Ben Allen discusses his time on 'The Voice' and his upcoming concert at Hertz Arena

Ben Allen may have lost but he really won.

Millions of Americans for the past couple months saw what Southwest Florida has known for years, that the Estero musician has talent as he competed on NBC's "The Voice."

Allen made it to the final nine but did not advance the night of Dec. 8 when he lost to fellow Gwen Stefani teammate and the eventual winner, Carter Rubin.

The night before, the nine had performed and viewers could then vote into the morning of Dec. 8. The biggest vote-getter from each of the four teams advanced, with the other five battling it out for the last spot. 

“I really and truly felt I was on the team with the person who would win the season," Allen said last week. "Knowing it was going to be another vote within the team, you could pretty much see the writing on the wall for that.”

Allen said he believes he may have stood a chance if it was the top five overall votes, adding: "I'm certainly not going to second guess or complain about it. It was an awesome run."

The good news for Allen was weeks hunkered down in Southern California had come to an end, allowing him to fly home and reunite with family and friends.

The exposure led to people throughout the U.S. reaching out to him. As a result, the Ben Allen Band is already booked throughout the summer with shows in the Midwest and elsewhere.

One viewer in Chicago even asked Allen to perform the Kenny Chesney song, "There Goes My Life," that he sang Nov. 30 for a father-daughter wedding dance. In fact, he's planning for the Ben Allen Band to play more private events including out-of-state weddings and charity galas next year because the demand is great.

He's also hoping to perform at Blake Shelton's bar, restaurant and music chain, Ole Red, in Orlando and other cities.

Some fans also may wonder whether Nashville or Los Angeles music executives have contacted him, but Allen said not so fast.

More: America is falling in love with Ben Allen, Gwen Stefani says Monday on 'The Voice'

And:'So very original,' Gwen Stefani tells Ben Allen after singing country ballad on 'The Voice'

“People tend to think you’re going to have all these (record) labels reaching out and knocking down the door with a chance to be the next Blake Shelton," he said.

"There’s not a lot of room at the top so they just don’t let people in. But that’s OK. I'm very, very, very busy with booking events all over the country in addition to tons and tons of charity events and private parties.”

His upcoming gigs include performing New Year's Eve at Coconut Falls Tiki Bar and Grill, 17200 Tamiami Trail S., south Fort Myers. Allen said he booked that show nearly a year ago.

And he's also excited about a Jan. 9 concert at Hertz Arena, which reached out to him about performing a local show on the heels of his run on "The Voice."

“We’d love to see all the people who supported me come out for this and have one big hoo-rah over everything, and starting 2021 off with something positive," Allen said.

"There’s social distancing and masks and stuff, things in place to protect everyone. That was important for me and the arena as well. We just think the whole thing is going to be good for the community.”

In hindsight, Allen said, he has no regrets about his time on "The Voice." He moved to Naples in 2009 from his native Tennessee, taught himself to play guitar, formed a band that first performed in 2014 and made the televised singing competition series on his third try.

From open mic night at a Naples bowling alley to national TV. Not bad.

“It’s one of those things, the old saying, it’s good work if you can get it," Allen said.

"It’s an awesome experience but it certainly does have its cost, for the time and energy and effort you put into it. You’re gone from home a fair amount of time, probably longer than you'd expect."

Allen said he's thankful for his wife, Laura Youmans-Hughes (Allen's real last name is Hughes; Allen is his middle name), his son, TJ, fellow band members and many others. 

“You have to give it 100 percent of your attention," he said about "The Voice." "You have to have good people around in your life ready to pick up the slack because you’re not there to be able to handle things.”

He said his colleagues at his full-time job as a building inspector for Collier County's Growth Management Department also have been understanding and supportive during his leave of absence.

And the biggest surprise, he said, was seeing the amount of backing from Southwest Florida. He didn't realize he was liked that much. Allen had fun with his fans during "The Voice" process with Facebook selfie videos, addressing them directly before and after each show.

If he hasn't gotten back to everyone, don't take it personally, he said. He's been busy.

"There’s just not enough hours in the day," Allen said. 

He's also hoping to make some of his own music in 2021, writing songs and maybe cutting an album with the band.

“Right now, my model has always been play, play, play, more than record. I’m a guy who likes to get out and play these live shows," Allen said.

And he hopes his time on "The Voice" during a pandemic maybe brought Southwest Florida a little bit closer.

"There's so many things that have been negative for 2020 and I’m fortunate to have been someone that the community can rally around and smile about," Allen said.

"It’s something that has shone brighter for me, getting to fill that void.”

Dave Osborn is the regional features editor of the Naples Daily News and News-Press. Follow him on Instagram @detroitdave88 and on Twitter @NDN_dosborn.