Karaoke contest at 19 outlets

JAKARTA (JP): Are you depressed by the monetary crisis? Now is your chance to sing your blues away at a karaoke competition being held at 19 major karaoke outlets in the city.

The competition, Chivas Regal Music Talent Awards 1998, which started on Feb. 13 and will end on March 27, attracts mainly yuppies and Japanese expatriates, an executive of the event's sponsor, Edhi Sumadi, said yesterday.

"The winner at each of the outlets will be awarded two bottles of Chivas Regal whisky worth about Rp 1.2 million," Edhi said. The runner-up will get one bottle of whisky and the person finishing third will be awarded a tie and wristwatch.

Out of the winners from the 19 karaoke outlets, the organizer will choose the best and award him or her the ultimate prize: a trip to the L'Or de Martell Cup horse race in Hong Kong on April 4, he said.

Among the outlets participating in the competition are Shiki, Cheri/Sakurambo, Cendrawasih and Miracle Tokyo I on Jl. Melawai in South Jakarta and Okiyo on Jl. Cikini Raya and Domino on Jl. Batu Ceper in Central Jakarta.

Edhi, who is also marketing manager of Seagram Indonesia, said the response from the public was very positive and the participants included regular customers of karaoke outlets, members of the Japanese community and average Jakartans. (hhr)