Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Big and Exciting Changes Coming to Coronado’s (Got) Talent!

Coronado's Talent
After receiving a cease and desist from the firm representing America’s Got Talent, Alan Kinzel and team had to change the name of Coronado’s Got Talent.
Coronado Schools Foundation
Proceeds from Coronado’s Talent will go directly to the Coronado Schools Foundation.

2017’s inaugural Coronado’s Got Talent was a HUGE success, so big in fact that the presenter, Alan Kinzel, received a cease and desist from the attorneys representing America’s Got Talent, who said the name of the Crown’s City premier talent show is an infringement of the television’s show’s trademark. Kinzel had to change the name of the upcoming 2018 show, deciding to drop the middle word so the new name of the show is now Coronado’s Talent, making the word “Coronado’s” possessive rather than a contraction. Of the name change, Kinzel shares, “It’s unfortunate that America’s Got Talent would not work with us, but regardless of what name they allow us to use, I just want to say Coronado definitely has talent!”

Coronado's Talent logo
The new logo for this year’s talent show, where the word “Got” has been removed, making the word “Coronado’s” possessive rather than a contraction.
Alan Kinzel
Of the inaugural 2017 talent show, presenter Alan Kinzel reflects, “The event was successful beyond my wildest expectations, and we are looking forward to another great show celebrating our Coronado community while raising money for our incredible schools.” While he won’t reveal the name, Kinzel promises the audience will be excited by this year’s “surprise special guest.”

While the name of the show may be smaller now, as Coronado residents look forward to 2018’s show, they should expect everything else to be bigger and better! With a rebranded logo and a new website, the team at Alan Kinzel Professional Realty Group is intent on raising even more money for the Coronado Schools Foundation (CSF) than they did in 2017. During this past year’s inaugural talent show, over $10,000 was raised and donated to CSF, and this upcoming year’s ambitious goal is, at a minimum, to double that amount. According to April Ishmael, part of Kinzel’s team, who again is helping to bring the talent show to fruition, “We’re trying to go through the roof this year! We have a lot of really exciting things planned for the 2018 show.”

2018’s Coronado’s Talent Live Show

Mark your calendars for Thursday, February 8, 2018, when Coronado’s Talent will have its live show from 6:30-8:30 pm at the CoSA Theater at Coronado High School.

While the show is still a few months away, it’s never too early to start thinking about purchasing tickets! The 2017 inaugural live show sold out, and 2018’s upcoming show is anticipated to follow suit. Tickets available include VIP, Reserved, Family 4 Packs, and General Admission, which range in price from $20 to $100, with all proceeds directly going to CSF. While two VIP tickets normally cost $200, now is the time to take advantage of the deal of two tickets for $175!

This year’s VIP ticket holders, who are the first to take photos on the red carpet, are in for a real treat! As advertised on Coronado’s Talent website, “Our VIP tickets include entrance to the pre-party (5:00-6:15 pm) with food and drink! We will be providing appetizer snacks as well as beer, wine and other non alcoholic beverages. The VIP package will also include one of the BEST seats in the house, a commemorative T-shirt and VIP early entrance to the event.”

Coronado's Talent 2017
For front row seats to Coronado’s Talent, Alan Kinzel, seen at the conclusion of last year’s show, says, “Get your tickets early as it will sell out in advance.”

Who Wouldn’t Want Celebrity Treatment?

This year’s live show participants will be treated like rock stars! In an effort to offer contestants an even more incredible experience than last year, 2018’s live show participants have professional head shots taken and enjoy a media day. Each participant will receive a box full of prizes, just like celebrities do when they present at major awards ceremonies. “Alan Kinzel started this show to celebrate the talent within the Coronado community, and we want our contestants to feel amazing because they are amazing,” Ishmael says.

While it just so happened that all three of last year’s winners were students, Coronado’s Talent is open to acts of all ages. One of last year’s biggest surprises was an opera performance by Michael Ladd, a professor of finance. Navy spouse Nicole Dowd wowed the crowd with Loretta Lynn’s hit song You Ain’t Woman Enough. Keith Prentiss performed an acoustic guitar version of the rock song Sweet Child of Mine by Guns and Roses, delighting audience members who, like Prentiss, have fond memories of 1987. Alan Kinzel says, “I was pleasantly surprised by the diversity and quality of the acts that participated in the first show. I’m looking forward to this year’s acts, and hope, like last year, there are a great mix of children and adults showcasing their amazing talents on stage.”

Coronado's Got Talent 2017
Some of the participants from the 2017 talent show

Kinzel notes with amusement how he had seen some of last year’s “older participants” out and about in Coronado prior to their auditions, and had “absolutely no idea” what “secret talents” they had. “How could you possibly know that the man standing in front of you at Starbucks is on par with operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti or that the woman you always seem to bump into at the grocery store has an incredible vocal range? I love how this talent show gives adults in our community a chance to show off the talents few people in town would otherwise never see,” Kinzel reflects.

Auditions

Auditions for 2018’s Coronado’s Talent are less than two months away! On December 10, 2017 from noon to 4:00 pm and then again on December 16, 2017 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Coronado  Training Center (126 B Avenue), where auditions were held last year.

Meghan Grossman 2017
The ability to sing isn’t a requirement to audition for Coronado’s Talent. Last year’s 2nd place winner, Meghan Grossman, performed an aerial act.

For those talented individuals who were inspired by last year’s acts, and have already been giving thought to their own performances for this upcoming show, audition spots are available online! Potential contestants are encouraged to begin signing up for their audition spots as soon as possible. Each act that auditions will have 2 minutes and 30 seconds to perform in the audition, which is the same amount of time each act will have to perform the night of the live show. As was the case last year, 26 acts will be featured at the 2018 show. True talent knows no age, and Coronado’s Talent is eager to feature a variety of ages just like they did last year, where contestants ranged from five years old to seventy-five!

