For the auditions for A.I. the three judges visit a city, and audition hopefuls for a few days, right? But in opening shots, we see stadiums (Stadii?) packed with thousands and thousands of people; surely they dont audition everyone? Is there an initial round of judging we dont see on tv? Where producers pick hopefuls out of the larger crowd, based on genuine talent and what will be a good laugh? Then what happens? Take a number and wait, like at the bakery?
There is a screening process before you see Simon and the others.
I remember a couple seasons ago they showed a terrible singer peforming and Simon and the others reacting and making fun of him. Outside the show, the dude said he didn’t even really perform it in front of them; it was all editing.
You’ve pretty much got it. There’s an initial screening process during which contestants are screened. They pick out those who are really good, and also those who are really bad, to go on to appear in front of Simon, Randy, and Paula. I don’t know for sure, but I’m guessing it happens over several days’ time. Those who make it through the first round of auditions and are to appear in front of the three judges are probably given a time slot in the next day or so following their first audition.
The current audition process is threefold.
Step one: You show up with thousands of others and get a wristband which allows you to perform for the producers. There are apparently several tables of producers. You get about 30 seconds to sing for them. They pick the best, the worst, and the unusual. According to some auditioners, in the past two years, some judges were clearly screening for “good” auditions, while some screened for “bad” auditions. They also screen for “type”. You hope you get a producer screening for your type.
Step two: If you get past step one, you go before the executive producers. You sing again, and also are asked for your “story”. Again, according to prior auditioners, if your story is not interesting enough, you might be asked to come up with a hook or to embellish it. If you get through this round, you are asked back before the judges. Many auditioners are asked to dress the same and to sing particular songs.
Step three: About 200 people in each city come back to audition before the three judges. These have been screen as the good, the bad, and the ugly. The good are asked to go to “Hollywood”.
The Hollywood rounds are shown in the program.
Some local fox stations also have competetitions where the winner gets an automatic pass to the judges.