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REGION IDOL YOU COULD BE!
by Tom Lounges / Publisher & Editor
It’s baaack!
After a strong debut and much public support last spring, “The Region
Idol” talent contest returns once again and runs – April 7 through May
26.
This is the event that takes those folks who sit in their living rooms
each week and watch “American Idol” and “Nashville Star” wondering what
it must be like to compete in such a way, and puts them front and center
on stage.
Open to music hopefuls 18 years and older who sport enough nerve to
wield a microphone in front of a live audience, “The Region Idol”,
offers you the chance to sing your heart out on the stage of the
3,400-square foot Halls Of Justice banquet room in downtown Crown Point.
A professional sound system is donated and the house engineer provides a
large selection of karaoke discs that contestants can choose from, or
they can provide their own pre-recorded background music, provided the
lead vocal track is completely removed.
While the dreaded “K” word has surely stuck in your head dear reader –
“Region Idol” – was envisioned as and is more than just a glorified
karaoke contest.
“This is NOT a karaoke contest, so don’t just stand there and sing,”
stressed Mark Malone, one of the weekly judges.
“If you are in this, you had better get up there and move,” he
continued.
Malone said all contestants should dance, work the stage and plan out a
routine.
“You need to get up there and work hard to entertain us,” he concluded.
“That’s what we’re looking for here... entertainers!”
This now annual competition is produced by Halls of Justice owners, Phil
and Joi Struebig, who hatched the idea after they themselves became
addicted to watching “American Idol.”
The idea of such a region-wide idol contest caught on quick with a lot
of Northwest Indiana big wigs.
Like most of America, they also set their TiVos each week so as not to
miss the nationally televised talent contests that have made superstars
out of once unknowns like Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken and Kelly
Clarkson.
One of the first notable names to support the Struebig’s idea was Speros
Batistatos, the CEO/President of the Lake County Convention And Visitors
Bureau, who will return to serve as the weekly stage emcee.
Local celebrities will pop in each Friday as well, to sit in with the
three permanent weekly judges – Malone [the Dean of Student Affairs at
Ivy Tech University], John Cain [Executive Director of The Northern
Indiana Arts Association], and Tracy Koval [Halls Of Justice bar and
banquet hall manager] – who parallel the real life “American Idol”
judges Simon, Randy and Paula.
It is important to note that this multi-week event is more than just a
good time for everyone who takes part in it. It is also a means of
raising funds to help people in the region.
“Joi and I did not want to put the money made at this event into our own
pocket, because we envisioned it as a great way to raise money for a
cause. We just had to decide where the money would go,” explained Phil
Struebig.
The Struebigs needed to look no further for inspiration than across
their own bar at Tracy Koval, the dark-haired beauty who taps beer for
them.
Koval was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis a few years ago, so it was a
no-brainer on where the money raised would be donated. Koval takes this
event to heart and works very hard to promote it. She said that she is
grateful to the Struebigs and to everyone who participates in making
“Region Idol” a success, because it helps her and other people who share
her illness.
Last year’s “Region Idol” raised around $13,000, all of which was
donated to help the 1,600-plus individuals with MS who currently reside
in Northwest Indiana.
This year the funds are being split two ways. Half will again to the
local chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. The other half will be
donated to the The Northern Indiana Arts Association to help fund local
arts programs.
While the Struebigs may have dreamed up and now produce “Region Idol”,
they are quick to point out that its success is due to the many people
who get involved. The least of which are the local business sponsors
like – Albert Jewelers, Rubino’s Music, DJ Most Wanted, The Times, The
Post-Tribune and WJOB 1230 AM radio – who provide goods, services and
prizes.
The “Region Idol” application forms, complete rules, and weekly
schedules can be easily downloaded off of the official website –
www.regionidol.com – but April 12 is the last chance to submit your
application for this year’s contest.
If you miss the deadline... well... there’s always next year!
And... speaking of “Idols” who aren’t idle these days...
Please continue to tune in and call in your votes for Northwest
Indiana’s talented and charming Nicole Jamrose, as she represents our
area well every Tuesday night at 9pm Central on “Nashville Star”, which
airs on the USA Network.
As I write these words, Nicole has just made it through her third week
of competition and is still going strong. GO NICOLE!
Tom Lounges spins Region Rock on his Night Rock radio
Show every Sunday evening from 6-9pm on X-ROCK 103.9 then stay tuned for
Tom’s historical journey to the glory days of the classic rock with the
“Night Rock 9 O’Clock Spotlight Album of The Week”.
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