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Who should enter Idols? |
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Any person between the ages of 18 and 27 on 1 January 2008, who is a citizen of the following countries: Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Reunion, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Employees of M-Net, Multichoice, Fremantle Media and Waterfront Television may not enter. Contestants may be disqualified at the discretion of the producers and broadcaster, should they violate the terms and conditions of their signed contract / contributors release form.
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Where Can I Enter? |
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You can audition at any audition session in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. There will be one audition in one city in each of these seven countries. Details of audition dates and venues will be announced on M-Net and on the M-Net website.
Please tune in to M-Net and log on to the website regularly from 1 January 2008 for these details.
Remember that day one of each audition session in each audition city is the key day for audition registration. You may be asked to return for your audition in the days that follow. However, failure to register for auditions on the given audition dates means no later entry will be allowed.
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Why should I enter Idols? |
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Idols is an international reality TV phenomenon that launched the careers of Grammy Award winning Kelly Clarkson as well as Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Timi Dakolo, Will Young, Karin Kortjie and World Idol entrant Heinz Winkler. Idols is one of the world’s most successful reality TV formats, with local versions of Idols airing in over 40 territories. In the USA, Idols is the No.1 series with an audience of 37 million viewers and the global number of votes for Idols has now exceeded three billion!
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Can I send a tape of me singing to the audition? |
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No, you have to attend the auditions in person.
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What should I sing at the audition? |
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You can choose your own material to sing at the audition. However it is recommended that when choosing a song to perform for the judges, you decide on a number that is a current or previous international hit song.
You may also choose to sing a local hit song in the pop genre. Each contestant will be asked to sing no more than one verse and one chorus of their chosen song.
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What should I bring to the audition? |
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The Idols team is anticipating thousands of people so the chances are you may have a long wait in the queue, so bring water, food and something to protect you from the weather. We will also need to verify your age so please bring your passport and /or an official ID document.
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What should I wear and do? |
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Although your voice is ultimately what the judges will be judging you on, first impressions and attitude are important. So dress to impress and stand out in the crowd. And remember you are going to be a TV star so when you see a camera, don’t hide.
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What will happen on audition day? |
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The Idols team can only audition a limited number of people per day (1500) so make sure you get to the audition venue early if you want to be assured an audition. Remember that most international superstars spend years trying to get the ultimate audition, so see your long wait in the queues as part of the process.
If the Idols team cannot audition you on the first day you may be asked to come back on another audition day so be prepared. If you are one of the lucky ones chosen, you will be given an audition number. Keep this on you at all times and do not give it to anyone else. Without this number you cannot audition.
First you will be asked to audition off camera for preliminary judges. From this audition you will be taken to a room where you will be told if you are lucky enough to get an audition in front of the TV judges.
If you are chosen for a TV audition you will be given a day when you must return to the audition venue where you will be asked to sing the same song you sang for the preliminary judges. This audition will be for TV. If the judges like you they will give you a pass or ticket to the next round. For those lucky enough to be chosen for the next round, details of what you need to prepare for this round will be given to you at the audition venue.
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What if I forget my words? |
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You have one chance to impress, just one opportunity, so see this as the ultimate audition where there are no second chances. It’s best not to forget your words.
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How long will I need to be available for? |
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The final of Idols will take place in July 2008. If you pass through the audition stages and keep doing well, you will need to be available for five months from your first TV appearance.
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If I am successful at my Idols audition, can I tell my family and friends? |
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Yes, if you are successful at your Idols auditions, you can tell your family and friends. However please be advised that all press interviews will be organized and facilitated by the Idols team.
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What are the prizes? |
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The winner’s prize is an international recording contract and full details will be released in due course.
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Can I exchange my prize for cash? |
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No, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to launch a professional music career. The prize is a highly coveted international recording contract and the winner cannot exchange the prize for cash.
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If I am in the Top 10 but I don’t win Idols will I receive a prize? |
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No, only the winner of Idols receives a prize. However contestants in the Top 10 will benefit from the show’s TV exposure as well as from the team who work on Idols. From fashion styling to stage performance, the Idols Top 10 can learn something every step of the way.
