The Search For A Superstar

A few weeks ago I went to American Idol auditions with my friend Shanique!
Here's how they REALLY go.

So we had to go Sunday morning at 5 am in order to register. The stadium was pretty big but we found our way thanks to these amazing, creative signs.


It took several hours to get to the stadium, and all we did was walk up to a man, get a wristband, and leave.

And we read this sign carefully:


That basically gives them the right to embarrass you on TV.

We came back Monday morning at 5 to wait for the actually auditions!
There were sooo many people there! I even ran into my friend Ryan. Ryan and I hung out a few days before AI auditions and I knew he'd be there, but I didn't think I'd actually run into him!


I'm not really fond of standing (resembles exercise in a way) so this was the view of the crowd I had from my position.


Luckily there weren't many weirdos in the crowd. And yes, I mean LUCKILY. Let me set the record straight.... Bad singers may be funny to SOME people, but it's really aggravating to be at auditions and see the judges take someone "funny" over somebody with real talent just for ratings. Really, it's not cool.

So anyway, after a billion years of waiting, we all went into the stadium. On our way into the stadium, Shanique and I had to split up. Shanique followed this sign.


I went the other way, to American Idol Gay. There, the producers told us that it was really important to say that we're straight if we want fans. This is apparently the path that Clay Aiken and David Archuleta took.
They told us that if it comes out that we are gay, know gay people, danced at gay clubs, or own all of Madonna's CDs, we would be mysteriously kicked off first (i.e. David Hernandez).

So I was eventually reunited with Shanique in the stadium.


It was pretty packed.
After everyone was in, they made us sing "Get Ready" by The Temptations and "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" by Pat Benatar TEN THOUSAND TIMES! I counted! They had to get perfect shots for the segment of the show when the studio is filled with poor unfortunate souls singing the same song. But just from watching, you'd never know that they sing the song over and over and over and over and over and over and over.

Then Jordin Sparks came out to wish us luck!


She seemed nice.
I hated her at the VMAs last night though when she said that if you don't wear a promise ring you are a filthy slut. That made tons of sense.

So she peaced and then they set up the judging tables. In the end, they looked like this:


There are 12 (13?) tables set up with two judges at each table. In fours, you go up to the table and sing a few seconds of a song. The judges then decide if you make it through round one. If you do, you go in the backstage area and perform for another set of judges. If you make it through THAT round, you come back like two days later to audition for Randy, Simon, Paula, and of course Kara DioGuardi.

I didn't audition. My friend Shanique did though! And she didn't get past round one.
But it was still cool!

And yeah, Ryan Seacrest was there.