American Idol

I always said that if American Idol ever came to Salt Lake City that I would try out. (I thought they never really would come) Little did I know that I would have two kids and one of them would only be 3 weeks old. Because I had just had Tate I wasn't planning on trying out until my sister in law called and said I had to. I told her I would not do it alone and that she had to come if I was going. So Monday I made the decision to go. We went down to the ESA and got our wristbands and seat tickets and we were ready. Tuesday we got there around 6am, we really were supposed to be there at 5. Later we found out we could have showed at 8am and it wouldn't have made a difference. We stood outside with the thousands of other who were hoping for their chance to get in with Paula, Simon and Randy for about 3 hours.

all the people in line outside behind us

We got into our seats and recored a couple of 'crowd songs' taped a few opening "Welcome to Salt Lake City" and crowd shots, heard how this all was going to work and realized we were going to be there ALL DAY because of where our seat tickets were. Then the auditions started... they had 5 tables with producers that judged you and 4 other people at the same time. You walked forward sang for like 10-60 seconds then stepped back, if they liked you and your voice, you would then sing another song for them and if they decided to let you go on to the next round, you would then go to a door fill out paperwork, get your picture taken, talk to the camera, tell them about you and your life... etc. If they didnt like you they sent you on your way to the looser door, they cut off your wristband so you couldn't try out again and you were done.

They did this with 5 tables for about an hour before they had everyone get back in their seats for some more filming... and before I knew it Ryan Seacrest was standing less then 20 feet away from me! SO CRAZY! Even though he is short and skinny... he is REALLY good looking, even more so in real life. Anyway, He came and filmed for about 30 minutes.. which I thought was really funny because on the show it makes it seem like he is there sitting with everyone all day, but really its only an hour tops. After he was done filming they finally pulled out more tables, some of which were very close to where we were sitting (So we could actually hear the people auditioning) and began taking section by section sending an unbelievable amount of VERY talented people away.

Ryan Seacrest... he is HOT

After about an hour, I decided that there was absolutely no way that they were going to ever move me on after listening to the people that they were sending home. But I was staying because I knew that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. We made friends with the people that we sat next to, laughed at some of the people that they sent through to the next round and booed at the producers for sending some (most) of the talented people home. which made time go by faster. After watching the auditions for a while I figured out that each producer was looking for a certain "type" of person... so you had to be in the right line, sent to the right table, and have the right producer to make it the the next round.

Some of the tables of Producers and those auditioning, this is close to the end and all of the green seats you see in the back, were full!

By the time they got to our section, around 5, I think they had only sent about 70 people to the next round. The majority of those people were NOT talented either. I was SO tired I actually was very hopeful that (if by some slight miracle I did make it the next round) I really didnt make it that far. When it was my lines turn, I sang (happy girl by Martina McBride) and they actually had me sing for quite a while.. but in the end they sent everyone in my line home. I was SO happy to actually be going home and not the least bit disappointed to not be moving on or spending my whole day there.

Robyn and I tired, and ready to go home, but still smiling!

I learned a lot about the show and came to the conclusion that those people who make it in to see Paula, Simon and Randy not only are talented, but they are LUCKY too. All in all it was a really neat experience and can now say that I HAVE tried out for American Idol.