NBC's TV show holds auditions in Portland, EOC declines audition for business reasons
By Jessie Hethcoat
NBC's "America's Got Talent" is holding auditions at the Portland Keller Auditorium from March 17 to 18 and is inviting UP students to be a part of their live studio audience. Not only are they inviting students from UP, but they offer a $5 donation for every person in attendance representing a group or organization.
In order to qualify for this fundraiser, groups must have 20 or more people. For groups of 40 or more, bus transportation is available but may cut down on fundraising amounts.
"America's Got Talent" is the number one show on NBC. With host Nick Cannon and judges Sharon Osborne, Howie Mandel and Piers Morgan, the show also presents an opportunity to see stars, and the audience will perhaps hear Osborne make a famously inappropriate comment.
Fronting the fundraising opportunities for the Portland section of "America's Got Talent" this year is Howard Silverstein from On Camera Audiences, Inc. OCATV is a company based in Burbank, Calif., that organizes audiences for television shows across the country.
"Attending TV tapings is a common fundraising tool in Los Angeles, and now we can offer Portland groups the same opportunity," Howard Silverstein said.
The fundraising opportunity is not UP's only tie to "America's Got Talent" Portland auditions, however.
Emma Greene from "America's Got Talent" contacted the Electric Opera Company, a local Portland band of 14 musicians with seven UP alumni and students. Though they initially planned on auditioning Monday, EOC decided against making an appearance on the show.
"The first thing that made us decide not to audition is that once you're on a TV show, your image is what they edit you to be," said Bobby Ray, EOC member and 2009 UP alum.
The EOC revitalizes both opera and classical music by making it into a more accessible form for young people. With electric guitars and other instruments not usually associated with classical music, EOC makes great music accessible.
"We definitely appreciated the offer, but it just came down to what's safe for the business," Ray said.
Plugging in Mozart sounds like a lot to handle, but EOC must be doing something right. Winning the recognition of "America's Got Talent" and becoming reigning the champion of last year's UP Battle of the Bands, EOC has already won much recognition in the Portland area.
The EOC is waiting on their petition to get a tax-exempt status so they can be officially recognized as a non-profit organization. Focusing on education, EOC's goal is to bring classical and opera music to the masses.
"Auditioning also gets us into a fuzzy area of copyright," Ray said. "While we don't own the music, we have the creative rights to the songs. "
Though EOC has rights to its songs, there is a gray area as to who would own their arrangements once they entered the competition. Because of their nonprofit status, EOC decided it would be too risky.
The producers of American Idol created "America's Got Talent." However, the competition is much different from American Idol because of the flexibility it offers for its auditions and its lack of age limits. Groups are allowed and encouraged to audition, moving on as a whole if they do move on at all. In order to move on to the next round, groups or individuals must receive a "yes" from at least two of the three judges.
The competition offers a rags-to-riches prospect: the winner of season three went from insurance salesman to opera singer, for example. Moving on to Las Vegas for the finals, the grand prize winner of the competition receives a one million dollar prize and Las Vegas headlining show.
For more information regarding the Electric Opera Company, go to www.electricoperacompany.com.
To book your team, organization, military group, church group, school class, fraternity, sorority or school club, call 818-295-2700 or e-mail Howard@ocatv.com.
Tickets are also free for attendees without groups, but without a group or affiliation, "America's Got Talent" will not fund the group or charity's attendance. Find tickets at ocatv.com.
