Okay, call me crazy. But when I realized two weeks ago that auditions would be held in Boston I knew I would try out. Not because I can sing, not because I actually think I am the next Idol, but because I need to know how this show actually works. From January til May, for the past 8 years (with the exception of my semester in Spain) Tuesday nights are for American Idol. I'm not even big on reality TV, but this show has always fascinated me. I love watching average people become almost instantaneously famous. And not to mention, you don't even need to be crowned idol; all it takes is a spot in the top 12 and you're golden. Look at Jen Hudson, grammy winner AND actress. And she has Idol to thank. Don't even get me started on Daughtry...
June 14th. I discover that THIS is the day that I will dedicate to American Idol. Immidiately, I tell the one and only Robert Hill that he needs to audition with me. Of course, his response is a natural "Let's do it baby!" The two weeks prior to auditions we would just jokingly talk about how great its gonna be when we're idols and how we have absolutely nothing to lose by doing this. Meanwhile, we have Lynchy calling us delusional, mom calling me insane, (at least Dad believed in me!) But the thing is, we are logical. How often do you have a chance to (for free) go see the behind the scenes of a great television program? I had nothing to lose but an evening out at the bars on Saturday night to rest up for the 4am alarm.
Ryan Seacrest walks out onto the Pats field at Gillette Stadium. "Ok guys, the weather today absolutely sucks." No shit Ryan Seacrest, lucky for you, your limo just dropped you off at the gate less than an hour ago and we have all been standing outside since 3am. Well, Bhill and I had strategically arrived at 6:30 because we were cunning enough to realize that there is no way that you had to be there by 5am. As we walked about a mile to the back of the line, where a lady approaches us and goes "Hi, I want to interview the last person in line". I look at Bhill and give the high five on account of the fact that we probably never have and never will be rewarded for being "last" at anything. She continued to ask us about why were were there. "Are you a professional singer?" she asks. I just laughed in her face. I'm like "Absolutely not, I'm a shower singer".
The interviewer then asks us about what we will do if we don't win Idol. HAHA. Honestly, this question is ridiculous. The fact that anyone will go into an Idol competition thinking that this is their Plan A, needs to be analyzed and seek help. I realized this at 6am BEFORE entering the auditioning scene that commenced 4 hours later. Idol should be Plan D. You CANNOT bank on this show to launch your career. Finally, the line moves along and two hours later we're inside walking around where you can only hear random people singing. Great voices everywhere. you walk into the bathroom and can hear girls rehearsing. The show tricks you to believe that there are so many terrible audition-ers out there. False. I know good singing from bad. I hardly heard any poor singing. This is when I realized just how much talent there is out there.
We are completely fooled into believing that American Idol is a TALENT show. That is our mistake as an audience. We become so wrapped up into the show and compare ourselves to the contestants. We look at Kris Allen and think, hey, he looks normal, why can't I be the next Idol?
A typical episode of American Idol displays the most ridiculous and amazing performers. Sometimes, you'll watch a somewhat average singer make it through, but there's always a catch. They probably have some interesting/absurd story behind them. This is what people don't realize. If you're even remotely average, give up the dream.
The stadium set up was as follows. 7,000 + people in the stands on one side of the field. Opposite, we have 12 tents set up. Each tent has one or two producers who listen to the audition-ers. They step forward to audition in groups of 4. The producer points to who they want to hear first and listens to all four then casts them all aside. Unless you are either the most talented or unique person of them all. Watching from our seats, every few minutes we would see someone across the field rejoicing with happiness that they recieved the infamous "you're going to hollywood" piece of paper. Even though, in this situation, the paper only means "you're going inside the stadium to fill out paperwork".
BHill and I were seated exactly at the 50 Yard line, which meant that we would audition half way through the day. (well, more than that if you include the time it took to sing "when I grow up" as a group. not gonna lie, that part was awesome) Seated around us (Section 131 shout out!) were some great people. I think people were laughing at me half the day for how ridiculous the things I would say were. But man, these people were all crazy too! We sat near 3 girls, all of which not affiliated, who just so happened to be auditioning for the 2nd or 3rd time! A long day of discussing why they were trying again, I came to the conclusion that Idol is the same as playing the lotto; if you don't buy a ticket you'll never win and if you don't register and stand in line all day, you'll never be an idol. I knew some of these girls didn't stand a chance. One of the girls seated near us was a 16 yr old (who thought she was way cooler & older) but she was a damn good singer. After talking with her a bit, you could tell that this was her dream and she had been waiting all her life to audition. She was singing "Let it Be" by the Beatles. I was quite curious how that song would go for her but figured I'd never actually hear it. At 2:30 pm our section is finally down on the field about to be divided up to the assorted tents. The Beatles chick and I got put over at Tent 3 with two others. BHill luckily was only one tent over.
