and the connections that this young company brings with it are staggering.

Mandana Entertainment is based in New York. But company head Ms. Mandana Sharifi is from Bermuda and regularly returns to the Island to look for new talent.

"I started as a designer,'' she says. "but I soon secured a position with Duntori and Company, an artist development and management firm in New York.'' Ms. Sharifi started in the business side of the entertainment industry, working with record companies like Columbia and Atlantic Records. However, she soon found herself moving more toward promoting artists.

"I spoke to the people at Duntori, and told them about Bermuda. I told them that there was so much talent on this Island, and I was told to come home and do a talent search,'' she said.

And Ms Sharifi wants everyone to know that there is room for all kinds of talent.

"I am looking for individuals or groups who are serious. They can sing R&B, reggae, gospel, jazz, rap, or house, but they must be serious.'' Those who are interested in trying their hand at the music game are asked to follow a very strict set of procedures.

"Vocalists must send in an a capella tape not more than ten minutes long.

Musicians who send in their music must send in a VHS tape of themselves and all music must be copy written beforehand. This restriction applies to artists as well.'' Ms Sharifi's family lives here and she finds herself jetting between Bermuda and New York quite frequently. She has one particular dream in mind -- to open her own office here.

"I would like to open my own office here in the future, because Bermuda has a lot to offer. A lot of the talent here just needs that extra `push.' "In addition to artist promotion, I would like to be able to teach them about the business side (of entertainment). There are a lot of wolves out there,'' Ms Sharifi says.

And, in readiness for whatever the entertainment world might throw at her, Ms Sharifi is armed with an impressive list of contacts.

"I have contacts at Black Entertainment Television, CNN, Columbia and Atlantic Records, as well as at Dub Missive -- a magazine for reggae enthusiasts, and others,'' she says.

"I want to be a personal manager, not just a business manager. I want to have a say in what happens, and with my designing experience, I can even design costumes and logos,'' she adds.

Recently Ms Sharifi went on tour with singer Toni Braxton as an assistant to stage manager Mr. Skip Davis, who handles mega-stars like Whitney Houston and singing sensations like Jodeci.

"All Bermudians need is the right attitude,''she says. Anyone who thinks they have what it takes for success is asked to drop off an audio or video tape, accompanied by a resume and contact number to the London Beauty Clinic, 16 Parliament Street, Hamilton.

Ms Mandana Sharifi.