What it's like

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Every year, millions of people watch the American Idol auditions on TV, but last summer, 18-year-old Dallas native Shannon Murray experienced the process firsthand.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Shannon Murray (left) during the American Idol audition process.

Murray auditioned in Dallas for the show’s seventh season with about 12,000 other Idol hopefuls, and Murray says the experience is much different than it appears on television.

Before getting their shot at a stint on TV, contestants begin by auditioning in groups of six in one of 12 tents with two judges in each tent. Simon, Paula and Randy aren’t anywhere to be found, and they actually don’t come to town to film their segments until several months later.

Murray says another surprise was the amount of waiting time. Murray and her dad arrived at the stadium where the auditions were held at 3 a.m. the day before, and waited hours just to get a wristband, which would guarantee an audition spot the following day. Getting in to audition then required another long wait. You might be the next Kelly Clarkson, but you’ll have to suffer long lines for your art.

Murray was cut in the very first round in Dallas, but to check out those whose suffering paid off, tune in to American Idol every Tuesday and Wednesday (and sometimes Thursday) at 7 p.m. on FOX.

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