"Wait..why did I do that?!"
A simple question that I asked myself immediately after applying. And a question I'm sure the thousands of other people who applied asked themselves. Over 75,000 people applied for BGT (Britain's Got Talent) this year. That's a lot of people. Some of them would have answered the question with sincerity and modesty. Some would have answered the question with grand delusions of fame and stardom. Others would have answered the question just because they like talking to themselves because they are actually somewhat mental. But it's really a question one has to think about and here's my answer.
It's because it gives you a shot at potential stardom and a music career, if a music career is what you want. I don't think I'm actually supremely talented or anything. I think I can sing pretty well. And others tell me I am good at singing. And the exposure you get on these types of shows are genuinely fantastic and potentially life-changing if anything comes of it. And that's pretty much it. It's a shot at fame and the glory that comes with it on a very basic level. But for me it was more of a curiosity and a "wonder how far I can get" with a "don't know until you try!" mentality that brought it on. I honestly did not expect to get very far in the process at all. It's very easy to see once watching episodes of this show that there are a lot of delusional people who want that shot of fame and are talentless hacks, to put it bluntly. I think I'm good, that's all. I prefer others to judge me which is another part of why I signed up since I would be interested to know what others think.
A question I was asked by family members is "Why not the X-Factor?" which I can also answer because it was very much a concious decision to say "no" to that show. The X Factor is very much a show based upon pop singers with contemporary pop music as the basis for the show. I don't sing pop music. I sing country music (as well as a bit of rock/folk) Another reason is for anyone who has watched the boot camp stage of that show would know- the singers are told what songs to sing by their mentors. They have themed weeks where you have to sing in a specific music style. The finalists are even given makeovers by the show and essentially crafted and moulded into the whole pop star image in a way that I think gives the show too much creative control over you as an artist and an individual. Take this years X Factor for example. The young Irish singer Janet Devlin looked perfectly pretty and natural as a singer and an individual.She came across as very down to earth and shy/vulnerable which was obviously a style and persona that reflected her as an individual.
When she got through to the finals however it was clear that all contestants were given a makeover by the show. I am not sure of course how much control the individuals themselves had over the makeover but it;s obvious that the show has some control over the contestants if they are being given songs to sing.
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And that's why I didn't apply for the X-Factor. I would want to sing country songs from my personal music influences and they probably would have made me dance on stage to a Black Eyed Peas song whilst wearing tight-fitting leather whilst hip-hop backing dancers pranced around me.
On the offset at least BGT seems to have more control and allows for more individualism. I could go on BGT dressed as a George Foreman grill or I could go on there as a country artist and seemingly be allowed to do what I wish. Although song choices may be suggested I think the sheer variety between acts kind of caters for all sorts of things. I'm not suggesting BGT will not slap make-up on me either because well it's television and I don't mind if my face looks just about passable for HD broadcast. I do need that creative control over myself as an artist though.
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