Calling All Performers for the Ultimate Busking Battle

Calling All Performers for the Ultimate Busking Battle

Can you juggle while standing on your head? Perhaps you can sing the national anthem backwards or have a musical talent or voice that’s worth sharing with an audience. The Palms shopping centre is looking for Christchurch residents with talent – whether it is a true talent or just plain quirkiness.

To celebrate the World Buskers Festival currently being held in Christchurch, The Palms shopping centre is inviting buskers to bring their talents to the centre and perform to a live audience of shoppers.

Heats will be held in-centre on Thursday 9th February at 7pm, Saturday 11th at 2pm and Thursday 16th at 7pm, with a grand final on Saturday 18th February at 3pm. Heats are open, welcoming all age groups, styles of music, or variance of performance.

A great line-up of judges including Chris Carow (aka Carot the Clown), owner of Sillicon Planet Theatre Co; Sue White and Hilary Muir, presenters at The Breeze radio station; Peter Hampton, general manager of sales at Mainland Press and CTV will be picking two finalists from each heat to go through to the grand final.

With Christchurch known as a creative city, the judges are aware they will be witnessing many talented hopefuls. As such, wildcards will be given to performers who have also proven themselves worthy of going through to the finals.

Each judge also understands what it takes to be a star, so this could be an opportunity to be spotted and become Christchurch’s next big thing. If the winner’s talent is in singing, some radio air-time will be made available, and the winner will be given the opportunity to perform in-centre as part of up coming events.

“It is going to be a really fun event for all who attend,” says The Palms shopping centre manager Simon Carter. “We are excited to see what talent the people of Christchurch have to offer.

“The Buskers competition will be a fantastic opportunity for all of the family to come down to the centre and be entertained. Since we put the call out on our Facebook page, we have so far received numerous entries from people ranging in talent and aged from15 to 61.”

As well as the opportunity to be discovered, contestants have the chance of winning some great prizes. The ultimate winner will receive a cash prize of $2,000, with second and third place winners each taking home $500 cash.

The Palms shopping centre would like to hear from anyone who thinks they have what it takes to wow a crowd. Applicants can enter the competition by sending their details to: info@thepalms.co.nz or by visiting the The Palms Information Desk in-centre.

About The Palms

The Palms Shopping Centre in Shirley (four kilometres from the Christchurch CBD), is an asset in the AMP Capital Shopping Centre Fund (ASCF). The Fund has 11 properties under management with a total fund size of over AU$2 billion.

ENDS