Post by Inside Australian Idol on May 2, 2004 4:48:15 GMT 10
Singers' chance to shine
By KYLIE SKOTNICKI
May 2, 2004
THERE was not a bare midriff or mini-skirt in sight in the queue for yesterday's Australian Idol auditions.
Idol Saturday: More than 5000 people braved chilly weather throughout the night to secure an audition for Australian Idol at Melbourne Park.
Picture: Alex Coppel
Beanies, scarves and thick jackets were the fashion for those lining up outside Melbourne Park for a chance at stardom.
For the 1500 people auditioning, and the friends and family who joined them, it was a cold, wet night.
By 4am, 5000 people were in the queue.
At 6.30 people were being turned away.
With so many people attending, a third day of auditions tomorrow has been announced.
Many hopefuls had camped out since Friday afternoon to ensure their place in the queue.
Donna Arbawi, 15, from Broadmeadows, was one.
After missing a day of school and camping out with her mum since 1pm on Friday, she was knocked back after her first song.
"I love singing, but they've obviously got high standards," she said after leaving the audition room in tears.
The audition process worked in several stages.
After being brought inside in small groups, contestants were given a number then sent one by one to audition rooms.
With each name called, supportive cheers came from family and friends.
The first auditions were not in front of Mark Holden, Marcia Hines or Ian "Dicko" Dickson, the Australian Idol judges, but in front of producers.
Contestants were asked to sing a verse and a chorus a capella.
Those who made this cut received a blue slip and a second chance to sing, this time for executive producers Greg Beness and Stephen Tate.
A pink slip was given to those who made the second cut, which allows them to audition in front of Holden, Hines and Dickson later this week.
More than an hour of auditioning had taken place before the first pink slip was given out.
The recipient was Asher Huntly, 16, who lives an hour out of Wodonga.
"I didn't even think I'd make it," he said.
This surprise was because he had never really sung before.
"I sang in church once, but my voice was breaking, so I just mimed it," he said.
Another to receive a pink slip was Louise Van Veenendaal, 17, of Mitcham. She sang a jazz rendition of I'm a Little Teapot for the judges, and again for the crowd.
Many were not as lucky and most never got past the first room.
Stephanie Climpson, 17, of Geelong received a blue slip, but made it no further.
"It was worth it," she said after a few tears.
"I didn't even think I'd get that far."
Sunday Herald Sun
news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,9444735%255E2862,00.html
By KYLIE SKOTNICKI
May 2, 2004
THERE was not a bare midriff or mini-skirt in sight in the queue for yesterday's Australian Idol auditions.
Idol Saturday: More than 5000 people braved chilly weather throughout the night to secure an audition for Australian Idol at Melbourne Park.
Picture: Alex Coppel
Beanies, scarves and thick jackets were the fashion for those lining up outside Melbourne Park for a chance at stardom.
For the 1500 people auditioning, and the friends and family who joined them, it was a cold, wet night.
By 4am, 5000 people were in the queue.
At 6.30 people were being turned away.
With so many people attending, a third day of auditions tomorrow has been announced.
Many hopefuls had camped out since Friday afternoon to ensure their place in the queue.
Donna Arbawi, 15, from Broadmeadows, was one.
After missing a day of school and camping out with her mum since 1pm on Friday, she was knocked back after her first song.
"I love singing, but they've obviously got high standards," she said after leaving the audition room in tears.
The audition process worked in several stages.
After being brought inside in small groups, contestants were given a number then sent one by one to audition rooms.
With each name called, supportive cheers came from family and friends.
The first auditions were not in front of Mark Holden, Marcia Hines or Ian "Dicko" Dickson, the Australian Idol judges, but in front of producers.
Contestants were asked to sing a verse and a chorus a capella.
Those who made this cut received a blue slip and a second chance to sing, this time for executive producers Greg Beness and Stephen Tate.
A pink slip was given to those who made the second cut, which allows them to audition in front of Holden, Hines and Dickson later this week.
More than an hour of auditioning had taken place before the first pink slip was given out.
The recipient was Asher Huntly, 16, who lives an hour out of Wodonga.
"I didn't even think I'd make it," he said.
This surprise was because he had never really sung before.
"I sang in church once, but my voice was breaking, so I just mimed it," he said.
Another to receive a pink slip was Louise Van Veenendaal, 17, of Mitcham. She sang a jazz rendition of I'm a Little Teapot for the judges, and again for the crowd.
Many were not as lucky and most never got past the first room.
Stephanie Climpson, 17, of Geelong received a blue slip, but made it no further.
"It was worth it," she said after a few tears.
"I didn't even think I'd get that far."
Sunday Herald Sun
news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,9444735%255E2862,00.html
