American Idol Attraction

[sherabby]

Who has tried it?

If you did try did you do it for fun or do you sing?

Also, does it seem like they get enough people to try out each day?

Do you chose your own song for the first part or do you have to sing one of the songs on the list?

 

[OB1]

here is a recent post of someone that made the show
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2159685&highlight=american+idol

the first tryout, you sing any song you want. If you make it past that stage, you select from 120 songs that are on an IPOD. You can practice a bit before singing for that judge. You can view the words on a monitor screen, so it is not as difficult as singing for the judges on the AI show. The process takes some time, but they do give your family fast passes if you make it to the show. That way, you can make up for lost time.

 

[safetymom]

http://www.disunplugged.com/2009/01/17/a-backstage-peek-at-american-idol-experience/

 

[gchockeymom]

We went there on my birthday at the end of March and enjoyed the show. We were just audience members. It seems like it takes up most of your day if you are a participant. Not sure if I would want to lose that much time of my vacation for that. And the best person didn't even win, it is the person with the most votes so that person was having family beg outside before the show to vote for him. The girl that should have won could have had a chance on the real AI in my opinion but she was with her teenage friends and they didn't beg for votes I guess.
It was fun watching, but not so sure it's worth losing the day to be a part of it.

 

[goofy4tink]

Here's how it worked for my dd, 15, last week.
I got her an online audition reservation about a month ago...that way we could plan accordingly. She wore her 'lucky outfit'.

We got to DHS about 8:45...her audtion time was 9:30 but we wanted to get TSM FPs before heading to AIE area. But, we started talking to a CM, he asked if either of us wanted to audition for AIE..I told him dd already had an audition time. He took us out of the line, at the turnstiles, and brought us into the the park to do her 'first' audition for an asst producer..right there, out in the open. They had a mike and a cameraman. She did her acapella bit..not sure what she sang, I was talking to someone.
We were told she had made it to the next round of auditions. We were taken, with 5 other auditionees (and two moms, since our dd's were 17 or under), to the AIE bldg.
There, we were shown into the Coca Cola lounge where the auditionees used iPods and headphones to choose the song(s) they would sing for the producer. You were given a list of choices, and had to choose 4-5 songs. Why? If someone before you choose a song, you had to sing your next choice.
My dd was the last to go in....she was given instructions as to where to stand. She sang her two song choices. The producer gave her some imput, and she sang the song he liked best again. Then, he asked her who her favorite American Idol was. She said Carrie Underwood...said she had a brain cramp and no other name came to her!!
The producer punched in some stuff into his computer, Carrie U came up on the screen, telling Kat to sing great and to relax, not to get nervous. Then, the producer told her that while he couldn't tell her she was going to Hollywood, he could tell her that she was performing at the 12 pm show!!!
We were told what time to return....about 10:30. We walked around the park for a bit, she had on a 'vote for me' lanyard...

Then, we returned at 10:30, met the other contestants, went into the building. The girls were split up...Kat sat and waited, Step went to hair and makeup, Chantal went to the vocal coach. Then, they all moved...Kat went to hair and makeup..etc.
At about 11:30, they were able to do a light and sound rehearsal..mom's got to sit out in front for that....we could take photos then. Then, backstage again..met with the host, Ryan..really, but not Seacrest. Then the show started.
Each girl went out, did her thing. They got judged at the end of their performance, just like the real show..and yes, there is a Simon type judge who is not very nice!!
The audience then votes for their favorite. The winner is announced.
After the show was over, the judges went up to the girls and had a few words with each of them...thought that was nice. The 'Randy' judge and the 'Simon' judge both came up to me, backstage, to tell me what they thought of dd's performance. The 'Simon' judge actually told me dd to take every single thing he said with a huge grain of salt..he was paid to be nasty!! That made her feel better.
Photopass photographers were there and took a ton of photos...I think my dd had about 150 on the card they gave me!!! Good thing since I was stuck backstage, taking photos of the monitor!!! They came out okay, but not nearly as nice as the photopass ones....but better than nothing...I just didn't trust photopass to get her on film. You can see the edges of the monitor as I took this shot...a photo in a photo so to speak.

They have a sign up saying that they are 'auditioning' that day....but they do take the sign down once the quota is met. They only take a total of 21 performers each day....3 performers per show, 7 shows total. Then, the winner of each of those 7 shows goes on to the final show of the evening....the winner of that show is the one who gets the FP to audition for the judges of the real AI. I would imagine that the earlier you audition, the better shot you have.

All in all..it was a very positive experience. There was a father/daughter duo that was in that group of auditionees with dd that morning. They were both taken to perform but were not put in the same show..that was a nice thing. So, yes, older folks do audition. In fact, in my dd's group, there was a teacher, in her 30's who audtioned. Dd and the other girl were both younger teens...dd 15, winner girl was 16 I believe.

