INSIDE THE AMERICAN IDOL 4 AUDITIONS

It’s 2 o’clock in the morning on a Saturday in mid-September, and the long weekend of American Idol 4 auditions in Las Vegas, Nevada is getting underway as people begin lining up outside The Orleans Arena. The sight is what we’ve come to expect at an American Idolaudition: people huddled en masse with their sleeping bags and/or folding chairs in tow in a line that wraps around and around. The thing no one expected, however, is that this outdoor community will be only very temporary. Once contestants get their wristbands early Saturday morning, they also receive a ticket with an assigned seat number for the auditions. This new system allows contestants to leave the premises and come back Sunday morning. AI also offers the option to go inside the arena to escape the heat and sleep on the floor if desired. Several choose to take Idol up on this offer, partially because it is free shelter, and partially because they want to take in as much of the experience as they can. Idol hopeful Nijon Fagin and his girlfriend, Danielle Howerton, choose to sleep inside the arena, despite the fact that they have other accommodations waiting for them. “We have a room,” Nijon says, “but we’re gonna stay close to the excitement.”

No matter what they chose to do with their time, those auditioning have no reason to blame their poor performance on the traditional complaints of bad weather conditions and cramped quarters. Something tells me, however, that we will be hearing a whole new line of excuses when the show airs in January...

It’s now 5:00 am on Sunday, and despite the early hour, everyone looks their finest as they arrive for their big moment to shine. The arena is buzzing with excitement as the contestants warm up their voices, work out their jitters, and make their way to their assigned seats. The air is teeming with possibility. The next American Idol could be sitting in this room. Every type of singer is present to answer the call- good, bad, crooners, rockers, soul singers, pop divas. The demographic is slightly different this year than in the past due to a recent change raising the age limit from 24 to 28. With that comes a slew of singers seriously grateful just to be able to try out.

Click here to watch a video preview of our experience at the American Idol 4 auditions in Las Vegas. (or right click and Save Target As to download video file).
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