Always begin organizing a talent show as early as possible. Never rush, Give yourself at least two months to allow interested people to sign up for the show and practice their talents. You also need time to get any supplies, such as mikes, and lighting that your show may need.
Make sure that you have a clear idea of what you consider talent for your show. A person who models clothing, claps to the rhythm of Happy Birthday, or can stand on his or her head may or may not be considered as serious talent by you and your audience. Ask yourself whether you want the show to be more funny, such as a gong show, or serious. Consider screening the talent if you want a more serious show.
You can also hold practice sessions at the performance facility so you can get a feel for the talent that will be on display during your show. Watching the various acts early will help you to plan the lineup for the acts that you plan to use. For example, if someone is singing a slow-paced song, you can follow that performance with lively one. Keep in mind that descriptions of performances written on paper may be very different than what you expected when you see it live.
To keep you show within a certain amount of time, and to keep your audience’s attention, give each act a specific number of minutes to perform. This number may depend on the number of acts you have. If the show is also a competition, contestants should be penalized for going over their time.
Make sure that you have backup plans, and be flexible. For example, have your own wireless mikes just in case the sound doesn’t work. Have a couple of standby acts in case someone doesn’t show up, and finally, have a sense of humor. Talent shows are about having fun, and even if everything doesn’t work exactly how you envisioned it, chances are no one will know.