Maritime idol

Maritime Idol is a singing competition which is held mostly in High Schools across the Maritime provinces in Canada and placed online for viewing and voting at www.maritimeidol.com. Maritime Idol has so far given away over $350,000 in prizes in its first three seasons. The top prize given away to the Year End Winner (there are close to 1000 contestants per year) is a record contract with 70% of revenues after cost going to the winner [the remaining 30% presumably going into the pockets of www.maritimeidol.com.] The winner also receives prizes from local sponsors. The 2008 winner was 17 year old Miss Heidi Ellis from PEI in Canada. Maritime Idol is hoping to expand into the U.S. market.

Most of this season's competitions will be held in schools and communities for ages 12 and up. A percentage of the admission fee goes to the school or community.

Competitions for adults will be held periodically in different venues across the Maritimes.

Schools and communities done last year

• Westisle (Rosebank, PEI)
• TOSH (Summerside, PEI)
• KISH (Kensington, PEI)
• HVHS (Saint John, NB)
• BHS (Bathurst, NB)
• SHS (Stanley, NB)
• GMCS (Grand Manan, NB)
• FHS (St. George, NB)
• BS (Blackville, NB)
• DRHS (Dalhousie, NB)
• Carleton North High School (Bristol ,NB)
• Oromocto High School (Oromocto, NB)
• Bonar Law Memorial (Rexton, NB)
• Eastern Passage Educational Centre (Eastern Passage, NS)
• Riverview Middle School (Riverview, NB)
• Moncton (adult) -(Moncton, NB)
• Capital Theatre (Oxford, NS)
• North and South Esk Regional High School (Sunny Corner, NB)
• Doaktown Consolidated High School (Doaktown, NB)

Competition Format

"ONE NIGHT ONLY"

Instead of auditions by the production team followed by 4 weekly competitions where the same contestants compete with different themes (which excluded some artists such as rappers), auditions and competition are combined into a one night event beginning around 7 PM. The people in the audience that evening will decide which 4 will advance to the regionals to represent their school and/or community. Each attendance ticket ($5 for students, $7 for adults) will be worth 1 vote and, as before, 20% of the gate receipts will remain with the school and/or community facility. [the remaining 80% presumably going into the pockets of www.maritimeidol.com.]

The 4 contestants with the most votes and 1 contestant chosen by the production team will be announced live that same evening and move on to regionals.

"THE REGIONALS"

The performances of the contestants moving on to the regionals will be placed online for regional pre-voting. The general public will be given time to vote online for their favorites.

At the Regionals, which is held at a central location, contestants will perform now in front of a panel of judges who will constructively critique each performance and will be responsible for 50% of the scoring; the other 50% coming from the totals of online and in house (day of performance) voting.

"QUARTER FINALS/SEMI FINALS AND YEAR END"

The format for the rest of the Year (quarter finals and semi and the actual finals) remain the same culminating to the 2009 Maritime Idol (2008 Maritime Idol Heidi Ellis won over $10000 worth of prizes plus a recording contract which so far, together with personal appearances has earned her over $5000 cash in 4 months with much more to come).

"School Bursary"

A $1000 bursary will be awarded to the winner's school to be given out to a deserving student (as chosen by the Principal) who will be extending their education in the performing arts (dancing, music, singing, acting, etc.)

How IT Works?

Regionals normally consist of schools or venues within the same district that would choose their best to send to the quarter-finals (all the Maritimes).

At the regionals and quarter-finals, semi-finals and year end outside judges are involved and are responsible for 50% of the vote.

The following formula is used: Using score sheets per individual contestants, they judge based on vocals, eye contact, stage presence, etc.

At the end of the evening all scores are added; if there are 16 contestants, then 160 points is awarded to the one with the highest score with the judges, 150 for the second highest, 140 for third and so on. The same is done with the general public's votes; whoever has the highest votes gets 160 points, second highest 150, third 140 etc. We then add both results for all contestants. The one with the highest score wins, second highest is second, and so on. We find this to be the fairest formula possible.

At the Regional, the top performers move on to the quarter-finals. As many as seven others may also move on. How many move on depends on how many competitions were running that month. For example if eight total competitions, then regional would have 16 singers with 8 total advancing to quarter-finals. We try to keep quarter and semi-final competitions at 16 or less competitors.

The winner of the semi-finals wins more prizes which includes some of the prizes mentioned above plus getaways and jewelry and sometimes MusicAL INSTRUMENTS, etc.

Second and third place receives prizes as well.

The top 6 also get a guaranteed place in the year end finale for at the very least a recording contract.

All voting ends at midnight the night before the next competition. Votes cast after that time will not be counted.