If I successfully made it onto a singing show, here's what I'd do and why...
Here's the thing with making music. In a world where shows like "The Voice", "America's Got Talent", and "American Idol" <-- is that one still a thing???, there's this notion that people are buying hook, line, and sinker that if they have a pretty enough voice that they have the "opportunity" to take on fame, fortune, recording contracts, and the works! At the end of the day, it's all a Grand Illusion! Without Googling it, do you know who the 3rd place winner of American Idol's first season was? Nobody cares. Kelly Clarkson won it -and she's had a pretty good run! It helps that she was the first winner in a new and innovative kind of television... but then came seasons 2 through 15... Carrie Underwood has had the best run of it -but her just winning it didn't launch her to success -though it helped a LOT -The timing, her voice, her team, and her trajectory were mapped out REALLY well after she won so she was able to keep building on the momentum each step had built up along the way! Whatever happened to Ruben Stoddard? Ruben who?! The winner of the second season of American Idol! I bet he's still singing, but I can guarantee you it's not to sold out arena crowds -same with Taylor Hicks! Winner of season 5! What about the more fortunate runner ups that kept moving forward -The Daughtrys, Scotty McCrearys, Clay Aikens, Jennifer Hudsons, Adam Lamberts (You know, he sings for Queen now?), and Kellie Picklers? None of them won the show, but had great teams working behind them to keep them moving forward.
I don't try out for singing shows. I'm not going to start trying out for singing shows. If I made it on and won a singing show, the labels wouldn't be interested in the music that I would want to be making (it's not pop-friendly), and I'd become another Ruben Studdard or Taylor Hicks or Lee DeWyze, or Candice Glover... Oppressed by labels and not moving forward.
Anyways, if I DID make it onto a show like this and moved far enough along to be a finalist...
I'd wait until one of the last three episodes on the show. I'd sing my song(s), Thank the "judges" for their feedback, and then I'd resign and remove myself from the show. Walk out the door during commercial break, and head on home.
Why? It would be memorable. I wouldn't have to undergo the final scrutiny of comparison between my own and others' musical abilities. I would immediately be able to keep momentum going on my own terms without the red tape of a recording contract (unless of course, they had me sign some kind of recording deal in the first place... which I wouldn't... and then I'd go ahead and head on home early).
TLDR?
The era of rockstars, big money, and a music career with longevity has come to a close. Yes, there are a few exceptions... VERY few exceptions -but even then, will their names be relevant and known 40 years from now? Probably not. Get a proper job, make music on your own terms, and if something happens that launches you into the limelight... ride that wave and relish in the fact that it's all on your own terms!
Until next time... err...
Mucho, Macho, Muchacho Love,
-T.