Pierce: Blink and you'll miss BYU grad on 'The Voice'

BYU grad Amy Whitcomb has made it through both the blind auditions and the battle rounds of the hit singing competition "The Voice" — and if you blinked twice, you missed her.

The Florida native/Provo resident has been part of not one but two montages. Instead of being part of a segment on "The Voice" that profiles her and gives her a showcase for her singing, she gets a few seconds of airtime while a voiceover tells us she made it through. About 30 seconds total in two appearances.

When asked about it by The Salt Lake Tribune, Whitcomb laughed. But she also said, "Honestly, it's been very frustrating."

You can certainly argue that, through the blind auditions, the battle rounds and the knockout rounds (which begin Monday at 7 p.m on NBC/Channel 5), how much airtime you get doesn't matter. The coaches decide who stays and who goes; the viewers just watch what happens.

But, eventually, who goes home will be up to the viewers. And while some of the contestants — including another BYU grad, Ryan Innes — have had a chance to make big impressions on the viewers and build fanbases, Whitcomb has not.

"This has been frustrating because I've put in as much work as everyone else who has been aired, and I'm not really getting as much exposure," she said.

Contestants on all these talent competitions are hoping that, if they don't win, the exposure they get will help their careers. Clearly, that doesn't always happen, but it has worked for some of them.

But it's not going to work at all if you're the current Queen of the Montages.

It's not just a disappointment to Whitcomb, who admits she's been "a little blindsided by the montages." It's also a disappointment to her family and friends, who tune in and see her come and go in a flash.

"There's a lot of disappointment that comes with that," she said, "because so many people have been waiting to watch."

Whitcomb isn't whining about this. Yours truly raised the issue, not her. She's trying to be philosophical about it.

"I can't be upset, because it's been a wonderful experience behind the scenes for me growing as an artist and musician," Whitcom said. "Even though I really would love for America to hear me sing, I've still been learning quite a bit.

"So, hopefully, it will open doors and and create new opportunities for me."

Being on a TV singing competition doesn't always create a career for you. Whitcomb knows that as well as anyone — this is her third go-round after appearing on NBC's a cappella contest "The Sing-Off" twice.

But "The Voice" is a competition. And being on the show without actually being seen on the show puts her at a competitive disadvantage.

Scott D. Pierce covers television for The Salt Lake Tribune. Email him at spierce@sltrib.com; follow him on Twitter @ScottDPierce.