Letting loose for a lip-sync fundraiser
She does it for a friend who is gone, and two who are still fighting.
Just before her first Lip Sync Battle fundraiser for Women’s Place of South Niagara two years ago, Amy Layton was relieved to hear a friend had entered a local women’s shelter. By the second event last year, she was piecing her life back together.
For the third event this year, her friend was dead.
“She was in a rough relationship and a rough spot,” says Layton, a real estate agent for Royal Lepage. “I’m not actually sure what exactly happened, but she’s not with us anymore.
“I do this in honour of her and my other two (friends) that are close to me. One is coming to this year’s event and she’s come so far. I’m extremely proud of her — she inspires me a lot.”
In turn, Layton will inspire several people to let their inner pop star out at Scotiabank Convention Centre on Saturday. The third annual Lip Sync Battle isn’t just for casual crooners — they take their fake singing seriously.
“This year, people are ordering things online to be part of their costume,” she says. “They’ve been practising for weeks.”
Layton originally planned for the event to be a karaoke competition, but didn’t think she’d get enough people to jump on stage. Lip sync seemed more viable. And relatible.
“I thought, you don’t have to have any real talent, and it’s all for fun. Everyone does it in their car and at home, cleaning the house. It’s something we always had fun doing when I was a kid.
“I thought it would be funny to have some local business owners doing this.”
At $30 a ticket, the first year at Cat’s Kitchen shocked Layton by raising $3,000 — she would have been happy with $500.
Year 2 at Taps brought in $3,800.
This year sees a bigger venue — Ballroom D at the convention centre — and a $40 admission. Niagara comedian David Green will be MC. All proceeds go straight to Women’s Place.
Layton isn’t just the organizer, she also performs.
“The first year I did ‘Thriller.’ I’m tall, with glasses, and the complete opposite of Michael Jackson.”