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Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2007 > August > 12 > Entry
8/13: Idol registration begins
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
CREDIT: Rodney Ho
It’s now 7:17 a.m. and I’ve been here more than three hours. When I arrived at 3:45 a.m., there were already at least 1,000 people here. Security said they started letting people line up at midnight. I’d say it’s in excess of 5,000 now, wrapping halfway around the Dome. Although registration is open continuously until early Tuesday, the folks who register now will get out earlier on Tuesday. But there are at least 20 spots for registraation so lines are moving quickly. I expect waits to be very short after 10 a.m. The downside: you might have to wait awhile to audition Tuesday. (See the FAQ for more details.)
Overall, it’s very organized though at 4 a.m. they asked folks to move forward because there was too much space between some people. But instead, people squashed too close together and the organizers tried to get folks to move back, a much tougher task. At least the temperatures were reasonably comfortable and it’s not too muggy.
I’ve been interviewing folks for a Monday print story about “repeaters,” or folks who have auditioned before. It hasn’t been hard to find, naturally.
Grant Fisher (above), an Oklahoma native who recently moved to Nashvilel to pursue a music career, actually made it to see Simon, Paula and Randy last year in San Antonio and got a few seconds of airtime. He said he needs to convey more personality this time around. A 17 year old from Tampa, April Zinober, knew season six contestant Jessica Sierra personally and was inspired to try out. Teal Bradford of Duluth said the Peachtree Tavern owner paid $1,100 for her to try out in Chicago and Greensboro in 2005 and though she was rejected immediately both times, she’s going for her third round. One interesting snippet - when folks get rejected, staff snips off their wristbands into a forlorn-looking box.
Spontaneous group singing popped up and when a soloist was actually good, they received applause. When some folks began crooning “Lean on Me,” UGA student Kelly Bryant (who tried out in Chicago and Greensboro in 2005 and Birmingham in 2006 and is pictured below) said usually that means they’ll sing “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” next. Alas, a minute or two later, that happened. “I called it!” she said brightly.
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