The Homecoming Student Scholarship Talent Search is featuring a new addition along with a new batch of performers. The finalists met Monday night in the Alumni Center to clarify the guidelines and rules of the competition.
Heather Closson, Talent Search Chairman, checked in with the finalists on their routines and made sure the meeting ran smoothly.
Twenty acts are chosen as finalists and they compete in eight different categories, including male and female vocal, dance, instrumental and free style.
Closson is excited for the video clips of the performances that will premiere right before the performer's act.
"We are trying incorporate technology," Closson said. "They're similar to the video clips of American Idol and So You Think They Can Dance, so they're things that people will see and hopefully they're interested in."
Although she is enthusiastic about the performance, Closson is also anxious.
"I'm nervous for them because I want them all to do well," Closson said. "I'm sad that I can't give them all a scholarship in the end because they're all so deserving of it. I'm just really excited to put on a great show for all of Ball State to see."
The Ball State Homecoming talent search is a scholarship competition. Each category the performers are judged in has an overall winner who receives a $500 scholarship. Additionally, there is an overall winner and they win an additional $500.
Mai Nguyen, a junior marketing major, is also anxious. However, her experience has helped her calm her nerves.
"I've been practicing at home and in front of friends," Nguyen said. "In high school, I did two years of show choir and I also did little performances here and there in school."
At the auditions, the performers will be judged in five categories: talent, material being presenting, staying inside the time limits, clothing and how well they perform.
Freshman theatre major Nickole Regala feels confident in her abilities because of how natural singing comes to her.
"I have been practicing the song I am singing by performing several times," Regala said. "It's got a pretty sentimental value to it. It's the first song I ever learned to actually play and sing at the same time."
The performance generates an audience between 900 to 1,000 people each year. Closson has high hopes that this improved performance will boost audience attendance in competing with Air Jam.
"Talent searches are commonly overlooked and attendance isn't usually as high," Closson said. "It's a really great way to see what everyone at Ball State has to offer."
There are a total of 20 acts and 33 people participating. The Talent Search is on Tuesday, Oct. 4th at 7:30 p.m. in Emens Auditorium. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and admission is free for everyone.
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