Audition Portal

HB Studio's William Hickey Remembered

2009-09-08T20:45:00.000-07:00

When I started acting classes in the fall of 1989 at HB studios in NYC, I was energized and excited to be a part of a school I had heard so much about. Taking a train and then a subway down to Bank Street on Saturday mornings from Westchester Country was a veritable feast for the eyes as the metro north blurred the autumn landscapes from town to town down the West side of New York. Getting into Uta Hagen's calsses were never easy. You had to audition and you did need a certain level of skill to get in her class. Luckily I was one of them. But one of my most fondest memories had to do with another teacher named William Hickey or "Bill" as we called him. Bill had a way to keep you engaged in his stories that was unlike anything I had ever been a part of. Here was "learning" but not by classes, not by theories and techniques, but merely by listening.

Bill had a way of explaining certain instances on stage with him and Katherine Hepburn or a incident whereby his dog knocked him down backwards, landing him atop a glass table and subsequently in the hospital! But hidden in his stories were lessons about our humanity, lessons about the body and how we react, and even our reactions themselves to his stories incited conversation and philosophies. Hidden there in the mind and body of this frail and extremely thin man was a wealth of experience and knowledge teeming to be shared with his students.

Years later, I remember driving down the Bank Street and I stopped to watch Bill talking to a new class of wide-eyed students. I got out of my car and ran over and to my amazement bill greeted me by name.

When Bill passed years ago in 1997 the world lost a great actor and contributor to the arts. HB lost one of their greatest teachers.

William Hickey is best known for his role as Uncles lewis in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and as the Mafia Don in Prizzi's Honor.

Paul Brighton

www.auditionportal.com

Sugar Ray's Mark McGrath, No Stranger to Acting

2009-08-12T06:31:00.000-07:00

Recently, we ( AP-RED.COM sister site of auditionportal.com) had the pleasure of interviewing a pop star in the back of his tour bus. Man, I love saying "back of the tour bus!"

Mark McGrath, lead singer of Sugar Ray, is known mostly for his vocals on smash hits like "Fly," "Someday," "Every Morning," "When it's over," and "Under the Sun," but the man has many talents, all of which he's very laid back about. Kudos for modesty!

Jason Drew, host of our new "Entertainment & Industry News" website has a particular way with artists and always seems to ask the in-depth questions most people wish they could ask IF only they could get a second with a celebrity. In this interview, Jason uses his candor and intuitive interviewing style to get Mark to trust and share. Mark talks about his career as a host on "Extra" and even delves into the good and bad experiences on the show, as well as other juicy tidbits about the amazing new album "Music for Cougars."

But as a company founded on Acting and Music, what we loved about Mark was his energy. If you watch the video you'll see a guy who loves to use his whole body as an instrument, and while he may be a singer he is obviously in touch with his "life" on stage as a singer and actor. While Mark laughingly confesses "in a sea of Marky Mark's there's landscape littered with Vanilla Ice's," he explains that he has too much respect for actors than to just jump in and be one. But is Mark headed for the big screen again? It's possible.

I guess the lines can get blurry for talented people, as they should. Music and acting have always been a package deal. Think about how Broadway requires such diversity and talent, or how a singer like Freddie Mercury from "Queen" brought drama and personality to a song on stage or even in a video. The ability to do both is analogous to "one hand washes the other," in that they can only help improve each other. If you're a passionate entertainer, there's no reason why you shouldn't do both. If you're an actor, study piano or vocals or anything musical. If you're a singer, study acting! Your acting skills will draw on the metering and rhythms that you already posses inside you, and you'll have a great head start.

Mark McGrath is an example of that as an artist. He posses a special gift to be alive and natural in front of a camera. Whether in an interview, on stage, or on camera, Mark exudes light, energy and warmth that seemingly sucks you in. You see– his acting, his body language, is musical and lyrical because as a singer he understands the foundations of music and how songs can move people. He uses those same natural skills to express himself when he's not on stage.

When going on an audition, on stage, or in front of a camera, try to bring that "light" with you. Trust me, it's contagious in a good way!

Now, go watch the interview to see what I mean! www.ap-red.com

Reporting for AP-RED.COM

Paul Brighton

Jersey Boys Interview with Dominic Nolfi

2009-08-03T14:38:00.000-07:00

On a sweltering day last week, pre-matinee, Jason Drew, myself and a tech/assistant filmed a 20-minute interview with one of the stars of Broadway's "Jersey Boys," the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, for www.ap-red.com the sister site of Audition Portal.

