As the Founder/CEO of Positively Arts, I created Get Launched Vegas ten years ago to help our youth navigate the entertainment industry successfully. Beyond just performance skills, this program focuses on developing essential qualities like grit, fortitude, hard work, and accountability. I recognized that while young artists excelled in their performing abilities, they often overlooked the crucial life skills, collaboration, respect, and leadership that truly set them apart. GLV offers a unique opportunity to strengthen these life skills, all while nurturing their passion for the arts.

 

It's important to understand that Get Launched Vegas is not a singing competition. It is a Life Skills & Leadership project that utilizes the format of a singing competition to teach vital life and social-emotional skills, applicable far beyond the entertainment industry. At Positively Arts, we emphasize the importance of both "offstage" and "onstage" skill sets. Throughout this three-month program, you will work with two main performance coaches and two main life skills coaches. Clint Holmes, our Director of Artist Development, and American Idol Finalist, Mackenzie Sol, will focus on performance skills. Meanwhile, Touring Artist/Comedian, Richie Holliday, and Arts Commissioner, Jane Sherlock, will guide you through life skills and leadership best practices. 

 

Payton Hecht will be your contact for most questions/concerns.

Always send your questions to glv@positivelyarts.org 

with subject heading: Payton - Feedback or Questions

 

Please refrain from directly contacting any of our judges or special guest judges. They will not respond during this experience. 

 

 

By moving forward with the Get Launched Vegas experience, you are agreeing to the following:

 

Accountability & Emails

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All students are required to have an email address to ensure accountability for all correspondence throughout this three-month experience. If a student does not have an email address, please create one. 

 

If you haven’t done so already…Kindly send an email to glv@positivelyarts.org with all email addresses you wish to have copied on future correspondence, including the student's email. 

 

**WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THE STUDENTS, NOT THE PARENTS. STUDENTS MUST COPY THEIR PARENTS ON ALL CORRESPONDENCE**

 

We are teaching professional correspondence, so it’s very important that the student is taking the initiative to email us in a professional manner.

 

Students are entirely responsible for submitting all required materials, arriving on time for rehearsals, master classes, and sound checks, and being prepared for all mandatory performances and classes.

 

VIP Showdown Round

 

Everyone will be notified by 8 PM on Wednesday, August 27th whether or not they made it to the VIP Showdown. The judges will be selecting between 60-70 out of the 180 auditioners to move forward to this round. 

 

Since there isn’t a lot of time between you finding out and the performance, you may repeat the same song you used for this initial audition round. 

 

Your mp3 tracks will be due no later than 8 PM on Thursday, August 28th. 

 

Please send your cut mp3 track to: glv@positivelyarts.org

 

SUBJECT HEADING: VIP Showdown Track - Your Name

 

**If you do not advance to the VIP Showdown, and you opted to join our “Journey Track,” you’ll be notified when the next free performance opportunity at HyperX Arena be, and when the next free master class to prep you for that will be. There will be several free master classes and performances available when you’re on the Journey Track and helping us fundraise!

 

Professional Email Courtesy

 

We want to help children learn basic email etiquette, standard professional format, and learn nuance about how correspondence in the entertainment industry might differ from the corporate world.

 

Separate email to glv@positivelyarts.org - Don’t reply to an email.

 

Subject Heading: Your Stage Name - Confirmation Email

 

Hello XYZ, 

 

My stage name is XYZ and I’m writing to confirm my 10:30 AM sound check call time at The Composers Room. I will also drop my mp3 track into my Google Folder on or before its due date of Tuesday, September 9th. I will also watch the online master class and submit that video response on or before its due date of Thursday, September 11th. 

 

Thank you, 

XYZ

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Opportunities For Feedback

 

We want to provide a safe space for both parents and performers to provide feedback and ask questions about the Get Launched Vegas process. Payton & Richie will be our Life Skills, Leadership & SEL Mentors, and will be happy to address any concerns in person or through emails :)

 

Please send emails to glv@positivelyarts.org with the Subject: Payton - Feedback/Questions

 

Richie will be available on show days to speak with anyone in person.

