It is going to be calypso in the most amusing and entertaining format when the island’s most entertaining artistes go head to head for a chance to win this unique competition.
During a media launch for the event held on Wednesday 15th December at the ZIZ Television studio, CEO of MiyVue.com, organizers and sponsors of the contest, Mr. Val Henry revealed the names of the ten calypsonians who will be competing.
The ten are; Pau-u-la, Unexpected, Rock-ah-fella, Felix, Little Willy, Aba Lively, Hot Rod, De Provoker, La La and Neglecter.
According to Henry, “The goal of the King Ah De Tents Competition is to help in the promotion of the art-form of calypso in St. Kitts and Nevis, especially the unique styles and creativity of our witty, funny and entertaining calypsonians.”
Also on hand for the media launch were partners of the event which included, representatives from ZIZ Broadcasting Corporation, Viere Galloway, Vernon Springer Manager for De House Nitery and Carnival Committee Chairman, Clement O’Garro; all of whom endorsed the MiyVue.com initiative.
According to O’Garro, “the additional activities will help to boost the Carnival spirit and give more exposure to those Calypsonians who did not make it to the semi-finals.”
On another note, Vernon Springer, De House Nitery manager said he was pleased to be associated with the event and for the opportunity to host the King Ah De Tents competition.
Viere Galloway, General Manager for ZIZ Broadcasting said his company is always glad to be associated with positive things in the community and when the idea was brought to him he gladly jumped on board with MiyVue.com to make it a reality.
Now that the media launch has taken place, the songs of the ten finalists will be featured on local radio stations, to allow the public to become even more familiar with the tunes.
This is important said Henry, “because it is the public who will vote to determine the winners of the contest.”
According to a MiyVue.com release, there will not be a panel of prescribed judges; the final winners will be determined by members of the public, voting online at www.miyvue.com and a designated text messaging program, where fans would be able to text the name of their choice for winner, to 9696.
The ultimate winners will be determined via the People’s Popular Choice, guided by the criteria for the contest. Members of the public who are voting are encouraged to guide themselves by the established criteria and competition requirements. The songs must be humourous, hilarious, comical, amusing, funny or jokey, witty, enjoyable, pleasurable and not necessarily serious.
Though the public is allowed to use its own personal assessment and judgment to determine its choice for winner, they should consider the level of Crowd Response, Overall Impact of the performance, Effective Use of the Stage, Must be professionally dressed in accordance with their performance and must be punctual for their performance, to avoid being deducted points.
The event will be streamed live on www.miyvue.com for persons overseas, interested in viewing the show, and those in St. Kitts and Nevis can equally follow the proceedings live on ZIZ Radio & Television.
Voting will close on Friday 24th December, at midnight. This is to allow as many persons as possible, to cast their vote after the competition. The names of the winners will then be posted on MiyVue.com on Saturday, at 10:00am and released to the general media thereafter.
Each Finalist will be required to perform one song, which must be the same rendition that was used in the tents for qualification.
In every competition there must be a winner and winners are expected to receive a prize and the MiyVue.com King Ah De Tents will be receiving some attractive prizes.
The winner will be presented with a trophy and a cash prize of EC$2,000, Second Place winner will receive a trophy and EC$1,500 and Third Place winner will receive a trophy and EC$1,000.00. All other Finalists will receive Participation Trophies.
Presentation of trophies will be made on the night of the National Carnival Senior Monarch Competition, prior to the announcement of winners of that contest.