In 2002, a little show made its debut on the Fox network that would change the life of not only the one individual who was named champion, but for almost anyone involved in the process. This show has gone on to be one of the biggest in television history and has produced some of the biggest names in the music industry. This is my story to pursue this show…and THIS is American Idol.
Every year in January, I get that feeling that some kids get (not very many, but some) when it is time to go back to school and see all of their friends. It is called the beginning of the new season of American Idol. Like clock work, I religiously set my TiVo to record that show as if my life depended on it. But for me, it’s more than an addiction to an entertaining television show. Yes, I find humor in the goofy people who get their moment in the spotlight in the opening weeks, and yes I do get upset when they turn away the people I liked. But what I love most is the common thread that I share with these people, and that is music.
Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember and it has remained strong in my life. From singing “Rocky Top Tennessee” as a three year old on top of my bed with a hairbrush in my hand, to being a paid singer for a couple years in Myrtle Beach South Carolina’s longest running live show when I was a late teenager (which happens to be the same show that produced country music star Josh Turner); music has always been a passion of mine.
Anyone who knows me knows that I have another passion that rivals my love for music, it is the similarly addictive horse. For the past five years, I’ve focused much of my energy on the horses, and have done very well. When my husband, Shane Pope, and I moved to Ocala, Florida, to be in the heart of horse country, I moved away from the music scene in Myrtle Beach and into the “Horse Heaven” of Ocala. Slowly I started singing at karaoke bars in the area and my passion started to grow again.
For the past three years, my friends have encouraged me to try out for American Idol, and for the past three years the auditions have hit during the thickest part of our show season. This year, my husband said, “We’ll take care of the horses, you go sing.” So after the Tom Powers Futurity, I headed for home in Ocala which fortunately is only an hour from the Orlando auditions. My mom and brother, who have been with me every step of the way, through my music progress decided to accompany me as they are huge fans of the show as well.
My journey started as soon as we arrived in Orlando, Florida at Amway Arena. We came the night before just to see where we are supposed to be, what time, etc. We had heard rumors of people camping out overnight (which with this being in the downtown area and hotels being so expensive, I can see why!) and we wanted to see if that were true. We were met by a security guard who was really nice and informed us that no one was allowed to camp out the night before and they would allow people to start lining up for registration at 5 am.
Many people think that American Idol auditions is a one day process where you show up, sing in front of the famous celebrity judges and get either a golden ticket to Hollywood or the boot. Those people are sadly mistaken. The American Idol auditions are a grueling three day process. The first two days of which are registration followed by the third day being audition day.
My mom and I showed up at 5 am on Tuesday morning for the first day of registration and as soon as we arrived, we realized we should have come earlier. Evidently, the security guard from the night before was wrong when they told us that no one could start lining up before 5 am. By the time we got there, there were three chutes (yes chutes as in cattle chutes…ironic, isn’t it?) full of people who had been there since a little after midnight. I guess midnight is not technically “overnight.”
We were pushed into the chute and were actually near the front of the chute so we could see the front of the building that we would enter for registration. As the hordes of people arrived, we were instructed by American Idol staff members to get comfortable and keep personal space because we were going to be there for a long time. I think the most fun part of this process was the people watching. I love watching people and the variety of people in Orlando was amazing. Since this was just registration day, not many people came in full costume. That didn’t stop the cameras from rolling, though. From the moment we arrived, the camera men were looking for unique individuals who would make for “good TV.” Several news station, radio stations, and of course American Idol film crews, were scouring the crowds and getting many people to sing. That was a fun process to behold!
After the registration process was through (it took a total of 15 minutes), we decided to hit Hollywood Studios at Disney World to try out the American Idol Experience show. The American Idol Experience is a competition and show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Orlando) that allows people to audition to be a part of the competition held at Disney. With American Idol auditions in town, evidently many people had the same thought we did. I had to audition for two sets of producers for that show and I did well enough that I made the actual live show! The coolest part was that I got to perform on a stage that looked identical to the real American Idol stage that you see on tv. There was a studio audience of over 1,000 people and they had to vote for their winners. While I did beat out about 300 auditioners from round 2 and was a semi finalist, I didn’t make it to the finale. That whole experience in itself was well worth the trip to Orlando!
