“American Idol” has been killed and revived, kicked around on the TV schedule, and generally embraced as a pop-culture institution over the years.
But one thing has always been true about the influential singing competition: People love auditioning for it.
While the show has suffered in ratings in recent years, fans still turn out by the hundreds to compete for a spot — as we’ll see when open-call auditions return to Denver Sept. 14.
The Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St. in downtown Denver, plans to host the latest version, following more than a decade of visits that have produced Mile High City “Idol” reps such as earnest singer-songwriter Lilly Scott and the hilariously absurd Magic Cyclops.
That’s not to mention dozens of other reality-TV contestants sourced from Denver (and hailing from all over the state), including for “The Bachelor,” “The Bachelorette,” “The Amazing Race” and “Survivor.”
“We come to Denver every year and we always have a really great turnout,” said Carli Jo Bidlingmaier, a casting producer for “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette,” at an open call at Denver’s Hard Rock Cafe in 2016. “This season has been especially popular because of Ben (Higgins) and then Chase (McNary), who are from Colorado. You have really great people, especially men, here. Down-to-earth, nice. Really great qualities.”
On Tuesday, in fact, former NFL player and metro-area resident Colton Underwood was crowned the latest “Bachelor” on the long-running ABC series, beating out “The Bachelorette” runner-up Blake Horstmann (who’s also from Colorado).
So what can the average hopeful do to increase his or her chances of becoming a reality-TV star? We gathered tips from local and national experts, as well as winning contestants, to gain some insight.
Be ready
Most reality-TV casting agents and their crews see dozens — sometimes hundreds — of people a day. Their patience for unprepared, bumbling but well-meaning auditioners is nonexistent. If you can’t show up on time, bring what they requested, and overall give them what they want, you haven’t got a chance.
That’s why it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with basic casting requirements, which differ from audition to audition. The Sept. 14 “American Idol” audition, for example, requires that you register in advance via their “digital casting platform” (which also allows for online submissions at abc.go.com/shows/american-idol/auditions) and fill out various forms in addition to meeting the general eligibility requirements. In their case: You must be 15 to 28 years old (18 and under requires a guardian present), a U.S. resident, not have an existing recording contract, and not be related to the show or its producers in any way.
On site, be sure to bring a government photo ID, be prepared to sign a personal release form, and check all relevant times and guidelines for the process, such as what to wear, what to sing and what (and who) to bring, or not to bring.
Be local
Denver, and Colorado in general, have strong reputations among national reality-TV casting agents, who have frequently cited the Colorado culture of fitness and outdoor recreation as positive attributes.
That’s particularly true on shows like “Survivor” and “The Amazing Race,” which require adaptability and smarts in addition to looking good and, seemingly, being able to cry on cue. Embrace your Rocky Mountain roots and family history because they provide a potential, humanizing narrative for producers to mine (whether in the casting process or the editing room), as well as presenting you as a real person instead of just a cardboard cutout.
“My hands are good for everything from smashing and breaking tree limbs and cutting firewood to building walls,” said “Survivor” contestant and underwear model Ken McNickle in 2016, a self-described avid outdoorsman and environmentalist who moved to Denver from Hawaii. “But they’re also good at showing some love and T.L.C. when I do my massages.”
When it comes to shows like “The Amazing Race,” living in Colorado — with its diverse geography and thin air — is also an automatic advantage, Boulder student Floyd Pierce told The Denver Post last year: “That makes us better runners. … Colorado people are the most outdoorsy and adventurous types of people.”
Be clear, and reliable
As noted, casting agents are time-strapped people and nearly anything you give them is a version of something they’ve seen before. They’re looking for clearly defined personalities that translate well to TV (obviously), so besides figuring out which version of yourself you’re going to offer, think about how you’re going to use your time, and then stick to the plan.
How much time will you have, and how much do you want to spend on introducing yourself versus performing? Veteran casting agents who have rolled through Denver have also recommended practicing your routine — not too much, but just enough — so you’re comfortable with it when the inevitable nerves, lack of sleep or other factors try to derail your composure.
This also means being truthful (the background checks are extensive) and responsible (not showing up after a few drinks, or making excuses for not completing a basic requirement). If they can’t trust you, why should viewers?
Be yourself — but not too much
While it’s important to remain true to yourself, think about how you want to present yourself at the audition, or you may find that you’re committing to a fictionalized version that you can’t sustain. That means not only in clothing, patterns of speech, and mannerisms, but in your points of view as well. In short: It’s easier to be yourself rather than someone else. If you get cast, the best parts of the show are going to be your honest, unplanned reactions, not your heavily practiced ones.
By the same virtue, consider how willing you are to roll with the punches of a reality-TV show, which is (at the very least) a self-groomed experience where producers’ expectations weigh heavily on cast members.
“I wouldn’t change the man I am if I was the bachelor and wasn’t going to change the man I am to become the bachelor,” wrote Colorado’s “Bachelorette” runner-up Horstmann on Instagram this week, implying that he and ABC had divergent ideas for their ideal, Season 23 version of “The Bachelor.”
By the same token, don’t try too hard to play into a perceived character archetype you think the casting agents might be looking for — the tender-hearted but square-jawed Christian, the party girl who’s also a math genius, the twangy charmer who conceals a ruthless cunning — as it could backfire and come off as desperate, fake or presumptuous. (Unless, of course, that’s who you really are.)
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