Send Brittni to Hollywood
My Audition
So the chance of a lifetime was right in front of me and with that kind of impeccable timing, something of course, would go wrong. Around three days after we heard that auditions were coming to Gillette Stadium, I woke up with a terrible sinus infection, congestion throughout my nose and throat, and a cough that sounded a lot like a bark. Unfortunately, this kind of thing can be temporarily cured by over the counter medicines and cough drops, cough syrup, and lots of vitamin C, but usually it needs to just cure itself. For days my system was pumped with a variety of the above, and even a trip to the doctor’s to get his view on the situation. All he could say was, this kind of thing happens and just keep doing what you are doing. In the end, nothing was going to do more justice. The two weeks that I thought were going to take forever, which for my predicament, would have been fantastic, ended up passing by quicker than ever. The day of registration we bundled up and drove out to Gillette Stadium. We waited in a line of nearly 1,000, which we were grateful for, just to receive those little wristbands to say we were in. The we I keep mentioning, if you did not realize, refers to Colin and I. The only bad part of having to wait in line that day was that it rained and was cold and miserable outside. This did not aid my already congested head.
The day finally arrived two days after the registration day, to try out. We woke up at 3 am and traveled to the stadium. Again, we bundled up and took a golf umbrella, some snacks, lots of water and what seemed like the entire medicine cabinet. We waited in line for 4 and a ½ hours until we were finally let into the stadium. As we sat in section 130, row 17, seats 7 and 8, we watched the rain pour down and the sea of thousands of umbrellas expand over the stadium. Eventually, after about 3 hours the weather took a turn for the better with the sun shining bright down upon us. After the long wait, I finally got my turn to audition. As I stood in the line of people from my section, I stared off at the 11 tents they had set up for people to audition at.
If you have no idea about American Idol auditions, they are not easy like they show on television. The first round is random. There are tents set up in which two producers sit in each, and wait for 4 contestants at a time to audition and then be given their answer to either take the walk of shame or skip off with the golden ticket. A small percentage of the thousands that attempt this first round make it, not even 200 make it. So you have to give it your all, but know that if you get told no, it does not mean that you cannot sing or have no talent. At least for most people.
When I was finally at the entrance to the audition side, I waved across the stadium to Colin who was waiting more nervous than I was, as I started off towards tent #4. When I arrived there, I stood confident and sure of myself, despite my current illness which still had yet to subside. When my group of 4 arrived at the judges table, one at a time they began auditioning. The first girl had already mentioned she was just doing it for fun, as did the second and third, who had all come together and were just in it for their friends who truly wanted to be on the show. When my audition started, I did not want to sound like a girl with an excuse, so I said, “Hi, my name is Brittni Williamson. I’m 19 and I’m from Pennsylvania. I’ll be singing Broken Road by Rascal Flatts.” After I took a deep breath and sang, I felt, one of my best songs and put my all into it. I watched as the judges moved their chairs closer and looked extremely interested. When I finished I did a quick smile and watched as the last judge quickly jotted something down on his “yes” clipboard. I was so anxious to know what was going to happen, so I stood in my line and waited. The two judges usually decidevery quickly, but this time they were arguing over something. I watched as the female judge pointed to her nose and heard the man whisper something about being ill. In my heart, I knew it was me and that she felt I was nasally, but he knew I was obviously ill. Unfortunately, you have no time to explain yourself or try to argue with them. It is either a yes or a no. When they finally decided, the man erased whatever was on the clipboard, and the female said it was a no to all of us. I watched as the male judge looked at me straight in my eyes and back down, and my heart sank. My dream was over, but I knew I had been just inches away from getting that golden ticket. I took the no with stride, and confidently thanked them and walked out.
The hardest part was knowing that I had it in the bag, but my sinus congestion took my chances away. The male judge knew that there was something special in my voice, as did the other one, but one part of the song my congestion as so obvious, but anyone with the slightest knowledge of music, would know that I was sick. Even my introduction you could hear I sounded sick. I could kick myself for not telling them, but I think that if they both had agreed they knew it would have been fine.
The good thing is that there are still 5 cities left for auditions. The final auditions start July 12. I am not looking for a specific city to audition, but I want another shot at my dream. I know I can do this and with the help of supporters, I can make it. Since I am a college student, money is tight, and I do not have the funds to fly out to any of the places. I can only hope that people will become fans of my voice and my dream and will want to help me out. As soon as I can get enough to get out there and do this, I want to. My life would be impacted forever and I could only be thankful for eternity to those who would support my cause.
