Behind the Scenes of American Idol: What Really Happens to Contestants Before the Audition?
It seems that people will do and endure anything for even the smallest chance of fame, and American Idol is a great example of this.
The recent Reddit discussion has revealed some interesting details about what the contestants have to go through during the initial audition phase. And that explains a lot.
The discussion started with a viewer criticizing the sloppy appearance of some of the contestants. The Redditor noted that although aspiring singers clearly need to impress both the viewers and the judges, it seems that some of them are not even trying to look presentable.
Unkempt clothes, messy hair, and sleepy faces do not make a good first impression. After all, this competition is as much about image as it is about singing talent, so why not put some effort into your appearance?
Other Redditors picked up on the discussion, explaining in the comments that the disheveled look is easily explained by the conditions on the set of the popular show. It has long been known that prospective contestants have to wait in line for hours before they even get a chance to audition. In fact, the American Idol lines seem endless.
A contestant's journey begins several months before the judges even arrive in a city where auditions are being held.
The first line is for registration for the first audition. People usually start queuing up the day before and spend the night outside, camping out across parking lots. Then the first audition takes place in front of the scouts.
Those who pass get a chance to perform in front of the producers. And only the best and the worst get to audition in front of the judges.
Weeks can go by between audition rounds, and all this time the contestants are paying for their own travel and lodging. But when the actual day of the audition comes, things don't get any more comfortable.
The contestants wait in the holding room for up to 18 hours a day, several days a week, before they actually get a chance to perform for the judges.
And they have to wear the same clothes all the time, because filming is continuous, and any given shot can be used for the final cut. Of course, such conditions are exhausting. And that explains why some of the contestants might look a bit sloppy.