The event will be held in the Crown Street Mall with heats on Saturday’s 18 and 25 October and the final on Saturday 8 November.

The brainchild of Northern Illawarra based businesspeople, Wendy Fogarty and Robbie Specogna, “Popstar” aims to become an annual event that provides family entertainment full of fun and lots of laughter.

Entries for the event are now open and close on 11 October and online registrations can be made on http://www.popstarrecordingpartys.com.au/events.html

Wendy Fogarty is proprietor of Important and Imperative Business Solutions specialising in business management, while Robbie Specogna operates Main Street Studios, Pop Star Recording Partys and Headline Artists where the accent is on recording needs, organising fun parties and the management of professional artists. 

While they both readily admit their new idea has come with a rush they are overwhelmed by business support.  This includes backing from Telstra Country Wide, Illawarra Children’s Services, the Commonwealth Bank, Hillross Fairy Meadow (Financial Planners), Mr Limousine, Matchbox Events, Relativity, People Care, KidzWish Foundation, Advertiser, Southern Cross Ten, Wave FM, Bark Busters Photorapture, Joanna Grace Dance School, The Drama Studio, South Coast Travel, South Coast Gymnastics Academy, Redback Music and The Crown Street Mall.

In fact, the KidzWish Foundation will share in some of the takings from the SMS Community Votes system that will form part of the judging.

Wendy and Robbie want to see the event established as an annual family based show that has joint business alliances as well as a community focus.

The community voting system will be available on grand final day, Saturday 8 November, and the next day, while the actual judging panel will include two Wollongong raised singer/entertainments, Shannon Brown, whose association with the popular 10 Tenors is somewhat legendary, Scott Radburn from the Four Kinsmen, Fiona Finley from The Drama School and Joanne Grace from the Joanne Grace Dance Studio at Fairy Meadow.

Judging will centre on the entrants vocal ability, body movement, presentation and ability to involve the audience.

There will be two sections for competitors, one for 8-11 year olds and the other for those aged between 12 – 16 years.

Putting us in a positive manner

The event is also aimed at putting Wollongong forward in a positive manner and showing the world just what we can do down this way in a city too often regarded as “all talk and little action”.

Wendy says that judging by the immediate business response and at such short notice it is already being seen as a lifeline for the city.

And if anyone should know it is Wendy who is an activist for the development of Corrimal and what it has to offer, a long time business management adviser, and an executive and active member of The Illawarra Business Chamber.

Robbie has been active in the entertainment industry for some 28 years and has had a long and successful association with most schools in the area offering advice and a chance for students to “go through their paces”.

They believe the event will receive considerable support, even with the somewhat short notice, and Robbie, in particular, knows the talent is out there just waiting to be heard and shown off in public.

One thing they are both mindful of is that the songs to be presented will be vetted for “any irregularities in language and the like”.

Contestants in the heats will sing a verse and chorus, but in the final they will have to perform the whole song.

And as an added bonus for the winners they will be driven to and from the national final of Australian Idol in a special super limousine donated for the occasion by Mr Limousine.

With more than $10,000 worth of prizes to be won “Popstars” promises to be an entertaining and fun show for us all. See you there!