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My 'American Idol' Experience
Oct 2, 2012 10:11 AM
By Emily Thurmond '14 - '14
When I was a little girl, I remember looking forward to watching "American Idol," and I would always say, "I'm going to do that one day." I meant it.
My parents promised me that when I turned 16 they would take me to try out in the closest city. For my birthday this year, the theme
was based around music and my dreams. When they told me I was going to be auditioning in Charlotte, N.C., I could not believe it. A rush of emotions came over me, the main one being pure excitement. I started counting down the days. June 19 could not come fast enough.
When it came time to audition, my mom and her best friend and I packed up the car and drove to North Carolina. We painted the car with sayings like "American Idol Here We Come" and "From Charlotte to Hollywood." So many people would wave and honk it was incredible. We checked into our hotel that night and went to check out the arena I would audition in. It was huge. With 20,200 seats and the knowledge the majority of them would be filled, I had no idea what to expect! I would have to wait and find out more information the next morning at registration.
We had to wake up at 3:30 in the morning to be in line by 4 a.m. And by then there were already hundreds of people in line ahead of me. They grouped us into sections numbering around 100 and there were at least two other sections in front of mine. Then the wait started. At first everything was quiet, but once the sun started rising a man with a megaphone was riding by on his golf cart shouting "Wake up! When the sun comes up, the cameras start rolling." And, as promised, van after van of news trucks were lined up. People were singing, interviews were going on, cameras were flashing, the atmosphere was electric! After being interviewed by a newspaper and the "American Idol" crew, I knew I was exactly where I needed to be.
Everyone was so encouraging of one another. The veterans were telling those who hadn't tried out what to expect and how things worked, and we were taking it all in. By the time the gates opened for registration, it was about 7 a.m. and we were already worn out. We got our registration wrist bands and were out of there by 7:30, knowing that in two days I would be in front of producers and vocal coaches from "American Idol!"
Over the next two days, we just relaxed and did some sightseeing and shopping. It seemed like everywhere we went someone had an orange wristband showing they were auditioning as well. Usually, we would stop and talk about what the next days may bring and exchange encouraging words with one another. Often times, we would be stopped by people and asked to sing. I can't tell you how many times I sang Adele's "One and Only" and Christina Perri's "The Lonely" over the course of those 48 hours. It was so much fun and I met some really cool people as well!
When Wednesday finally came around, I was more ready than I ever would be. After yet another early morning and getting in line by 4 a.m. again, we were in the first section! We knew exactly what that meant...we would be in the "WELCOME TO CHARLOTTE" shoot! Yes!!! We had our sign reading "Rome, Georgia - Emily Thurmond" ready when the main producer of "American Idol," Nigel Lythgoe, came out and started giving us instructions. He told us what to say, when to say it, and when to put up our signs. During that taping, I was about 15 feet from Ryan Seacrest. It was incredible! After that, last year's winner, Scotty McCreery, came out and spoke; I was so close to him I could almost touch him! The cameras and films crews from all over were interviewing not only the stars, but also those of us auditioning.
My poster caught the eye of the Fox 5 Atlanta news team, who called me over for a few questions and then had me sing for the camera. This alone was an incredible experience! The interviewer made me promise that he would get the first interview when I won. Though that won't be this year hopefully that promise will be fulfilled. By the time the gates opened to the arena it was 9:30 a.m.
Next was an opening ceremony, during which they filmed the arena. They had those of us down the camera line do a "flash wave," after which they proceeded to start the audition process. There were 10 tables set up and each had a black tarp between the other. At each table were 2-3 producers and vocal coaches. Auditioners went up in groups of 4 and sang individually. At any given time, there would be 10 people singing all at once, and everyone in the arena could hear the "chorus." I was in one of the first sections to sing and, surprisingly, was not too nervous. I mean, hey, everyone sings in front of 12,000 people, 2 of which could make a life-changing verdict, right?!
As I'm put into a smaller group, my mom is taken over to the guardian waiting area, and my mom's friend is watching in the audience. The people in my group were really nice and funny and helped each other with our nerves. I heard some great singing and some not-so-great singing and saw each type put through to the next round. When it was my group's turn to sing, I was the last to go. Everyone in my group was good, but we all received the same verdict in different ways. Some got the, "Thanks for trying out" while others got the, "I'm really sorry please come back." It was all the same.
At the time, my dreams seemed crushed. But then I realized how much of a possibility it would have been to make it. Someone compared it to a roulette wheel, you never knew what they were looking for. After being followed out of the arena by a camera recording our disappointment, my mom and I came to the conclusion we will be back. It was undoubtedly the best experience I have ever had. I learned so much from that weekend that will help me throughout life with everything I do.
I realized that the saying, "Good things happen to those who wait" is only partly true and that if you truly want something, you have to stand up and fight for it with all of your might. If it's something you love and you want badly enough you will do just that. My fight is just beginning and it is one that I intend to win. Whether it be by reaching my goal or learning a valuable lesson through not obtaining it, I will win. All I can say is that after having the best experience of my life, I WILL be back!
