Auditions

If you have ever seen or read an interview, where an actor or actress talks about their career, you probably understand that one of the most difficult aspects of that profession is the audition process. 

Now I'm not an actor but I have had some personal experience with auditions. I've had 4 over the last 13 years. The one I consider most important happened yesterday. More on that later. 

In 2001 the traveling audition bus for the syndicated version of the then very popular TV game show, "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" came to Nashville. 

I drove down to the Opry Mills Mall and took the audition test which consisted of 30 trivia questions. You had to score 80% or higher on it to continue with the process. I didn't get past that first level and was very disappointed. 

3 years later while in New Jersey helping my family clean out my parents' house so it could be sold, I went to see a taping of the "Millionaire" show in New York City. While there I took the audition test again. 

Didn't make it to the next level then either. But I did get to see them tape two shows and got a cool t-shirt. 

My next game show audition was the most unique of them all. On May 1, 2007 I went with my friend, Tim Colovos, to Indianapolis, Indiana to audition for the very popular game show, "Deal or No Deal". 

It was a real adventure. We started our 4 hour drive at midnight, arrived at Indianapolis at 4AM to wait outside a car dealership to get our chance to be on the NBC game show. 

We spent the night sitting outside with thousands of others. Our excitement for the opportunity to be a contestant and possibly win a "life changing" amount of money kept us optimistic. 

After 11 hours of waiting and moving from the back of the dealership's lot, to a switch back line inside the service bays, we got our chance. 

The audition turned out to be just 30 seconds long. You had that long to pitch yourself to a member of the show's casting staff. I used a ventriloquist puppet to do an impersonation of Howie Mandel the host.

But it wasn't enough. I didn't make it past that first round this time either. This picture of me standing with the official tour bus in the back ground is about as close as I got to "Deal or No Deal."

My latest audition came yesterday. This time I wasn't trying to get the chance to win a large amount of money. I was trying for, what would be for me, a dream job; the public address announcer for the Bowling Green Hot Rods minor league baseball club this upcoming season.

On a snowy morning, I went to the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center building (which is right next to Bowling Green Ballpark) to audition. 

I went into a rehearsal hall along with 9 others and read a sample script in front of a panel of 4 members of Hot Rods management.

I used all my combined experiences: being a radio DJ, recording Rewind programs, and hearing the PA announcer at the many Hot Rod games I've attended, to read that script like I was the one they're looking for.  

I think I put in a great audition. I was calm and used the right combination of a professional vocal presentation with just the right amount of enthusiasm. 

After all the applicants were finished with their tryouts, I felt that I was one of, if not, the best.  

The only reaction any of us got from the management team was a "thank you" and a promise that we would hear from them in a "few weeks." 

I'm not sure what's worse. Going to a game show audition, waiting in line for hours, or taking a test just  to find out immediately that you're not "contestant material." Or having to wait for weeks to hear if you've been chosen for one of your dream jobs. 

I've always heard that the best kind of job is the one that you would do even if you didn't get paid. Well if I get this Hot Rods job I will essentially be getting paid for hanging out at the ballpark. And I do that anyway. 

Did I hit a "home run" today at SKYPAC or will I find myself "0 for 3" on the field of auditions? Only time will tell. Either way I'll let you know.