Since Twitter has exploded, there seems to be an exponential increase in Twitter Travel Contests around the place.

There doesn’t seem to be day where someone is offering a giveaway if you tweet this or that.  Hey, I’ve even had a few giveaways here on The Travel Tart, such as the odd Travel Book here and there. 

This hasn’t been too taxing because I haven’t been that imaginative.  I don’t let merit get in the way of someone scoring a prize – I just let a random number generator pick a commenter for me!  (Try this one, it’s good! http://www.random.org/).

It’s all about making life easier, not harder!

But Nomadic Matt has a great Twitter Travel contest going – and I’ve even been shortlisted in the Top 15 for a trip to Costa Rica, including an airfare (my shonky poem entry for this is here). 

I’ve been shortlisted for some fantastic travel junkets, for example a 3 month all expenses paid around New Zealand -  with not much luck.

Today, I’m not going to bore you with crap like ‘I’m definitely the best candidate..’ blah blah blah or I’m experienced with this blah blah blah so vote for me blah blah blah.  I’ve already done that in my entry!

But I’ve come up with a list of Twitter Travel Contestant Types that I’ve pulled out of my backside!

Here they are:

The Facebook Friender

This person has thousands of Facebook Friends that aren’t really their true friends.  Votes are canvassed by sending out daily Facebook status updates to make sure someone votes for them.  Facebook Status updates are sent out to Twitter, with Twitter updates being sent back to Facebook in a perpetual cycle of updates.

The Twitter Tragic

Sends out the maximum allowable tweets per hour pleading for people to vote for them.  Sometimes for days or weeks.

The Pleader

You know, the one who types, usually in uppercase ‘PLEASE PLEASE VOTE FOR ME, I’M DEFINITELY THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THIS PRIZE. I KNOW I’M THE BEST!’

The Enormous Emailer

Will send out an email to EVERY person from every single email account they possess.  Many times.

The Beautiful Person

This contestant uploads a profile picture that is a professional glamour shot in a skimpy outfit to appeal to the opposite (or maybe sometimes both) sex(es). 

The Briber

‘If you vote for me, I’ll [insert any task you nominate here, such as selling your soul].

As for me?

I’m The Easygoer

I might send out a few things here and there, but I’ll go with the flow.  I sent an email out to a few friends which said.

Hey, I’ve been shortlisted to score a trip to Costa Rica.  1 of 15!  The highest vote getter doesn’t necessarily win, but it helps!

It’s really simple – I’m #13.  Just press on that to vote!

http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/vote-and-send-someone-to-costa-rica/

Hey, if it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t life goes on and there will always be another fantastic travel opportunity around the corner.

However, since I’m a Travel Addict, I won’t knock back a free trip either!

So if’ you haven’t fallen asleep, go to this link here and click on #13 and we’ll see what happens!

I’ll try and stuff you in my backpack and declare you as ‘Miscellaneous’ to the Costa Rican immigration officials if I win (oops, that’s the Briber!).

Chop Chop!

You’ve only got until March 1 2010!  Thanks!

Eurobeat The Musical is a new play which basically takes the piss out of The Eurovision Song Contest.

That sounds like an oxymoron to me, because the Eurovision Song Contest does a great job of being silly all by itself!

However, making fun of the Eurovision Song Contest can be done!

The contest has been around since the 1970s – the Swedish pop group ABBA got their big break at Eurovision.

But usually, The Eurovision Song Contest involves a heap of wannabe acts making a goose of themselves!  I’m surprised it’s been going for so long.

For example, check out a couple of Eurovision Song Contest acts that are on You Tube – they’re self explanatory:

I’d actually like to go to the Eurovision Song Contest just for the experience.  I think it would be hilarious.

I love watching the Contest each year because of the smart arse comments the English Narrator, Sir Terry Wogan used to insert in the broadcast.

You can read more about Eurovision at ‘THIS IS SWEDEN CALLING: Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About The Eurovision Song Contest But Were Laughing Too Hard To Ask!

Anyway, one of the perks of being a Z grade Twitter ‘celebrity’ is that sometimes people are silly enough to invite you to a social event.

The nice people at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (you can follow them on Twitter @QPAC) invited me to the opening night of Eurobeat The Musical.

Basically, Eurobeat The Musical is a play modelled on the Eurovision Song Contest.  It includes are number of ‘acts’ from different countries, and consists of songs that range from listenable to cringe worthy, but in an entertaining sense.

For example imagine a three piece boy band dancing in Mankinis, in conjunction with suggestive lyrics and hand movements.  That was my favourite act from ‘Poland’.

Actually, I couldn’t tell the difference between the acts in Eurobeat The Musical and those featured in the Eurovision Song Contest.  I almost thought the musical directors had especially brought over the original Eurovision Song Contest contestants themselves!

For example, here are some of the striking similarities that I observed when watching the play:

• The two hosts were from a country that involved some sort of Eastern European accent (in this case, Bosnian)

• The Irish entrant was a guy wearing a green suit belting out a sing along ballad

• Boy bands were prevalent – (Poland and Russia).

• The female host changes her dress between every act
• The German act was a bizarre abstract electronic 3 piece that made no sense

• Most of the female acts wore skimpy clothing – no make that probably underwear.

• There was at least one act that wore their traditional country’s dress (Hungary)

• The Swedish Act looked like ABBA

• The United Kingdom act was a couple singing some soppy love song.  They also finished last, which is true to form.

There were also some clever names for the acts.  For example, the Russian entrant was called the KG Boyz.

Votes were cast via SMS to determine the eventual winner – just like the Eurovision Song Contest.

Even the voting stage of Eurobeat The Musical was a complete Doppelganger!  There were ‘live crossovers’ to the different European countries and their mentally insane hosts, detailing how their country had voted.

The audience are even given plastic clappers and flags to cheer on their nominated country, adding to the experience!

Anyway, I enjoyed the play as some light entertainment, and thanks once again to QPAC for inviting me along!

You can check out more of Eurobeat The Musical at the official website.  You can even follow Eurobeat The Musical on Twitter.