The Tribune

THE first ever Music, Model & Talent Showcase of the Islands (MMTS) got off to a successful start as scores of Bahamians lined up to audition in the hopes of becoming the next big star of the Caribbean.

The casting call was held on Saturday, August 16, Mario’s Bowling Palace, where applicants filed in long before the designated starting time of 11am, eager to impress a panel of local judges.

Prior to the auditioning sessions, Pia Glover-Rolle, CEO and founder of MMTS welcomed applicants to the casting event. She encouraged them to do their best and assured them that they could depend on her experience in the modelling and music world.

“The region is ripe, because it is the first and only showcase of its kind, specifically for the Caribbean, and agents are anxious to see the talent here in the Bahamas and the region,” she told the applicants. “They are ready to sign the next Rihanna, Naomi Campbell, the next Tyson. Agents are ready to give you their undivided attention. This is a once-and-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You have to give your best and be ready. The rest is up to God.”

She then explained the process and the expectations to each applicant in whatever discipline they are pursuing; namely talent, the right attitude or desire to do it, proper preparation and training, and support of family.

The panel of judges included Gregory Collie II, music producer; Sonovia Pierre, singer and vocal coach; Darron Turnquest, Director of Youth; Barry Williams, photographer; Zhivon Young of Miss Bahamas Organisation; P J Douglas-Sands, branding strategist, DS3 Group, and Pia Glover-Rolle, president and founder of the PTG Modelling Agency.

The applicants were judged on: Modelling, singing, acting, music, production ad songwriting.

Although 213 people registered, there were 133 people who came out to audition and 77 successful callbacks on Sunday, August 17. The successful applicant will be assigned a coach who will engage them in mandatory pre-conference training for the inaugural week-long conference, scheduled for July 13-19, 2015 at the Meli� Nassau Beach Resort.

“We had a very successful Nassau event,” Mrs Glover-Rolle said. “We have a wide range of talented actors, singers, models music producers and song writers.”

The event has already caught the attention of top international fashion and talent scouts, personal managers, casting directors, booking agents, record labels, modelling and talent agencies along with Grammy award winning producers and songwriters, who will judge MMTS competitions and conduct seminars, all the while searching for new and unique talent in their respective areas.

Additionally, agents from US, Europe, South Africa, China and Canada will spend a week in the Bahamas scouting new talent from the participating Caribbean islands, offering contracts and representation opportunities. There is great anticipation that the next big star will be discovered at MMTS 2015.

Some 34 countries including the Bahama have already confirmed their interest and participants. On board are: Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Croix, St John, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Maarten, St Thomas, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tortola, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos.

MMTS is being billed as a one-of-a-kind event for the islands, and is the only modelling and talent showcase in the world specifically targeting the Caribbean market.