My American Idol Experience

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Day 2 and 3

I wasn't able to blog these on my trip because we couldn't get the internet to work the rest of the time. And when it did, it was so lsow that it wasn't worth it. So I've combined the last two days of the trip into one blog

Day 2- Monday

Monday morning we got up and went to breakfast at the grill in the hotel which was actually pretty good. Then we took a cab down to "Pike's Plavce Market", a huge farmers market filled with shops, food, restaurants, etc. We shopped, went to the original Starbucks (we were disappointed, by the way) and met lots of awesome local artists!

Then we headed down to the "EMP- Experience Music Project". It was a huge building that is dedicated to music memorabilia and all kinds of fun stuff! Upstairs there is this huge room that has different studio sessions where you can play any instrument you want and it teaches you!! I played the drums, bass, electric guitar, keyboard and sang. Then we went into another room that was like a stage and we were the band members. Dan played drums and I played guitar and sang "I love Rock N' Roll"and it recorded us singing1 We didn't buy the DVD but we did get the poster!!! We rock, i know...

After that we took a cab to a place called "The melting Pot" for some fondue, but unfortunately ,it wasn't open for lunch. So we went across the street to a place called "McHughes". I'm really glad we did because it was an awesome bar/grill. It was obviously an Irish pub, but the food was great and the bar was really cool.

Then we decided to go back to the hotel to watch a movie. So we rented "Over the Hedge". Okay, funniest cartoon ever! It was really good. (Samie, you were right!)

After that we went back to the "melting Pot" for dinner. ( i met another girl auditioning for AI) The food was amazing. I had never fondued before, and omigod it was so good! We had veggies/bread/apples with cheese; lobster/shrimp/teriyaki beef/chicken/steak/and ravioli w/ broth; and Strawberries/bananas/pineapple/and cake with chocolate!!! OH SO YUMMY!!!!

Then we went to the "Space Needle". It was scary. I hate heights, but once I got over that, it was a pretty view. Not worth the ticket price, though. Anyway, we did that for awhile then headed back to the hotel for sleep. We had to be up at 4 am for the auditions...

Day 3- Tuesday- Auditions

So i finally got up around 4:30 and made it to the auditions by 5am. We were in this huge line for 3 HOURS! It wasn't too bad until it started pouring!!!! We were really smart and left our umbrella at the hotel. Anyway, we met some reay cool people in ine and hung out with them. Finally they started letting us file into the stadium to take our seats. It was assigned seating, so we didn't get to sit with our new friends.

There were some really interesting people at the auditions, all 9,000 of them! We got into our seats nd they madue us sing "we built this city". UGH. 2 hours of singing that song over and over and I was ready to leave.

After that we spent another 2 hours filming shots for the show, like the begining "Welcome to Seattle!", etc. It was really lame. Especially because they made us do so many shots over and over. But, Ryan Seacrest showed up and that was cool. (Yes, he is short). Nigel the Director or whatever was there too.

So around 12 they finally started taking rows of people from the sections to audition in front of the judges. The judges at this stage were the producers, not Paula, Randy and Simon (sad). So they set up 12 tables and then groups of 4 would go up to sing one at a time. Then they would pick from that group, but most of the time they wouldn't pick anyone. As we sat there for hours and watched people get rejected, it became clear that certain tables were just picking the crazies. Too many extremely talented people were getting rejected. So by then, i knew it was over. I did audition though, and get rejected like the other thousands of really great singers. (The lady told me I had a beautiful voice though!) We werent "What they are looking for". yea yea yea, whatever. I was so glad to be out of there! I wanted to be home with my kids. I wasn't dissapointed or sad that I lost, i was dissapointed that I had seen behind the scenes and saw what AI was REALLY like. It's going to change my view on it forever, because it is NOT how it seems on TV. They weren't picking people to be idols. They were picking people to make TV. It's all fake, and that's okay. I realized I want to sing to sing!!! Not to be in a contest for it. So, whatever. We were able to catch an early flight home, so that was cool.

I think that next I'll go on "So You think you can dance" just because I know I can't, and then I WILL Get on!!! HAHAHAH. j/k

Okay, so thats the jist. Thanks to everyone who believed/believes in me. I love you all and I appreciate the support!!!!

Anywho, i need sleep. It's been a long day at work and I'm still messed up from the lack of sleep!!! Thanks guys!

Love,
Liz

xoxo

Uhhh....

Update on "Idol" to come shortly... I swear!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Day 1!

Hey everyone! Today has been a long crazy day. It got off to a really bad start, but things are turning around.

First of all, we raced to the airport to catch a 7 am flight out of Oakland. Fortunately we made it in time. But, of course, that wasn't enough. We get there and, with security the way it is now, we were thoroughly searched. They threw away all of our shampoos, soaps, lotions, everything! Even our toothpaste. So now we are dirty and unsanitary. J/k. So that sucked.

