The
City of St. Petersburg will place local singers and bands on the national stage in an upcoming advertising campaign.
During a live competition on Saturday, May 9, musicians who are based in the St. Pete community will have the chance to publicly perform a rendition of the classic song “You Are My Sunshine” at a live, battle-of-the-bands style competition.
Four winners will be selected, and the winning performances of the song will be featured in the city’s first national ad campaign.
Nina Mahmoudi, Creative Services Manager for the City, describes St. Pete as “a city filled with talented people, from artists and musicians to technology innovators and food and brewing connoisseurs.”
"We are a community known for our growing arts and culture,” Mahmoudi says. The casting call is “just one way we are engaging the community to show how ‘St. Pete Shines’.”
Bands and artists who are interested in competing in the “You Are My Sunshine” Music Contest must
submit an entry to the contest website by Friday, May 1, 2015. Entry submissions should include a link to your website or reel (new recordings are not required from musicians, as long as a video of the artist performing is submitted).
Finalists will be notified and invited to play their version of “You Are My Sunshine” before a live audience.
The promotional campaign will “highlight our city's greatness," Mahmoudi explains, “and we decided using local talent was the best way” to do that.
Interesting in putting your own twist on the song, but don’t have much experience? That’s OK, says
CLEAR Labs executive director Jenn Greacen. Interested parties who have never performed before are invited to submit a pitch video explaining why they should be selected as finalists.
“Anyone who would like to share their love for St. Pete should send in an audition," explains Greacen, whose St. Pete-based marketing agency is partnering with the City of St. Petersburg for the "Casting Sunshine" campaign. "You don't have to be a professional singer, you just have to have love for St. Pete!”
Fans of the Sunshine City's local music scene are invited to attend the free public concert/competition, which will be held from 4-10 pm on May 9 at
Sly Bar in DTSP.
“Even if you are not a performer, the entire community is welcome at the event to cheer on the finalists, help us in our selections, and, just in general, to come out and have a good time,” says Greacen.
Along with the chance to be featured in the campaign, contest winners will receive a $500 cash prize and a recording studio session, and will retain master publishing rights on their rendition of “You Are My Sunshine.”
Visit the City of St. Petersburg's
"Casting Sunshine" website to learn more or refer to the contest’s
rules of entry for details.
“You Are My Sunshine” Music Contest sponsors include local Sly Bar,
The Hideaway Café & Recording Studio, and
Urban Brew and BBQ.
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