As the next American Idol, or even if I was noticed through auditioning, I would use my music to do something more than look pretty. I have found hope and encouragement in the lyrics of songs, in the sound of a melody, and I could only wish that someone else could feel the power. I would use music to spread the word about having dreams, being able to accomplish anything, and most importantly that life is not always easy, but we can all make it. I would want to do more than be on the cover of magazines and the girl in the expensive clothes. None of that is important to me. I am not materialistic, and all I can hope for is a chance to become someone who is an idol to young girls. There is no need to worry that I would start using drugs, shaving my head, or forgetting my underwear. I am just your average girl trying to make it big. So help me out and listen to my music. Support the cause. And thank you for sticking it out and reading if you have.
The day finally arrived two days after the registration day, to try out. We woke up at 3 am and traveled to the stadium. Again, we bundled up and took a golf umbrella, some snacks, lots of water and what seemed like the entire medicine cabinet. We waited in line for 4 and a ½ hours until we were finally let into the stadium. As we sat in section 130, row 17, seats 7 and 8, we watched the rain pour down and the sea of thousands of umbrellas expand over the stadium. Eventually, after about 3 hours the weather took a turn for the better with the sun shining bright down upon us. After the long wait, I finally got my turn to audition. As I stood in the line of people from my section, I stared off at the 11 tents they had set up for people to audition at.
If you have no idea about American Idol auditions, they are not easy like they show on television. The first round is random. There are tents set up in which two producers sit in each, and wait for 4 contestants at a time to audition and then be given their answer to either take the walk of shame or skip off with the golden ticket. A small percentage of the thousands that attempt this first round make it, not even 200 make it. So you have to give it your all, but know that if you get told no, it does not mean that you cannot sing or have no talent. At least for most people.
When I was finally at the entrance to the audition side, I waved across the stadium to Colin who was waiting more nervous than I was, as I started off towards tent #4. When I arrived there, I stood confident and sure of myself, despite my current illness which still had yet to subside. When my group of 4 arrived at the judges table, one at a time they began auditioning. The first girl had already mentioned she was just doing it for fun, as did the second and third, who had all come together and were just in it for their friends who truly wanted to be on the show. When my audition started, I did not want to sound like a girl with an excuse, so I said, “Hi, my name is Brittni Williamson. I’m 19 and I’m from Pennsylvania. I’ll be singing Broken Road by Rascal Flatts.” After I took a deep breath and sang, I felt, one of my best songs and put my all into it. I watched as the judges moved their chairs closer and looked extremely interested. When I finished I did a quick smile and watched as the last judge quickly jotted something down on his “yes” clipboard. I was so anxious to know what was going to happen, so I stood in my line and waited. The two judges usually decidevery quickly, but this time they were arguing over something. I watched as the female judge pointed to her nose and heard the man whisper something about being ill. In my heart, I knew it was me and that she felt I was nasally, but he knew I was obviously ill. Unfortunately, you have no time to explain yourself or try to argue with them. It is either a yes or a no. When they finally decided, the man erased whatever was on the clipboard, and the female said it was a no to all of us. I watched as the male judge looked at me straight in my eyes and back down, and my heart sank. My dream was over, but I knew I had been just inches away from getting that golden ticket. I took the no with stride, and confidently thanked them and walked out.
The hardest part was knowing that I had it in the bag, but my sinus congestion took my chances away. The male judge knew that there was something special in my voice, as did the other one, but one part of the song my congestion as so obvious, but anyone with the slightest knowledge of music, would know that I was sick. Even my introduction you could hear I sounded sick. I could kick myself for not telling them, but I think that if they both had agreed they knew it would have been fine.
The good thing is that there are still 5 cities left for auditions. The final auditions start July 12. I am not looking for a specific city to audition, but I want another shot at my dream. I know I can do this and with the help of supporters, I can make it. Since I am a college student, money is tight, and I do not have the funds to fly out to any of the places. I can only hope that people will become fans of my voice and my dream and will want to help me out. As soon as I can get enough to get out there and do this, I want to. My life would be impacted forever and I could only be thankful for eternity to those who would support my cause.
As the next American Idol, or even if I was noticed through auditioning, I would use my music to do something more than look pretty. I have found hope and encouragement in the lyrics of songs, in the sound of a melody, and I could only wish that someone else could feel the power. I would use music to spread the word about having dreams, being able to accomplish anything, and most importantly that life is not always easy, but we can all make it. I would want to do more than be on the cover of magazines and the girl in the expensive clothes. None of that is important to me. I am not materialistic, and all I can hope for is a chance to become someone who is an idol to young girls. There is no need to worry that I would start using drugs, shaving my head, or forgetting my underwear. I am just your average girl trying to make it big. So help me out and listen to my music. Support the cause. And thank you for sticking it out and reading if you have.