Dominic Nolfi who plays Tommie DeVito, the original guitarist in Frankie's band was nice enough to take some time half hour before the show to talk to us.

We went back stage to the August Wilson Theatre and spoke to Dominic about in-depth acting challenges, how to keep focused on characters as an understudy, how he prepares for roles, and all the things us lovers of acting are always curious and hungry to hear about.

Jason asks all the questions you would ask, and even has a little fun with Dominic with our own "Actor's Studio" final question... "boxers or briefs!"

Hope you enjoy it! Just go to http://www.ap-red.com/stage.php?src=

Cheers

Paul Brighton

www.auditionportal.com

Studying Music Will Make You a Better Actor

2009-07-05T20:13:00.001-07:00

Why is learning about music, playing and instrument or simply listening to music so important for actors?

Music is the foundation for almost every art, in theory and in truth. Without music we would be missing one of life's greatest joys. Movies would lose half of their emotional connectivity with an audience. "Jaws" without music–unimaginable. And, life in general would be missing those little memory triggers of our past.

But how are music and acting connected?

For actors, music has another special purpose, and that is to enlighten the actor to the use of space, metering, projection, timing, delivery, fluidity and natural body movement. Music's structure can provide an actor with a 4th dimension of references.

Any actor, no matter their level of experience or skill, can benefit from taking vocal lessons or learning to play an instrument. And, if you can play in a band, it will teach invaluable lessons about timing, waiting for the right moment and improvisation. It awakens the inner clock in all of us and provides us with the necessary rhythm actors need to bring depth and substance to the life of their character.

As an actor, who plays drums I learned about timing, waiting for the right moment to say the word or lines, just like a flam on my snare – or the dramatic punctuation in a powerful sentence, just as if it was a cymbal crash at the end of a bar. I always make those connections because music provides me a frame-of-reference for much in my life as a creative being. It even goes beyond acting to almost everything I do on a daily basis.

Playing in bands, with other musicians has been invaluable. Just like playing in an actin ensemble, a string ensemble or band taught me about improvisation and how to allow others to riff and jam with me so that they could give and take and riff right back. In dialogue on stage or on film we talk and listen and pause, and then emote or burst out in anger– there is rhythm and there are beats in every line–music is right there, in every single exchange. Words and the way we say them can be musical and even lyrical and often are. if you're a musician you're likely to notice that reference daily.

It's wonderful to see how life relates to music and vice-versa in the most elemental ways. I've always thought that the bass sound is the earth, grounded and strong– the mids are life, you and I and the people on earth, and the highs are the sun and the sky–the treble, if you will. Every play has lows, mids and highs. The way it's written is a landscape that has a beginning a middle and an end. Like a song, it has an intro, a chorus a guitar solo, a crescendo, and finally an end. Taking you on a journey, and that journey we go on in a movie or Play is much like a song in almost every way.

When we act in plays or on film if we understand music, then it opens our eyes to how a production or a movie is very much like an orchestra– each musician playing a part so that in the end, you have a final product, a single sound, a single message, derived from the efforts of many. That relationship teaches that you are a simply a cog in a wheel on stage as an actor– it enlightens you to how others depend on you, and how acting is really another form of singing a call and response and how you may be the drummer or guitarist in the band, or even the lead singer.

Even if you simply listen to music, understanding it's structure, you can learn so much about how it fits into the universe of acting. Listen to "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles.

Think about how that song starts out with a simple melody and hook, then builds into a full chorus...the song develops verse-by-verse, adding new instruments as it moves along–literally like the sun breaking through the clouds. Music opens up your mind and creates visual connectivity between words and sounds and also trains your brain to be creatively visual.

I encourage everyone I meet in acting, dancing or comedy to learn an instrument or take voice lessons. Look for a vocal coach that specializes in working with Actors or Dancers, as the approach and techniques are slightly different, especially in breathing. You'll see a marked difference in your approach, rhythm and confidence, and you'll land some great roles!

Paul Brighton

AuditionPortal.com

Memorizing Lines Made Simple!

2009-06-04T09:31:00.000-07:00

Memorizing lines is something that I hated most about the stage. I was never very good at it. I was one of those kids in school who never really mastered memorization. It's a wonder I didn't get ink poisoning on my forearm!

If you're like me, then you'll appreciate these simple techniques that rely on something you already have inside you for memorizing a script. So what are those things you already possess?

