Open letter to Sing-Off SA winners The Legacy

Written by Tashi from the blog Tashi's TV on 06 Jul 2015
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Dear The Legacy

Many congrats on winning The Sing-Off SA on Sunday. Hopefully you partied the night away and have no voices today.

Have a rest today and then, from tomorrow, I'd like you to do the following please:

1. Start working on your recording deal immediately. Phone up Sony or the show and ask for a timeline of when things are happening. Don't worry about feeling pushy - do it. Be pushy. Insist on deadlines.

2. Stay as present as possible between now and the release of your album. So many reality winners disappear after winning and go silent in the months between their win and the release of their album. Do stuff to ensure this doesn't happen.

Start a YouTube channel and put out cool tracks that won't be on the album as a way of keeping and growing your audience so that you have them right there with you when your album gets released.

3. Do not, under any circumstances, become the Zayn Malik of the group and decide you want a solo career.

It happened with 101, the first group who won Popstars - the group Pam Andrews was part of - and it destroyed them. They had so much promise and could have been Huge but they didn't have a shared vision and shattered as a result.

4. Don't put your future in the hands of other people's promises. If someone wants to be your manager, ensure that they're working for you instead of the other way round.

Make them accountable: what are they doing for you? Are they representing you properly? Are they ensuring you get seen? Do they have the relevant press on their mailing list when they send out news about you? If they don't deliver, fire them.

5. Perform, perform, perform. On YouTube, at live venues, at big events. Offer your services (for free if necessary), be heard as much as possible.

Too many winning singers and groups have disappeared after winning Idols, Popstars, X Factor and I Want To Sing Gospel - don't let the same happen to you!

Shows in this post: The Sing-Off SA

Channels in this post: SABC1

8 Comments

soapiepolice
06 Jul 2015 11:56

Job welldone...

nolie8
06 Jul 2015 13:50

Awesome advice Tashi, I really do hope they take it into account! When I think of all the favorite Idols contestants I've invested my time and sometimes money in (regrettably I vote less and less each year - it just doesn't seem worth it) only for them to dissapear asap....

Show-Time
06 Jul 2015 14:08

Valuable advice, Tashi. How often have we seen our prospects fading for not doing things right.

mdick0791
06 Jul 2015 20:00

well said...what happened to x factor south africa if i may ask?

lecibarr
07 Jul 2015 03:46

what I dont like about south african reality shows is that the national demographics play a primary role in terms of who wins, zulus always win these shows regardless of who is better, thats why I dont bother voting or allow myself to get emotionally attached to contestants, that makes our shows predictable. I knew exactly who was going to win the sing off from day 1. who remembers lindelani? the guy who came first but struggled to keep up cos his voice was not good enough? but he won I want to sing gospel. sane happened with the subsequent winner. we all know that malcolm and kgotso makgalema both deserved their crowns which they never got, and then there was sdumo from class act.. that boy cant act but hey hes zulu... I only felt that justice was serves when FOUR won the Xfactor and I still believe sibahle didn't deserve to win so you think you can dance... I will not watch any more shows until we vote on merit as south africans

Tashi
07 Jul 2015 15:50

Thanks guys!

Check this out... a response to the story from Rapid Blue executive producer Kee-Leen Irvine - who produces SA's Got Talent and X Factor. She sent it via e-mail:

I totally concur with the sentiment of your article although I must just add my two cents and give context on my shows.

Most of the winners of SAGT have gone on to great things:

Botlhale released a performance video, continues to perform all over the country and has been to the USA twice. I secured her a scholarship to Saint Stithians, one of the Top 10 schools in the country, and she won a SAMA last year. So for an 11-year winner, she has done and is continuing to do extremely well and has definitely not fallen by the wayside.

Johnny Apple has released a CD, performed at various events and most notably, opened for One-Direction. He has also just returned from a work-related trip overseas. Johnny as a young white male appeals to a much smaller audience but his career is being given lots of attention.

Four, the winners of X-FactorSA are being developed by Oskido, one of SA’s top music producers. They have just released a new song and they also opened for 1-Direction in Joburg, alongside Johnny.

@mdick0791 I've been snooping for what's happening with X Factor and there are no definite answers yet. Word from SABC is that they'll be able to let us know by Wednesday. It's sounding like it will be renewed - but only for next year - probs because of The Sing-Off. Will keep you posted.