Each person or act who auditions, regardless of whether the act is selected for the live show, will receive a complementary Coronado’s Talent T-shirt.

Coronado's Talent 2017 auditions
2017 auditions

Volunteers

Even if performing on stage isn’t your thing, your talents are definitely still needed to make the 2018 Coronado’s Talent show a success! Alan Kinzel and his team are looking for help from the Coronado community, including its students, who directly benefit from the event. (See additional information at the conclusion of the article to contact April Ishmael about volunteer opportunities.)

Production Committee:

  • Kinzel and team are also actively seeking production volunteers to help with the planning of auditions and rehearsals. Volunteer opportunities the night of the live show include stage management, passing out programs, helping with the distribution and collection of tickets, and ushering ticket holders to VIP and reserved seats.

Outreach Committee:

  • Coronado’s Talent is looking for people interested in passing out flyers to local businesses throughout Coronado to help spread the word about auditions and the live show. Outreach committee volunteers are also sought to help network with local businesses for additional prizes and sponsorship opportunities.

Float Committee:

  • At this year’s upcoming 42nd Annual Holiday Parade on December 1st, Coronado’s Talent is looking for volunteers to help with putting together a float.

Sponsorship & Prizes

Expect to be wowed by this year’s prizes! While not all the prizes have been revealed yet, Kinzel has shared that the first place prize, evaluated at $4,000, is a three month membership to the Hotel del Coronado!

Coronado's Talent 2017 winners
Last year’s winners from left to right: Christine Umali (1st place), Molly Neilson (3rd place), and Meghan Grossman (2nd place). Christine Umali, who is ineligible to audition this year since she won first place last year, will sing the National Anthem at 2018’s Coronado’s Talent.

Live Voting will be back again, where for just $1.00 per vote, people will be able to vote for their favorite acts. The night of the live show, people can vote by text while sitting in the audience, at home, or even at a local business. (Each dollar raised from live voting will go directly to CSF.) This year’s Live Voting is even more fun than last year’s because Coronado’s Talent will award a prize to the person who votes by text the most!

The 2017 live show was seen by a sold out audience as well as by those who watched it from the comfort of their homes as it was streamed online. For the 2018 show, Kinzel and his team are hoping to collaborate with local businesses, particularly restaurants, where customers will be able to watch the live streamed show as they dine, knowing that part of the proceeds of their meals will directly benefit CSF. Just like people enjoy gathering in public venues for important televised sporting events, locals can meet up in town to cheer on Coronado’s Talent participants.

Alan Kinzel Professional Realty Group is actively seeking sponsorship and prize donations. (See additional information below to learn how to become a sponsor.) This year new sponsorship packages are available, and are as follows:

Presenting Sponsor ($5,000)

Includes:

  • 8 VIP Tickets, including pre-party food and beverages
  • 15 second video introducing act
  • Banner hanging in the VIP suite during the VIP pre-party
  • Join Alan Kinzel on stage and announce the top 3 contestants
  • Live show mention of sponsorship
  • Logo, business name, and biography in the program (full page spread)
  • Logo, business name, and biography on show website
  • Logo and business name on Holiday Parade float
  • Logo printed on the red carpet step and repeat banner
  • Placement on Alan Kinzel Group social media accounts:  Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
  • Mention in local newspapers
  • Post event appreciation party for all sponsors with food and drink
  • *Presenting Sponsor will be granted sponsorship exclusivity. For example:  Chase Bank decides to be the Presenting Sponsor, Chase will be the only bank to sponsor the show.

Gold Sponsor ($2,500)

Includes:

  • 6 VIP Tickets, including pre-party food and beverages
  • 15 second video introducing act
  • Banner hanging in the VIP suite during the VIP pre-party
  • Logo, business name, and biography in the program (half page spread)
  • Logo, business name, and biography on show website
  • Logo and business name of Holiday Parade float
  • Placement on Alan Kinzel Group social media accounts:  Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
  • Red Carpet named after you/your business. Example:”Alan Kinzel Group Red Carpet” with logo on red carpet step and repeat banner
  • Post event appreciation party for all sponsors with food and drink

Silver Sponsor ($1,000)

Includes:

  • 4 VIP Tickets, including pre-party food and beverages
  • 15 second video introducing act
  • Banner hanging in VIP suite during the pre-party
  • Logo, business name in the program (1/4 page spread)
  • Logo, business name, and biography on show website
  • Logo and business name on Holiday Parade float
  • Placement on Alan Kinzel Group social media accounts: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
  • Post event appreciation party for all sponsors with food and drink

Bronze Sponsor ($500)

Includes:

  • 2 Reserved Tickets
  • 15 second video introducing act
  • Logo, business name in the program
  • Logo, business name, and biography on show website
  • Placement on Alan Kinzel Group social media accounts:  Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Additional Information:

Coronado’s Talent website:  coronadostalent.com

For a list of rules, click here.

To purchase tickets online, click here.

To schedule an audition spot, click here.

For more information about production, contact Alan Kinzel:

For additional questions, including volunteer opportunities, contact April Ishmael:

For additional information about becoming a Coronado’s Talent sponsor, contact Ray Karno:

Coronado's Talent judges
Last year’s red carpet with Judge Dan Boyle, Judge Melissa d’Arabian, Presenter Alan Kinzel, Judge Commander Michael Cornelius, Judge Casey Tanaka, and Judge Linda Kullmann

 



Coree Cornelius
Coree Cornelius
Resident, Educator, Military Spouse, and Mother."I haven't been everywhere, but it's on my list." - Susan Sontag.Have news to share? Send tips, story ideas or letters to the editor to: [email protected]

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