They are these senses– Smell, Sight, & Sound and a little emotion for good measure!

Hear Yourself:

One of the things I find helpful when I receive a script is reading it aloud. Hearing my external voice, not my internal voice, helps my mind connect to my ears. It's like a thought you suppress, that finally comes out like a primal scream, once you get it out into the universe, aloud, it becomes real, almost tangible.

So don't rehearse in a place where you can't emote out loud, but rather, find a location conducive to reciting the lines in an unabashed way.

Record yourself and play back the tape repeatedly during the day or in the car or on your Ipod. Creating an MP3 file on your computer is easy. Record yourself on your computer and you can then convert it and play it back just about anywhere. The idea here is repetition.

Tape yourself on camera...this will also give you a visual of how you are delivering the lines

and while you're paying attention to the life of the character the words are being subconsciously driven into your memory banks.

Seeing The Words:

This has got to be the simplest way ever to memorize lines. It's something I started doing in 8th grade. Re-write all your lines and say them aloud after each sentence, or simply re-type them. Seeing the words develop letter-by-letter creates a visual connection to the lines.

Re-reading the lines, while an obvious memorization technique, can also create a visual connection.

Smelling the Words:

Uhmm yeah, do not, I repeat do not, smell the script! That's not what I mean.(lol)

Your sense of smell will help you create a set of sensory recollection values for the character that will help you remember a line by remembering where you are, who you are and how you are connecting to the character's words. If your scene is in a kitchen...then think about the smells in that kitchen, what is the character doing? Remembering the characters motives, goals, and environment can help you literally smell the lines. Weird huh?

Yep, we actors are a weird bunch for sure!

Emotional Connectivity:

Reading the lines aloud, smelling the environment, seeing the words is like bombarding the mind with a cocktail of the senses. The mind is multi-dimensional in it's ability to grasp concepts words, sounds, so your techniques must not rely solely on one method but many.

Try these out. Let me know which worked and which didn't for you.

To be truthful I've found combining Sight and Sound to work best for me. Being a musician and artist also helps me to creatively visualize the lines as if they are emblazoned on my forehead.

Hhmmm, that would have been helpful in school...oh well,

You live, (you memorize), you learn.

Paul Brighton

www.auditionportal.com

Memorizing Lines

2009-06-04T07:23:00.000-07:00

2009-05-17T09:41:00.000-07:00

Filmmaking is a really dynamic area of study that has many angles, many approaches and many career levels.
If you're a young Filmmaker/ movie lover who aspires to work behind the camera, and do either directorial work or actual filmmaking here's a little guidance for you. A little kick start to get you in motion.

The best way to break into Filmmaking is to learn by doing, while getting some practical theory and technical knowledge under your belt.

Being Ahead of The Curve:
With the advent of companies like RED (cameras) nailing the digital camera market and creating 4, 5k cameras that are completely affordable and filmic, as a young and new Filmmaker you really have to keep up-to-date with technology so that you're ahead of the curve.

Finding a good Filmmaking school will be a part of your challenge. Not everyone can afford classed at NYU. But, the idea is to find a similar curriculum in your area and study everything from the Screen Trade, Adaptation, Cinematography, Videography, Scoring to Script Writing. To understand Filmmaking, you should be armed with broad knowledge of the trade in general.
As a Director, it's easier to tell others what to do, convincingly, when you've done it yourself.
You can be a more intuitive Director, if you've been an actor. You can be a better Director if you at least understand screenwriting and scoring a film. Going to a good school will give you a well-rounded understanding of your craft as a whole.

If you've never used a certain type of camera or film, then you don't have those elements as a point-of-reference in your tool box. If you've never written a script or a story, then you won't understand how to communicate and speak the language of a screen writer. Learning the film industry is like trying to learn world history. It has many parts and young filmmakers cannot simply get away with learning just one part of it, whether in school, or behind the camera in your backyard.

Investing in Your Passion: If you're thinking about being a filmmaker you must ask yourself, how much are you willing to invest in your craft? Are you willing to devote your entire life to it?
Have you learned a great deal and feel like you're ready for the next step without formal training?
If you're thinking you're good enough to just go out there and "do it" then don't let anyone stop you.
Not everyone does well in school or with learning that involves dedication and an investment in time & money.
But, I truly feel you may regret that decision. True, you can learn on the spot by watching others. I've done it with many passions I'm half-invested in, but truthfully, I always feel like I'm missing something.

