Event Date: April 24 - July 3, 2010

The City of Liberty presents the 5th Annual Liberty Idol Contest located in downtown Liberty South Carolina. Beginning on April 24, 2010 and continuing each Saturday culminating in an incredible finale on July 3, 2010, Liberty Idol is the place to be! 

Liberty Idol is a combination Karaoke and "reality TV" type contest with over $6,000 in cash and prizes that brings in record crowds to the downtown Liberty area. The big winners of this incredible event are the families of the Ronald McDonald House. To the community of Liberty South Carolina we are truly grateful for being a part of such a spectacular event... 
We look forward to Liberty 2010...  

Liberty Idol History

In 2005 the Mayor and Council decided to build a gazebo in the courtyard to add to the charm of the square. The Liberty Idol became possible because the City built the gazebo to bring more people into the downtown area to patronize our restaurants and shops. The Liberty Idol is the brainchild of Liberty citizen Roy Costner. Roy broached the Mayor and Chamber with the idea and they formed a partnership.

The Liberty Idol is a karaoke and "American Idol" type contest with cash awards offered to the Top 5 contestants. The first Liberty Idol began Saturday, June 24th, 2006 and ran for 13 weeks each Saturday night from 7:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.

Contestants competed down to the top 5, with winners each week selected by audience vote. Cash prizes were determined by sponsorship participation. The City started out with about 500 people the first night, by the time of the finale, the City of Liberty boasted close to 2000 people on its main street!

Not only did the event bring in people from Liberty, Pickens, Easley and Central, the event brought people in from across the upstate such as Greenville, Anderson, Seneca and Clemson. Liberty is proud to announce that this year's Liberty Idol contest will be broadcast by Charter Media. On a Friday or Saturday night you can find people from across the upstate enjoying the food at one of Liberty's restaurants!

In 2008, a check was presented to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Carolinas for $4,519.00.... as the presentation was made by Mayor Brian Deese and Liberty Idol Promoter Roy Costner, Moe Collins, McDonald's Owner / Operator stepped up and to the delight of the crowd, made the check a even $5,000.00. In 2009, the Ronald McDonald House was again presented with a check in excess of $3,500… this years event is slated to do even more fot the House That Love Built, join us in Liberty…

“Liberty Idol”  Contest Information Presented by City of Liberty

Location: 
Gazebo in Downtown Liberty SC
Saturdays from 7PM-10PM
Contact:  Roy Costner:  (864) 843-3139         

                                               
Liberty Idol Contest runs April 24th–July 3rd, 2010.  Preliminary auditions begin April 3rd at the Rosewood Center where performers will be asked to sing accapella in front of a panel of judges. A maximum of 16 contestants will be sent through each week to perform in the first round. Those who wish may enter by alternative method of entry will by mailing a DVD or VHS tape of your accapella performance to Liberty City Hall.  All alternative entries must be received by April 23rd.  Rosewood auditions will be held each Saturday from 12 noon until 2pm and up to 64 total contestants will be selected by independent judging based on their performances.  Competition is for a minimum first place prize of $2,500 (total cash prizes projected to be $6,000).  Contest is open to any age.  All contestants are expected to be prompt at the pre-assigned competition date and conduct themselves in a professional manner at all events.  Every effort will be made to accommodate assigned competition dates, however each contestant must compete in the window provided.  Failure to compete will result in disqualification from the contest.  Contestant competition dates are posted in Sponsor Businesses.  Liberty Idol contestants will compete each week for “votes” from the audience.  Judges to be determined by Costner Entertainment.  Roy Costner will be responsible for all validation of voting and all voting sheets will be made available to individual contestants at the end of the contest.  Once the voting is closed for the evening, the decision of the voting and judges is final.  In case of inclement weather, contest may be postponed to an alternate day.  No profanity will be allowed in any songs.  If needed you may change the questionable words from their original form.  Decisions of the Judges are final – Any contestant caught in any inappropriate behavior can and will be disqualified at the discretion of Costner Entertainment.

Tentative Schedule (based on weather):

• Auditions for contest:  April 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th.  Auditions are on a first come, first serve basis.  There will be only 16 slots available each week for pre-audition finalists.  Sign ups will begin at 12:00 noon at the Rosewood Center.  Contestants that make it through the preliminary auditions will perform in the first round and may sing any one song of their choice.  Judges to determine how many each week (maximum 16) make it through to the contest.  No bands allowed, but you may have an accompanist.

• First Round – (Top 64 contestants) April 24th, May 1st, 8th, 15th: Each contestant will sing a song of their choice, only twelve (12) per week make it through to second round

• Second Round – (Top 48 contestants) May 22nd, 29th, June 5th:  Each contestant will sing one song however this song must be from the genre of Country Music and must not repeat a song from round 1. Only eleven (11) contestants move through to third round.

• Third Round – (Top 33 contestants) June 12th, 19th:  Each contestant will sing one song however this song must be from the category of Oldies identified as 50’s 60’s or 70’s adult contemporary with no country and must not repeat a song from round 1 or 2. Only 16 contestants total move to fourth round.

• Fourth Round- (Top 16 contestants) June 26th:  Each contestant will sing a song of his or her choice however, they must not repeat the songs from round 1,2 or 3. Only 10 contestants will move through to final round. 

• FINAL ROUND- (Top 10 contestants) July 3rd:  Each contestant will sing 1 song of his or her choice and prepare a 2nd song for the Liberty Idol winner, however, they must not repeat the songs from round 1,2, 3 or 4.   

Prizes to be awarded as follows:  Cash 1st - $2,500; 2nd - $1,250; 3rd - $1000; 4th - $750; 5th - $500
Additional Information:

Entry forms and City of Liberty Information can be found at www.libertysc.com  At this site is sponsorship information as well as photos and contestant information. 

Not listed yet is the TV sponsor for Liberty Idol 2010 - Ingles.  This year, Ingles will bring 8 shows of Liberty Idol to Charter on Channel 10 and then Video on Demand across the Eastern Division.  These 8 shows will include the auditions as well as the 2nd thru the final round.