Real Good for Free: Capital Region’s Got Talent @ Rev. Hall

By Greg Haymes On Sep 9, 2009

OK, we’ll admit it. We don’t really know what to expect here, but Revolution Hall and Time Warner Cable have concocted this competition, and we’re definitely curious to see what happens.

The name – Capital Region’s Got Talent – is something of a misnomer, though. It’s a singing contest, not a talent contest, so you won’t be seeing any of those ventriloquists or fire jugglers or dance troupes or whatever that seem to poulate “America’s Got Talent.”

No, Capital Region’s Got Talent is more of an “American Idol” thingie. During the audition phase of the competition, contestants get two minutes to belt it out – a cappella, with their own instrumentation, with the in-house pianist or with a pre-recorded track.

We have no idea who’s signing up to have a go at the top prize of $5,000. When we checked YouTube over the weekend, there was only one video. But it was Eric Margan (of our fave chamber pop ensemble Eric Margan & the Red Lions) singing the Beatles’ “For No One.” Now that’s a damn good start.

The first round of auditions for Capital Region’s Got Talent takes place at 7pm Thursday, September 10, followed by another on Thursday, September 17. At Revolution Hall, of course. And, yes, admission is free.