Then, as we are waiting for our flight which we are oh-so on time for, we keep noticing that it's getting later and later. Finally, we start to board and we realize we were boarding the wrong flight!!! We almost went to Portland. UGH! What happened is they changed the terminal, but not on the screen, so we missed our f-ing flight!!!

We waited around for 2 hours, slept, drank nasty airport coffee, anything we could to pass the time. Finally we got on the right plane and made it here to Seattle.

So, there I was, scared to death that it was too late. I was certain the line would be too long to register and I wouldn't have a chance.

Wrong.

We get to the Key Arena and guess what? No Line!!! I got to register in 5 minutes!!! All I have to do is come back between 5-6 am on Tuesday, and wait to audition!!! (hopefully before my flight leaves tuesday night...)

So, Dan and I hiked from the Key Arena, with luggage, to our hotel to beg for mercy and let us check in early. Of course, they were gracious. The bed sucks, its the worst bed i've ever laid on, but its a place to stay. And since we have time to relax, i'm grateful for anything!

So, tonight its wine and dancing, tomorrow is the "Seattle Music Experience", "Pike's Place Market", the "Space Needle" and other touristy things.

Tuesday were back to business!

I will definitely keep you all posted on our events!

xoxoxoxo

Friday, September 15, 2006

Bad News...

I just checked out the weather forecast and it looks like showers the entire time were there. Showers starting Sunday evening all the way through Tues. Great. Totally figures.
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One More Day!

I wonder how many people are awaiting the auditions in anticipation like I am? I almost wish it was just over, so I could just know whether or not I've made it. I am so nervous, mostly about the plane. I'm scared to fly. It just doesn't seem natural... I don't know. I have these butterflies in my tummy. Im sure I'll be more nervous about the audition when I get there, but I have auditioned many times for many different things. So I know what feelings to expect. I just hope that this isn't a big waste of time...

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Clothes and Nails...

YAY! I got my nails "did". hahaha. They are hella cute! they are blue and sparkley. Nicole from Royalteaz Salon did them and they are great! The only thing is that I can't type with them...

I got part of my outfit today, too! I bought a new pair of dark denim dickies ( i finally admitted that I wear a "short" pant...) and a cute white tank with lace at the bottom. I plan to find some kind of sweater or top to go on top of the tank so the lace will show underneath....sneaky... j/k.

I'm not sure what shoes i'll wear, probably some heals or something. Gosh, it is right around the corner... I just got butterflies in my tummy!!! AHHH I'm so excited!!!

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Tuesday, September 12, 2006

What to wear?

Okay, the thing i've been concentrating the most on for this audition is being myself. I know that the only way I will be content with going through with this, whether I proceed to the next round or not, is if I give it my 100 percent. And to do that I have to make sure that I "be myself"... Like Josh Gracin told me to do.

Anyway, in contemplating "me" I have come to a crossroad... What the heck am I going to wear? I have no idea! My closet is filled with nothing but work clothes, nothing that I really feel special in. Nothing that would make me feel confidant and different from the rest. The only difference I feel from everyone else is that I'm bigger. I am going to be that "fat girl" auditioning, and I know that.

So, what do I wear? I don't want to wear something that suggests that I think I'm skinnier than I am, but I don't want to look frumpy. I want to look comfortable in being "me" and not have my weight be an obvious roadblock.

Anyone have any ideas? I only have 4 days left to shop. I don't know how to shop for clothes. This is going to be difficult.

Sunday, September 10, 2006

6 Days and Counting...

Six days left until I leave for Seattle, Wa. I am really nervous/scared/excited to finally be doing something that i've always wanted to do. I know people think i'm crazy for going out on a limb and chasing my dreams the way that i do, but how else will anything get done? I know what i'm supposed to do in life, and dammit, I'm going to do it!!!

So, for the next 6 days I am going to be nervous as hell and excited as my moment approaches. Right now the thing that scares me the most is the flight. I know that the chances of me crashing on a 2 hour flight are slim, but still. Tis the season for Septemeber 11th and I'm sorry, but I don't really want history repeating itself.

So, We arrive early Sunday morning and we will head straight to the Key Arena for Registration. The AI website says that registration begins 6am Sunday and continues into the early hours of Tuesday. Auditions begin Tuesday at 8am. So, hopefully I'll be able to audition before my flight leaves on Tuesday night. Also, I know there will be like thousands of people, so hopefully I'll be able to even register!!! Plus, what if were waiting in line for like 3 days??? Gosh, why did we even get a hotel room? Oh well, the hotel is like less than a mile from where the auditions are, so we could take turns waiting in line and napping.

Anyway, here's a link to the "AI Seattle Auditions" website:

http://www.americanidol.com/auditions/seattle/

Well, better get some rest if I'm going to get over this cold! Thanks for the support guys! :)