America's Got Talent

Staff Reporter Deana Fishel

Do you have a talent? Is it good enough to be on television? If this applies to you, go try out for America’s Got Talent. They travel the US in search of the most amazing and mystifying acts. They hit big cities such as Tampa, New York, and Atlanta. The closest location to Monrovia is Chicago. The first step in the process is to go online to the America’s Got Talent website to pre-register. You will fill out personal information and information about your act. They will also accept videos if you can’t make it to live auditions, but live auditions are encouraged. AGT prefers both a video and a live audition. The next step is to choose what day you will show up. In years past AGT has done a pre-registered sign-up for a time slot as well as an open audition day. This year they only did open auditions both days. Open auditions operate on a first come, first served basis.

On the day of the event, you should show up as early as possible to get in the first line. You will receive your audition number and get prepared for a security check. After security there is another line for either registration or to look at paperwork. The paper work is crazy, especially if you are under 18. Anyone under 18, whether performing or not, has to have a signed permission and release form. Then guardians must have ID and so does the minor. You also have a contract to sign. Finally you show your birth certificate. If there are problems, there is a help desk.

After all of that, you get to wait in a huge holding room with lights, chairs and a center stage. AGT has constant camera crews everywhere. Once you are in the holding room, you can’t leave the building for anything. You are stuck there, waiting for the staff to call the group of numbers that you are in. The numbers go by the last three digits of the audition number. This is the longest part of the whole day.

Now you are getting closer. Once your cluster is called, you gather in a line, walk out of the room and get led to a big hallway with rooms everywhere. There are two producers in each room. Wait. “You don’t perform for the judges?” you might be wondering. That is show business and a little common sense. How long would it take for four judges to watch thousands of people audition? This is also how a lot of other performing arts talent shows work, like “American Idol” and “The Voice”. There are a lot of chairs in this hallway as well. So no, you’re not done waiting. Next, you get called into a room with performers of your trade. Each act gets 90 seconds to perform. After that, you can leave.

“Wait, so how do I know if I made it?” The producers, if they want you to perform on stage and in front of the judges, will contact you in 3-4 weeks after the audition. So no, even after the auditions, you have to WAIT!!!

I attended an AGT open audition this past weekend with in support of a friend. The day was long and full of waiting, but overall it was a great experience. I met a lot of amazing, talented individuals from not only the Midwest, but from all over the world. With all that waiting, all you can do is talk to people. Given the opportunity, I would go back and do it all over again.