AMERICAN IDOL!!!!!
I still get butterflies in my stomach when I think about it! What was I thinking?!?! Well, I will try to explain what I was thinking. I love the show first of all. Not, everything about it, but I love to sing and I love singing so I love that part of it. I have always thought in the back of my mind that I would love to try out just to see what it was really like. So about 4 weeks ago, my friend asked me if I would try out with her and I found myself saying" Sure!" So we practiced together and I found myself busting out all the old voice lesson info and really challenging myself and trainging my voice for the first time in 8 years. I loved it all over again. I would sing for anyone that would let me to try and build my confidence to sing in front of 2 judges accapella. So I felt like I definatley built some confidence.
Secondly, it is free, so I thought why not. Let me just tell you it is nothing like it seems. I had to register 2 days early to even get a chance to audition. Then I had the be there at 5 am the day of and stand in line outside for 2 hours so that all the news helicopters could get shots of the crowd. Then we had to have to songs rehearsed ahead of time to sing with the crowd of 5 thousand people (about half being actaully contestants). We sang the songs and screamed( I mouthed it) for about 2 hours and said stuff like, " The talent is hottest in Arizona!" And " Welcome to Pheonix!" Then they set up 12 tables in the center of the arena with thin, black sheets in between (you'll see it in one of the pics below). THese were the judging tables. They had 2 judges,or producers per table. They called us down by sections and had us stand in line in groups of 4. When our group of 4 got to the table we had to take turns stepping forward to sing our song. There are 12 other people singing at the same time as you in an arena of 5 thousand people!!! Talk about hard to concentrate, let alone hear yourself. And it was so nerve racking! They told us it was like that on purpose. They also know nothing about you at this point, not even your name. If you make it through this set of judges than you get to another set of producer judges and then days later you audition for Randy, Simon and Paula. They also, tell you not to take it personal if you don't get through. They said it doesn't mean you don't have a good voice but that they are looking for a certain look and style and they can't explain what it is. They just see it!
So, needless to say, I didn't make it through the first round. But, I had a really good time. When I first got in line outside I happened to stand right next to a girl I found out who was LDS and a mom of 3 and my age exactly. We knew all the same people. She was from Mesa. Her name was Tanya. We talked and exchanged phone numbers because we knew we would be split up. So then I met some more friends while we sat and waited and we went in the halls and sang for eachother and talked the whole time. That is the thing about musicians... most of them are very open and friendly and not afraid to meet people. And it was so crazy in the halls. Imaging thousands of people rehearsing in the halls! Loud, crazy chaos! But funny! THere were only about 2 outrageoulsy dressed people in the whole thing, I really wonder where they get all those crazy people they show try out!
So, the things I learned from this experience....

1. I don't want anything to do with that part of the world or industry. It is cut throat and hard core. It made me grateful I was a stay at home mom where I am surrounded daily by people who love me.
2. I am glad I don't feel that kind of pressure that I felt to look a certain way and soudn a certain way. That was not a fun feeling even for that long.
3. I truly gained some more confidence in myeslf and my singing talent and was reminded how much I LOVE to sing!
4. I also learned again that the Lord is detailed and watches out for us. I took my sisters car out there and it wouldn't start when I was trying to leave and so I called the girl Tanya as she was walking out to the parking lot and she took me home to Mesa from Glendale. I would've been stranded there.

THE FRIENDS I MET!



THE CROWD IN THE ARENA!

IN THE CRAZY HALLS!

THE LINES OF 4 TO WAIT TO GET TO THE JUDGES TABLES WHERE THE FLAGS ARE!

THE LINE OUTSIDE WAITING TO GET INSIDE!

THE CENTER OF THE ARENA WITH THE 12 TABLES SET UP WITH THE BLACK SHEETS IN BETWEEN!

THE PLACE MY KIDS STAYED! Leslie's house with my wonderful sisters to take care of them!