Rated Next Kampala auditions: Judges overwhelmed

By Nigel Nassar

FRIDAY, DAY ONE - The search team of the Coca-Cola Rated Next Sing It competition might have already taken its second season auditions to places like Mbarara and Masaka over the last two weekends.

But the number of hopefuls who turned up in both places combined do not come within inches of the ones at the Kampala auditions, currently on at the National Theatre through Saturday all the way till Sunday February 02.

By 6:30am earlier today, hopefuls as many as 50 were already at the National Theatre, many rehearsing  the songs they had prepared to audition to, in order to impress the judges: X FM’s Siima Sabiti, Swangz Avenue’s Benon Mugumbya and First Love Features boss Sharpe Ssewali.

All the 50 and more have already auditioned as you read this, and actually a good number of them were really good, no wonder they showed up that early, burning to showcase their vocals. 

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The joy of making it through the initial level of the auditions is evident here. But, as they will soon find out, the competition only gets tougher from here on. PHOTO/Abu Mwesigwa

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The auditions are open to anyone who feels they have got all that it takes to impress the judges. PHOTO/Abu Mwesigwa

As of 5:40pm, there are close to 600 wana-be singers waiting to give a shot at winning the staked jackpot of sh50m and a recording contract with Swangz Avenue, and more are still pouring in.

With the big numbers, the judges have a big task ahead of them; as a result they are not tolerating any squeaky singers any more than 10 seconds, as many are still waiting outside. Five seconds of crappy singing and you are out, no second chances. Some are crying, others kneeling for a “yes” in vain.

The majority of course have got a “no”, but at least there have been some yeses, altogether amounting to 31 by press time.

On Saturday February 1st, the judges will still be sifting through the several hopefuls to select those who will make it to the last day of Kampala auditions Sunday, when the cream will be advanced to the next level in some weeks to come.