After Tuesday’s registration day was completed, we had to wait for Thursday to roll around for auditions. I took Wednesday to catch up on work, as I knew that work would be completely out of the question on Thursday. I began mentally preparing myself, making sure I was 100% ready.
On Thursday, we woke up at 4 am to start the day that I had waited on for eight whole seasons… Audition Day. We arrive at the stadium at 5 am and were loaded into the chutes again and the camera was really rolling this time. Anybody who wanted to be heard was belting out their rendition of their chosen song. Some versions are not so nice and some are pretty unique. I saw tons of signs claiming “I am the next American Idol.” Camera crews went around and clumped people together to do the “Welcome to Orlando” introductions and “I’m the next American Idol” on camera. Golf carts drove by and filmed people screaming. It was a spectacle and I was enjoying every minute of it! I just sat there and thought that the next American Idol could be right there beside me!
Finally at 9 am they started gathering everybody to the stairs in front of the Amway Arena where we waited for over an hour. But we waited for a good reason, our host was late! Ryan Seacrest showed up and with him he brought the energy that was needed to boost everybody up for the upcoming events. We did 15 outtakes of either “Welcome to Orlando…(scream!)” or, “I’m the next American Idol…(scream!)” We did these over and over until we didn’t have any voices left! And don’t think you could skip out on the cheering because one of the producers was calling people out in the middle of the crowd of 10,000 people.
After the crane camera was done making its rounds getting everybody screaming (yet again), the producer got on the microphone and announced that the auditions would begin. They began setting up 12 booths all across the arena floor with little transparent curtains hung between each booth. Two producers sat at each table. Randy. Paula, Kara, and Simon will not be at these auditions, oh no, there are 2 more rounds of auditions before you see them.
They called four potential American Idols at a time up to the table in hopes that their 15 seconds of song would be enough to pull them through to stardom. The vast majority of these people were sadly mistaken. From section 5 of 21 sections I sat and watched as 12 hopefuls sang at the same exact time on the arena floor. When you only have 15 seconds to sing for stardom, people usually sing the biggest and loudest parts of the song, so imagine 12 people singing as loud as they can all at the same time in an arena with GREAT acoustics. Boy those judges are talented to block out the other 11 singers at the other booths!
From where I was sitting I had a great view of all the auditioners, but the producers had their backs to me so I couldn’t read them. Every once in a while, someone would get the coveted golden ticket to the next round and everyone would applaud. Some of these people were really good, and some who were really good…for TV. Then it was my turn. My section was led to the arena floor where we were all split up into groups of four and then led to the appropriate stations. I knew as soon as I got in front of the table that I was not going to Hollywood. The look on the producer’s face said it all. He didn’t want to be there and even worse, I wasn’t what he was looking for.
I would have thought that I would be really nervous by now, but I wasn’t. It was a strange, but welcome, calm. Believe it or not, I get more nervous showing horses than singing. I was the first of my group to step up and go for it. I had practiced it over and over a thousand times. I sang the best 15 seconds I could of Natasha Bedingfield’s “Soulmate” and was motioned to step back. I then had to listen as the rest of the group sang. When we were all through, we were given the verdict. And just like that, my American Idol experience was over. My wrist band was cut and I couldn’t even keep the one thing that proved I was there. Then I was sent out of the loser’s door. Literally, that’s what the producer called it.
Walking down that dark arena tunnel to find the exit doors, I realized that American Idol is just a show. It’s not a singing competition, it’s a show. I may not have been “what the show was looking for right now,” but honestly, I would not have changed anything. I love American Idol and you can guarantee that come January sweeps week on Fox, I’ll be glued to that TV.
So does this mean that I’m giving up on singing? No, I’ll just have to take a new direction with music. I’m just as pleased to be sitting at the horse shows with friends, a handy guitar player (the one and only, Justin Kubiak) and a couple of songs. This is where I’m really comfortable. I do plan on doing some original material, but it’s all on God’s time – I quit wearing a watch! Everyone in the horse industry knows that just because one judge doesn’t like you, there’s always another that might! For me, that applies to more than just the horse industry now!
Thanks, Holt, for sharing that great experience with our readers. Click here to learn more about Holt’s day job.
