Throng

Fresh off the highest-rated season yet, CBC Television’s DRAGONS’ DEN is embarking on an epic audition tour. Due to overwhelming demand, producers are expanding the search to over 40 stops. From the Great White North to the edges of every coast, DRAGONS’ DEN is seeking Canadians with creative ideas and money-making savvy to make the case for cash. Successful candidates will make their way to the Den for a chance to appear in front of the Dragons in the new season.

With five seasons under her belt, host Dianne Buckner has seen it all. Here are her tips for local entrepreneurs who want to triumph on DRAGONS’ DEN:
Sell it! – “We want to see confident, well-rehearsed and convincing pitches. And remember, it’s a TV show, not a boardroom.”
Know your numbers – “The most common mistake entrepreneurs make is over-estimating the value of their businesses. Know your numbers and be realistic.”
Show them the money – “It’s no secret that the Dragons love money, so be explicit about how your business will turn a profit.”

DRAGONS’ DEN Audition Schedule 2010*:

ALBERTA
Calgary – Friday, March 19
– Saturday, March 20
Edmonton – Tuesday, March 16
– Wednesday, March 17
Grande Prairie – Monday, March 22

BRITISH COLUMBIA
Abbotsford – Monday, March 29
Campbell River – Wednesday, March 10
Kelowna – Monday, March 15
Nanaimo – Thursday, March 11
Nelson – Wednesday, March 17
Prince George – Thursday, March 11
Prince Rupert – Wednesday, March 31
Vancouver – Saturday, March 13
– Saturday, March 27
Victoria – Monday, March 8

MANITOBA
Winnipeg – Saturday, March 6

NEW BRUNSWICK
Fredericton – Tuesday, March 23
Saint John – Wednesday, March 24

NEWFOUNDLAND
St. John’s – Tuesday, March 30

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Yellowknife – TBC

NOVA SCOTIA
Halifax – Sunday, March 28

ONTARIO
Barrie – Tuesday, March 30
Hamilton – Thursday, April 1
Kingston – Friday, April 16
London – Tuesday, March 9
North Bay – Wednesday, April 7
Oshawa – Thursday, March 18
Ottawa – Saturday, April 17
St. Catharines – Friday, March 26
Sudbury - Thursday, April 8T
hunder Bay – Thursday, April 8
Toronto – Saturday, March 6
– Saturday, April 10
Waterloo – Monday, March 22
Windsor – Monday, March 8

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Charlottetown – Friday, March 26

QUEBEC
Montreal – Saturday, March 20
Québec City – Monday, March 22

SASKATCHEWAN
Regina - Thursday, March 4
Saskatoon - Tuesday, March 2

YUKON
Whitehorse – Thursday, April 1

*All dates are subject to change. Full details and updates will be posted online at http://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden.

This season, SunChips is celebrating the launch of new, 100 per cent compostable packaging by searching for the best DRAGONS’ DEN Greenvention. Eco-preneurs can pitch their green inventions at local auditions or online starting Monday, March 1 until Thursday, April 22 (Earth Day), for the chance to win $100,000.

DRAGONS’ DEN currently airs Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. on CBC Television with host Dianne Buckner and Dragons Arlene Dickinson, Robert Herjavec, Kevin O’Leary, Jim Treliving and W. Brett Wilson. DRAGONS’ DEN took home the 2009 Gemini for Best Reality Program or Series and is one of the top-rated Canadian-produced reality television shows in the country. The executive producer of DRAGONS’ DEN is Tracie Tighe and the senior producer is Lisa Gabriele. Throughout the season, viewers can go to http://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden to find out more about pitchers and updates on their progress.