Hello, fellow Dopers! I will start off by admitting I don’t come around here too much (the reason is basically the Dope is too much of a time suck, what with all the stuff there, and I don’t have enough time for it, the same reason I’m trying to actively avoid Reddit when I can (don’t even have an account - yet), because it’d be even more of a time suck of wonderous things) but I did want to pass along something to y’all (and if I’m in the wrong forum for this, feel free to toss me in the Pit (we still have the BBQ Pit, right?)
A few days ago, I got an invitation to audition for Jeopardy! I’ll be in Kansas City auditioning on June 30! First audition for me despite taking the test every year since 2009 inclusive. Very excited, and I hope I’m not the only Doper that got such an invitation, are there any others? (At least I did the perfunctory search of the Dope using “Jeopardy” as the keyword, and I couldn’t find any, but if there are and they haven’t outed themselves yet feel free to share on this thread.)
I know there have been a few Dopers actually on the show, and I hope to add to that number (but have to pass the audition first)
By the way - although he didn’t say so, dhkendall is one of the top posters on the JBoard (about Jeopardy!), which is a place you should check out, especially if you like trivia and trivia-style games.
I won’t be at the KC audition, but I was at the Denver audition back in February. Welcome to the contestant pool!
I was on two years ago, after being passed over numerous times.
The main thing to remember is… relax and have fun. Seriously, you passed the test, so they KNOW you’re smart. Now they want to see if you have a personality! Speak up clearly during oral rounds, be lively, and show a little humor. No need to go overboard, just be as outgoing and charming as you know how.
I thought I’d bump this, because I just got an email saying I’ve been selected for an appointment in the Boston area, so I thought I’d ask you and anyone else who has been at an audition what to expect. I’ll be lively and speak up but not go too crazy, but if anyone else has more info on what it’s like, or a link to where someone describes what it’s like, I’d appreciate it.
Also, if anyone knows in Boston where the auditions usually are, that would be helpful. My audition is October 4, and I’ll be getting a letter of confirmation in 10 business days, but I don’t want to wait that long to get a hotel reservation. So if anyone knows where they’ve been at before, or just knows good places in Boston to stay, that would be awesome.
Don’t worry too much about the hotel - I’ll start by saying I had the same worries. I got the initial email on May 13 at 5:12 pm, I replied back at 6:32 pm (I’m baffled as to what took me so long, although an hour and twenty minutes of saying “oh my God, I got a Jeopardy! audition invite!” over and over makes sense) and I heard back on May 15 at 5:47 pm, after wondering for a long time if I’ll ever hear back.
You shouldn’t have a problem getting a hotel reservation if they reply back by, say Wednesday, or even after that (but before 10 days). That being said, you don’t have to stay at the hotel, I was out of work at the time of my email, and when I found out the hotel they had the auditions in was $200/night, I looked elsewhere (and found a great airbnb place), as long as you allow yourself plenty of time to get there, you should be fine. From what I’ve heard from others, a $200/night hotel is typical for the types of hotels they have auditions in, there’s nothing wrong with going somewhere else.
And, for the record, others won’t know either as they’d be in the same boat as you are, they won’t hear details until they get their confirmation back the same time you will. Again, relax, you’ll be able to book a hotel, and you’ll have your choice of hotels, I checked the annual convention of the Pickle Appreciation Society of America is in Bismarck, North Dakota that day, not Boston, so there won’t be a glut on rooms.
Thanks for the info! I know I’ll be able to get a hotel, but I’ve never been to Boston, so it would be less stressful for me if I was somewhat close and not too expensive. And I didn’t know if the auditions would be actually in Boston or out in the suburbs at some convention center or whatever. Hopefully they’ll email me back soon as well, that’s good that they don’t necessarily take 10 days to reply.
I think the first round has already occurred. I actually got contacted back in May to go to an audition in Atlanta on a Thursday in June. It was right after I had taken a bunch of time off of work, and I was starting in a new position where no one else would be doing what I was doing, and so it would cause problems if I took off 2 or 3 days. So I asked if there was any way I could go to another audition later in the year, and fortunately the Jeopardy person said there would be more auditions in Boston in the fall and she’d put me on the list. I’d been kinda worried I’d made a stupid mistake every since, and I should have just taken off work and hoped it didn’t piss my boss off too much, so I was very glad to get the email yesterday.
I auditioned in Boston in early June and it was at the Sheraton downtown. The room they had booked was a little difficult to find, on the fourth floor IIRC and nearby the swimming pool. You will be best served asking someone because I didn’t find the posted notices particularly helpful.
First, there’s a little bit of paperwork and they have you come up a row at a time to take individual Polaroids to attach to your paperwork.
Next, the contestant coordinator (probably Maggie - she’s awesome!) will warm up the crowd, let you know what to expect, give you some advice, ask raise-your-hand-to-answer trivia questions. Answer in a loud clear voice in the form of a question.
Next is a 50 question written test. The format is the same as the online test (categories and questions on a screen with Alex reading) except you’re writing the answers down, so theoretically you could leave a little note to yourself to remind you of the question so you can answer if you think of it later.
After they grade the test, they call you up to a table three at a time (in no particular order, or so they say) to practice the actual game (game board projected on a screen) with the actual signaling device. While you’re up there, they’ll also simulate the interview portion with one or two of the five interesting facts about yourself that you bring.
And that’s it. You’re automatically in the contestant pool for 18 months and if they don’t call, you start the process all over again with the next online test.
I did it twice and while I’m not particularly telegenic or “lively” I did try to relax and have fun, speak up, etc and I was called to be on the show about 20 months after my second audition. At that point, I was just having fun doing the online tests and in person auditions. I never expected to get on the show.
