Frequently asked questions
MONTHLY OPEN-MIC RELATED ANSWERS TO YOUR POTENTIAL QUESTIONS
Confidence, as Bill Parcells often said, comes from "demonstrated ability”. Get going via “Silicon Valley’s Got Talent” OPEN-MIC.
Be that STAR you always wanted to be….Unleash that hidden persona.
Our open-mic Gives an opportunity for our young performers to get stage time and build confidence (to the point where it makes no difference whether the performance is in front of 50 or 500). And for our seasoned performers, AN opportunity to experiment and see how it goes
Want to be propelled into superstardom and an absolute life of luxury; being hounded by the papparazzi? JOIN us and take that first step to super stardom
WHAT?
We are a kids/ family friendly talent show, where anything and everything goes. We love songs, dances, stand-up comedy, musical performances etc.. This is a relaxed cozy setting, to inter-mingle and make some new friends.
WHEN? – We are usually on the 3rd Friday of the month (check our facebook.com/ValleyTalent for the latest update)
WHERE? – Blue Rock Shoot (14523 Big Basin Way, Silicon Valley CA)
COVER CHARGE - There is none...you get in FREE
I would like to stay connected
https://www.facebook.com/ValleyTalent
EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION http://groups.google.com/group/ValleyTalent
www.siliconvalleystalent.com
HOW DO I GET INTO THE LINEUP?
Firstly, you should have LIKED our Facebook page : http://www.facebook.com/ValleyTalent
Secondly, you should have reviewed our terms and conditions. Your presence at our event, indicates agreement and affirmation to our Terms and Conditions.
Please send an email to siliconvalleysgottalent<at>gmail.com to get on the performance list.
Please show up at 7:30pm sharp - the earlier you show up, the earlier you perform.
We are a kids/ family friendly talent show, where anything and everything goes. We love songs, dances, stand-up comedy, musical performances etc.. This is a relaxed cozy setting, to inter-mingle and make some new friends.
WHEN? – We are usually on the 3rd Friday of the month (check our facebook.com/ValleyTalent for the latest update)
WHERE? – Blue Rock Shoot (14523 Big Basin Way, Silicon Valley CA)
COVER CHARGE - There is none...you get in FREE
I would like to stay connected
https://www.facebook.com/ValleyTalent
EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION http://groups.google.com/group/ValleyTalent
www.siliconvalleystalent.com
HOW DO I GET INTO THE LINEUP?
Firstly, you should have LIKED our Facebook page : http://www.facebook.com/ValleyTalent
Secondly, you should have reviewed our terms and conditions. Your presence at our event, indicates agreement and affirmation to our Terms and Conditions.
Please send an email to siliconvalleysgottalent<at>gmail.com to get on the performance list.
Please show up at 7:30pm sharp - the earlier you show up, the earlier you perform.
Agreement with our terms and conditions
your participation at the open mic implies agreement to our terms and conditions
| event_agreement_termsandconditions.pdf |
Why did we start the open-mic??
Our events started as an open-mic with 20 people in attendance at the Bell Tower Bistro back in summer of 2011. "Saratoga VIllage Marketplace" had been launched in Saratoga downtown by the "Saratoga Chamber of Commerce", and we piggy-backed on that via a weekly Wednesday evening karaoke event to provide shoppers an opportunity to stay back in the Village and co-mingle - have some fun too. Our intention was to create a "magnet" to bring in area residents to Saratoga downtown and enjoy and experience the offerings of our Village and help revitalize our Saratoga downtown. The new comers to Saratoga preferred to head to Los Gatos, Campbell, Santana Row and did not have any incentive to even discover the offerings of Saratoga Village. Our events were conceived to be kids and family friendly, and we aspired to bring in every demographic group from Saratoga to join us for a fun evening...we still do...and discover Saratoga downtown. We eventually had folks from Belmont, Danville, Fremont, San Jose joining us to showcase their talents and bring their special energy.
What also emerged - that we eventually realized - a platform was provided for little kids to embolden their stage presence and grow their talent. High-Schoolers became regular fixtures as they experiemented with their special talents. Adults tried out acts that they were not sure off, but willing to show-case with an accepting forgiving audience.
We realized there was an opportunity to address local needs via this talent show. The first Saratoga's Got Talent Annual Competition 2012 was held at Saratoga Community Center that raised $18,136 for Saratoga Senior Center, attended by almost 300. Later in June 2013 , we had almost 88 incredible performers (contestants and entertainers) at McAfee Center, and our audience list tallied to a total of 556! Living the dream ;-)
What also emerged - that we eventually realized - a platform was provided for little kids to embolden their stage presence and grow their talent. High-Schoolers became regular fixtures as they experiemented with their special talents. Adults tried out acts that they were not sure off, but willing to show-case with an accepting forgiving audience.
