Auditions outside NYC?

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MRooney · #1 Post by **MRooney** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 10:51 pm

(Apologies if this topic has been covered already here, but I couldn't find any obvious threads on this topic after an admittedly non-exhaustive search.)

I tried out in SD last August, and in NYC this May, both times getting the "thanks for your interest (but no thanks)" postcard. I heard the show did a few auditions outside NY last month, but can't find any word on whether they'll head anywhere on the left coast. Can anyone enlighten me on this topic?

Thanks.

TheConfessor · #2 Post by **TheConfessor** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 12:59 am

Being ineligible myself, I don't keep close tabs on road auditions, but I think it's accurate to say that WWTBAM does them only during the summer, when they're gearing up to tape another season. Most people feel that the earlier you audition (either in New York or at one of the road auditions), the better your chances are of being chosen for the show. Although a successful New York audition this fall would theoretically qualify you to be called during the 2009-2010 season, the reality is that very few people have ever been called for the season after their audition. Taping for the current season is well underway, and will be completed sometime in November. So the realistic audition window for the current season is rapidly closing.

As I recall, they also held auditions in Las Vegas and at a casino near Sacramento this summer. There are no guarantees that they will be back to the West Coast next summer. If you can arrange to be in NYC next May (or whenever the next round of auditions starts), that might be your best bet. But it's still a longshot, no matter who you are. There are many theories and anecdotes about what works and what doesn't. It's pretty clear that auditioning too often (more than once or twice per season?) is not appreciated or rewarded. Many people think there's a ban or a tight quota on people who appear to be very smart, who could cause the show to go over its prize budget. If you are who I'm guessing you are (a college prof and successful Jeopardy veteran whom I met at Game Show Congress), you might not want to mention your past game show success any more than you have to.

Good luck, and welcome to this message board.
Ed in TX

ulysses5019 · #3 Post by **ulysses5019** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 1:24 am

TheConfessor wrote:Being ineligible myself, I don't keep close tabs on road auditions, but I think it's accurate to say that WWTBAM does them only during the summer, when they're gearing up to tape another season. Most people feel that the earlier you audition (either in New York or at one of the road auditions), the better your chances are of being chosen for the show. Although a successful New York audition this fall would theoretically qualify you to be called during the 2009-2010 season, the reality is that very few people have ever been called for the season after their audition. Taping for the current season is well underway, and will be completed sometime in November. So the realistic audition window for the current season is rapidly closing.

As I recall, they also held auditions in Las Vegas and at a casino near Sacramento this summer. There are no guarantees that they will be back to the West Coast next summer. If you can arrange to be in NYC next May (or whenever the next round of auditions starts), that might be your best bet. But it's still a longshot, no matter who you are. There are many theories and anecdotes about what works and what doesn't. It's pretty clear that auditioning too often (more than once or twice per season?) is not appreciated or rewarded. Many people think there's a ban or a tight quota on people who appear to be very smart, who could cause the show to go over its prize budget. If you are who I'm guessing you are (a college prof and successful Jeopardy veteran whom I met at Game Show Congress), you might not want to mention your past game show success any more than you have to.

Good luck, and welcome to this message board.
Ed in TX

You mean they won't know who it is?

TheConfessor · #4 Post by **TheConfessor** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 1:55 am

ulysses5019 wrote:You mean they won't know who it is?

I'm not sure I understand your question. No, I don't think most recent college graduates working on WWTBAM would have an encyclopedic knowledge of all 5-day winners in Jeopardy history.

MarleysGh0st · #5 Post by **MarleysGh0st** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 10:12 am

TheConfessor wrote:Being ineligible myself, I don't keep close tabs on road auditions, but I think it's accurate to say that WWTBAM does them only during the summer, when they're gearing up to tape another season.

That's right. They did six road trip auditions this summer, to Sacramento, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Detroit and Washington, D.C. Following the precedent of previous seasons, they won't be on the road again until next summer.

Here's one thread discussing these road trip auditions:
viewtopic.php?t=6080

MRooney · #6 Post by **MRooney** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 7:53 am

Thanks, Ed. And, yes, we have met. Hope you're well.

Btw, I did fess up to my Jeopardy experience (they asked in the videotaped interview portion in NYC this May), but only in the vaguest of ways ("I did pretty well. It was a lot of fun.").

Alas, looks like I'll have to "wait 'til next year".