Okay, how am I interesting?

[gsabc]

Got the confirmation for J! in the e-mail last night. Didn't scroll down from the instructions until late. It included my audition problem - the Jeopardy! Information Sheet. Now I have to come up with five "interesting bits of information" about myself for Alex to use. Gnarrgh! They say one-liners are fine, though they give you three lines for each item. Let's see:

Broke three ribs while feeding flying squirrels.

I'm into drugs. (I work at a contract manufacturer of pharmaceuticals)

I collect ducks. (Specifically Scrooge McDuck, Donald and the nephews as drawn by Carl Barks)

I'm a corporate bureaucrat protecting my employer from my counterparts in Washington. (QA for an FDA-regulated company)

Was a genie in BD's dance recital, complete with shiny vest (no shirt), turban with a real peacock feather and harem pants.

Gotta figure out some other stuff, but I suppose that's a start.

[Estonut]

I think the WWTBAMPTB would like the new empty-nester or father-of-the-bride blog angles, but I don't know if J! producers like the same kind of stuff.

[earendel]

Got the confirmation for J! in the e-mail last night. Didn't scroll down from the instructions until late. It included my audition problem - the Jeopardy! Information Sheet. Now I have to come up with five "interesting bits of information" about myself for Alex to use. Gnarrgh! They say one-liners are fine, though they give you three lines for each item. Let's see:

Broke three ribs while feeding flying squirrels.

I'm into drugs. (I work at a contract manufacturer of pharmaceuticals)

I collect ducks. (Specifically Scrooge McDuck, Donald and the nephews as drawn by Carl Barks)

I'm a corporate bureaucrat protecting my employer from my counterparts in Washington. (QA for an FDA-regulated company)

Was a genie in BD's dance recital, complete with shiny vest (no shirt), turban with a real peacock feather and harem pants.

Gotta figure out some other stuff, but I suppose that's a start.

Far be it from me to say - I have my own struggles with this. When KT says "be yourself, only BIGGER", all I can think of is that applied to me, it's like saying, "let's make that black hole bigger". However one thing that I have resolved to do this time (if I get invited) is to be more outgoing prior to going into the testing room, speaking to those who are waiting as I hope to be, smiling and being cheerful. I don't know this to be true but I wonder if the search crew isn't watching to see how potential contestants interact with each other.

[gsabc]

Far be it from me to say - I have my own struggles with this. When KT says "be yourself, only BIGGER", all I can think of is that applied to me, it's like saying, "let's make that black hole bigger". However one thing that I have resolved to do this time (if I get invited) is to be more outgoing prior to going into the testing room, speaking to those who are waiting as I hope to be, smiling and being cheerful. I don't know this to be true but I wonder if the search crew isn't watching to see how potential contestants interact with each other.

I'm sure they are. I've made it a point to do just what you mention during my 'BAM tryouts. It hasn't helped so far, but I'll keep plugging away at it.

Give me a shot at the podium of J! and the hotseat of 'BAM, and I'll be a very happy MAWG.

[sunflower]

Far be it from me to say - I have my own struggles with this. When KT says "be yourself, only BIGGER", all I can think of is that applied to me, it's like saying, "let's make that black hole bigger". However one thing that I have resolved to do this time (if I get invited) is to be more outgoing prior to going into the testing room, speaking to those who are waiting as I hope to be, smiling and being cheerful. I don't know this to be true but I wonder if the search crew isn't watching to see how potential contestants interact with each other.

I'm sure they are. I've made it a point to do just what you mention during my 'BAM tryouts. It hasn't helped so far, but I'll keep plugging away at it.

Give me a shot at the podium of J! and the hotseat of 'BAM, and I'll be a very happy MAWG.

I did that during my BAM tryouts and I don't know if it helped (no idea if they were watching me) but something must have worked. I walked in thinking what I did while I was waiting was more important than the interview in some ways, because they'd assume I was acting natural during that waiting/mingling time. In fact, I was so faking it trying to look super outgoing while talking to a guy that looked like he was going to turn into a statue.

[littlebeast13]

Far be it from me to say - I have my own struggles with this. When KT says "be yourself, only BIGGER", all I can think of is that applied to me, it's like saying, "let's make that black hole bigger". However one thing that I have resolved to do this time (if I get invited) is to be more outgoing prior to going into the testing room, speaking to those who are waiting as I hope to be, smiling and being cheerful. I don't know this to be true but I wonder if the search crew isn't watching to see how potential contestants interact with each other.

I'm sure they are. I've made it a point to do just what you mention during my 'BAM tryouts. It hasn't helped so far, but I'll keep plugging away at it.

Give me a shot at the podium of J! and the hotseat of 'BAM, and I'll be a very happy MAWG.

