A new weekly initiative will show that Bragg Creek’s got talent.
A landmark business and local watering hole in the hamlet has officially begun a weekly talent night to bring the community together and showcase some of Bragg Creek’s hidden superstars.
The Powderhorn Saloon was established in 1979 as a saloon and sports bar, and has since become a favourite dining spot for locals and tourists to Bragg Creek alike.
According to pub owner Rose Dallyn, the management team wanted to try something different to draw a unique crowd to their establishment.
“[A talent night is] just something different in town – no one else does it,” she said. “We just wanted to do something different, and Bragg Creek and the surrounding area is full of talent.
Anyone who would like to show off their talent, whether it’s music, stand-up comedy, magic, belly dancing, juggling, or anything else can get 15 minutes on stage, she explained.
The bar owner said the event is dubbed “Weekly Talent Night” as opposed to a talent contest or talent show, as not to be too “high pressure” for the participants.
“We wanted to make it simple, no pressure, easy, and most of all... fun,” she added.
Every Thursday night beginning on Feb. 9, contestants can sign up for one of 12 slots between 7 and 9 p.m. Each time slot allots the artist or performer 15 minutes to show the audience what they’ve got.
Duos get 15 minutes each, however, so could perform for up to half an hour.
Dallyn clarified regarding the performances that “anything goes” as long as it’s legal. She added that any act requiring the use of animals or fire-eating are prohibited.
“I’d have to look at my insurance policy for that,” she said with a laugh.
So far, a comedian is slated to perform next week, according to Dallyn, and she has plans to reach out to a local belly dancing class in Bragg Creek to see if any of their members are interested in performing on a future Thursday evening.
“We have songwriters in the hamlet, we have heaps of musicians, and you can bring your own backing vocals in,” she shared. “You could bring your own karaoke machine in if you wanted.
“I’m providing the speakers, a mic, an amp, and guitar so that will be on stage every week, but people can bring their own stuff in, for sure.”
Previously, Thursday nights were dedicated to live music performances at the Powderhorn Saloon and Dallyn said musicians are still encouraged to come and play at the venue. But now they will be “competing with jugglers and comedians for a prize,” read a post on the pub’s Facebook page.
According to Dallyn, each person who comes into the pub on Thursday evenings, whether a customer, member of staff, a performer, or friends and family of the act, will get a ballot card to cast their vote on who they felt was the best performer of the night.
At 10 p.m., the votes will be tallied and the entertainer with the most votes will win a weekly $100 cash prize.
“Everybody gets one vote and whoever wins at the end of the night gets $100,” she exclaimed. “Everyone that comes through the door gets one voting card, so invite all your friends and family to come and vote for you.”
All audience members and performers must be 18 years or older to patronize the establishment, which is located in Bragg Creek’s main shopping plaza.
