7 Reasons Why You Should Perform in a Virtual Competition
#1: Exposure to the entire a cappella community.
Live competitions are limited geographically and a typical competition audience is filled with primarily locals. Yes, you can upload a (likely) shaky iPhone recording your parents took, but it doesn't really capture the experience of actually being there. All performances for virtual competitions are intended to be viewed on YouTube so the entire a cappella community will have a seat for your performance.
#2: You’ll reach a global audience outside of the a cappella community (because of YouTube).
There's a whole world out there who doesn't normally attend a cappella competitions and now they will have the opportunity to see you perform!
#3: Chance of going viral.
With the whole world watching on YouTube, your competition set will have a chance to go viral! There will be a handful of outstanding videos coming out of this competition that will be shared by the a cappella community and friends/family. The YouTube algorithm could pick on that surge of traffic and promote those videos to a broader audience.
#4: No matter the results, you’ll have a self-produced video that you'll be proud of.
Although performing on a Varsity Vocals stage is a special experience, some groups that don't advance sometimes have a tough time because they don't walk away with anything tangible. Every group that competes in a virtual competition will have a self-produced video that they can share with fans, friends and family, while also using it for promotional purposes.
#5: No expectations of what “groups are supposed to do to win”.
Think of all your favorite ICCA clichés and throw them out the window! With a whole new set of rules, there is no limit to what you can do for your set.
#6: Opportunity to learn audio and video production.
Scholastic a cappella is a learning experience for all involved. Music directors learn how to run rehearsals, arrangers learn how to arrange, and presidents learn how to lead a group. A Varsity Vocals virtual competition gives group members the chance to learn how to self-produce an a cappella music video. You might even pick up enough skills to record your group on your next album and save a couple bucks.
#7: Easier to story tell with the video format.
There's only so much you can do on a stage when you're trying to convey a message. Video is an extremely powerful medium that opens up a world of potential for those groups looking to tell a story.