Contemplating new audition strategies

[Buffacuse]

Am thinking about dressing a little outrageously, wearing a tux (just for fun), really being boisterous, fill-in-the-blank for the audition next week--anythng to get notice if of course I pass the written test. I'm afraid some of this might backfire and be perceived as too Monty Hall-ish but after passing the test about eight times and never getting off the audition schnied, I'm trying to come up with something to break loose. The kicker always seems to be "What will Meredith be able to talk to you about?"

Wouldn't it be nice if it was just ok enough to be pretty smart, pretty funny, and be someone who had the potential to do well on the show?

[TomC4253]

Having been in the same (sinking) boat, namely passing the test 8 or so times, I know how you feel. The whole face-to-face thing is really silly if you ask me. I've tried outgoing, quiet, scholarly, everyman, you name it. I've made up outrageous lies about myself for the "What would Meredith find interesting about you?" section, but nothing has ever impressed the PA doing the questioning. It must be my MAWGishness and grey hair (n.b. I'm younger than Meredith)
I've stopped taking the test, it just doesn't interest me anymore. But should I decide to make another attempt, my strategy will be this: Pass the test, wait at the tables with everyone else, and when they call my name, I'll stroll over to the PA, shake his hand, grab him by the throat and say "So how come you won't let me sit in the hotseat?"
I've tried everything else!

[MarleysGh0st]

Wouldn't it be nice if it was just ok enough to be pretty smart, pretty funny, and be someone who had the potential to do well on the show?

Yeah, it would.

[jaybee]

At my Nashville TN audition (#7 of 8 ), I sat next to a guy who was decked out in head-to-toe "ghostbusters" gear. He had it all - jumpsuit, name tag and the whole phlem-gun thingie. Acutally I misstated this: He sat down next to me, I wasn't getting anywhere that wierdo.

I don't think this was a good idea for him - while he didn't pass the test anyway, there were many there (including the
AP's) who were laughing at the getup. NO, not laughing in a good way, more of a "what an idiot" kind of way.

I seriously doubt that I'll ever audition again but if I did I would lean heavily to taking a hostage until I got a happy card.

[Bob Juch]

When I auditioned in San Jose, California, there was an intern from UCLA who flew up in his scrubs and lab coat - stethoscope included. He was a non-passer.

[ghostjmf]

Dressing fun-outrageously didn't work for me. The 2nd-time, it wouldn't be fun anymore.

Remember if you do get picked because of the purple streak in your green hair, you will be expected to have both Day-Of-Show.

[peacock2121]

If you have a great story to go along with the tux, sell the story.

- Like, you dressed fitting the occasion of the first step toward your new found wealth.

- Or, you are on your way to your best friend's daughter's wedding and this fit right into the schedule, but you would not have had time to change. (Make sure you know where you are going for the wedding)

- Or, it's your anniversary, you made the trip to NYC to celebrate and you are picking up your wife back at the hotel to head out for a candlelight dinner.

Sell a story after the questions comes up "Why the heck are you dressed like this?"

[gsabc]

but nothing has ever impressed the PA doing the questioning. It must be my MAWGishness and grey hair (n.b. I'm younger than Meredith)

I am almost exactly her age (within a month, IIRC), and we grew up about 30 miles away from each other. Maybe that would be a selling point, comparing backgrounds and our make-up and alcohol levels.

[ladysoleil]

I'm still deciding whether I want to fly the freak flag or not. I usually go in there extremely toned down and corporate/business casual, mostly because I tend to audition on workdays and I wouldn't go into work all gothed up.

But since nothing else has worked, maybe it's worth a try.

I'm on the fence. I should make up my mind pretty soon since I need to get my hair colored before the audition though. I might do something more fun with it.

[sunflower]

For whatever it's worth, I was told during my audition that one thing that stood out was how I interacted with other potential contestants. Pretty much from the minute you walk in, they're watching you. Remember that and use it. Interact with the people at your table - be outgoing and chatty. When we had passed the test and were standing around waiting to talk to the PAs/producers, I chatted everyone up and just tried to look generally comfortable doing it. Think of it this way, if you can make conversation with a stranger and look comfortable, that's going to show you can do the same with Meredith while you're on camera. If you look stiff and uncomfortable, again, that's how they're going to think you'll look on camera.

Granted, I'm sure it didn't hurt that I had some good funny stories. But this is something easy enough for anyone to try to help up the odds a little bit. Good luck!!

[MarleysGh0st]

Have you found out when your episode will air yet, sunflower? I presume this week with Billy Bush is out.

[sunflower]

Have you found out when your episode will air yet, sunflower? I presume this week with Billy Bush is out.

The only official word I got from Trisha Miller (publicist) is that I wasn't on the schedule through the end of April. So keep your fingers crossed for an early May date!

[MarleysGh0st]

Have you found out when your episode will air yet, sunflower? I presume this week with Billy Bush is out.

The only official word I got from Trisha Miller (publicist) is that I wasn't on the schedule through the end of April. So keep your fingers crossed for an early May date!

Sweeps!

