| The world's largest regional karaoke regional competition. |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Here's what you need to know about us:
fee.
|
ABOUT US...
Talent Quest Florida began in 2000 as a small local competition in Port Charlotte, Fl.
In 2001,current contest co-owner Phil Garris participated in and won the one-night
competition and earned a trip to the finals in Laughlin, Nev. That first year was a
learning experience him and Steve Blanchard, who is the other co-owner of this
competition.
The two men experienced the national competition for several years in a row when, in
2005, the national competition was purchased by Tim and Kim Brown. The Browns
approached Garris and Blanchard and asked them to reboot the struggling
competition in the Sunshine State.
In their first year of running Talent Quest Florida, a modest 15 singers participated for
one night on the stage of Grand Central Station in St. Petersburg. In 2006, the contest
grew slightly and nearly 30 contestants competed for a chance to go sing for the big
prizes in Nevada.
When Grand Central was sold in 2007, Garris and Blanchard were forced to find a new
home for the contest, and Talent Quest Florida landed in Ybor City, the historic district
of Tampa. There the country categories were held at Wranglers, a large Country &
Western bar, and the pop categories were held the following weekend at the Ritz Ybor
Theater, which was still undergoing renovations. The contest averaged approximately
30 singers that year.
Then, in 2008, Talent Quest Florida caught on. The newly renovated Ritz Theater
welcomed the contest into its grand ballroom and into its smaller, more intimate
theater. That year, just over 300 singers passed through the doors of the large theater,
creating a standing-room only crowd that was unimaginable just a few years prior.
That's the same year that our men's pop winner, Lonza Bartlett, went on to win the
national overall title.
The following year, in 2009, a record crowd of 400-plus singers packed into The Ritz
Ybor and pulled singers in from as far away as Miami and Jacksonville. Our
second-runner up finalist in women's pop, Tessa O'Gilvie, self-sponsored to the national
competition and earned Florida it's second national title.
Blanchard and Garris soon realized that the historic theater was no longer large
enough to hold the annual competition and began searching for a new home for Talent
Quest Florida. The massive numbers also encouraged the pair to begin a spin-off
competition called Talent Quest Sunshine State, which ran for two years in 2010 and
2011.
The Double Tree Westshore Hotel became home to Talent Quest Florida in 2010 where
approximately 320 singer enjoyed a weekend of events all under one roof. Two
ballrooms ran simultaneous competitions and the contest incorporated open karaoke
in the Players Club lounge of the hotel to encourage camaraderie among contestants.
The success of that year encouraged the second year of Talent Quest Sunshine State,
which returned to the Double Tree in April 2011.
In its 7th year since its reboot, Talent Quest Florida struggled slightly thanks to a
tough economy and the closure of several of its local venues. However, the competition
held tight and again in 2011, more than 300 singers performed on two stages within
the Double Tree Westshore Hotel.
2011 also saw the first franchises emerge across Florida. Talent Quest East Florida
held its own regional in June of 2011 and Talent Quest South Florida was held in March.
With each passing year, Talent Quest Florida continues to grow, find new talent and
incorporate new cities and venues into its family. Regardless of what is happening
financially, politically or socially in the world, Talent Quest Florida continues to be
home to a diverse group of talented singers who share their love of music, friendship
and performance for at least one weekend a year.
In 2001,current contest co-owner Phil Garris participated in and won the one-night
competition and earned a trip to the finals in Laughlin, Nev. That first year was a
learning experience him and Steve Blanchard, who is the other co-owner of this
competition.
The two men experienced the national competition for several years in a row when, in
2005, the national competition was purchased by Tim and Kim Brown. The Browns
approached Garris and Blanchard and asked them to reboot the struggling
competition in the Sunshine State.
In their first year of running Talent Quest Florida, a modest 15 singers participated for
one night on the stage of Grand Central Station in St. Petersburg. In 2006, the contest
grew slightly and nearly 30 contestants competed for a chance to go sing for the big
prizes in Nevada.
When Grand Central was sold in 2007, Garris and Blanchard were forced to find a new
home for the contest, and Talent Quest Florida landed in Ybor City, the historic district
of Tampa. There the country categories were held at Wranglers, a large Country &
Western bar, and the pop categories were held the following weekend at the Ritz Ybor
Theater, which was still undergoing renovations. The contest averaged approximately
30 singers that year.
Then, in 2008, Talent Quest Florida caught on. The newly renovated Ritz Theater
welcomed the contest into its grand ballroom and into its smaller, more intimate
theater. That year, just over 300 singers passed through the doors of the large theater,
creating a standing-room only crowd that was unimaginable just a few years prior.
That's the same year that our men's pop winner, Lonza Bartlett, went on to win the
national overall title.
The following year, in 2009, a record crowd of 400-plus singers packed into The Ritz
Ybor and pulled singers in from as far away as Miami and Jacksonville. Our
second-runner up finalist in women's pop, Tessa O'Gilvie, self-sponsored to the national
competition and earned Florida it's second national title.
Blanchard and Garris soon realized that the historic theater was no longer large
enough to hold the annual competition and began searching for a new home for Talent
Quest Florida. The massive numbers also encouraged the pair to begin a spin-off
competition called Talent Quest Sunshine State, which ran for two years in 2010 and
2011.
The Double Tree Westshore Hotel became home to Talent Quest Florida in 2010 where
approximately 320 singer enjoyed a weekend of events all under one roof. Two
ballrooms ran simultaneous competitions and the contest incorporated open karaoke
in the Players Club lounge of the hotel to encourage camaraderie among contestants.
The success of that year encouraged the second year of Talent Quest Sunshine State,
which returned to the Double Tree in April 2011.
In its 7th year since its reboot, Talent Quest Florida struggled slightly thanks to a
tough economy and the closure of several of its local venues. However, the competition
held tight and again in 2011, more than 300 singers performed on two stages within
the Double Tree Westshore Hotel.
2011 also saw the first franchises emerge across Florida. Talent Quest East Florida
held its own regional in June of 2011 and Talent Quest South Florida was held in March.
With each passing year, Talent Quest Florida continues to grow, find new talent and
incorporate new cities and venues into its family. Regardless of what is happening
financially, politically or socially in the world, Talent Quest Florida continues to be
home to a diverse group of talented singers who share their love of music, friendship
and performance for at least one weekend a year.
OUR HISTORY...
| Contact info: 727-656-0173 info@TalentQuestFlorida.com |
| Home of Paul Lloyd, 2011 Men's Country National Champion |
| July 5-8, 2012 |
| 1001 N. Westshore Blvd., Tampa |