“Don’t get your wristbands wet!” warn idol officials as the Omaha, Nebraska auditions begin today. Fifteen thousand auditioners lined up at the Quest Center in soggy weather looking for their chance to be the next American Idol, or at least make it to the 2nd round in front of the producers. And did you know that Idol uses PR and communications majors from local colleges to work the event? I did not. Also, there are people who will not miss their audition, no matter what.
In fact, even if an auditioner is about to give birth, they’ll still wait in line, and continue to audition while in labor. After she sang, Antoria Gillon, 20, of Dallas was whisked away via ambulance to the hospital to give birth to a healthy boy. Win-win situation–Antoria has a beautiful new baby, and an excellent backstory that will definitely earn her screen time come January.
I’m hearing stories about heat related problems during the Dallas auditions–that they were even worse than the media let on. Apparently, auditioners were dropping left and right from heat exposure and dehydration…
More notes:
Dallas audtioner Brittany Davis made it past the first two rounds, and will sing in front of Randy, Simon and Paula on September 19. Here is a timeline of the Dallas auditions. Texan, and host of TV Guide’s Idol Chat, Kimberly Caldwell, was spotted at Texas Stadium. Baylie Brown, the 16 year old country singer from Krum TX who was dismissed early on from the Hollywood rounds, auditioned again in Dallas. I’d bet money that the second time will be the charm. Also auditioning, Fantasia Barrino’s brother, Ricco Barrino. He passed through to the second round.
