If Turlock talent show hopefuls don’t cut it they’ll be out by the bang of a gong

A little merriment, a little fundraising and one big gong combine for a new talent competition in Turlock.

The TAM-TAM Talent Show will take over the Turlock Community Theatre stage on Saturday, Jan. 27, promising a variety of acts for the audience, a cash prize for the winner and – organizers hope – plenty of money to support the historic venue.

The nonprofit Turlock theater always is looking for new ways to raise funds, according to Managing Director Kit Casey. “We thought what better way than to use the venue we have to showcase local talent, both serious and not so serious, in a fun new type of fundraiser.”

The unusual name comes from the type of gong being used – a tam-tam – as a signal during the show, particularly to eliminate contestants.

“First, it will be used to signify certain starting and stopping points of the show. Second, and more importantly, any one of our three judges can get up and strike the tam-tam to end an act that they deem to be ridiculous,” Casey said.

Acts that make it through an entire performance without suffering the tam-tam will be given a score by each of the judges. Those combined with audience votes – audience members purchase tickets to vote for $5 each or five for $20 – will determine the winner of the grand prize.

That grand prize – $1,999.18 – was selected with the same nod to merriment as the tam-tam itself: 1999 for first year the Turlock Community Theatre opened and 18 cents for the first year of the new talent show.

The idea for the show and format came from Casey and his wife Angela Cotta, Casey said. “We combined a few ideas from different types of talent shows and came up with the ‘TAM-TAM Talent Show,’ where we are giving the audience a chance to have an impact on the outcome of the event.”

Most of the performers slated are from the Turlock and Modesto area, with a few from Fresno and the Bay Area. They include dance troupes, singers, instrumentalists, comedy acts and magic. Casey expects 17 or 18 acts in all.

Judging will be Amber Traini of Turlock Youth Performing Arts, Cotta, a musician and composer, and Stanislaus County Supervisor Vito Chiesa.

Casey said they hope the show will be popular enough to become an annual event.

“We expect it to be a fun night with lots of great talent and laughs,” he said adding that the atmosphere will be fun and casual. “And best yet, every penny earned goes toward supporting our local talent and keeping the Turlock Community Theatre up and running for years to come.”

This story was originally published January 25, 2018 at 3:58 PM with the headline "If Turlock talent show hopefuls don’t cut it they’ll be out by the bang of a gong."