We realized there was an opportunity to address local needs via this talent show. The first Saratoga's Got Talent Annual Competition 2012 was held at Saratoga Community Center that raised $18,136 for Saratoga Senior Center, attended by almost 300. Later in June 2013 , we had almost 88 incredible performers (contestants and entertainers) at McAfee Center, and our audience list tallied to a total of 556! Living the dream ;-)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
https://www.facebook.com/ValleyTalent
http://groups.google.com/group/ValleyTalent
WHO WE ARE
We are a kids/ family friendly talent show, where anything and everything goes.
We love songs, dances, stand-up comedy, musical performances etc.
Our event is Silicon Valley's monthly event - a celebration of cultures.
This is a relaxed cozy setting, to inter-mingle and make some new friends.
This is definitely no Vegas Cirque De Soleil, but you will have a good time - that is guaranteed.
OUR SETUP
Blue Rock Shoot http://bluerockshoot.erprod.com/ in downtown Saratoga has an amazing ambiance for these performances, and seemingly brings the talent out from the woodwork. They have hosted many a musical night over their rich history - and we are so glad to be part of that now.
The sound system is outstanding, supplemented by 3 vocal mics. If you have a percussion, string instruments etc. bring it along. Guitars plug right into our system. There is also an upright piano available.
Our setup will also permit sticking in smart phones into a karaoke mixer. Yes, we do have a karaoke mixer, and can change pitch etc of tracks.
We can also play your favorite tracks from karaoke online sites etc.
Want to go unplugged, Acapella? Bring it on!
What is not permitted is to add your own karaoke system, and we don’t have a TV in the room to display lyrics, so we do have to rely on a system with a built-in display.
Playing tracks from YouTube is discouraged as we have encountered buffering issues. If you would like to bring a buffered YouTube track ready to play, that should be fine.
ENTRY FEE? There is NONE
There are no fees. But a small tip into the tip jar for Bob and Nacho (our audio team) is certainly appreciated.
And, please make a small purchase of a snack/ drink / sandwich from Blue Rock Shoot http://bluerockshoot.erprod.com/, to help support our host.
How long can my performance be?:
A 3 to 4 minute performance works best to provide everyone an opportunity to perform. But if you need longer, please send an email to rishi1 @ gmail.com to discuss. We typically like to cycle through everyone present before you are given another chance.
What formats do you support? How do I bring in my music?
If you have a percussion, string instruments etc. bring it along. There is also an upright piano available for live musical performances. Self-composed live music? That is a lethal combination - we love it! Want to go unplugged, Acapella? Bring it on!
Formats: We accommodate all formats, but please try to bring your karaoke track on a USB stick, iPad, Smart phone, CD etc. (Playing it off YouTube is iffy due to the buffering that we occasionally hit. You can download the Youtube video into a USB stick prior and bring it. If you would like to bring a buffered YouTube track ready to play, that should be fine.
Can I play my music track off YouTube?
We highly discourage playing tracks off YouTube, because of buffering issues.
This takes up a lot of time, and our show sometimes grinds to a halt
If you still want to, please have the track ready (buffered to play) on your SMART PHONE before hand.
Having the YouTube track buffer in the middle of your performance may not the best experience for your act
WHAT CAN I PERFORM?
We love almost everything. But checkout the theme for the evening at the event page. We certainly appreciate you gelling with the theme. Singing, dancing, stand up comedy, live music – whatever talents you have, put it up on display. And we call it a celebration of cultures; songs and music from every part of the world is welcome and encouraged. We have good ole American music, along with Indian (all languages), Chinese, Spanish songs in the past. Acapella? Sounds great!
Is there a dress code?
Check the event details - we usually have a theme for the event and you may want to wear something to reflect that
How is the line-up for the night determined?
We have a white board in the room. If you want to perform, put your name down and you will be called when your turn comes. Typically FIFO.
If you have performed once already, please let all the others perform at least once, before coming back for round2
And if you want to - you can put yourself in the lineup here (lately we haven't used this google doc)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ah3cLNn6y3HOdHNEb3hUMTBPMDdNa3ktYkZrUzVZdlE#gid=0
Do I need to RSVP?
We have almost 30 to 50 participants stream in and out through the evening.
So please RSVP before you come in, as we have limited seating.
