What are the steps you need to take to make a Talent Show of your own?

Take the following steps:

1. Find a faculty sponsor at your school. 

   • Get in contact with the Best Buddies organization or the Special Education Department at your school.

   • If possible, previous experience/knowledge in working with people with intellectual disabilities will help ensure the best experience.

   • Set up a meeting and discuss the idea of a Talent Show with the Best Buddies faculty sponsor/Special Education faculty

     • If this faculty member is not able to sponsor your event, ask if they can point you in the direction of another faculty member who might be interested. 

   • Secure at least one faculty sponsor, two or more if possible that are interested.

   • Create a powerpoint that proposes your ideas in a logical manner.

     • Reference example slideshow here 

   • Propose your ideas to faculty sponsors.

2. Get your idea approved

   • Set a meeting with the principal and get their approval to proceed with the Talent Show. 

3. Determine a timeline and location for your show. 

   • Set up a meeting with your faculty advisors to discuss the best available dates and times for rehearsals and the performance.

     • I would advise using the same day and time every week to establish consistency and limit confusion.

   • Find a suitable location to host Talent Show rehearsals and an auditorium to host the performance. 

   • Request and fill out a building permit form for the dates and times of rehearsals and the performance.

   • Get in touch with the stage manager to help you get familiar with technical aspects of the stage.

4. Promote the show and recruit participants/volunteers

   • Create a sign-up form.

   • Create a flyer to promote the Talent Show

     • Reference example flyer here

   • Send out an informational email to families of potential participants including the sign up form and a completion date.

   • Attend Best Buddies Events to hand out flyers and answer questions.

   • Recruit volunteers (the number will depend on how many participants you have).

     • You may offer volunteer hours signed by your faculty sponsor as incentive. 

   • Recruit stage crew (lights and sound) depending on how extensive your technology is.

5. Plan rehearsals.

   • Create an attendance sheet for the volunteers and participants.

   • Meet with your faculty advisors to discuss plans for the first rehearsal.

     • Ensure that at least one adult will be present.

   • Rehearsals should start with an introductory game and proceed to practicing acts.

     • Example Introductory Games are here

   • If there is time left, allow participants to perform acts that they may not want to include in the show. 

6. Hold Rehearsals:

   • At the end of each rehearsal, email the students' parents a summary of the events that happened at rehearsal. 

   • During rehearsals, write down act ideas with lighting suggestions/requests, applicable costume information (participants should provide their own), and any music in the background.

     • A document to fill out this information is here

7. Plan for performance:

   • Create a set list for the order of the acts.

     • Create a program 

       • Sample program can be found here

   • Contact the stage manager and see if they have an available camera to film the performance.

     • If not, you can use a mobile filming device.

   • Print out customizable notes for family members and friends to fill out. 

     • Notes can be found here

   • Buy flowers to sell with notes attached for participants.

     • This is optional, but can be used as a fundraiser to cover any costs.

   • Purchase and label a vase with each participant's name for the flowers and notes.

   • Set the notes, flowers, and vases up on a table in front of the entrance to the auditorium.

     • Have a volunteer run this station.

8. Hold Performance and have fun!