I did that during my BAM tryouts and I don't know if it helped (no idea if they were watching me) but something must have worked. I walked in thinking what I did while I was waiting was more important than the interview in some ways, because they'd assume I was acting natural during that waiting/mingling time. In fact, I was so faking it trying to look super outgoing while talking to a guy that looked like he was going to turn into a statue.

I WAS the statue at my audition waywaywaywayway BITD, and they picked me anyway....

Of course, I was also a statue in Seat 9 as well, so they got the real me at least.....

lb13

[KillerTomato]

I can absolutely verify that the J! crew will be observing you from the moment you arrive until you head out the door on the way home. I assume the same is true for the BAM APs.

And I'd like to go on record as disagreeing with Ear's "black hole" assertion.

[Appa23]

I think the WWTBAMPTB would like the new empty-nester or father-of-the-bride blog angles, but I don't know if J! producers like the same kind of stuff.

I really do not know much about you, but I was interested by the FOTB blog.

The "harem boy"/genie thing sounds funny, as well.


If I make the cut for KC, then I probably will need to decide which 5 stories to pick. I like the idea of getting outside, unbiased input.

[Sisyphean Fan]

Opinions coming from someone who has not been on the show and is not a contestant coordinator.

Broke three ribs while feeding flying squirrels.

Okay in a pinch.

I'm into drugs. (I work at a contract manufacturer of pharmaceuticals)

Major no. As I told earendel when he said one of his was his wife being in bed with someone else, I would think that trying to be mock provocative with sex and drugs would be a turn off.

I collect ducks. (Specifically Scrooge McDuck, Donald and the nephews as drawn by Carl Barks)

Good one.

I'm a corporate bureaucrat protecting my employer from my counterparts in Washington. (QA for an FDA-regulated company)

The opposite of interesting.

Was a genie in BD's dance recital, complete with shiny vest (no shirt), turban with a real peacock feather and harem pants.

Very good one.

[Jeemie]

I'm into drugs. (I work at a contract manufacturer of pharmaceuticals)

Major no. As I told earendel when he said one of his was his wife being in bed with someone else, I would think that trying to be mock provocative with sex and drugs would be a turn off.

I'm in complete agreement with Fanny on this one.

I know because I tried it...during the interview where I got interrupted.

Don't do it!

The ducks and the genie are two stories full of possibilities.

[Catfish]

Got the confirmation for J! in the e-mail last night. Didn't scroll down from the instructions until late. It included my audition problem - the Jeopardy! Information Sheet. Now I have to come up with five "interesting bits of information" about myself for Alex to use. Gnarrgh! They say one-liners are fine, though they give you three lines for each item. Let's see:

Broke three ribs while feeding flying squirrels.

I'm into drugs. (I work at a contract manufacturer of pharmaceuticals)

I collect ducks. (Specifically Scrooge McDuck, Donald and the nephews as drawn by Carl Barks)

I'm a corporate bureaucrat protecting my employer from my counterparts in Washington. (QA for an FDA-regulated company)

Was a genie in BD's dance recital, complete with shiny vest (no shirt), turban with a real peacock feather and harem pants.

Gotta figure out some other stuff, but I suppose that's a start.

Far be it from me to say - I have my own struggles with this. When KT says "be yourself, only BIGGER", all I can think of is that applied to me, it's like saying, "let's make that black hole bigger". However one thing that I have resolved to do this time (if I get invited) is to be more outgoing prior to going into the testing room, speaking to those who are waiting as I hope to be, smiling and being cheerful. I don't know this to be true but I wonder if the search crew isn't watching to see how potential contestants interact with each other.

Most excellent advice from the Ear and KT. I saw that we were being observed even during the written test. Be "on" and alert as soon as you get there. The headlines you give above are perfect, and you need them for the form (wait till you see the forms you get when you get chosen for the show), but they are more likely to ask you about WOF than any of those things.

When you get up for the mock game they will ask you for the usual name and home town and a small-talk question, such as where you would like to travel or what you do for a living. All I did was state my hometown and say that it was 120 miles up the highway and that there were no traffic lights between my house and downtown Indy, and Tony's eye grew wide with amazement. It's not so much the content but the delievery. They are more likely to ask you about WOF than they are about the other things on your list. Also remember that you are playing to the room, not just the contestant coordinators. Remember how you ran the room as you were hosting the wedding and go with that.

The most important thing is to practice your signaling-device timing and the timing of asking for the next clue as you watch the show. The latter is where most people in my group screwed up. They are looking for people who can play the game, eg, follow instructions, keep it moving, answer loudly and clearly.

You will do fine.

Love,

[gsabc]

Responses noted and appreciated. Yeah, I can see where the drug thing doesn't play well for a family show. Unfortunately, my job is vital to patient safety and health, but inherently boring to just about everyone not in the industry. Creating a quick, catchy description has always been a problem.

If anyone wants to help offline, please hit the e-mail connection below (or wherever it appears). Thanks!