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The news is out that "American Idol" has several cities lined up for the 2011 auditions. As countless would be contestants try to make plans to get to the cities that are hosting auditions, many others are working out details such as which song they will sing and what style of music they consider to be their genre. The show seems to have made a point of lining up the auditions with cities that are also part of the 2011 "American Idol" tour destination. This will give many hopeful musicians a chance to get to see the live show while in the city to audition.Considering that "American Idol" is running into it's 11 years on the air, it is most certainly a good idea for anyone considering auditioning to try and come up with something fresh and new. There are several things that should be considered before taking the step of auditioning. Thousands of people will audition for the show and the majority of the people that audition will be walking into the situation completely unaware of the process of auditioning. There are obvious tips that amount to little more than common sense while other tidbits of advice might be a gold mine for entertainment newbies. Here are a few very important tips for anyone thinking about taking the leap for the gold ring at the "American Idol" auditions.
Speak Up!
You can't possibly be a fan of "American Idol" and not have noticed that the vast majority of contestants that make it past the first rounds of elimination have unique life stories. As soon as the show goes through the process of eliminating contestants down to the top 24, the personal stories start taking up a large part of the air time. With that thought in mind, it seems extremely important that anyone trying out for the show be prepared to tell their own personal story. Start before you even get to the auditions by talking to anyone that will listen. Speak up about your life and the things that make you special or interesting. Get used to showing the world what you are made of and what you are all about. Ask friends and family to tell you what the find most intriguing about your life and zero in on the most moving details. Get good at telling your story and tell it to everyone and anyone that will listen to you while you wait in line at the auditions.
Know Your Style
The worst mistake that contestants make when trying out for the show is to sing a song that doesn't really suit their personal style. It is extremely important that you know and show your style in the way that you sing, the type and style of music you choose, and the way you present yourself on stage. The only way to be sure to pull all of these details together to make a presentable package is to know your style and stay very true to it. Some of the most memorable contestants on "American Idol" were those that knew their strong suits and refused to stray from them. If you are a country singer with a swaggering country style, don't show up for the "American Idol" auditions and sing a hard rock song. It may seem obvious but, track records of winning contestants such as Carrie Underwood, prove that knowing and staying true to your style will play a key part of getting you on to the "American Idol" stage.
Compliment the Judges
One of the things that stood out in the "American Idol" auditions was the way that so many of the hopeful contestants that got through had paid quite a few compliments to the judges. Two perfect examples were the way that James Durbin and Lauren Alaina gushed over Steven Tyler at their first auditions. Steven seemed to eat it up and both of these bright contestants made it all the way to the top 5 on the show. Jennifer Lopez also received many shining compliments from the men that auditioned for the show. The two that fawned over her the most managed to make it to the top 12 this year. Randy Jackson rarely if ever receives compliments from contestants. It seems that it would be a great idea to do some investigating into his background so that you might know enough about his career to sprinkle a few honest compliments to him. This alone might be enough to make you stand out and get past the first audition elimination.
Show Your Range
It is not enough to sing the perfect song to showcase your unique style. It is equally important that the song that you choose to sing will show off your full vocal range. If you have a three scale voice that can blow the glass out of church windows, this is the time to pull out all of the stops. Let the judging panel see just how far you can push your voice and the beautiful way you can control it when singing in your specific range. This rule holds true no matter what style of music you choose. You may only get one chance to show what you are made of when it comes to singing. Be sure that you have a song ready that will show your range in the first few bars. "American Idol" judges might only see a small portion of the thousands of hopefuls that will audition for the show. Be sure that your song makes you stand out enough to get to that judging table.
There are many other things that should be considered before you trek off across the country to make your way to the "American Idol" auditions. Your style should be showcased from the top of your head to the tip of your toes. Your clothing should speak volumes about who you are and what type of style you are trying to portray to the world. Your speech should be clear and clever. Your attitude might be the most important tool you can bring to the auditions. If the talent scouts like you, that might be enough to get you in front of Steven , Jennifer, and Randy.
Details about the upcoming dates for "American Idol" auditions can be found at www.americanidol.com and there are many other tips and comments there to help you get started. Be sure to stay informed and do your best to get to the auditions early enough to have a decent spot in line. Best of luck to all of those hoping to be the next "American Idol" winner.
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