[sunflower]

Have you found out when your episode will air yet, sunflower? I presume this week with Billy Bush is out.

The only official word I got from Trisha Miller (publicist) is that I wasn't on the schedule through the end of April. So keep your fingers crossed for an early May date!

Sweeps!

When are sweeps, exactly? Everyone has been talking about that but I don't know when they are!

[KillerTomato]

The only official word I got from Trisha Miller (publicist) is that I wasn't on the schedule through the end of April. So keep your fingers crossed for an early May date!

Sweeps!

When are sweeps, exactly? Everyone has been talking about that but I don't know when they are!

Networks and TV stations use the ratings from sweeps months (February, May and November) to set their ad rates. So since you OBVIOUSLY did well, they're saving your deep run for May, to boost ratings and therefore get more ad revenue!

Can't wait to see you, although itll probably have to wait until after my vacation!

[sunflower]

Sweeps!

When are sweeps, exactly? Everyone has been talking about that but I don't know when they are!

Networks and TV stations use the ratings from sweeps months (February, May and November) to set their ad rates. So since you OBVIOUSLY did well, they're saving your deep run for May, to boost ratings and therefore get more ad revenue!

Can't wait to see you, although itll probably have to wait until after my vacation!

Oh so it's the whole month of May? I don't know why I thought it was just a week or two.

[KillerTomato]

When are sweeps, exactly? Everyone has been talking about that but I don't know when they are!

Networks and TV stations use the ratings from sweeps months (February, May and November) to set their ad rates. So since you OBVIOUSLY did well, they're saving your deep run for May, to boost ratings and therefore get more ad revenue!

Can't wait to see you, although itll probably have to wait until after my vacation!

Oh so it's the whole month of May? I don't know why I thought it was just a week or two.

I really have to learn to read...I could have SWORN you asked "what" rather than "when"....mea culpa if I came off as condescending!

It's actually 4 weeks (but you'll often hear it just referred to as "sweeps week" even though it's a month). It actually starts in April (this Thursday, I believe) and runs for about a month....

[TheConfessor]

From Wikipedia:

Nielsen 2008 Sweeps Dates:
February 2008 31 January - 27 February, 2008
May 2008 24 April - 21 May, 2008
July 2008 3 July - 30 July, 2008
November 2008 30 October - 26 November, 2008

[slam]

From Wikipedia:

Nielsen 2008 Sweeps Dates:
February 2008 31 January - 27 February, 2008
May 2008 24 April - 21 May, 2008
July 2008 3 July - 30 July, 2008
November 2008 30 October - 26 November, 2008

For obvious reasons, the July sweeps aren't considered particularly important.

[sunflower]

Well let's hope I don't have to wait until the END of sweeps...this is killing me!!

[MarleysGh0st]

Well let's hope I don't have to wait until the END of sweeps...this is killing me!!

Yeah. But that's all part of the "experience".

Two seasons ago, one of our Bored members (mmd1027, who hasn't been back since her episode aired) was supposed to tape in early September, but the first tapings went very slowly, so she was told to wait until mid-October for her chance. And then she had to wait until June 30 for that episode to air!

[sunflower]

Well let's hope I don't have to wait until the END of sweeps...this is killing me!!

Yeah. But that's all part of the "experience".

Two seasons ago, one of our Bored members (mmd1027, who hasn't been back since her episode aired) was supposed to tape in early September, but the first tapings went very slowly, so she was told to wait until mid-October for her chance. And then she had to wait until June 30 for that episode to air!

One of the women I taped with, Rosemarie (sp?), who has already aired, had gone to tape a year or two earlier. She went on the last day of production and didn't make it onto a show. So instead of booking her automatically for the next season, they just threw her back in the contestant pool. A year or two later II don't remember exactly how long, it was a while) she gets the call to come back, and then she was in the same boat as me, we both went on that Wednesday and didn't make it on due to the previous days' holdovers, and had to go back the following Tuesday. So I don't feel bad that she aired before me, she's been waiting a lot longer!!! At least she's from NY so she wasn't flying in every time. There are lots of stories like that, I'm sure.

[themanintheseersuckersuit]

Well let's hope I don't have to wait until the END of sweeps...this is killing me!!

Yeah. But that's all part of the "experience".

Two seasons ago, one of our Bored members (mmd1027, who hasn't been back since her episode aired) was supposed to tape in early September, but the first tapings went very slowly, so she was told to wait until mid-October for her chance. And then she had to wait until June 30 for that episode to air!

One of the women I taped with, Rosemarie (sp?), who has already aired, had gone to tape a year or two earlier. She went on the last day of production and didn't make it onto a show. So instead of booking her automatically for the next season, they just threw her back in the contestant pool. A year or two later II don't remember exactly how long, it was a while) she gets the call to come back, and then she was in the same boat as me, we both went on that Wednesday and didn't make it on due to the previous days' holdovers, and had to go back the following Tuesday. So I don't feel bad that she aired before me, she's been waiting a lot longer!!! At least she's from NY so she wasn't flying in every time. There are lots of stories like that, I'm sure.

IIRC, didn't Bix have her baby between taping and her airdate?