Cattle-Call Style Auditions

For those of you who think Reality TV is actual Reality, then don’t read any further!

**This is a spoiler** You’ve been warned!

Now, in case you’ve been living under a rock the past few weeks there have some significant changes on the judges panel at American Idol. Simon has retired his seat, Kara has been fired and Ellen has resigned. That leaves Randy Jackson and recently signed Jennifer Lopez as season 10 judges but there is still one more slot to be filled. So with the judges table not yet completed many have asked “how are they holding auditions?” Now, this is where the behind the scene’s part comes in.

The first step is too register, which is usually done a day or two before the actual auditions take place. Then, the hopefuls come to the stadium or arena and fill the stands! On the floor of the arena, there is a sea of production going on from still photos, video camera’s, A.I. entertainers (the warm up guy that gets everyone pumped) producers and even a appearance from Mr. Ryan Seacrest himself! At some of the auditions, a past American Idol Candidate will perform for the crowd. This year, Danny Gokey visited the Milwaukee auditions and Constantine was spotted at the NJ auditions.

Once your in the stadium, A.I. crew members call you up in groups of 4 and direct you to a numbered table on the floor of the arena/stadium to sing for the A.I. producers. Each member of the group has a chance to sing and if the producers feel you have a shining personality, winning voice or in some cases just a horrible train wreck (which is good for tv ratings) then you get a “call back“. Keep in mind, they are professionals and can tell when someone is “acting” so please don’t show up-knowing you have a horrible singing voice wearing a Michael Myers mask and think you’ll get the chance to meet the celebrity judges-it won’t happen! These auditions are non-televised however shots of the crowd saying “I’m the next American Idol” followed by cheers, is taped at the initial “cattle-call” auditions.

The callbacks are held about a month later in front of the celebrity judges and these are the auditions that America see’s but there not always in the same arena as the initial audition. So basically, if you get placed on the callback form, you’ll have your shot of singing for Randy, JLO and a tbd judge.

Now, the auditions we see on TV are to showcase the best of the best and the worst of the worst. Unless your new the whole television rating scenario, let me break it down for you-America loves drama and train wrecks! The producers knew William Hung wasn’t going to be the next American Idol, but he was so entertaining & genuine they knew he would be talked about and a highlight of the show. Remember, the best form of advertising is word of mouth! So yes, in a sense, the really bad auditions are being set up for our entertainment, sorry folks-it’s the truth.

But, to my surprise, these horrible singers are not actors! They eithier truly believe they can sing or know they're not any good but are willing to make a fool out of themselves to be in the presence of celebrities and on camera even if it is just a few minutes. Right before filming the auditions begins, the producers gather all the hopefulls in one room and tell them "some of you are here because your really good and some of you are here because your really bad". so basically-it's the "rejects" last chance to wise up and say 'i don't want to embaress myself'. but sadly, they stay and ultimatly, we viewers are entertained.