[BluesTrainRadio]

I quite enjoyed the show overall, it had it's issues but I thought there were quite a few very talented singers on there. Leanne was a worthy winner, although some of the best talent didn't get to the Final [ eg: Jaz ].

Looking to the next series [ and I've read that the BBC have committed to five more series now ], someone I know through my radio work has been approached to audition by the producers. There has been much debate on Facebook about what she should do, both for and against but it now appears that she will turn them down.

Her feeling is...at the minute, she is progressing nicely anyway...she's had an album and DVD out and is about to release a new EP...she is nominated in awards this year...she is regularly gigging around the country and starting to break overseas. This is all under her control. She thinks that even though The Voice will give her extra exposure, she will still ultimately have a longer career by going along as she is now.

It's a shame in a way as her voice is amazing. She deserves to be heard by everyone! And no, I'm not her manager, I just play her music!

I'd be interested on any thoughts you might have...

[boddism]

She could always ask for a "pass" till the year after, in case she doesnt develop as much as she'd hoped in the next 12 months.

I dont see why anyone would turn down the opportunity for greater exposure.

Its interesting that the BBC are "asking" people onto the show.

ho-hum... this is as manipulative as the X-Factor...

[BluesTrainRadio]

The first series was hand picked as well from what I read at the time - the reasoning was that they wanted good quality performers. Shows such as the Karaoke Factor have anyone on and most of them seem to be useless, as that is what people who watch that show seem to enjoy. The idea worked as there was no-one that I saw that couldn't sing.

The issue is the contacts these shows get people to sign - they become pretty much under their full control and can't even blow off without permission. They don't have any real say in the songs they sing and can't do any original material. And even if they do well, by the time the next show appears the following year, they are cast aside unless they are hugely lucky.

[Metal Mickey]

Originally Posted by boddism

Its interesting that the BBC are "asking" people onto the show.

ho-hum... this is as manipulative as the X-Factor...

All of the worldwide formats of The Voice actively search out contestants rather than hold open auditions, as the lack of a "freakshow" round makes it pointless to see endless deluded talentless wannabes, as opposed to Idol & XF, which manages to squeeze weeks of programming out of them.

I read an article around the time of the first US series of The Voice that said they mostly found their contestants from record company A & R departments (to find people who'd just been dropped, or narrowly missed out on being signed), writer & performer management agencies, and then topped them up with people they found on YouTube... the original Dutch version also had a website where you could load up your performances.

As for the OP's question, I'm inclined to suggest that going on one of these shows should almost be a last resort - not that it's such an awful thing to do, and not that it's bad for everyone, but just that if someone's talented enough, they'll make it anyway, and they should only try these shows after all the other avenues have been exhausted... good luck to her either way!

[BluesTrainRadio]

She is rising at the minute, that is for sure. On what level is another matter - will she ever be in the top ten singles chart? Probably not. She won't be selling out arena's either sadly. It's very rare these days for anyone to do that, Adele being an exception sales wise but even she took maybe three albums to hit that peak.

The person I am speaking of mainly sings soul, blues and country blues...not a massive selling area and she wouldn't want to have to sing tracks that she doesn't believe in. I personally think her voice is on a par with pretty much anyone you could name and having met her on my radio show, she is also very down to earth. She just feels that whether she succeeds or fails in the end, it should be on her terms.

I interviewed quite a well known US blues star last night and asked him about these shows - his answer was simple - be true to your heart. He didn't say to not do them but rather, if your heart says to go for it, then you should...but if it says no...don't! [ This is a rule for talented singers, not the useless ones! ]

[maggie_07]

Originally Posted by BluesTrainRadio

The person I am speaking of mainly sings soul, blues and country blues...not a massive selling area and she wouldn't want to have to sing tracks that she doesn't believe in. I personally think her voice is on a par with pretty much anyone you could name and having met her on my radio show, she is also very down to earth. She just feels that whether she succeeds or fails in the end, it should be on her terms.