 

Noncompetitive Spirit

 

As GLV is not a traditional singing competition, we encourage all artists, along with their friends and family, to support and cheer for their fellow artists throughout the entire experience. Every artist in this program is talented and at a different stage of their journey. It's a conscious choice to value and respect everyone's artistic contribution and self-expression. Negative critiques of another's artistic self-expression devalue the courage, strength, dedication, unique gifts, and abilities that an individual has put into their passion.

 At Positively Arts, we foster an environment where artists uplift and encourage each other. The entertainment industry is inherently competitive, and we believe that cultivating empathy and support along the way is crucial for personal growth and preserving the beauty of human potential. After all, we are humankind, not humanunkind.

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Difference Between The Competition Track & Journey Track

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Competition Track: Artists who audition progress through rounds including THE VIP SHOWDOWN, Top 40, Top 25, Top 15, and the Finale. The grand prize for the Top 8 is the opportunity to showcase at Myron’s in April 2026.

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Journey Track: Open to any artist who wants to refine their performance and industry skills through free master classes and performance opportunities while fundraising for our nonprofit. Even if you do not advance in the Competition Track, you may still participate in the Journey Track. Prizes are available for those who fundraise and perform on the Journey Track, but participation does not affect standings in the Competition Track. We encourage all artists to join both tracks to maximize their Get Launched Vegas experience. Only performers on the Journey Track will be invited to perform at HyperX Arena inside the Luxor, and other additional performance opportunities between now and December.

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Judging Criteria

 

Beginning with the Top 40 Round, students will be assessed across 10 categories, with a potential score of up to 10 points per category, totaling a possible 100 points per round. Videos explaining these judging categories will be available at: (https://www.getlaunched.vegas/judging-criteria). 

 

* Pitch & Technique

* Tone

* Onstage Presence & Personality

* Song Choice & Why (The Set Up)

* Storytelling Through Song (The Delivery)

* Appropriate Wardrobe Choice

* Personalization of Your Song

* Overall Performance

 

* Accountability & Time Management

• Up to 5 Points for your video essay response - record video responses in LANDSCAPE or horizontally, not vertical

• Up to 3 Points from Mentor

• 1 Point for turning in mp3 track on time

• 1 Point for turning in video response on time

 

* Offstage Presence, Character & Punctuality

• 4 Points for timely responses to emails & content

• 3 Points for following directions & character during show days

• 2 Points from the Sound Man

• 1 Point for arriving on time to Sound Check

 

*Please note: For the VIP Showdown Round, the "Accountability & Time Management" & “Offstage Presence” categories will not be included in the judging criteria.

 

 

Google Drive Folder

 

Starting with the Top 40 Round, each artist will receive a unique Google Drive link. This link will be used for submitting mp3 karaoke tracks, video essay responses, and any other required materials throughout the experience. All due dates will be posted on the Parent Portal, and all materials must be submitted via the Google Drive link by 8:00 PM PST on the due date. If you encounter any issues uploading your materials, you must email glv@positivelyarts.org at least 24 hours before the submission deadline. Please troubleshoot your Google Drive link well in advance.

 

 

Opportunities For Bonus Points

 

Each performer will have the opportunity to earn up to 4 bonus points for each round beginning at the Top 40.

 

Up to 2 points will be awarded to artists who turn in their “Goal-Setting Board” which lists out individual goals for that particular round. We’re looking for thoughtful reflection. Some examples of thoughtful goals might be:

 

1. Show more gratitude to those who have helped me in my journey (Mom & Dad for driving me, my vocal coach, my music teacher, etc.)

2. Give myself grace when I don’t perform “perfectly” onstage 

3. Make an effort to make someone else feel good about themselves this round (compliment their performance genuinely and specifically)

 

Up to 2 points may also be given for creating a “Vision Board” for each round. Thoughtful vision boards can include mixed media including magazine cut-outs, pictures, glued-on sentimental pieces, meaningful words, etc.

 

We will be offering a FREE VISION BOARD MASTER CLASS from one of our sponsors, Findlay Volkswagen, on how to create positive goal-setting habits, cultivating a culture of gratitude, and how to spread your vision and goals to your community. Date & Time TBD.

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THANK YOU!

 

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