Email rishi1 at gmail.com or RSVP on our FB event page - find it @ facebook.com/valleytalent
LINKS TO STAY CONNECTED
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/ValleyTalent
(Hit LIKE to connect with a growing family of Talented Silicon Valley performers)
YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/user/SaratogansCA
Subscribe for email notifications : http://groups.google.com/group/ValleyTalent
Can I bring my child?
Most definitely, after all it is a talent show.
But remember - Kids perform 7:00 pm to 8:15pm. Adults perform 8:30pm to 10:30pm
We have seen that it is usually difficult to accommodate kids after 8pm into the lineup, particularly when the adults are going full swing. So please be on time to provide your child an opportunity to perform.
What else does Saratoga Village offer prior to this event?
Help our Village businesses - Please do plan to do some shopping in the Village prior to the event, or have dinner, wine, coffee etc in the Village – as it caters to our original intention when we started this, helping our Village businesses out.
Will talent scouts discover me?
Of course. If you agree, we can put your performance on a weekly show on KSAR TV ( Silicon Valley's community channel) and CREATV (San Jose). And you can watch yourself perform on TV
For the talent release form, click on WAIVER LINK from our website
HOW DO I STAY CONNECTED WITH "Silicon Valley's Got Talent"
Join our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/ValleyTalent (Hit LIKE to connect)
Or subscribe into the email Group : http://groups.google.com/group/ValleyTalent
Or email rishi at rishikumar.com for more info
I WAS THE STAR PERFORMER LAST NIGHT – WHERE CAN I SEE MY VIDEO?
Firstly, not everything gets recorded. Our facebook page has a few videos on display. And the other repository for our archives is our YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/SaratogansCA
We also have a TV show "Silicon Valley's Got Talent"
If you are interested, we can put your performance on a weekly show on KSAR TV ( Silicon Valley's community channel) and CREATV (San Jose). And you can watch yourself perform on TV
"Silicon Valley's GOT TALENT" on TV???
We have a half hour weekly segment of "Silicon Valley's Got Talent" on KSAR TV (Silicon Valley's Community Channel) and CREATV (San Jose)
Our intention is to put only original performances on our TV show.
If you have performed in the past,or planning to perform, and interested in having your performance on our TV show, please sign the waiver form and email it to me: rishi <at> rishikumar.com or bring it to the event
You will need to fill our waiver form, sign on behalf of your child (if this is for your child), take a picture (using your cell phone / camera) and email it to rishi1 at gmail.com
Alternately, you can take a pic with your cell phone OR scan and email the form Or you can fax itTo be featured on our show - you will need to be subscribed to our "Silicon Valley's Got Talent" group
Easiest way to do it is to hit LIKE on our page http://www.facebook.com/Silicon Valleytalent
Can I watch the TV shows online?
You can watch KSAR live over the internet - here http://Silicon Valley.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=2
and on CreatTV here http://www.creatvsj.org/Streaming.aspx
I MISSED AN EVENT – WHERE CAN I SEE THE VIDEO ARCHIVES?
See above
I WANT TO BRING A FRIEND
Of course.
I DON’T WANT MY PERFORMANCE CAPTURED ON VIDEO
If you are at the Blue Rock Shoot http://bluerockshoot.erprod.com/ premises during our event - the assumption is you are giving us permission to video tape. But if you do not want it to be, do let us know, and we will do our best to honor your request.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT?
"Discover how Fun is Freeeee
Try a rockin' new act...gift yourself the Maniacal Glee.
Your chance to experiment....discover a New-You!
The monthly event, where you can go totally Footlose! "
NOT TO BE MISSED
This one is not to be missed !!!
Experience the magic of "Silicon Valley's Got Talent"where east meets west, where you get to enjoy and experience cultures and sculptures - Artistic Expression at its finest...transcending Geographies, Genres, and Generations,
So mark your calendars and join in, for an eclectic electrifying evening of revelry...throw caution to the wind and have a super time.
We are easy, don't bark nor bite, but provide a continuous stream of jam-packed, power-packed wholesome entertainment ..
http://groups.google.com/group/ValleyTalent
WHO WE ARE
We are a kids/ family friendly talent show, where anything and everything goes.
We love songs, dances, stand-up comedy, musical performances etc.
Our event is Silicon Valley's monthly event - a celebration of cultures.
This is a relaxed cozy setting, to inter-mingle and make some new friends.
This is definitely no Vegas Cirque De Soleil, but you will have a good time - that is guaranteed.
OUR SETUP
Blue Rock Shoot http://bluerockshoot.erprod.com/ in downtown Saratoga has an amazing ambiance for these performances, and seemingly brings the talent out from the woodwork. They have hosted many a musical night over their rich history - and we are so glad to be part of that now.
