People on panels

It baffles me every time I watch talent shows. Being a number one fan, should I admit to being an addict of these life-changing shows? I find it disturbing that the winners are actually the big losers (no pun intended)

This popped up in a conversation, in a coffee shop recently with a friend. As we were conversing I raised a question about people that are on judging panels for various competitions. Be it dance, singing or even anything that includes a judge on our television screens.

I was eager to know how they are selected and why? I sometimes get the impression that they are chosen because they are famous, probably had more sales than any other artist, or had very popular social status or even better maybe they know a friend. A very popular agent these days to getting a job.

My reason for this assumption is I fail to understand why people who get second place often go far and are able to sustain themselves. These people prove to have what it takes to be stars, and yet they are not recognised by panels of judges.

The strange part is that those who take the trophy home never stay for long. In a matter of a year or less they fade away from the limelight.

Sometimes I tend to think that the real point is often missed,which is talent. It should be the first priority and everything else second. In various competitions such as Coca Cola Pop Stars "So you think you can dance" and "Idols", this is reality.

Contestants tend to be judged by their appearance and this is not how it should be. If that is the case, how about changing to "So you think you can dress"?

Being a Public Relations student myself I understand the importance of image and I also understand that it can be created from nothing to something big. It’s about time that people on panels look for the primary reason and not define talent with what they visually perceive to be “star material” or anything pleasing to the eye.

Do you remember a group called Ghetto Lingo that won the last series of Coca Cola Pop Stars in 2004? Their opponents Jamali, after coming a sorry second, grew stronger. The group( Jamali) has released three great albums, won a South African Music Award and a couple of nominations on their list.

To brighten this dull picture, who could forget the Scottish born Susan Boyle? A lady that came to audition with a look beyond plain. Her powerful soprano voice told a fairy tale story of an ugly duckling about to turn into a beautiful swan. There are many like Susan, South African Thembisile Ntaka, Adam Lambert and the list goes on.

This brings me back to my point, could the panel not have seen the potential these individuals possess? One tends to think that they focus on judging according to their personal taste and opinions, when they should be looking at real talent.

This post is to say if you know you are passionate of whatever you do, don't be discouraged, appearance does not substitute great talent. The panel isn't always right!

Do what you do best, don’t stop.

That and more....