The Voice AU: The Inside SCOOP & what really goes down...!

Another Year of tantalising TV shows hit the airwaves around Australia and we're once again greeted with the four "friendly" judges from @THEVOICEAU.

With the Blind Auditions over, we once again have "fallen in loathe" with judges including Guy, Delta, Kelly and George, all giving a very questionable three weeks of "constructive feedback" and grossly inaccurate comments about talent and the "ins and outs" of the Music Industry.

I sat at home, with my take-out and Tim-Tams in hand, and was confused about it all...After watching these celebs choose their teams, scurrying through thousands of singers, musicians...and even mimers, I found myself wondering...is this show a talent quest? or merely a "sob story" competition?

TV shows, since the beginning of "prime time", have always capitalised on the heart strings of their Audiences, feeding emotional and heartwarming stories to evidently sell this idea of "the dream". The dream that anything and everything will happen as long as you have a wonderfully sad story to accompany you. As a singer myself, I watch the show sift through performer after performer thinking..."wow, they were great...so why did nobody turn for them?" andddd it HIT me...This show wasn't about showcasing great and industry standard talent...but focuses on pushing for singers who just minutes before, sold a very convincing "sob story" during their promo reel.

So...where does this leave us music folk? Sure...the exposure on @THEVOICEAU as a performer is great! You get TV time, the possibility to meet other musicians and capitalise your talent and even meet some celebrities...but what happens next? Don't tell anyone...but being a contestant on a reality show and knowing some high rollers in the industry, I do have the inside SCOOP about the show and trust me...some of the things I have to say will ruin your idea of ALL reality TV!

The only thing you need to know here is...this is a TV show FIRST...and a talent quest SECOND! Ratings make money and money makes the show rich...hence why these shows are FIXED! The Judges know exactly WHO is onstage before they turn ( keep and eye out for little back books each of the judges hold on the side of their chair). These books hold all the info about every singer, what they'll be performing and even photos of the performers! Producers also play a BIG role in the show and they call the shots, telling each judge WHO to turn for, and WHO will fight for their performer. I know...sad!

So...if you're ever thinking about auditioning for a reality TV show of any kind, please remember my advice! 1. your talent is not measured by what anyone has to say or what anyone thinks about you! 2. they WILL try to put you into an industry standard box, including stereotypes of every kind, so just keep true to yourself! and 3. GO AND GET YO 5 SECONDS OF FAME!

It's not about how far you get on @THEVOICEAU or any show for that matter...but all about how you USE your time there! take every moment as a moment of exposure, and use their platform to project you, your work whatever that may be, and your music into the universe! We will forever see reality TV shows selling us a "sob story"...and thats okay...! Just make sure you have a really great story up your sleeve to get your 5 seconds of fame Henny!

xoxo, Alisha M

AKA Ms. SCOOP