]

It sounds like she would be ideal on The Voice but I can well understand her turning it down. Some of those who have been on have said they didn't have a choice in what they sang - in some cases it was obviously a bad choice but it was out of their control and can make the difference between winning and losing. There are also restrictions on what they can do after The Voice I believe.

I really think if they want talented artists to apply, they should treat them with a bit more respect and allow them to make their own choices.

[BluesTrainRadio]

There was a great show on Sky, 'Must Be The Music' I think it was called, where they basically had bands and singers, singing their own material. It had the likes of Sharleen Spiteri, Jamie Cullum as judges and it was fab. Sadly these days, too many people just want to be force fed Karoake Factor type shows, they get really into them but rarely buy any of the music. It's not about music for these people, its supposed entertainment. They want to watch the sob stories and useless singers making fools of themselves!

I do like The Voice, not sure about the middle 'sing off' in the ring though, they ended up shouting at each other instead of singing! A lot of the artists in the blind auditions sounded great there and less so on the next round. That is something I would change about it.

I was watching America's Got Talent recently and a young girl went on and sang her own song, really nicely too. The judges all told her the show wasn't about that and unless she did a cover version, she wouldn't go through!

In theory, I would love my friend to go for it, as I would love more people to hear her voice. But I wouldn't like to see her forced to perform songs I know she wouldn't be 'feeling' either.

[drwhoru]

if your friend is good enough and is already successful then there is no need to go on the voice.

most people who can sing well and have an inclination to can make a career out of it. I'm not saying they will be millionaires or tour the world, but there is plenty of opportunity to perform and be paid well enough.

almost all the finalists for the voice (and probably some from the x factor) already have professional singing careers, which is why they come across as so bloody desperate - having a career is not enough, they want to be famous - and people that want to be famous are pretty sad.

[mevilhoney]

BluesTrainRadio,how old is your friend? Does she have a mortgage,kids? How much would you says he earns from her music?

[MrSuper]

Originally Posted by BluesTrainRadio

someone I know through my radio work has been approached to audition by the producers. There has been much debate on Facebook about what she should do, both for and against but it now appears that she will turn them down.

Her feeling is...at the minute, she is progressing nicely anyway...she's had an album and DVD out and is about to release a new EP...she is nominated in awards this year...she is regularly gigging around the country and starting to break overseas. This is all under her control. She thinks that even though The Voice will give her extra exposure, she will still ultimately have a longer career by going along as she is now.

It's a shame in a way as her voice is amazing. She deserves to be heard by everyone! And no, I'm not her manager, I just play her music!

I'd be interested on any thoughts you might have...

Are you not going to tell us the name of your friend so we can discover her music for ourselves? You've certainly bigged her up a lot on here so lets see for ourselves what she's like?

[Deleria]

I don't blame you for turning down a place, the muddled format means very few of the contestants this year will develop a career. Congratulations on your success!!

[maggie_07]

Originally Posted by Deleria

I don't blame you for turning down a place, the muddled format means very few of the contestants this year will develop a career. Congratulations on your success!!

It's a bit soon to make that prediction. Several of them have signed up with record companies and are making albums so it might be better to wait and see. The record companies obviously have faith in them or wouldn't have signed them.

[Word_Wan]

It starts sounding like a....what's that? I know. Publish your own book scenario. I know some person, a young writer, starting out, who had to sign a contract per her first book being published by one of these 'do-it-yourself' kind of book publishing companies. And they had her and all her work for the next, what was it? SEVEN years. Yeesh!

I am, currently, a new viewer of these talent shows. I don't have a television and am watching people like Matt Cardle--an earlier incarnation of a talent show entrant who started to feel the negative pull of these establishments--on the internet.

I THINK...if no 'contracts' are signed, anyone at ALL could be 'asked' on a talent show. Back in the day, people came on a variety show and just performed. Maybe something of this ilk could happen, even if the performers came on a 'show' to compete for a prize.

Beyond that, we really need to stop using old paradigms when it comes to creativity. Don't know exactly how, but....

Matt Cardle just finished a new album. It comes out soon. I wonder if people like him would be willing to come on forums like this to discuss this issue.