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Where do I start?! I flew to Minneapolis and registered two days before the actual audition. Even so, there were thousands of people set to audition before me. The night before the audition, I tried going to bed early. I knew I had to be up at 4am and I wanted to be at my best. Unfortunately, my body misunderstood and thought it was naptime. So I was up from midnight on. I didn't want to rehearse while people were sleeping next door, so 4am found me warming up in the elevator. I was just a little startled when the door opened on the way down and another contestant got in. Um. Hi.
We went to the venue together with another hopeful we ran into in the lobby. After standing in line for a few hours, we finally got to enter the building, where we spent a few more hours waiting for the auditions to start, and then waited some hours for our turn. Before the auditions started, they did the crowd shots, singalongs and whatnot. I liked that part, actually. It was just like doing background for a video or commercial. Lots of energy. Considering the widespread sleep deprivation and anxiety and all. Speaking of which, I was so proud of myself for my lack of nervousness. Until I actually stood in front of the judge, anyway.
I waited all day and then it seemed to happen so suddenly. It was time to perform, the judge asked me what I would sing, and I responded with something like "*squeak*en Arems by Germy". Also known as Open Arms, by the group formerly known as Journey. I stood up straight, with a confident smile, and sang my little heart out. If only there had been air. I'm sure I would have done just fine if there were air.
The judge pointedly avoided eye contact with me during and after my performance. He rejected the group that followed me, and while they gathered themselves, I took the opportunity to ask him what I should work on for Seattle. He came up with such discouraging tidbits as "Power...I'm not sure you were entirely on key...your voice cracked...it's mostly just vocal coaching." Keep in mind that I rehearsed for hours on end with a friend who happens to be a vocal coach. My voice never cracked, and when the neighbors commented it was not on my lack of power. What the judge was really telling me was that I came all that way, put all that time and effort and emotion into getting that 30-second window of opportunity, and I choked. I really was not expecting to cry over American Idol, but when I realized that I never even let the judges see me, I cried. I booked an earlier flight home (since I didn't have to stick around for callbacks), and then I turned my attention to Seattle. No matter what, I was resolved to give Seattle the best performance I had in me.
This post is long enough. Did I come through in Seattle? Stay tuned!
We went to the venue together with another hopeful we ran into in the lobby. After standing in line for a few hours, we finally got to enter the building, where we spent a few more hours waiting for the auditions to start, and then waited some hours for our turn. Before the auditions started, they did the crowd shots, singalongs and whatnot. I liked that part, actually. It was just like doing background for a video or commercial. Lots of energy. Considering the widespread sleep deprivation and anxiety and all. Speaking of which, I was so proud of myself for my lack of nervousness. Until I actually stood in front of the judge, anyway.
I waited all day and then it seemed to happen so suddenly. It was time to perform, the judge asked me what I would sing, and I responded with something like "*squeak*en Arems by Germy". Also known as Open Arms, by the group formerly known as Journey. I stood up straight, with a confident smile, and sang my little heart out. If only there had been air. I'm sure I would have done just fine if there were air.
The judge pointedly avoided eye contact with me during and after my performance. He rejected the group that followed me, and while they gathered themselves, I took the opportunity to ask him what I should work on for Seattle. He came up with such discouraging tidbits as "Power...I'm not sure you were entirely on key...your voice cracked...it's mostly just vocal coaching." Keep in mind that I rehearsed for hours on end with a friend who happens to be a vocal coach. My voice never cracked, and when the neighbors commented it was not on my lack of power. What the judge was really telling me was that I came all that way, put all that time and effort and emotion into getting that 30-second window of opportunity, and I choked. I really was not expecting to cry over American Idol, but when I realized that I never even let the judges see me, I cried. I booked an earlier flight home (since I didn't have to stick around for callbacks), and then I turned my attention to Seattle. No matter what, I was resolved to give Seattle the best performance I had in me.
This post is long enough. Did I come through in Seattle? Stay tuned!