The sound system is outstanding, supplemented by 3 vocal mics. If you have a percussion, string instruments etc. bring it along. Guitars plug right into our system. There is also an upright piano available.
Our setup will also permit sticking in smart phones into a karaoke mixer. Yes, we do have a karaoke mixer, and can change pitch etc of tracks.
We can also play your favorite tracks from karaoke online sites etc.
Want to go unplugged, Acapella? Bring it on!
What is not permitted is to add your own karaoke system, and we don’t have a TV in the room to display lyrics, so we do have to rely on a system with a built-in display.
Playing tracks from YouTube is discouraged as we have encountered buffering issues. If you would like to bring a buffered YouTube track ready to play, that should be fine.
ENTRY FEE? There is NONE
There are no fees. But a small tip into the tip jar for Bob and Nacho (our audio team) is certainly appreciated.
And, please make a small purchase of a snack/ drink / sandwich from Blue Rock Shoot http://bluerockshoot.erprod.com/, to help support our host.
How long can my performance be?:
A 3 to 4 minute performance works best to provide everyone an opportunity to perform. But if you need longer, please send an email to rishi1 @ gmail.com to discuss. We typically like to cycle through everyone present before you are given another chance.
What formats do you support? How do I bring in my music?
If you have a percussion, string instruments etc. bring it along. There is also an upright piano available for live musical performances. Self-composed live music? That is a lethal combination - we love it! Want to go unplugged, Acapella? Bring it on!
Formats: We accommodate all formats, but please try to bring your karaoke track on a USB stick, iPad, Smart phone, CD etc. (Playing it off YouTube is iffy due to the buffering that we occasionally hit. You can download the Youtube video into a USB stick prior and bring it. If you would like to bring a buffered YouTube track ready to play, that should be fine.
Can I play my music track off YouTube?
We highly discourage playing tracks off YouTube, because of buffering issues.
This takes up a lot of time, and our show sometimes grinds to a halt
If you still want to, please have the track ready (buffered to play) on your SMART PHONE before hand.
Having the YouTube track buffer in the middle of your performance may not the best experience for your act
WHAT CAN I PERFORM?
We love almost everything. But checkout the theme for the evening at the event page. We certainly appreciate you gelling with the theme. Singing, dancing, stand up comedy, live music – whatever talents you have, put it up on display. And we call it a celebration of cultures; songs and music from every part of the world is welcome and encouraged. We have good ole American music, along with Indian (all languages), Chinese, Spanish songs in the past. Acapella? Sounds great!
Is there a dress code?
Check the event details - we usually have a theme for the event and you may want to wear something to reflect that
How is the line-up for the night determined?
We have a white board in the room. If you want to perform, put your name down and you will be called when your turn comes. Typically FIFO.
If you have performed once already, please let all the others perform at least once, before coming back for round2
And if you want to - you can put yourself in the lineup here (lately we haven't used this google doc)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ah3cLNn6y3HOdHNEb3hUMTBPMDdNa3ktYkZrUzVZdlE#gid=0
Do I need to RSVP?
We have almost 30 to 50 participants stream in and out through the evening.
So please RSVP before you come in, as we have limited seating.
Email rishi1 at gmail.com or RSVP on our FB event page - find it @ facebook.com/valleytalent
LINKS TO STAY CONNECTED
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/ValleyTalent
(Hit LIKE to connect with a growing family of Talented Silicon Valley performers)
YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/user/SaratogansCA
Subscribe for email notifications : http://groups.google.com/group/ValleyTalent
Can I bring my child?
Most definitely, after all it is a talent show.
But remember - Kids perform 7:00 pm to 8:15pm. Adults perform 8:30pm to 10:30pm
We have seen that it is usually difficult to accommodate kids after 8pm into the lineup, particularly when the adults are going full swing. So please be on time to provide your child an opportunity to perform.
What else does Saratoga Village offer prior to this event?
Help our Village businesses - Please do plan to do some shopping in the Village prior to the event, or have dinner, wine, coffee etc in the Village – as it caters to our original intention when we started this, helping our Village businesses out.
Will talent scouts discover me?
Of course. If you agree, we can put your performance on a weekly show on KSAR TV ( Silicon Valley's community channel) and CREATV (San Jose). And you can watch yourself perform on TV
For the talent release form, click on WAIVER LINK from our website
HOW DO I STAY CONNECTED WITH "Silicon Valley's Got Talent"
Join our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/ValleyTalent (Hit LIKE to connect)
Or subscribe into the email Group : http://groups.google.com/group/ValleyTalent
Or email rishi at rishikumar.com for more info
I WAS THE STAR PERFORMER LAST NIGHT – WHERE CAN I SEE MY VIDEO?
