By Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

It was a familiar talent search scene outside the Ashanti Oasis Restaurant, Hope Gardens, St. Andrew, on Saturday afternoon; a couple tents, many hopefuls with as many numbers and a voice over a megaphone sending said hopefuls in batches to the final waiting area.

From there they mounted the steps of the gazebo for a brief whirl before the cameras.

There were a couple key differences from what has become the talent search norm, though. One was a sign placed prominently where those taking the final few steps could not miss it, reading "please be aware that the BBC is photographing and filming this media event. By your attendance you are signifying your CONSENT to being photographed and filmed and that your image may be used by the BBC for editorial and promotional purposes internationally".

It is doubtful if any of the hopefuls would have minded their images being used by the international media powerhouse. After all, the 142 persons who registered, CDs and DVDs at the ready, up to when The STAR left at close to 2:00 p.m. had come for just that; to get exposure in 'The Next Big Thing 2007', the BBC World Service and BBC World Television global music talent search.

Not-so-kind judges

The BBC World Service said in a press release that in the contest's 2006 staging, entries came from over 40 countries with the eventual winner, Silvia from Armenia, going on to have a hit in her home country as well as perform at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

Another difference was that there was no on-the-spot audition for a panel of kind and not so kind judges. All that was required as evidence of talent was the recorded material. All that was required of the performers was that they were unsigned and were performing original material.

And then there was the rain, the final bucketfuls of a wet week which sloshed from a glowering sky as if it were an overfull bucket toted by a careless or carefree giant.

Still, the hopefuls who came for the slated 10:00 a.m. start stayed and others kept coming as a dark, dank day turned the corner towards the scheduled 6:00 p.m. cut-off point, as numbers 70 to 80 were sent to the waiting area coming up to 2:00 p.m.

Poet, singer and deejay Boom Dawn said she had heard about the Jamaican leg of 'The Next Big Thing 2007' on the radio. "Me jus' waan see what it is all about, try me luck. Me jus' a present meself, from de ting sey new artiste," she said.

History Man, who delivers informative poetry, said "me have songs that me know have substance and I think they will be interested in what me have to say. History is the blueprint for everybody." He presented his 'Bob Marley Story'.

Ras Enie said "is a brethren shout me and tell me a ting a gwaan up ya a sign up some artiste. When me come it is a bit different from what him sey, but 'cause me on ya..."

Revelation and Megatron's entry was their combination 'Mus Bus'. Again it was a case of a different situation from what was expected beforehand, but, again, the duo, who got number 75, were making the best of the situation.

When THE STAR left the tents, the hopefuls, the numbers and the megaphone at Hope Gardens on Saturday afternoon there was no sign of let-up from the rain or the hopefuls, who kept trickling in for a chance at being 'The Next Big Thing'.