As an example, on a simpler level we all love photography to a degree. Some of us take amazing photos, we understand composition and even may know the basics of aperture and shutter speeds. But, think about how much better you'd be if you understood the true mechanics of Depth-of-Field. Think about how much better you'd be if you knew the mechanics that make a camera work. Or, if you're a musician and are able to sight-read versus playing by ear.
There a certain levels we must all aspire to. Understand all of the intricacies of creating your vision so that you can get closer to manifesting it on film. What you see in your mind's eye will be easier to create if you know how to get what you want, and how to get it technically.

For little quickies to wet your appetite and see if you really want to delve into it...Samuel French offers great books on Filmmaking and they're all pretty inexpensive and well-organized.
http://www.samuelfrench.com/store/index.php/cPath/215

But, the best training is to train in an accredited school, intern and work with people, touch and feel the equipment, and understand the business from the inside out.
Since Summer is coming, get yourself an internship with a local film, video company or ad agency.
If you have a friend in New York or LA, think about moving in with them for the summer and getting some real life experience in places known for their industries in film and acting.

There is no fast track. Remember, there are guys out there who have been doing it for years, so the idea is to put passion into it and let your love of films drive you. Think about it as your life's work, not a career.
If you think about it as work, then it will feel like a job.
It should be an extension of who you are. You just do what you do, and people notice it. You don't create FOR the masses you create as an extension of yourself first, then you decide whether you want to be narrow or wide in focus. That means you ask yourself, do I want to be like George Lucas, Spielberg, Fellini, or a little known director who comes out of nowhere like Danny Boyle. Do you want to direct mega blockbusters or create art films and B-movies for fine arts theaters?
That is a direction guided only by one thing...your heart.

If you already own a decent camera and equipment, you can certainly start by working and creating something every day. Get out your ideas and learn by doing. You'll thousands upon thousands of young Filmmakers are simply doing it on YouTube. Many of you are young students, out of film school and ready to work, but obstacles like financing equipment or a project and lack of direction can clutter your mind and impede progress. Get out there and seek projects. Create projects by letting others be a part of your vision. Give others a chance to be a part of what you're doing. Find writing partners, actor friends from local schools or even your school. Offer pro-bono projects to local rock bands & charity organizations. Use your imagination and do what is true to your heart.....All the world's a stage!

If you have some examples of your work that you're really proud of you can pre-register on our site at www.AuditionPortal.com where you can post a film short, a trailer, clip, bio and photo for free. Its a great way to be seen by other Filmmakers, Actors who may want to work with you, or screenwriters who may want to pitch a script or project to you.

-Paul Brighton
Director/Co-Founder/Actor/Talent Scout
www.AuditionPortal.Com

The Scream Heard Around the World!

2009-05-06T08:22:00.001-07:00

When this whole American Idol season started a few months ago I was enamored with Danny. Held him in the highest regard. I don't know, maybe it was his story, or his deceased young wife that tugged on my heartstrings? Regardless, I was quick to say he was my favorite, the winner, the guy who's records I'd buy. But lately, and especially after last night, I'm not feeling Danny so much anymore. Yeah, he's got a great voice, but the choices he's making lead me to believe he'll continue to make bad choices, even when he's in control of his career, post AI.

I call it "The Scream Heard Around the World!'

Danny decided to sing "Dream On" by Aerosmith, and from note-one, I pulled out the pillow I was resting on from under my head.

What was I preparing for? Was there to be a message flashing across the bottom of my screen that Afghanistan was invading America? Was it that President Obama was caught in a love tryst with Nancy Pelosi? No, I was preparing for something much more serious. Danny was about to do the scream at the end of "Dream On." And I, in great anticipation of this about-to-be fallen hero's poor song choice, clenched my jaw, stuck my head in the pillow as deep as I could to muffle the sound...and screamed along with him..."noooooooooo!" "Make it stop, make it stop!" I yelled this repeatedly, trying to cover the sound of Danny's screech. But no, there it lingered like a mother wailing for a long lost child– like a bloodied child running in the house after scraping both knees, like a...well you get it! When it was over I looked at the screen and literally watched a stunned audience and the judges meander their way out of saying everything but "That really sucked, Danny."

Why did it happen? Why did Danny pick that song. It's just beyond comprehension.

I give him props for trying, but Dude, Dog, Cat, try it in your own soundproof bathroom, not with 40 million people watching.

I enjoyed the rest of the performances, and thought they all did a great job this week.

