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Talent show organizer AWOL, prize unpaid

Event dogged by low participation, attendance

By Mary Ann Albright
Published: April 2, 2010, 12:00am
3 Photos
Mark Houston, Vancouver's Got Talent winner
Mark Houston, Vancouver's Got Talent winner Photo Gallery

Singer-songwriter Mark Houston impressed the judges at Wednesday’s Vancouver’s Got Talent finale by performing an original composition and a Green Day song while accompanying himself on guitar at the Vancouver Ballroom.

The 14-year-old from Vancouver, an eighth-grader at Thomas Jefferson Middle School, expected to receive a prize package including $500 cash, but the event organizer was absent. Russell Bruner, owner of the Vancouver Ballroom and a judge at the event, said that left him to cobble together $100 to give to Houston.

James Madison, owner of the Vancouver-based talent and modeling agency James Madison Management and a former placement agent for Immortelle Modeling and Acting Agency in Vancouver, organized the talent contest. Madison said he turned over the reins to Bruner early on, after his father had a heart attack and he went to California to assist the family. Madison said he believed Bruner had taken over everything related to the contest, including responsibility for the prize.

The event kicked off Feb. 3. On that night and for the following seven Wednesdays, acts competed for the chance to appear in this week’s finale. The winner would receive $500 and a free class at Immortelle, Madison told The Columbian prior to a Jan. 3 story about the ballroom and the contest.

Bruner said Madison told him midway through the contest there had been some confusion, and that the grand prize was actually $250 in cash, plus an additional $250 in prizes. Bruner posted the new information on his Web site.

But more inconsistencies surfaced beyond the prize package. Madison said he left for California after the first week, but Bruner said Madison was there for the first three weeks of the competition. He said he spoke with Madison about needing him there for the finale.

“He said he would be there,” Bruner said.

Madison says Bruner knew he wouldn’t be.

Acts paid $20 to enter the contest, and admission was $5 for adults and $2.50 for children. Bruner said he received one-third of the take for letting Madison use the ballroom. Bruner split his share among the judges.

The contest wasn’t a cash cow for anyone. In the eight weeks of competition leading up to the finale, anywhere from zero to four contestants entered on a given night, Bruner said. Usually five or six people attended.

When Madison didn’t show up Wednesday, Bruner said he debated cancelling the event and refunding the contestants’ entry fees. Instead, he decided to proceed and give people a chance to perform. He gave all the door money to Houston and added an extra $10 or $20 himself to bring the total to an even $100, he said.

It was all very confusing for the winner and his mother, Melodee Houston.

“It seemed really awkward,” she said. “It was obvious something wasn’t quite right, and the fact that I never met James seemed odd.”

Alaine Boss, owner of Immortelle, also is left with questions. Boss said she planned to meet with Mark Houston today, and that he would receive a free class as promised. Boss said she tried contacting Madison and hasn’t heard from him in two and a half weeks. He no longer works for Immortelle.

Melodee Houston left Madison a message Thursday morning, and Madison said he planned to call her back to explain the situation.

“I’ll make everything right,” he said.

Melodee Houston believes Madison should make this up to her son somehow, but said she and Mark aren’t too upset.

“It’s the exposure really for Mark that’s important,” she said. “He got $100. He’s 14, so he’s happy.”

It was performing that was most exciting for Mark.

“It was really fun,” he said. “Just the thought of me even being up there with the other (finalists). They were all really good. It was really nice.”

Mary Ann Albright: maryann.albright@columbian.com, 360-735-4507.

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