Producer of “America’s Got Talent” hosts showcase in Davenport

But the talent aspect was certainly present in this equation.

The night featured artists such as musician Jaik Willis, who beatboxed while playing a Flying VE guitar and wearing chic pinstripe pants; Davenport singer Soultru, whose leathery vocals and smooth guitar playing filled the room; comedian Kristin Lytie, who poked fun at her hip surgery; and belly dancer Diva Samantha, who shook with such energy that the crowd couldn’t help but clap along to the beat.

The “America’s Got Talent” show was hosted by local music, comedy and film festival Alternating Currents, presented by KWQC and Common Chord. A casting producer from the show was also in attendance.

Other performers at the event included stand-up comedian Chris Schlichting, singer-songwriter Mo Carter, magician David Casas, comedian Brent Terhune, rock artist Josie Abigail and Common Chord artist CJ Parker.

Schlichting, a local comedian who put together the comedy lineup for Alternating Currents this weekend, also helped put together the comedy acts for this program.

He said he was careful to choose comics that would fit the family-friendly energy of an “AGT” show, so if another comic makes it, Schlichting joked, it’s his fault.

“Part of me just wanted to say, ‘You know what? I think I’m the only one,'” he said. “But damn my integrity.”

Schlichting also works as a high school teacher in Davenport, so he was back at school on Friday. While he was sitting in meetings, Schlichting said, he dreamed that this could also be the first day of his breakthrough as a comedian.

“I’m thinking about the ‘America’s Got Talent’ audition and I’m thinking, ‘This could be it! You can get out of here with this, Chris!'” he joked before stopping himself. “‘All right, Chris, let’s calm down.'”

The man of the hour on Friday, however, was Luke Swinney, the casting producer for “America’s Got Talent,” whose job it was to find out if any of these artists had what it takes to appear on the show.

Before the event, Swinney said this was new territory for him. He worked on the show for four seasons and watched music shows across the country. But a one-stop talent shop like this could only come about because Alternating Currents was “a perfect fit,” Swinney said.

“We’ve tried to get out and meet as many people as possible, hear their stories and see their talents,” he said. “It’s a community we want to leverage.”

Years of COVID-19 restrictions have made it difficult to deploy soldiers in the field, Swinney said, but “AGT” hopes to hit the road again. As it turns out, the journey begins in Davenport.

“This is, so to speak, our first step back into the world,” he said.

Swinney arrived in town earlier this week and will be there all weekend to check out the rest of Alternating Currents’ lineup. On Thursday night, he checked out acts at Schwiebert Park and the Raccoon Motel. He downloaded the festival’s app and is currently putting together a schedule.

Swinney, who grew up in Texas, said he felt at home during his visit to the Quad Cities.

“I was warmly welcomed by everyone here,” he said

So what makes a performance on “AGT” level? Swinney came back to one word: unforgettable. In the show, the contestants have just two minutes to impress the judges Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara.

That’s why Swinney is looking for people who leave their mark quickly.

“We’re starting our 20th season next year, so the judges have seen a lot,” he said. “We’re always looking for things we haven’t seen yet.”

Swinney and his team will document the show and bring some of the highlights to the crew in LA, where judges and select producers in categories such as music and variety can then further narrow down the list.

Filming for the show will begin next spring.

Friday’s performance was such an occasion that local singer CJ Parker entered the stage out of breath after sprinting up the stairs and leaving his 10 of Soul performance in the Skybridge courtyard early.

“I told them to just play something I don’t play,” he joked, panting.

While many know Cowell as the talent judge on reality TV, Swinney said the audience is the best judge of all, so it was important that lots of people came to the performances on Friday night.

“They represent America in some ways or the viewer watching at home,” he said. “If they’re really excited about something, we’re really excited about it.”

During the performances, Swinney also got a feel for each artist’s personality and offered feedback. After Willis’ opening set, he told the singer that Beatboxing Blues passed the uniqueness test.

“We’ve never seen this before,” Swinney said.

An audience also helps a performer develop their “gusto,” Swinney said, and Schlichting agreed. He has auditioned for reality shows like “Last Comic Standing” before, in front of three producers and an empty room. Having an audience makes a big difference, he said.

“Comedians rely on laughter for feedback,” Schlichting said. “(Without an audience) it kind of throws you off your rhythm.”

And indeed, Schlichting’s jokes about tattooed wedding rings and raising twins made the audience laugh.

In short, if there’s a familiar face on America’s Got Talent next year, you’ll know why.