A winning group takes time: Unlike "Idol" or some of the other singing competitions on TV where it's just the one person, a group needs time to feel each other out. So, once "The Sing-Off" starts taking submissions, you want to make sure your group is in the best shape it has ever been in and that your song choices highlight your group's strengths.
The early bird gets the worm: As soon as NBC officially opens the casting process, you want to send your submissions in right away. Imagine what it's like to have boxes and boxes of submissions to go through? Wouldn't you like to have the freshest eyes possible on your group's audition tape?
We think you get the point. It's time to get your groups together!
"The Sing-Off" will be accepting submissions very soon and will begin picking the competitors this summer. Check out http://www.nbc.com/sing-off/ often, because the details will be posted soon!
And good luck!
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I'm the father of one of the Whiffenpoofs who were on The Sing-Off last December (Brennan Caldwell who sang "Grace Kelly"). Although the Whiffenpoofs were founded in 1909 making them the oldest collegiate a cappella group in the United States, all 14 members change each year. Each is selected from among the junior class.
The Whiffenpoofs who competed were not selected until mid-April 2010 and sang together in only one public concert with no rehearsals in June or July before they went into rehearsals for The Sing-Off in late July. As such, they were at a distinct disadvantage to those groups who were formed specifically to compete on The Sing-Off and who had been rehearsing well before auditions were held.
This is not to make excuses for them but to confirm the point of the story that if you want to compete and stand a better chance of winning, it's never too early to get your group formed and start rehearsing.
Good luck to the Season 3 competitors.