Quoting:
5. Know your lines. It looks really bad when you pause and try to remember the lyrics.
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Or when you have crib notes. ;)

Also, sing for your family and friends.  If they say don't audition then, for the love of Pete, don't.

Quoting:
My advice is to not audition, period.
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I was getting ready to say the same thing. ::) ;D

Quoting:
1. Avoid trying to sing in an octave/opera mode.

2. Don't try to impress the judges by imitating poses that you've seen the latest idol use. It doesn't work for everyone just like certain hues looking fabulous on some people but dreadful on others.

3. Don't clap while you're singing.

4. Dress properly. Sorry but appearance does play a factor on how people feel about you whether you like it or not. I mean there was this one reject who thought she would be the next idol with her vocal gymnastics and by wearing baggy black pants along with a shapeless brownish sweater that went past her hips along with a frizzy messy ponytail. That's the kind of outfit I wear....when I'm at home with an illness.

5. Know your lines. It looks really bad when you pause and try to remember the lyrics.

6.  Don't try to sing exactly like the artist of the song. It just doesn't work.

7. If you do get rejected, don't say anything like "It's your loss" or "I expect an apology from you", or even worse, giving the judges the middle finger (or two fingers for Simon's case) because the next time you audition they'll be sure to remember you....for your rudeness or insecurities.
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I thought that if people can actually sing, then that just might increase their chances.

Quoting:
1.  Do not sing a song that nobody ever heard of.

2.  Do not, I repeat DO NOT sing "She's a Lady" by Tom Jones.
;D
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My advice would be not to sing ANYTHING by Tom Jones unless you ARE Tom Jones ;D

Quoting:


My advice would be not to sing ANYTHING by Tom Jones unless you ARE Tom Jones ;D

End Quote

And even then it's not such a great idea. ;)

Just kidding. ;D

Quoting:
2.  Do not, I repeat {b]DO NOT sing "She's a Lady" by Tom Jones.

3.  Go in with a bright, positive attitude.

;D
End Quote

That was you?? ;D

Absolutely Vile (!)

Quoting:Is anyone going to remember Kelly Clarkson, Justin Guarini (Justin who?), Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard, Gareth Gates, Will Young, and the other Pop Idol winners whose names I don't remember (hmmmm...I wonder why...) in a year or so? No! You know why? They'll all be washed up! Their CD's will be in the bargain bin!End Quote

Yes you are so right.



My feeling about American Idol is basically this:

No matter how good (or not good) these people are at singing, someone is guaranteed to get a contract and an album no matter what.  Thats not real life.  

Life isn't a game show, and thats all these American Idol winners are, game show winners.

Quoting:
I have sung in front of a crowd, and I would never audition for American Idol (or in my case, it would be Canadian Idol). First of all, I'm too old. Second, I don't want to be that kind of singer. It is glorified karaoke, and it's quick stardom. You get picked to be the winner, and then you release a single and an album and shoot straight to #1. And you know what? It's all downhill from there. Whatever happened to working your way up to the top? Is anyone going to remember Kelly Clarkson, Justin Guarini (Justin who?), Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard, Gareth Gates, Will Young, and the other Pop Idol winners whose names I don't remember (hmmmm...I wonder why...) in a year or so? No! You know why? They'll all be washed up! Their CD's will be in the bargain bin!

Work your way up. Start at the bottom. Play dingy clubs at first then get yourself an agent and a record deal. Then if you're good enough, and you get marketed enough, and people like you...that's how you'll get famous and that's how people will remember you. No one remembers manufactured crap.

Absolutely Vile
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Thank you, so much!!! I knew I wasn't the only one who thought exactly like that!!!!!!!  I try to tell people that same thing and they look at me like I have three heads and say something like " get on with the times" or "this is today, not the sixties". I know a lot of people who really believe that the only way you achieve fame now is to be on American Idol. It gives people a false perception of how the music business actually is. Getting your name and voice out there is not that simple. The only music that is good is the kind of music an  artist strives and works themselves to the bone to have someone hear it.

And no, going in front of Simon and singing your heart out is not working yourself to the bone.

Rio

Quoting:No one remembers manufactured crap.End Quote

A million Monkees fans, myself included, beg to differ.  "It's not the Sixties" indeed.

Your ability to predict the future is a bit questionable, AV.  I myself wouldn't have predicted that a truly talentless band like Staind had staying power past two albums, but here they still ****ing are.  Just because you hate them doesn't mean they won't last.  (It doesn't mean you're wrong either.  We'll see what happens when album number two drops.)

Quoting:


A million Monkees fans, myself included, beg to differ.  "It's not the Sixties" indeed.
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I agree.  Even though the Monkees were manufactured, they still, at one point, had an album at #1 above the Beatles, and sold more albums than the Beatles.  (I'm a Monkee fan, too)

Look at the "new" manufactured singers out today.  Justin Timberlake started out in a manufactured band and he's doing quite well for himself.  

Clay may not have staying power, but at least he's done something that few other artists have done.  He's sold 2 million copies of a debut album.  At least he can be proud of that.  Also, unlike so many other artists out today, he can actually sing.