Dd is looking forward to doing it again in August. It's gotta be a scary thing...that 'theater' is big, and it is setup just like the real AI....I perform onstage but you wouldn't find me up on that stage!!! I couldn't believe my dd did it...but she had a blast, loved every minute of it. She just hates the audition process.

Hope this explains some of what happens...we had such a good time.

 

[goofy4tink]

here is a recent post of someone that made the show
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2159685&highlight=american+idol

the first tryout, you sing any song you want. If you make it past that stage, you select from 120 songs that are on an IPOD. You can practice a bit before singing for that judge. You can view the words on a monitor screen, so it is not as difficult as singing for the judges on the AI show. The process takes some time, but they do give your family fast passes if you make it to the show. That way, you can make up for lost time.

Wow...we didn't get any FPs...that would have been nice. But what the heck...we had a terrific time in any event.

 

[Robo]

...they do give your family fast passes if you make it to the show. That way, you can make up for lost time.

Wow...we didn't get any FPs...that would have been nice.

Those would be a much better PRIZE than the "AE audition ticket" that they award the winner.

 

[OB1]

the interview I heard from a CM/manager that was involved with Idol reported that if you made the show, you would get some fast passes. Maybe that have backed out of that perk. Since you basically lose about 3-4 hours by being in the show, this was suppose to give you some bonus time for the park. Sorry to hear it was not carried through.

 

[sherabby]

http://www.disunplugged.com/2009/01/17/a-backstage-peek-at-american-idol-experience/

Thanks for the links! I mus have missed that one!

 

[sherabby]

Here's how it worked for my dd, 15, last week.
I got her an online audition reservation about a month ago...that way we could plan accordingly. She wore her 'lucky outfit'.

We got to DHS about 8:45...her audtion time was 9:30 but we wanted to get TSM FPs before heading to AIE area. But, we started talking to a CM, he asked if either of us wanted to audition for AIE..I told him dd already had an audition time. He took us out of the line, at the turnstiles, and brought us into the the park to do her 'first' audition for an asst producer..right there, out in the open. They had a mike and a cameraman. She did her acapella bit..not sure what she sang, I was talking to someone.
We were told she had made it to the next round of auditions. We were taken, with 5 other auditionees (and two moms, since our dd's were 17 or under), to the AIE bldg.
There, we were shown into the Coca Cola lounge where the auditionees used iPods and headphones to choose the song(s) they would sing for the producer. You were given a list of choices, and had to choose 4-5 songs. Why? If someone before you choose a song, you had to sing your next choice.
My dd was the last to go in....she was given instructions as to where to stand. She sang her two song choices. The producer gave her some imput, and she sang the song he liked best again. Then, he asked her who her favorite American Idol was. She said Carrie Underwood...said she had a brain cramp and no other name came to her!!
The producer punched in some stuff into his computer, Carrie U came up on the screen, telling Kat to sing great and to relax, not to get nervous. Then, the producer told her that while he couldn't tell her she was going to Hollywood, he could tell her that she was performing at the 12 pm show!!!
We were told what time to return....about 10:30. We walked around the park for a bit, she had on a 'vote for me' lanyard...

Then, we returned at 10:30, met the other contestants, went into the building. The girls were split up...Kat sat and waited, Step went to hair and makeup, Chantal went to the vocal coach. Then, they all moved...Kat went to hair and makeup..etc.
At about 11:30, they were able to do a light and sound rehearsal..mom's got to sit out in front for that....we could take photos then. Then, backstage again..met with the host, Ryan..really, but not Seacrest. Then the show started.
Each girl went out, did her thing. They got judged at the end of their performance, just like the real show..and yes, there is a Simon type judge who is not very nice!!
The audience then votes for their favorite. The winner is announced.
After the show was over, the judges went up to the girls and had a few words with each of them...thought that was nice. The 'Randy' judge and the 'Simon' judge both came up to me, backstage, to tell me what they thought of dd's performance. The 'Simon' judge actually told me dd to take every single thing he said with a huge grain of salt..he was paid to be nasty!! That made her feel better.
Photopass photographers were there and took a ton of photos...I think my dd had about 150 on the card they gave me!!! Good thing since I was stuck backstage, taking photos of the monitor!!! They came out okay, but not nearly as nice as the photopass ones....but better than nothing...I just didn't trust photopass to get her on film. You can see the edges of the monitor as I took this shot...a photo in a photo so to speak.