Firstly, not everything gets recorded. Our facebook page has a few videos on display. And the other repository for our archives is our YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/SaratogansCA
We also have a TV show "Silicon Valley's Got Talent"
If you are interested, we can put your performance on a weekly show on KSAR TV ( Silicon Valley's community channel) and CREATV (San Jose). And you can watch yourself perform on TV
"Silicon Valley's GOT TALENT" on TV???
We have a half hour weekly segment of "Silicon Valley's Got Talent" on KSAR TV (Silicon Valley's Community Channel) and CREATV (San Jose)
Our intention is to put only original performances on our TV show.
If you have performed in the past,or planning to perform, and interested in having your performance on our TV show, please sign the waiver form and email it to me: rishi <at> rishikumar.com or bring it to the event
You will need to fill our waiver form, sign on behalf of your child (if this is for your child), take a picture (using your cell phone / camera) and email it to rishi1 at gmail.com
Alternately, you can take a pic with your cell phone OR scan and email the form Or you can fax itTo be featured on our show - you will need to be subscribed to our "Silicon Valley's Got Talent" group
Easiest way to do it is to hit LIKE on our page http://www.facebook.com/Silicon Valleytalent
Can I watch the TV shows online?
You can watch KSAR live over the internet - here http://Silicon Valley.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=2
and on CreatTV here http://www.creatvsj.org/Streaming.aspx
I MISSED AN EVENT – WHERE CAN I SEE THE VIDEO ARCHIVES?
See above
I WANT TO BRING A FRIEND
Of course.
I DON’T WANT MY PERFORMANCE CAPTURED ON VIDEO
If you are at the Blue Rock Shoot http://bluerockshoot.erprod.com/ premises during our event - the assumption is you are giving us permission to video tape. But if you do not want it to be, do let us know, and we will do our best to honor your request.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT?
"Discover how Fun is Freeeee
Try a rockin' new act...gift yourself the Maniacal Glee.
Your chance to experiment....discover a New-You!
The monthly event, where you can go totally Footlose! "
NOT TO BE MISSED
This one is not to be missed !!!
Experience the magic of "Silicon Valley's Got Talent"where east meets west, where you get to enjoy and experience cultures and sculptures - Artistic Expression at its finest...transcending Geographies, Genres, and Generations,
So mark your calendars and join in, for an eclectic electrifying evening of revelry...throw caution to the wind and have a super time.
We are easy, don't bark nor bite, but provide a continuous stream of jam-packed, power-packed wholesome entertainment ..
YOU WANT TO EMCEE???
We would love to have you EMcee
Check out the main menu selection for details
AND FINAL WORDS
Thank you for being over zealous in communicating with me – Let us not discover things on the last day. Quick responses back, outlining constraints and details of your act (as much as possible) are key to a super event.
Thank you for staying till the end and cheering the other performers. That also helps to contain the energy and helps create the community feeling. It is all about bringing the community together, and your presence there to support helps immensely.
Thank you for not persisting in jumping positions in the lineup. There is a lot of thought process put into the sequence of acts, and we open a Pandora's box if we jump a single participant up the line. As you can tell, the last thing the organizing team needs is for folks getting riled up about moving spots (I have seen that too many times) – that adds to the sensitive dynamics of running such an event. There are many things going on in an event like ours – and the last thing the organizing team wants to deal with is persistent, pushy performers.
Thank you for making it too easy for us. Thank you for following instructions, and working with the constraints of this location. That helped immensely.....and for not exceeding your time slots. Once you are on stage, being respectful of the other performers after you is key to the success of the event
Thank you for staying till the end and cheering the other performers. That also helps to contain the energy and helps create the community feeling. It is all about bringing the community together, and your presence there to support helps immensely.
Thank you for not persisting in jumping positions in the lineup. There is a lot of thought process put into the sequence of acts, and we open a Pandora's box if we jump a single participant up the line. As you can tell, the last thing the organizing team needs is for folks getting riled up about moving spots (I have seen that too many times) – that adds to the sensitive dynamics of running such an event. There are many things going on in an event like ours – and the last thing the organizing team wants to deal with is persistent, pushy performers.
Thank you for making it too easy for us. Thank you for following instructions, and working with the constraints of this location. That helped immensely.....and for not exceeding your time slots. Once you are on stage, being respectful of the other performers after you is key to the success of the event
