Contestant on WWTBAM earlier this week. New format review

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TheConfessor · #26 Post by **TheConfessor** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 3:48 pm

frogman042 wrote: You are allowed to have no other objects, including pens or paper with you while you wait in the green room.

Wow, they really take pens away from you? When I was there, I had loads of stuff tucked into various pockets. They just took away books, magazines, cameras, and cell phones.

silvercamaro · #27 Post by **silvercamaro** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 3:50 pm

frogman042 wrote:

As far as a live feed into the studio goes, we were told that the reason it was discontinued was that a special bond forms among all the contestents in the green room. If there is a run of really poor showings (llama's or being knocked out on the 4 figure or less questions, etc.) then that was putting a real damper on everyones spirits and they wanted to avoid that effect. E.g. that person who was really smart in the green room just bombed out - I'm dooomed, DOOMED!

If I had let the people in front of me affect my attitude, I would owe WWTBAM money.

frogman042 · #28 Post by **frogman042** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:04 pm

TheConfessor wrote:
frogman042 wrote: You are allowed to have no other objects, including pens or paper with you while you wait in the green room.
Wow, they really take pens away from you? When I was there, I had loads of stuff tucked into various pockets. They just took away books, magazines, cameras, and cell phones.

Well it wasn't like the scene in A Clockwork Orange when Alex is sent to prison and he is stripped down and no orifice is left unexamined, but they did make a point of telling everyone to leave all articles, including pens, in the lockers - so it might be possible to smuggle a pen in without being caught - but I'm not that attached to my pens.

After the initial metal detector/security screening at the front door - you are not examined or patted down - it is just how comfortable you feel about following every rule of theirs to the letter - for me it was just easier to ditch everything into the locker but if you do have 'contraband' on you - I really doubt that you would be caught.

They do pass out pens to sign the various forms, so there isn't a need for your own and it is easy to follow these rules, IMHO.

The biggest drawback is the inablity to take any real time notes of the experience, if one is inclined to do something like that.

---Jay

Eddington · #29 Post by **Eddington** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:30 pm

Hi all

Thanks to frogman and sunflower for filling in some of the gaps in the questions...good questions, btw!

The first thing to say is, yes, they take away everything, even pens. Also, if you have a nail file in your purse, don't mention it. They seized one woman's nail file from her purse!

The only thing to do in the green room is to chat with other contestants. We quizzed each other...assassins, presidents, etc....but that got old REALLY fast. Mainly we bonded and talked and joked. It was fun.

Wear something casual, because the first four hours of your day will be meetings, briefings, etc. You want to be comfortable for this. You will have ample time and room to change. They also have a shirt press, in case something gets wrinkled.

Thanks

eddington

sunflower · #30 Post by **sunflower** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 6:45 pm

frogman042 wrote:As far as a live feed into the studio goes, we were told that the reason it was discontinued was that a special bond forms among all the contestents in the green room. If there is a run of really poor showings (llama's or being knocked out on the 4 figure or less questions, etc.) then that was putting a real damper on everyones spirits and they wanted to avoid that effect. E.g. that person who was really smart in the green room just bombed out - I'm dooomed, DOOMED! - I guess they ddn't think that added to the vibe and energy level of the later contestants.

I see that - big time.

They gave us about a 20 minute lecture on "group think", the psychological concept where other people's behaviors tend to influence the group. One crashes, they all crash. We all thought no way but it happened big time. My first day, I knew if I had gotten on the show I was going to fail. I needed the couple of days to shake it off. You're overwhelmed...you're tired...you're stressed, and then you watch the person who was WAY smarter than you bomb out at 4,000...yeah it's not a good feeling! Or just simply not knowing the answers that others were answering with ease...that was stressful too! I can't remember how many times I said "It doesn't matter if you know THEIR questions, it matters if you know YOUR questions..."

