Kids started lining up at 6 am Saturday morning for the chance to audition today at Texas Stadium, in Dallas TX. It’s estimated there were more than 10,000 waiting in line on Saturday, by 8 am the line wrapped a quarter of the way around the stadium.
American Idol producer, Patrick Lynn, says that the biggest mistake an auditioner can make in the first round is “Being too nervous.” He also says that “Everybody should have at least two songs prepared, with verse and chorus.” And he adds, “I swear, sometimes we ask for a second song and people look at us like we’re high.” Heh.
This article from the Dallas News is most excellent and tells a cautionary tale about entering talent competitions with starry starry eyes. The story focuses on Season 1 3rd place finisher Nikki McKibbin. It took her 3 years to get out of an undesirable record contract with RCA Nashville. She recently released her first record with an indie label called “Unleashed.”
Bucky Covington is also interviewed for the article. He says, “It’s one thing to stay at home and watch a really good TV show…You can pick up the phone and even vote. That’s a great thing ’cause I’ve never picked up a phone and voted. But it’s still different from going out, picking up an album and buying it. It’s just a good TV show, and a lot of people watch it for that fact.”
Finally–to Preston, Carrie and Leslie, who are auditioning this week in Dallas–GOOD LUCK! Come back and tell us about your experiences!
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Well, well well - Nikki Kibbins from season 1. Girlfriend could not sing a lick, and she has the nerve to try and go country! alright I’m going to state something that’s probably on a lot of people’s minds — country is easy. I can sing country, heck! And I think a lot of the Idols are taking the easy way out by going country. Even some ex-pop singers (Bon Jovi?) are going country, because it’s the “in” crowd right now. And sales are bigger on country than anywhere else, but not everyone can sing country. You have to sing ON KEY (Nikki!); didn’t Ryan Starr go country too? Where is she now.
Deleted. re-read, Kibbins wants to be a rocker? Give me a break.
So, which one is it? Everyone can sing country or not?
Good luck, Preston, Carrie, and Leslie! :)
LOL - typing too fast.
Kibbins as I recall was an off-key rocker chick. Why in the heavens on earth did she sign with Nashville if she didn’t want to sing country. As I recall she wasn’t even a good rocker chick. She had the look, but that’s all she had. She shouldn’t have come in 3rd, that should have been Tamyra.
Country is easy IMO for singers, it’s just straight singing, no riffs, no improvisations; just sing a story. Heck, even Fess Parker was a country singer :) Maybe, do you suppose that’s why the record company was pushing her into country?
Funny, that she has an album out since July (one month) and nowhere is the album being reviewed….has anybody heard it?
She’s another ex-Idol whose used up her 15 minutes of fame. Just IMO.
Well, I wish I had better news to bring, but it was a “no” for all three of us. It was a blast, though… when I’m not so worn out I’ll probably report with all the details tomorrow. These AI auditions are exhausting, but there’s nothing like the feeling of trying out for your favorite tv show.
Aww, Preston. Maybe next year, though. It’s great that you had fun. :) We’ll be waiting for your recap of the auditions. :)