Submissions Open for “Your Big Break" Talent Competition

Although it is generally well-known how difficult it is for aspiring young musicians to be heard by an influential music executive, each year the Gold Coast Arts Center, Love Revolution Org., and the Rick Eberle Agency give ambitious young artists that exact opportunity. Presenting the annual Your Big Break showcase held at the Gold Coast Arts Center’s Weinstein Playhouse, where accomplished veteran music business professionals donate their time and resources to help identify and assist a new wave of aspiring stars to take them along the next steps in their professional musical journey.

The eighth annual Your Big Break semifinals will be held on March 14 and April 25, with the finals taking place on June 6, 2020. Young artists are judged in categories, including stage presence, overall musicianship, and fan reactions.

There is an open call now through February 23rd, 2020, for submissions from would-be musical stars ages 15 to 25 living on Long Island, or in New York City, who do not currently have a recording or publishing contract. Interested artists must perform two original songs either with a band or solo with an acoustic guitar or another instrument). There is no fee to submit.

Those interested must submit one song in MP3 format, one photograph, and short biography, by email to yourbigbreakny@gmail.com, or submit online to ReverbNation at http://bit.ly/yourbigbreak2020

Last May, Your Big Break crowned the seventh winner, Arizona Lindsey of Lindenhurst, NY. With her sweet-sounding voice, passionate vocal performance, and heartfelt lyrics, Arizona has been captivating the audience’s attention worldwide. Since her win, she has appeared in multiple live interviews and performances and featured on radio stations across the East Coast such as

Last-FM, Blast-FM, WUSB Homegrown Long Island, Granite Coast Entertainment Inc., and WHPC Rising Stars.

Past winners, All Types of Kinds, Paris Ray, Youth Be Told, Katie Zimmer, Annika, and Matt Grabowski and finalists SEE and Zofolk have gone on to work with major producers, managers, and agents. Previous artists who have performed in the headline slots have included Brooke Moriber, Lem Payne Jr. Iridesense, John Hampson of Nine Days, The Brady Brothers, Sir Cadian Rhythm — all of whom are local musicians who have since enjoyed success in the business.

About the Judges
Hosted at the Gold Coast Arts Center by founders Rick Eberle, Brian Viner, and Eugenia Viner, judges take on a major role in the competition. Included have been some of the music industry’s elite such as ReverbNation.com’s Lou Plaia, All Music Inc and Scatterbrain’s Guy Brogna, artist manager Randy Nichols, radio host and former pro-wrestler Brimstone, songwriter and bassist Tara Drouin, producers David Caggiano and Donnie Klang, Good Times Magazine’s Rich Branciforte, musician Richy Petrello, club owner Pauline Damiani and label executives Stephen Marcuccio, Jill Morrison, Jerry Lembo, Linda Ingrisano, and Mark Ambrosino. Judges for this year’s Your Big Break competition will be announced shortly.

About the Mentors
Each finalist is assigned a mentor who will work to help them hone their craft before performing in the finals. The 2020 mentors are still to be determined, but past years have included American Idol’s Robbie Rosen, Dream Recording Studio’s Jason Melker, Sojourn Records’ Mark Ambrosino, producer/songwriter and former VP of A&R at Atlantic Records Jimmy Bralower, singer/songwriters John Hampson of Nine Days, Ryan Star, Cass Dillon, and songwriter/producer Donnie Klang of MTV’s “Making the Band,” songwriter/producer Ido Zmishlany, among others.

About the Prizes
Prizes include: Show at Revolution Bar & Music Hall (Pauline Damiani, Judge), Recording time at The Sound Cellar (Dave Alini, Judge), PR campaign with the Rick Eberle Agency (Host), Gift Certificate from All Music Inc (Guy Brogna, Judge), Equipment from ZOOM North America (Stephen Marcuccio, Judge), ReberbNation.com Discount (Lou Plaia, Judge), Article in Good Times Magazine (Rick Branciforte, Judge)

For more information on how to submit, contest rules, prizes, and more visit www.goldcoastarts.org or call 516-829-2570.

About the Gold Coast Arts Center
The Gold Coast Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting the arts through education, exhibition, performance, and outreach. For a quarter-century, it has brought the arts to tens of thousands of people throughout the Long Island region. Among the Center’s offerings are its School for the Arts, which holds year-round classes in visual and performing arts for students of all ages and abilities; a free public art gallery; a concert and lecture series; film screenings and discussions; the annual Gold Coast International Film Festival; and initiatives that focus on senior citizens and underserved communities. These initiatives include artist residencies, after-school programs, school assemblies, teacher-training workshops, and parent-child workshops. The Gold Coast Arts Center is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Partners in Education program and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. More information is at www.goldcoastarts.org.