AUDITIONS
How do I sign up to TeenStar?
To enter TeenStar you have to fill out a simple online application form that can be found here. To enter, fill out your act details, contact details and state where you would like to audition.
Is there a fee to enter?
Yes, the entry fee is just £5. This covers administration and audition costs. This is the only fee you will be asked for during your entire time in the competition.
Why is there a charge for auditions?
The fee covers costs such as administration, venue hire and staff costs to run the audition event. Running a competition as large as TeenStar costs a considerable amount of money and the competition wouldn’t run without this small charge.
How long should I allow for auditions?
We advise you give yourself plenty of time to arrive. Once you have arrived, you should ideally aim to register in with the TeenStar team 15-30 minutes before your allocated time. In most cases you will audition in your allocated time, but if it is extremely busy this may over-run. Results are generally given within 30 minutes of auditioning. Please be patient - the whole process for most cases normally takes around 2 hours.
Where can I enter from?
Registrations are accepted from all over the UK.
Is there an age limit?
The upper age limit is 19 years old. To determine your age category, please enter for the age category you fall into on the 31st January. Acts under 16 years old must inform their parents or guardian before entering the competition.
What kind of music can I perform in the competition?
We are open to all genres! Solo singers, duos and vocal groups. Whether you’re into Pop, Classical, R’n’B, Rock or Acoustic, anyone 19 or under may enter TeenStar.
Can I sing a cover?
The competition is all about finding a young, undiscovered act and help them develop, therefore covers are perfectly acceptable at this stage. However original songs can be performed as well. We do encourage, if singing a cover, that you make it as original and creative as you can to set yourself apart from everyone else.
Is there a deadline for entries?
Over 8,000 acts are expected to enter so we advise that you enter the competition as early as possible. Auditions will begin in January so we strongly advise that you enter as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Click here to enter now!
What’s the audition format?
After you complete and send us your registration form, you will be sent an email confirming your audition details, so please ensure this is firmly in your diaries! All acts are auditioned live in front of an industry judging panel, therefore you will be required to perform live. Results are given out after you have auditioned on the day of your audition.
What is expected of you if you enter?
TeenStar provides a platform to help singers and acts progress professionally and get noticed. You are expected to make the most of this by working hard to get press and publicity to support your participation in the competition, galvanise fans and friends to support you, practice hard and take on-board feedback from the judges where applicable. If you are a singer or act that just wants to turn up and see what happens then this competition isn’t for you. We are looking for serious singers and acts with talent and a strong work ethic, both of which are essential for being successful in the music industry.
How long should my audition piece be?
Prepare a song of your choice up to 2 minutes in length and no longer. We recommend you keep your intro to a minimum and perform the best part of your song at the start. It’s all about first impressions at auditions, so ensure you pay attention to your image and always put the best part of your song in the intro for maximum impact and get the chorus in early! The auditions are closed to the public and will be in front of a professional judging panel. If you are stopped during your audition this simply means the judges have seen enough of the performance to make a decision.
What do I need to bring to the audition?
Ideally we ask that you sing your audition piece accapella or with live backing instruments (up 2 two instruments maximum, you may play or have someone else accompany you). If you feel you need to bring a backing track please ensure you bring it in CD format only or backing instruments as above.
Who judges the auditions?
For auditions judges are most likely to be made up from local press, studios, music tutors and record labels. Judges throughout the singing contest will be made up from DJ who work for BBC Radio, Kiss FM and Choice FM, regional press and record labels, with judges getting more prestigious as the competition progresses. For a full list of judges please click here.
Which venues are you using?
We use the best venues in the UK including the Birmingham NEC, Portsmouth Guildhall, Sheffield City Hall and of course the opportunity to play at the best music venue in the world within The O2 in London...click here now for the opportunity to play within The O2! For a full list of venues click here.
What happens if I am successful at the auditions?
If you are successful at the auditions you will go on to perform at the live Regional Final Showcases. The Regional Final Showcases will be held at the best venue in your region and you will be performing in front of a live audience and a music industry judging panel.
How many acts get through at auditions?
This amount varies as each audition has differing number of acts attending. Judges will select the best acts to go through to the Regional Final Showcases on the day. The general rule is – if you’re talented enough to make it, you’ll go through. We NEVER turn away talent.
