Boston American Idol Auditions--Why So Early?

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 9:16am

The powers that be announced the dates for the only Northeast audition stop a few days ago....Boston...and under normal circumstances, I wouldn't give a crap. My 16-year-old daughter and I have been planning to make the trek during the summer, wherever the closest site turned out to be.

However, a monkey wrench has been thrown into the whole thing by the fact that instead of the auditions being in July or August, they're NEXT WEEK (June 12, 13, 14). While that may mean nothing to most of the country or anyone out of high school, the school year is not yet over in much of the Northeast. And while one of the registration days and the actual audition days are on weekends, parents like myself have to decide which is more important--preparing for exams and finishing out the school year or crushing your kid's American Idol dreams for this year. In my case, it's crushing the dream because there's just too much riding on her schoolwork. Add to that the fact that we'd basically have to devote most of the weekend in terms of hotel, travel time and the AI experience itself two days before two big exams.....

It's just venting...I know...but why the hell did they push everything up a month? It won't faze the potential Kris Allens and Adam Lamberts, but for the 16-18 year olds trying to strike a balance between school and their dreams, it just plain blows.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 9:31am

And while one of the registration days and the actual audition days are on weekends, parents like myself have to decide which is more important--preparing for exams and finishing out the school year or crushing your kid's American Idol dreams for this year

I think you mean "not" crushing your kid's American Idol dreams, because otherwise there's no choice there.

Personally, I think the choice is simple. High School will always be there and she can repeat any classes she might fail. The chance to wait in line with thousands of people for the chance to sing 30 seconds of a song to the pre-screening judges is an opportunity that presents itself only a finite amount of times. High school is eternal; American Idol is not.

Posted: 6/3/09 at 10:12am

Well said Phyllis. Any loser can finish high school- only one person wins American Idol!

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 10:14am

Don't bother. Waiting inside that stadium is a nightmare. Ugh.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 10:15am

Dream crusher!

I would suggest she wear something unflattering/uber slutty/or some kind of chicken suit, thus maximizing her chances of getting on tv.

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 10:58am

In the back of my mind, I thought this wouldn't be the greatest place to post. Guess I was right--brings out the smart ass in everyone.

Hey, if we were an hour away (instead of four) and basically didn't have to devote an entire pre-exam weekend to it, it would be a non-issue.

But it is.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 11:24am

You do realize it should still be a non-issue, that the only right answer is that she not skip school and that she completes her exams, right? Perhaps you can be more helpful by reframing the issue as the "American Idol fantasy" rather than "her dream."

I know in our culture we're spoon fed the phony "dream narrative" all the time - if you want something bad enough you'll make your dreams come true - but you'll help her out more in the long run if you help her see that the timing is off and she has other responsibilities that must be prioritized. Perhaps you can limit the amount of moaning you do with her over the bad timing of the try out schedule and reassure her that opportunity does not knock only once per lifetime.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 11:25am

I don't understand why you are being so bitchy, when all we are trying to do is help. (ETA - That was to Jim, not Namo)

Maybe your daughter should get her GED.
Updated On: 6/3/09 at 11:25 AM

[StockardFan]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 11:34am

Why not wait a year or audition in another city later in the summer?

Posted: 6/3/09 at 11:47am

Something like a million people audition for American idol. What percentage of them do you think dream that THEY will be the next American Idol?
Updated On: 6/3/09 at 11:47 AM

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 12:14pm

Stockard--we're in upstate NY so unless we feel like laying out a healthy chunk of change to go to Chicago, Boston's our only option. Next year is definitely more workable and realistic.

And thank you Namo...that's the way I feel now. She has ten years of audition possibilities and only one year left of high school.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 12:41pm

Well it also gives her another year of maturing!

But it is sort of silly to hold auditions before schools are out.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 1:10pm

Maybe it's their way of keeping out kids who are too young?

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 1:10pm

Stockard, your last line is my entire point. I personalized it but that's the real issue. Kids down south get out in May, but up here, nope. I even checked the Boston schools web site and they're not completely done until the third week of June.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 1:12pm

I'm pretty sure the show isn't called High School Student Idol.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 1:22pm

Southern schools dont get snow days.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 1:24pm

If you really loved your daughter, you'd move somewhere where her school schedule wouldn't interfere with her waiting three days in a chicken suit schedule.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 1:46pm

Jesus.

Posted: 6/3/09 at 1:54pm

Chicken suit only got a couple minutes. Bikini Girl has been on several times AND made it to Hollywood. How does your little angel look in a Bikini?

[Calvin]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 2:09pm

School's the answer.

With American Idol, win or lose, you'll still end up working at Wal-Mart.
Just ask Taylor Hicks!

Posted: 6/3/09 at 2:14pm

Why in the world would Taylor Hicks go sign CDs at WalMart? I mean, just because they sell more CDs than any other store in the world, maybe? And it looks like he drew 200 people or so. That's a pretty good days work in my opinion.

[Calvin]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 2:21pm

Rue McClanahan drew more when she showed up at the grand opening of my hometown Target in '92 or so.

Posted: 6/3/09 at 2:28pm

Really? Poor Rue. 7 years on a hit TV show and you wind up working at Target.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 2:34pm

doodle, while I agree that 16-17 is too young for Idol, if they really wanted to keep that age group out they should just raise the age limit.