They have a sign up saying that they are 'auditioning' that day....but they do take the sign down once the quota is met. They only take a total of 21 performers each day....3 performers per show, 7 shows total. Then, the winner of each of those 7 shows goes on to the final show of the evening....the winner of that show is the one who gets the FP to audition for the judges of the real AI. I would imagine that the earlier you audition, the better shot you have.

All in all..it was a very positive experience. There was a father/daughter duo that was in that group of auditionees with dd that morning. They were both taken to perform but were not put in the same show..that was a nice thing. So, yes, older folks do audition. In fact, in my dd's group, there was a teacher, in her 30's who audtioned. Dd and the other girl were both younger teens...dd 15, winner girl was 16 I believe.

Dd is looking forward to doing it again in August. It's gotta be a scary thing...that 'theater' is big, and it is setup just like the real AI....I perform onstage but you wouldn't find me up on that stage!!! I couldn't believe my dd did it...but she had a blast, loved every minute of it. She just hates the audition process.

Hope this explains some of what happens...we had such a good time.

Thanks for the super explanation! I also think I'd freak out if I was chosen to sing on stage!!! Your daughter must have a great singing voice! Do they video anything for you or just the photopass? It might be worth it for them to video and sell it????
I'm still thinking of trying it for fun....but then what if went through and had to sing! Yikes!

 

[goofy4tink]

Believe me..you have to sing. There were people there who are very serious about it. It's not the kind of thing that you can do as a joke or as a hoot. They won't move you along if you don't sing...and that stage is huge, all those lights and the sound system..oh my!!! But it is a great experience for those who want to be onstage I figure that every single time you get up onstage you learn something. My dd feels very comfortable up there. She has a very good voice..but not as beautiful as some. But she does have stage presence!!!
I wish they had let us video or at least sell a DVD of the performances. But they don't. They said it's due to copyright issues. It sure would have been nice to have a video though.

 

[pigby]

I wondered about the first try-out, when you pick your own song - I presume you sing without music - is this the part where you sing in a 'booth'? Do you sing the whole song or part of a song? How does it work - DD is going to be trying it out in about 3 weeks time.

 

[PrincessEmily87]

Just wondering, do they show people that arent so good at singing like on the show or do they just stick with the good singers?

 

[safetymom]

They stick with the good. It is Disney, they don't make fun of people is what I was told when we did the tour.

 

[erincon23]

There is no "booth," contrary to what you see in the FAQs. You sing for a "casting director," a cappella, anything you want (a "real" song, not something that hasn't been published). The casting director will give you some pointers -- I don't know if they do that if they don't want you at all, although I would presume they might -- my DS 16 tried out and the casting director suggested he be a little more animated, but passed him on to the next level. If you actually make it to the point where they're going to put you in a show, the producers will give you quite a few suggestions, and you get 10 minutes with a professional vocal coach who will work on song styling and movement. It can be really helpful, not just for the AI thing, but for anyone who likes to sing (my son is in theatre in school and lead singer for a band, so this was worthwhile for lots of reasons). Have fun and good luck!

Erin

 

[ZeroToHero]

DBF will be trying this in August when we go...

What sort of vote-chasing did people do, if anyone minds sharing? Or did you not do any? I'm thinking of making a shirt, maybe, that I can write on with Sharpie the times and everything, if he makes it. "Vote for Lou at the _____ American Idol Experience Show!"

...I don't know if he would wear it though.

 

[erincon23]

They give you a lanyard to wear -- here's Greg with his --

I've heard of families talking up their performer in line -- it's all in good fun, so as long as you aren't heckling people, promote your performer! We didn't have ANY time -- his audition was at 10:45, finished the process around 11:20, and had to be back for hair/makeup/rehearsal at 11:55. So we barely had time for a bathroom break and lunch at the ABC Commissary (which is right behind the AI studio) -- no time for campaigning!

- Erin

 

[Shelton123]

I've seen the song list and it's not very good. Mostly just the Disney Channel star songs, or country. I'm glad you can sing anything you want for the audition, though!

 

[ZeroToHero]

They give you a lanyard to wear -- here's Greg with his --

I've heard of families talking up their performer in line -- it's all in good fun, so as long as you aren't heckling people, promote your performer! We didn't have ANY time -- his audition was at 10:45, finished the process around 11:20, and had to be back for hair/makeup/rehearsal at 11:55. So we barely had time for a bathroom break and lunch at the ABC Commissary (which is right behind the AI studio) -- no time for campaigning!

- Erin

Oo, I see. Very fun. The families don't get to go sit in the theatre early? Or do they specifically go in line so that they can talk them up? Too bad his mother isn't coming with us, I'm sure she'd break some arms to get people to vote.

 

[kitsch4]

My daughter would like to know if there is a minimum age that you have to be to audition.