I have applied to enter but haven’t heard back?
Please check your junk folder and spam emails before contacting us. If you are still unable to find your confirmation please click here to contact us. To audition for TeenStar click here
Illness or unforeseen circumstances:
In the event you are ill or unable to make your audition you are able to audition at one of the remaining auditions taking place. Please advise us by email at your earliest. Then, if you are successful and make it to the next round we will try to place you in your nearest live show.
LIVE SHOWS
If successful at the auditions you will be asked to pay a £30 deposit (not a fee). This will ensure your place in the Regional Final and all subsequent rounds and you will get the deposit back as set out below.
Why is there a deposit?
TeenStar wants to ensure that the acts who take part in the competition are as dedicated to their music as we are. The £30 deposit ensures that acts turn up to play for their live show and try their best. Experience has shown that if we do not take a deposit some singers and acts will drop out on the day of their showcase, leaving us with an empty slot and an opportunity which could have been given to another act.
Will I get my deposit back?
The deposit will be returned at the end of the Live Show on the day that you leave the competition subject to punctual attendance and evidence of satisfactory ticket sales and publicity as outlined in the newsletter provided if successful at the audition and the terms and conditions.
Do I have to sell tickets?
All acts that make it successfully past the auditions will be given tickets to sell for their Regional Final Showcase. TeenStar has been designed to help acts progress and provide a platform to gain as much exposure as possible. This means that you are expected to demonstrate a fan base. Acts are asked to try their best to sell tickets to family, friends and fans.
How much are tickets to the live shows?
Tickets to Regional Finals are £8 and Area Finals are £9. The showcase will last approximately 90 minutes and will also include a special guest performance, plus all the best singers and acts in your area. Alongside this will be a line-up of music industry judges, which at previous Future Music events have included DJs who work for BBC Radio, Kiss FM and Choice FM, regional press and record labels, with judges getting more prestigious as the competition progresses. Want to play in front of these judges? Get your music heard by the right people, and what better way than to perform in front of them LIVE? Enter now!
Is there an age restriction on fans coming to watch my show?
There are no audience age restrictions. Under 18s may need to be accompanied by an adult. Children under 3 are free of charge and may share a seat with an adult, although proof of age will be required. We would like to advise that the shows are not a suitable environment for any persons under 3. All venues have seating on a first-come, first-served basis and have disabled access. For further information on venue information and access please go to the venue page.
How does the voting system work?
In order to progress in a live show you must be in the top judges’ scores. Only the winner and best runners-up in each show will progress to the next round. Those acts not in the highest section of the judges’ scores will be eliminated before the counting of the audience vote begins for the remaining acts. The acts who make it into the judges' top scores will have their scores ranked and added to the audience voting, (the audience get to use their tickets to cast two votes for who they think should progress) which will also be ranked. The acts with the combined highest ranking from audience and judges’ votes will progress towards the Grand Final.
Is there text voting?
There is no text voting at the Regional and Area Final Showcases. The only time text voting comes into play is for the Wildcard (which is completely optional), and for the Grand Final where it is simply not practical to receive and count votes in any other way.
What is a 'wildcard'?
If acts are unsuccessful at the Live Showcases there is still an opportunity for one or two acts only in each region to progress in the competition. Unsuccessful acts will be thrown a 'Wildcard' in the form of a public vote. Each act is handed an individual Wildcard number and fans can vote for the act of their choice via a text vote. The act(s) with the most votes after the voting period has ended will progress through to the next round of the competition.
How many rounds are there?
If you are successful at auditions you will play at the Regional Final Showcases. If successful you will make the Area Final Showcases and compete for a place at the Grand Final within The O2.
What prizes are in store?
TeenStar is a singing contest like no other - we provide prizes along the entire course of the competition. At the Regional Finals we award acts with studio recording time with some of the country's top producers, as well as music development courses at some of the UK's finest facilities. You can win the opportunity to play at the best venues in the country, perform in front of music industry judges, win some fantastic prizes and of course play within The O2 in London. There are so many reasons to enter the competition! Prizes also include a main cash prize of £5,000 to spend on musical development, extensive consultation packages, publicity packages, studio time, music development classes and much more! For more information visit the prizes page of the website.
If your question is not answered above, please feel free to contact us here.
