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Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2007 > August > 09
Thursday, August 9, 2007
8/10: FAQ for Atlanta auditions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here’s the basic information about auditioning for “American Idol” at the Georgia Dome August 14. If you need more, check here.
Who qualifies for “Idol” auditions?
You need to be 16 to 28 years old as of July 28, 2007. (That means you could technically be 29 years old by the time the show starts.) You need to be a legal American citizen and have no existing record or artist management contract. You cannot have been in the finals from any past year and that includes the poor 16 people last year who made the final 40 but never got to sing for votes.
So how do I get into the auditions?
“Idol” will have registration tables at the Georgia Dome open continuously from Sunday at 6 a.m. until about 8 a.m. Monday. Provide two IDs, one with a photo. In exchange, the show will give you a wristband and a seating ticket. The earlier you register, the earlier you’ll audition. But if you don’t want to wait in line to register, come later Sunday. Most of the crowds will cluster Sunday morning to grab an early slot. If you wait til, say, Monday night to register, you might be sitting in the Dome Tuesday for a looong time.
Can I bring friends or family with me?
Yes. You can bring one person to hang out with you inside the Dome. If you’re under 18, you’ll need a legal guardian there.
What do you need to bring?
Besides your IDs, you are also allowed to bring digital cameras but no video cameras. Blankets are okay but chairs aren’t. The complete list is online at www.americanidol.com under the rules.
Will I get to camp out? Should I?
Nope. In past years, “Idol” encouraged overnight camping to generate extra press. But the show doesn’t have to worry about that anymore so it will only allow people to start waiting at 3:30 a.m. the day of the audition. And since folks have pre-registered with reserved seats, the only benefit to getting there early is to get some camera time when the media shows up. “We’re not interested in people camping out, losing their voices and getting sick,” said executive producer Patrick Lynn.
Will I get to meet Randy, Simon and Paula?
Not this week. These auditions don’t involve the trio. In fact, Dunwoody High School grad and host Ryan Seacrest won’t even be around. An Idol publicist says he’s got another engagement.
So what are my chances of singing before Randy, Simon and Paula?
If this was purely a random lottery, your chances are not good at all. Say 10,000 people in Atlanta try out. Based on observations of past participants, anywhere from 150 to 400 people make it to the second round. In other words, at least 95 percent of the people will be out of the running by the end of Tuesday.
What will it look like inside the Dome?
You’ll have a reserved seat and will be let in at about 8 a.m. By 9 a.m., the producers hope to have everyone in their reserved seats. Show execs will explain the audition process and videotape the entire group saying something like “Welcome to Atlanta!” or singing a group song. At about 10 a.m., the auditions will begin. About 13 or 14 tables will be placed on the main field with one or two producers behind them. In order, sections will be brought to the field and in groups of four, will be presented at a table.
What should I have when I get up to one of the tables?
You should have at least two songs, verse and a chorus, ready to go, because sometimes the producer will ask you to sing a second song. If you don’t have one in mind, that won’t help your chances. The producers will give most people at least 15 to 30 seconds, though Lynn said when Clay Aiken came up to him at AmericasMart in Atlanta in 2003, he cut Aiken off after 10 seconds because he knew he was a winner.
Haley Scarnato, a season six finalist who tried out in San Antonio last year, said she noticed everyone in front of her was belting out songs, almost screaming. So she went low key with Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” When the producer asked for a second song, she went for the upbeat “River Deep, Mountain High.”
So what happens if you do make it past the first round?
You have to fill out some more forms and will be invited back in October to an undisclosed location to meet with executive producers Ken Warwick and Nigel Lythgoe, the latter also known as a judge on “So You Think You Can Dance.” If you make it past them, you get a shot before Randy, Simon and Paula. You will have to sing the same songs before all of them and wear the same outfit. This way, it all looks like this was done in one day when in fact, it often takes at least three days. Randy, Simon and Paula will see anywhere from 70 to 150 people themselves over two days. In the end, they’ll usually pick 15 to 30 people to go to Hollywood.
If I do make it to Hollywood, what happens?
The Hollywood rounds are reportedly going to be taped in November or early December but won’t air until late January or early February. But contractually, you won’t be able to tell anybody about it until it airs. Naturally, names do leak out on the Web but “Idol” publicists won’t confirm any names. “Idol” will take in 120 to 200 people to Hollywood and that number will be pared down over several days to 40 or so. Unless “Idol” makes changes this season, of those 40, “Idol” producers and the judges will pick 12 men and 12 women for the semifinals. The taping in which those 24 are selected is usually done in January, several weeks after the Hollywood round.
Can I go to another city to try out if I didn’t make it through this time?
Absolutely. Last year’s winner Jordin Sparks was actually rejected in Los Angeles first before getting through in Seattle. Charleston, S.C. is the next audition site on August 18 followed by Miami August 22 and Philadelphia August 27.
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8/9: So You Think You Can Dance presale
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You can get early tickets to the October 22 Gwinnett Arena tour of “So You Think You Can Dance” here at Ticketmaster..
The keyword is: CanDance
Before junk fees, it’s $37.50 to $54.50.
Given the online buzz, it’s probably Lauren and Danny who are goners tonight but personally, they all look good to me so I can’t even judge the best or worst though I do like Sabra a lot.
8/9: Ready to drop.. tunes?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A pregnant woman at the Dallas “Idol” auditions almost had her baby while singing.. She naturally made it to the next round.
“I gave it my all through the contractions. They were back to back and getting harder and harder but I was more than willing to have my baby right there,” Antoria Gillon said. “I wasn’t leaving without my golden ticket to the next round.”
She made it to a hospital and named her child Jamil Labarron Idol McCowan.
Also, I plan to do a Jay Leno “Jaywalking” type bit for ajc.com’s video section next Tuesday at the “Idol” auditions using “Idol” trivia questions. This will be my first attempt at this type of broadcast work before. (It’s different from cnn.com’s “Idol Chatter” show I did for a few weeks this past spring.). I’ll post the link here when it gets done and you can all critique my skills — or lack thereof.
Finally, Gina Glocksen is engaged..
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