I auditioned for AI today

[David]

There were a million things I enjoyed about it and a million things I found sketchy.

Now before it sounds like I'm bitter or anything, I need to say... if there is anyone who stands up and defends American Idol, it's me. Whenever people say it's rigged, I say it isn't. Whenever people question the show, I tell them it's legit. It's still my favorite TV show, but I was disappointed at how some things worked with the show.

So here's the review:

The Idol auditions came to Jacksonville today, and it was quite the experience. They said we had the biggest show up, so that's really exciting, because nothing big comes out of our city except for the Jaguars. The arena was completely filled, which was great, because I saw pictures of other audition cities with half-filled arenas.

Anyway, so I decided to audition just for fun (I can't sing at all), but I was with six of my friends who were really shooting for the win. I was really focused on making sure one of my friends, Sharon, made it, because I think she's amazing. I'm not just saying that because she's my friend, but I've been watching Idol for 7 years, and I know that she would be good enough for at least the top 10. She's performed with Sarah Geronimo (a Filipino singer who's huge in the Philippines and with the Filipino community) live and won "Most Likely To Be Famous" in High School.

Our songs were "Walking on Sunshine" and "Get Ready", and it was a lot of fun singing them. We did about 10 takes of each song. Ryan Seacrest was there but he was only there for a few minutes at the beginning. He's really short in person! Kimberley Locke was also there doing some press for TV Guide.

Everyone with a sign that had to do with the group song was called down to get some camera time, and if you had a really creative sign, they'd call you down and let you show it to the camera. So that's definitely some advice I'd keep for future auditions. Signs = camera time = perhaps an easier chance at getting through.

Anyway, so everything was a lot of fun, we met great people, everyone was so nice, but then the auditions started and I immediately realized how hard and in some ways, how flawed, the initial audition is. (Keep in mind David Archuleta and Jordin Sparks got a "no" for their first audition.) Honestly, who are those people anyway? I think we should get Debra Byrd, Rickey Minor, and all of the people that actually know music to judge.

They did the preliminary winners first (winners of local contests, etc.), and it sucked for them because ALL the judges watched them (instead of just two), and they went first. After that, they opened up the other 11 stations, but for the local winners group, it was just at one station, with all of the judges. It looked to me as if the two judges sitting down on the table were using the first few people as examples of who to send through and who to not send through... which was weird to me, ... shouldn't they already be trained to do that? But it was rough because a lot of people were saying how it was probably not a good thing to win those contests, because they had it much harder. Only one sang at a time, so the entire arena could hear them. The first four girls were OUTSTANDING, at least to me, but only one got through. That's when we all realized that it's going to be a lot harder than expected. But yeah, so those are some things immediately that threw me off. These casting producers can make or break a dream, and some looked like they had no idea what they were doing. It also seemed to me that they were using the first group as a way to prove to the whole arena that "volume doesn't mean greatness".

So around 11, our group went up, and we went into groups of four. When we did, for some reason, only three were in my line, and the stupid worker (the ones in the orange shirts that don't really work for the show, they just work for the arena) started yelling at us because we had three. It's not our fault, she just should have gotten one more person to make it four. Stupid bitch. Sorry for the profanity, but it was something you don't want to hear before your big audition.

As we headed to our table, I immediately noticed that a lot of the casting judges were switching out, and instead of two at a table, a lot only had one judge!!! This was what I thought was one of the most flawed things about the process, because now your fate is up to ONE person. I mean, even Randy, Paula, and Simon are THREE and they disagree and have to help each other out with deciding.

I auditioned and sang Archuleta's version of "Long and Winding Road", and we had a really nice lady, but she said no to my set of four people, which was fine, because the other three people I was with were a bit bland, as was I. And unfortunately, after I walked the walk of shame, I saw all of my friends except for one get cut. And this was a punch in my gut because the friend that I knew had the potential to make the top 10 was one of the ones who got cut. She only had one judge as well, and she said that it seemed like she wasn't even listening. Another girl that was in her group was in tears because she traveled five hours and she also said that the lady seemed like she wasn't listening at all.

One of my friends did make it through, and I am extremely happy for him! He wasn't the strongest singer out of us (I love him to death but I'm being honest), but he had an outstanding arrangement of a very popular song, and a great story/outfit. I can't say much about it because he told us all these confidentiality agreements, but he did tell us that out of the 11-12,000 people that were there, only 200 made it to round two.

If I were a producer, my big suggestion would be to do what they did in Hollywood week last year: have 2 auditions. Yes, it will take even MORE time, but I think they pass on so much talent, that sometimes it takes a second set of opinions, because I don't know... some of those casting producers were extremely questionable. So I think everyone should audition... get a yes or a no. If they get a yes, then obviously they make it through. If they get a no, they get to audition one more time, instead of getting eliminated right away. There was a girl from San Diego who traveled to Jacksonville to audition, and she got rejected, so that must be tough.

I mean if they passed on Jordin and David A, both who made the finale and are on their way to becoming outstanding pop stars, isn't that a sign that they need to work on how they do the first round?

---

Other observations:

- All African American girls that sang Whitney or Dreamgirls didn't make it through. Even if they were in the same league as LaKisha, Melinda, and Syesha.
- There was a girl that looked like a bigger version of Alexandrea Lushington. She had a guitar, and she made it through.
- The two big African American girls that auditioned and made it through to Hollywood last year made it again this year.
- A guy with a graduation cap that said American Idol made it through; he also had a diploma.
- There was one guy who argued the decision and they called security on him.
- One lady was videotaping and security forced her to delete everything on her camera in front of him.
- The stage guy that directs everyone will call you out if you're not standing up, if you're wearing a brand name, and if you aren't cooperating.
- Funny, but most of the guys that made it through had vests (many looked like skinnier David Cooks). Maybe that's the look they're aiming for this year?
- We saw three of the guys that made it at Cheesecake Factory afterwards.
- They literally give you the "golden ticket" that is seen in the final audition! I thought that was cool. I thought they just gave you a sticker. It was awesome seeing people waving their golden tickets.
- You're not allowed to clap and applaud, but people do anyway. Applause from the audience doesn't always result in a yes.
- A lot of the girls that made it through had the same style: the KT Tunstall/Sara Barailles (sp?)/Brooke White style. So look out for that this year. I predict less divas and more of this style.
- If they ask you to sing again, that means they like you.
- I didn't see too many gimmicks. Only one guy who had a golden coat on that said "I'm the real David Hernandez" and a girl with pink hair.

[PlayOn]

wow. sounds awesome. sux for your friend, tho. maybe next year. if they show your audition on TV, let us know.

[Cactus Jack]

Soudns awesome, but yeah sucks for your friend though ... hbut not the other one, so congrats to him!


Now put that aside, on to the bigger question....WILL WE SEE YOU ON TV?


Whatd your friend that get through sing? Is he a Daughtry/Cook type rocker or an Archie type pop singer?

[Jude The Obscure]

How funny, that I had a friend named David audition several seasons ago--while he didn't make the cut, he did end up in the coffee table book of AI photos for being the guy sleeping in the seats (in the stadium).

[EmoJoe]

sounds like a cool experience...i always knew the audition process was pretty messed up though. sorry about your friend

[Karen*]

Hey David. I also auditioned for season 8 of Idol in San Francisco over a month ago and it was a pretty grueling experience. We had a lot of great singers, but I'm a little disappointed because from the ones I've heard, it was nothing unique, you know? Just a lot of big voices, really. I'm sorry that your friend didn't make it, and I agree that the audition process is really iffy. Good luck for next time though, and thanks for sharing the experience with us!