BEFORE his success on X-Factor, Somerset's Jesse Teinaki was a finalist in the Telstra Road to Discovery.
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The 22-year-old won the People's Choice Award in last year's competition and was then selected to tour with Bon Jovi on its 2013 Australian tour.
Now, Teinaki is encouraging other Tasmanians to try their luck at the Telstra Road to Discovery.
Entries for the Tasmanian heat close on Tuesday, September 9, with the heat to be held at Hobart's Republic Bar on Thursday, September 25.
Teinaki, who recently made it through to the Wild Card round of reality show X-Factor, will perform as a guest artist at the heat.
He said the program gave him a "massive boost" in the industry.
He said after entering the competition the day before it closed - thanks to encouragement of his step-dad - he progressed to the competition's boot camp.
"The mentoring there is some of the best I've ever heard of, let alone been a part of," Teinaki said.
"They bring in everyone from every aspect of the industry and it opens your eyes to everything.
"It's everything from songwriting, to publicity and finances and touring, which is perfect for up and coming artists."
While Teinaki is back home in Tasmania now, he is keeping his dream of being a full-time artist alive.
"I'm stoked to have been given the opportunity that I have and still be working as a sparky (electrician)," he said.
"I'm back at work and I'm writing a lot of songs now, but I really want to utilise all this publicity."
He said he hoped to put out a debut release early next year.
Hobart musician Christopher Coleman, who won the 2013 performer category of the Telstra Road to Discovery, went on to release his self-titled debut album Christopher Coleman Collective in March.
The winner of next month's Tasmanian Road to Discovery heat will join 15 others from across the country at a three-day mentoring boot camp in Melbourne in October.
Musicians can also enter the online heat, which closes on September 23.
More details at telstra.com/trtd.
Applications are also open to audition for the National Institute of Dramatic Art, one of the most prestigious acting universities in the country.
Hobart auditions will be held in November.
To apply, visit www.nida.edu.au.