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Where will the show be broadcast? |
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This new season of Idols will be broadcast on M-Net on DStv, starting in April 2008 and ending in July 2008. Audition footage will also be screened on DStv channel 198. If you do not have access to M-Net or DStv channel 198, please contact your nearest Multichoice office to get connected to DStv. Full broadcast times and dates for Idols will be made available on the M-Net website from February 2008.
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Will Idols be broadcast on any free-to-air local channels? |
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M-Net will endeavour to make sure that the show is exposed to as many audiences as possible. However it is important for us to provide first access to our paying subscribers.
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Who will be presenting Idols? |
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Idols is a very specific format, requiring specialized television skills so the presenter selection will be completed in the first quarter of 2008.
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Who are the Idols judges? |
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The judges will be drawn from the different countries participating in this season of Idols. Not all the judges will be from one particular country. The selection process will be completed in the first quarter of 2008.
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Will I have to relocate to Nairobi should I make the Top 24 / Top 10? |
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You will be required to relocate for the period of the group and spectacular stages only. These costs will be carried by producers Fremantle and Waterfront Television. You will stay at the Idols facility with the other contestants. In the interests of ensuring that all contestants get the same opportunities to rehearse, you may not stay with friends or family.
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Can I perform an original song at the auditions? |
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You may perform anything you are comfortable with, but that won't be the case should you progress past the first audition stage.
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If I make it to the Top 10 stage, will the judges have the final decision over whether I win the competition? |
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At the Top 24 and Top 10 stage, voting will also be open to members of the public via sms /online and the public’s votes will decide the final outcome.
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Can I enter this season of Idols if I have already entered previous M-Net reality shows? |
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Yes, you can enter Idols if you meet the entry requirements, regardless of if you entered previous M-Net reality shows. However if you have been a Top 10 contestant on any previous M-Net music reality series, then you cannot enter Idols.
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Do I need to complete an entry form to enter Idols? |
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You will not need to complete an entry form prior to the audition. However, once you arrive at the audition venue, you will be required to complete a participation or contributors release form before you can audition.
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Will I be seen on television if I attend an audition? |
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There is no guarantee that you will be seen on television. However you will be filmed during the audition so there is a possibility that footage showing your performance will be screened. Attendance of an audition means that you have consented to being filmed for public broadcast.
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Why were Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe chosen as audition centres for this latest production of M-Net Idols? |
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Given the large scope of the project, it is difficult to have audition centres in all participating countries. The countries selected to host auditions were selected based on logistics and timing.
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Why can’t South African contestants enter Idols? |
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M-Net has just finished producing its fourth season of Idols SA which gave an opportunity to aspiring South African singers to participate. This is why the new season of Idols is not open to South African participation.
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Who is producing Idols? |
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The show is being produced by WaterFront Television in association with the internationally renowned Fremantle Media.
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What is the role of the local MultiChoice office in Idols? |
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MultiChoice Africa and the local MultiChoice office/s are not involved in producing Idols. The local MultiChoice office provides subscription services to the multi-channel, digital, pay-TV product DStv. M-Net and DStv Channel 198, which will screen IDOLS, are available in sub-Saharan Africa on DStv.
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Are entry forms for Idols on sale? |
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There are no entry forms for Idols on sale. Would-be Idols need only go to one of the seven audition centres to enter the show and at this point, participation /contributors release forms will have to be completed. These forms are free and are not for sale.
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Do I have to be a DStv subscriber to enter Idols? |
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No, you do not need to be a DStv subscriber to enter the show.
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If I am chosen as a contestant for Idols, will I have to pay a fee for participating? |
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No, there is no fee payable for participating in Idols.
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Where will Idols be filmed? |
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The show’s auditions will be filmed in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The show’s group and spectacular stages will be filmed in Nairobi, Kenya.
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What language will Idols be filmed in? |
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The series will be screened to audiences across the continent. The language most common to all these audiences is English and therefore Idols will be an English language production.
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