But I expect the final two will be Adam and Allison. When it came down to it, I think Allison definitely stole Danny's thunder, and at this stage she may have knocked Danny right out.

For that I give Adam props, for raising the bar for Allison and providing her with a little healthy competition. The should really record a track together, even though duets are kinds cheesy these days. My ear for duets will never be the same after being traumatized by Huey Lewis & Gwenneth Paltrow's "Crusin." But maybe Allison & Adam will change my mind.

Let's see what happens tonight!

Paul Brighton

www.auditionportal.com

10 Valuable Tips to Follow When Looking for An Agent

2009-04-23T12:21:00.000-07:00

Finding an Agent is like finding a parent or guardian! They can help you get your career off the ground, help you make the right decisions, and represent you in the best way. Representing yourself can often appear as unprofessional. I've worked with tons of people who do not have any representation, they're are amazing actors, but to get to the next level, it's best that you have representation and professional guidance. It's a tough business out there, leave the management to someone else so you can perfect your craft.

Here's a List of great ideas that center around one thing. "It's who you know." If you don't know them, get to know them.

1: When you go to a show at a Theatre introduce yourself to performers and ask them about who represents them. Don't be shy. You'd be surprised how much fellow actors are willing to help you out if you just ask.

2: Photographers, Directors and Indie Filmmakers usually hire Models & Actors through agencies. Give them a call and simply ask them for a small list of people they work with. In turn you may have found someone to take your headshot anyway!

3. Here at AuditionPortal we're a saavy (and cute) little group of Actors, Singers, Dancers, Graphic Designers, Ad people, and even the geekiest of geeks. You'd be surprised how many people an ad agency can hook you up with. If you have a website, you've probably worked with creative people, right? Well, call them. Ask if they know someone, who knows someone who knows an Agent. I'm sure they do.

4. Okay, here's a total no-brainer: Go to the SAG or AFTRA website. They have lists, and boy do they have lists! Call them and ask them to share a little love. Most of the Agencies there are franchised agencies and are totally legit. Here is a direct link to the Franchised Agency list at AFTRA http://www.aftra.com/member/agentlist.htm

If you feel like something's not right when you go to an audition call them and report them to either of these unions immediately. When on an audition, Casting Directors should never require nudity. If they do, and that's not cool with you, you should report them as well. See, a reputable agency will have you covered. They will make sure they find out all they can prior to an audition so they have your best interests in mind.

5. Never meet an Agent for the first time (or even the second time) at an unfamiliar place or in a private place.

You may want to consider meeting at a Coffee shop, restaurant, wherever there are other people. Hey, we're not being too paranoid, but it's always better to be safe than sorry. We love our fellow talented people to stick around.

6. When you arrive at at Agent's office, remember YOU are the person interviewing Them. Ask them tons of question, ask to see who they represent, and ask if you can call that person....hey, it's a little pushy, but this is your career we're talking about! If they find excuses, then simply say "Oh I had my heart set on getting references, maybe it's best that I check back with you at a later time." Pack up and leave.

7: Make sure you've checked them out with SAG or AFTRA or any Union if they came as a referral from another actor. What may be good representation for them, may not work so well for you. Make sure they are busy and don't have lot's of free time. That's usually not a good sign. A busy Agent...that's a good sign.

8. If there are any red flags like, a slow office, no employees, just one person there, no lobby, a bottle of champaign on the table, just be polite and leave. It's a good idea to call the Better Business Bureau to see whether people have made complaints against them prior to your meeting as it will save you a trip.

9. If you can bring a friend (this applies to guys and girls) have them wait outside. We're not saying all agents are serial killers or sex offenders. They're not. There are amazing Agencies out there. If you don't feel right about something just know there are hundreds of others out there.

10. If you're taking acting classes or even short-term workshops at a school like HB (my alma mater), ask your coaches or teachers to refer an agent to you. They are bound to know someone, or may even recommend their own agent to you. P.S. If they do, that's a good sign.

Remember: It's your life. Your real life. You are not acting, nor are you on stage when you're picking someone to represent you. You must protect yourself and your interests, and be cognizant that there are some unscrupulous practices out there. They mess things up for the hard-working, legitimate actors like us and others in their field. If you're a singer or dancer, the same holds true for you as well. When finding a producer or manager to work the same criterion should be followed. The mentality that old-school Reps, Agents & Scouts have is that they expect you to be beholden to them because we apparently NEED them. What a competitive marketplace of reputable and "A-Listed" Agents do is create competition, so that actors like us don't necessarily NEED them. We have choices.

