Sunday, July 30, 2006  
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+ m* u. Z# O( M. S9 oBest-of-Breed Hiring from Rockstar Supernova
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posted by   Simon Meth  (63)   & S" i. d# n9 d) T
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Rockstar Supernova is a new reality show on CBS that combines the world of rock music with relationship-style unscripted drama, performance competition, and weekly contestant elimination.  What on earth can we learn from this unlikely source? It turns out that the show is a model for best-of-breed hiring. Read on to get my take and you don't have to love rock, I do, to get value here:+ h; c7 P& e1 q: ~! i/ O1 ?2 N
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The show features industry heavyweights: Tommy Lee, Jason Newsted, and Gilby Clark from stalwart groups Motley Crue, Metallica, and Guns N' Roses. The three rockers have formed a new group, Supernova that lacks a lead singer. The show is designed to find the best person from a world-wide search. Also featured on the show are Dave Navarro, of Jane's Addiction and The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and Brooke Burke.2 O$ T( H1 {, n- @
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There's a lot that could be written about this but, since this is a blog, and since I like to give you information you can use quickly, here are the main points:1 |/ N, x7 _* {1 C
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1)    Somehow they selected 15 applicants from a no doubt huge pool. I don't know how they did that but they revealed that there was a word-wide search. Perhaps they targeted some people they knew? Someone must have reviewed written and multi-media applications to come up with the final list of 15.
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2)    Supernova wants a lead singer who will work well with them and who represents what the band stands for. Each week the applicants perform with the house band in front of Supernova, Dave Navarro, and host Brook Burke. After each performance the band and Dave give usually constructive feedback. At the end of the show the world-wide audience votes for their favorites. What's really going on here is that the applicants for the job are being tested by the employer. A market survey for popularity is also going on at the same time.9 k" {' E# M( A5 o9 ~

3 j1 s* n2 f7 k+ C9 d3)    The following night the band selects one applicant for an encore performance. Everyone gets feedback on what Supernova likes and wants to see more of. The smart applicants take careful note.
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4)    Next the bottom three applicants are announced. These folks received the lowest number of votes from the audience. Each performs again and then Supernova selects one for elimination. Tommy Lee, the rocker with the biggest hatchet on television, delivers the news to the unfortunate applicant and someone usually says, "You're just not right for our band."

5)    The following week the process is repeated. Eventually there will be only one remaining and that person will be the one that Supernova selects as their lead singer.5 |5 G" U* X$ T: }4 @  j

' f+ |8 U4 _  c- A3 Q6)    There's some behind the scenes stuff, available here, that occurs during the week. For example, the applicants were divided into groups and each was tasked to write lyrics to a new Supernova song. Being tested was the ability to write lyrics, the ability to work on a team, and the ability to perform.
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7)    Sometimes during the show, one of the members of Supernova takes the stage with the house band and plays during one of the applicant's performances. Being tested here is the ability of the applicant to perform with a superstar rocker.' {! B/ p2 i) \" r+ `, p+ a
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Now I'm perfectly clear that this is television and a lot of what goes on during the show is purely made for TV stuff. Examples are the performances of Zayra. Clearly she will never be the lead singer of Supernova but she is just darn good entertainment, from her wild outfits, here vicious comebacks, and her wacky performances. I'm sure that the producers are keeping her around for the entertainment value.
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It's clear that the rocker who is selected will have survived many rounds of testing. They will have sung a variety of songs, sung with one or more of the members of Supernova, and have participated in a several other tests over a lengthy period. Nobody is asking brain dead hypothetical questions such as, "Tell me about a time when you played in front of a large audience?" or "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" It's all show me what you've got. Lay it all out there and make me believe that you're the one. The eventual customers, the audience, will have voted week in and week out. They have been part of the selection process.
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And who will be the new lead singer of Supernova? My early pick is Dilana.