My parents promised me that when I turned 16 they would take me to try out in the closest city. For my birthday this year, the theme
was based around music and my dreams. When they told me I was going to be auditioning in Charlotte, N.C., I could not believe it. A rush of emotions came over me, the main one being pure excitement. I started counting down the days. June 19 could not come fast enough.
When it came time to audition, my mom and her best friend and I packed up the car and drove to North Carolina. We painted the car with sayings like "American Idol Here We Come" and "From Charlotte to Hollywood." So many people would wave and honk it was incredible. We checked into our hotel that night and went to check out the arena I would audition in. It was huge. With 20,200 seats and the knowledge the majority of them would be filled, I had no idea what to expect! I would have to wait and find out more information the next morning at registration.
We had to wake up at 3:30 in the morning to be in line by 4 a.m. And by then there were already hundreds of people in line ahead of me. They grouped us into sections numbering around 100 and there were at least two other sections in front of mine. Then the wait started. At first everything was quiet, but once the sun started rising a man with a megaphone was riding by on his golf cart shouting "Wake up! When the sun comes up, the cameras start rolling." And, as promised, van after van of news trucks were lined up. People were singing, interviews were going on, cameras were flashing, the atmosphere was electric! After being interviewed by a newspaper and the "American Idol" crew, I knew I was exactly where I needed to be.
Everyone was so encouraging of one another. The veterans were telling those who hadn't tried out what to expect and how things worked, and we were taking it all in. By the time the gates opened for registration, it was about 7 a.m. and we were already worn out. We got our registration wrist bands and were out of there by 7:30, knowing that in two days I would be in front of producers and vocal coaches from "American Idol!"
Over the next two days, we just relaxed and did some sightseeing and shopping. It seemed like everywhere we went someone had an orange wristband showing they were auditioning as well. Usually, we would stop and talk about what the next days may bring and exchange encouraging words with one another. Often times, we would be stopped by people and asked to sing. I can't tell you how many times I sang Adele's "One and Only" and Christina Perri's "The Lonely" over the course of those 48 hours. It was so much fun and I met some really cool people as well!
When Wednesday finally came around, I was more ready than I ever would be. After yet another early morning and getting in line by 4 a.m. again, we were in the first section! We knew exactly what that meant...we would be in the "WELCOME TO CHARLOTTE" shoot! Yes!!! We had our sign reading "Rome, Georgia - Emily Thurmond" ready when the main producer of "American Idol," Nigel Lythgoe, came out and started giving us instructions. He told us what to say, when to say it, and when to put up our signs. During that taping, I was about 15 feet from Ryan Seacrest. It was incredible! After that, last year's winner, Scotty McCreery, came out and spoke; I was so close to him I could almost touch him! The cameras and films crews from all over were interviewing not only the stars, but also those of us auditioning.
My poster caught the eye of the Fox 5 Atlanta news team, who called me over for a few questions and then had me sing for the camera. This alone was an incredible experience! The interviewer made me promise that he would get the first interview when I won. Though that won't be this year hopefully that promise will be fulfilled. By the time the gates opened to the arena it was 9:30 a.m.
Next was an opening ceremony, during which they filmed the arena. They had those of us down the camera line do a "flash wave," after which they proceeded to start the audition process. There were 10 tables set up and each had a black tarp between the other. At each table were 2-3 producers and vocal coaches. Auditioners went up in groups of 4 and sang individually. At any given time, there would be 10 people singing all at once, and everyone in the arena could hear the "chorus." I was in one of the first sections to sing and, surprisingly, was not too nervous. I mean, hey, everyone sings in front of 12,000 people, 2 of which could make a life-changing verdict, right?!
As I'm put into a smaller group, my mom is taken over to the guardian waiting area, and my mom's friend is watching in the audience. The people in my group were really nice and funny and helped each other with our nerves. I heard some great singing and some not-so-great singing and saw each type put through to the next round. When it was my group's turn to sing, I was the last to go. Everyone in my group was good, but we all received the same verdict in different ways. Some got the, "Thanks for trying out" while others got the, "I'm really sorry please come back." It was all the same.
At the time, my dreams seemed crushed. But then I realized how much of a possibility it would have been to make it. Someone compared it to a roulette wheel, you never knew what they were looking for. After being followed out of the arena by a camera recording our disappointment, my mom and I came to the conclusion we will be back. It was undoubtedly the best experience I have ever had. I learned so much from that weekend that will help me throughout life with everything I do.
I realized that the saying, "Good things happen to those who wait" is only partly true and that if you truly want something, you have to stand up and fight for it with all of your might. If it's something you love and you want badly enough you will do just that. My fight is just beginning and it is one that I intend to win. Whether it be by reaching my goal or learning a valuable lesson through not obtaining it, I will win. All I can say is that after having the best experience of my life, I WILL be back!
