Spring Break
Your 15 seconds of fame starts in 12 hours
Derek Campbell
Issue date: 8/18/08 Section: Culture
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Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks, and most recently Blue Springs, Mo., native David Cook have gone from virtually unknown voices to household names thanks to Fox's hit reality show, "American Idol."
On Aug. 8, Fox decided to pay a visit to David Cook's homeland to see what kind of talent Kansas City had hiding up its sleeves. More than 10,000 singing hopefuls and their supporters showed up to the "American Idol" open call to give it their best for a chance at a once in a life time and potentially life-changing opportunity.
Out of sheer curiosity, I had to see what the process was all about.
In order to secure an audition, contestants had to register between 6 a.m Aug. 6, and 6 a.m. Aug. 8, at Kemper Arena to get a wristband and ticket that would secure an audition. "Idol" staff worked 48 hours solid getting contestants registered for the event, sometimes hitting rushes of people that stood for more than 3 hours just to register. As an early bird, I arrived at 6:30 a.m. on Aug. 6, and I received my wristband and seat ticket at 9:45 a.m.
Another contestant who had traveled with her mother from Dallas, Texas said, "We didn't want to risk not getting a wristband, so we showed up at 2:00 a.m. when they opened parking lots and just waited until they started handing them out."
This sympathy was shared by the many hundreds of other people whose license plates spanned the continental United States.
When I got my ticket, the production staff instructed me to learn the words to two songs which would be performed as a group inside Kemper Arena: "Get Ready" by the Temptations, and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" by Stevie Wonder. Though a little puzzled, I did as I was told and learned the two songs.
My accomplice and I were instructed to return at 5 a.m., Aug. 8, to lend our presence for the sweeping fill shots for the clips they show you in the audition episodes. We, however, opted to gain a few more hours of sleep and show up at 8:30 a.m., which turned out to be the exact time the doors opened, letting people flood Kemper Arena.
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