It was probably smart to do that, it's just a little less exciting for the waiting time.

madamemeisha · #31 Post by **madamemeisha** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 6:46 pm

I'm wondering what my on-air companion will be doing during all of the business in the morning. Will he have to go do something else? Will he be in the building? What do they have the other guests do all day before taping starts?

sunflower · #32 Post by **sunflower** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 6:51 pm

madamemeisha wrote:I'm wondering what my on-air companion will be doing during all of the business in the morning. Will he have to go do something else? Will he be in the building? What do they have the other guests do all day before taping starts?

They don't have to be there until later, if it's the same as last season. Frogman/Eddington - correct me if I'm wrong, they don't have to be there until 10:30 or 11.

Then they get led in (if you're lucky you might catch a glimpse when you go down for lunch) and seated. Then they sit. On hard bleachers. All day. With limited bathroom breaks. And no food unless they brought it, other than a piece of candy.

They can bring bags...and should bring food, water, books, etc. They will not be allowed to use cell phones in the studio though. They can have them, but they must be off.

They will probably bond with the other contestants' companions, as you will bond with the contestants. It was funny that my boyfriend and I heard all the same stories from a contestant (male) and his girlfriend in the audience, it was funny afterward to find out we gravitated to people from the same couple!

christie1111 · #33 Post by **christie1111** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 7:09 pm

That is a long time for me to sit with out a needle.

I couldn't take some small sewing project?

sunflower · #34 Post by **sunflower** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 7:14 pm

christie1111 wrote:That is a long time for me to sit with out a needle.

I couldn't take some small sewing project?

Contestant - no

Companion - yes

When I went they said you may bring nothing in the green room other than the paperwork they sent us that we needed to turn in (paperwork process is different now so this may not even exist anymore).

We were told any good luck charms must be cleared so you have to show them and get approval to keep it. I had my number from when I auditioned. I showed them and they let me keep it in my pocket.

You can also get lipstick or whatever out of your locker when you're getting ready, in addition to your clothes. They have makeup but I refuse to use community lipstick. Models all get herpes from that stuff, no thank you.

Eddington · #35 Post by **Eddington** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 8:02 am

Contestants arrive 730, guests are asked to arrive around 1100 or 1115. I sent mine to the Today show to gawk at the big windows for a few hours

My on-air companion bonded with the other companions, just as I was bonding with their relatives in the green room...it was funny to hear about how similar people of the same family are!

The day is a long one for contestants, but don't forget, it's a long day for the companions too. They have "entertainment", but in reality it's a long day of waiting, for contestant as well as companion.

frogman042 · #36 Post by **frogman042** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 10:04 am

Eddington wrote:Contestants arrive 730, guests are asked to arrive around 1100 or 1115. I sent mine to the Today show to gawk at the big windows for a few hours

My on-air companion bonded with the other companions, just as I was bonding with their relatives in the green room...it was funny to hear about how similar people of the same family are!

The day is a long one for contestants, but don't forget, it's a long day for the companions too. They have "entertainment", but in reality it's a long day of waiting, for contestant as well as companion.

Guests, if they want to can arrive earlier if they want to take the test - it gives them something to do, gives you a shot at being their guest, and at a minimum gives them a better sense of how you got on, but does make their day longer. You should be able to call someone to find out exactly what time the guests should arrive if they want to take the test.

---Jay

peacock2121 · #37 Post by **peacock2121** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 10:12 am

The day just flew by for me - both days - even the one where I sat in the green room and didn't even get close to the hot seat.

It is your mind-set. Having your attention on the long day will have the long day be.... well..... long. Have your attention on something - some part that enlivens you - that gives you energy.

I played games in my head - usually involving a quirk or a way that some other contestant was being - like - how soon before this one tells us another story that has him look really smart. Or, how long before that one tells us something that has us think she thinks she is out of her league - and so on. We had one guy who liked to start his sentences with "Let me tell you." That was a fun game to play. My score was pretty good on that game.

lilclyde54 · #38 Post by **lilclyde54** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 11:06 am

Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with us.