The Audition. Well, I was happy with it. My song went well and I wasn't even remotely nervous. I sang "Sittin on the Dock by the Bay" by Otis Redding but I prefer the Sara Bareilles version to be honest. I was the first to go in my group so none of my competition could get my confidence down. My judge was two British peeps who were so intense and you could tell instantly. Bhill's tent was moving much slower. Once I sang my tune, and the rest of the girls went, we were all told "you may all go, we will not be putting any of you through, thank you" we proceeded to the section behind the tents. "Let it Be" girl was shut down and I felt so bad because you could tell she thought she was golden. As I waited for Bhill to go, I was just observing all of the other tents in action. One after another, I saw talented people get shut down. And people that had a true passion and skills for singing. It really broke my heart seeing these people exit the stadium crying. But had I invested more of my life in this, I suppose I would be too! Oh but wait, this dream was only alive for a few weeks and didn't take too much of a toll on me. Ok, Bhills turn now. I watch him approach his producer and he starts belting out Sam Cook's "Bring it on Home". He did well and the passion in his expressions were priceless. I looked at the producer's face as it lit up and he started bobbing his head to the tune. Then he requested Bhill to sing a second song. He switched gears and went with "Thunder Road". This is when I knew he was gonna make it... and then when his group of four finished, they only kept BHill. Such a great moment. I hadn't seen a soul in about 10 minutes receive a yellow sheet of paper until Bhill did and made me so proud!
Anywayyys. The point of my post. TV production has a code and a process that needs to be abided by and regardless of how much talent there is out there, an agenda will be followed even if it's wrong. People had their dreams crushed on Sunday while others were given false hope that they could be the next idol on account of their crazy hair do or fairy wings that they so cleverly wore for the audition. BHill deserves to go to the next round. His voice is truly unique and he showed a passion for music. But you can't help but wonder what was going through the producer's head. He was clearly a nicer man than my anal british dude that didn't put a single person through from my tent but a long haired freak (who we then discovered will have a bio done for the show in january). Each judge cannot possibly be programmed the same to judge based on the same factors. So you just can't help but wonder.. Or to reference the recent film "He's just not that into you", I think that Bhill could be the exception to the rule.
When Bhill finished up, he told me all bout the paperwork he had to fill out for the show. I never really thought about it but the confidentiality aspect of the operation is very strict. For 8 years I have been completely deceived into believing that when a contestant auditions they go right to the judges. I knew there had to be some form of prescreening but never quite that intense. I didn't show up on Sunday thinking I'd be meeting Paula, Randy & Simon but I thought some people may? Wrong. That doesn't even happen til August from what I understand. But I must say that Fox has done a phenomenal job of making sure that the real auditioning process doesn't leek out to the public. Even a news article released from MTV claims that the people "who received golden tickets on Sunday" would proceed to Hollywood! But that's either a mistake or a ploy to support Fox. When Bob Hill goes to Boston for the next round of auditions in late july (hopefully I can be his guest and take a day off work but that's another issue) we will get another inside look at how this television program deceives Americans...which is precisely why I don't feel bad that releasing this blog is probably entirely against the restriction of the release forms I signed the other day. And to the (less than) 200 people who got through this past weekend, I wish you all the luck because I'd love to see the next idol come from Boston!
As for me, will I audition again? Who knows. I have 7 years left of eligibility and god knows that if i do, I'm wearing my halloween costume and just doing some ridiculous song. Let's hope my career in finance never makes me that desperate.
My accomplishments from Idol auditions were a new perspective, soaking wet shoes, and a quote in this article.
http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/television/general/view.bg?&articleid=1178981&format=&page=1&listingType=tv#articleFull
Good Luck in the next rounds Bhill! Make the Tyngs proud! And if you become the Idol, I'll be damned if your first song released isnt the Ken Gordon song!