We have the freedom to say "no thanks." There will be others, many others, who will want to work with us. Create your own opportunities.

Author's note: Reputable agencies have signed on with Audition Portal. If you'd simply like to post a reel/video and profile, and have professional exposure to agencies online, just pre-register at www.auditonportal.com.

Written By Paul Brighton

Producer, Director, Actor, Co-Founder, Blogger

American Idol Loses 2 More Contestants

2009-04-22T19:38:00.000-07:00

Well, after last night's rather lackluster show, tonight's great "disco revival" did all it could to bring back a little much-needed energy.

And, as the staff of Audition Portal had predicted, Lil Rounds and Anoop Desai did indeed go home tonight. We will certainly miss them both.

After weeks and weeks of sharing the bottom three position, it was basically "game-over" for the two contestants as a record breaking 45 million votes were called in.

Interlaced into the show were great performances by Thelma Houston, who sang a powerful version of "Dont' Leave Me this Way," KC from KC And The Sunshine Band singing "Get Down Tonight" and a previous Idol contestant David Archuletta sang "Touch My Hand."

So, it's all down to the 5 finalists. Adam Lambert is now, and will always be out front as the predicted winner, Danny Gokey and Kris Allen on the next level, with Allison Iraheta possibly nudging Danny out. And, Matt Giraud hanging on by mere piano strings.

The staff at AuditionPortal.com predicts the final three will be Adam, Danny and Allison. And, depending on the latter two's performances during the last three weeks, we may just see Allison and Adam as the final two.

Let's see if Danny can bring it the forthcoming final weeks.

Paul Brighton

AuditionPortal.com

American Idol's "Dance Classics Night" Leaves Feet Cold.

2009-04-22T09:51:00.000-07:00

It seems that the past few weeks have gone by so quickly, and the show, even more hurriedly.

Last night felt like a fast-forward race, with judges and Ryan speaking in quick tongue just to get through to the next artist.

No more guest muse or backstories–just the singing and judges commets. Even the Disco theme was more like a

cheesy wedding circa 1980, when Disco was dying, than a blazing Studio 54 Saturday, in all its glory.

Last night's performances seemed to be good all across the board, with major faults keeping intensity levels capped.

Lil Rounds started the night off a bit shaky with her version of "Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman." Lil was treading unstable ground between pitchy, and trying too hard.

These are the types of performances that simply cannot happen at this point.

Lil even defended herself saying "I didn't think that was karaoke," yet none of the judges used that word this week. It's seemed as if Lil's defensive stance lingered from the judges confusing and disappointing comments from previous weeks. Lil Rounds has a great voice, but it's evident she may be leaving tonight, despite what we're seeing in some of the polls. After so many weeks of loyal "Idoling," it would be great if they were all winners on some level. But, we all know we can only have one.

The best performance of the night was indeed Adam Lambert's. Just when you think you're going to get sick of him, he does something that takes everyone for a joyous vocal ride. While the version was almost too much of a departure for my own disco-loving taste, Adam understands music and entertainment, temper, and timing and emotion like no other on that stage, and it's obvious to many he's already won. His version of "If I Can't Have You" was original, and we cant deny that whether we love it or not. Many here at the Audition Portal offices have been rooting for Adam and Danny since day one.

But where is Danny been the last 2 weeks? Are we feeling the same level of enthusiasm we all had in the early stages of the competition?The consensus here is that Danny's magic has worn off, and his general appeal, including his clumsy dancing, has taken a slight derailment off the path to second place. Our group of opinionated actors and singers that work here have pegged Allison as the second place contestant for the last 2 weeks. Who can nudge her?

It's quite possible Danny can regain footing. It's also possible Kris could slip in there if he keeps up his consistently good performances, and heartthrob appeal.

Kris Allen's stripped down, and Santana-ish version of Donna Summer's "She Works Hard for the Money" was more like a Jack Johnson channeling session with his own mark of of acoustic swagger. If you paid close attention to the band, sitting up there with Kris, they were genuinely in love with that arrangement and really grooving with alongside Kris, as if they'd been playing together for a lifetime– especially, the musician playing the cardboard box. Nice to see Kris holding his own for the last several weeks.

Overall, disco night was a hurried trip down memory lane with very little to rememebr. In fact we struggled for minutes trying to remember who did what song. And, was there a disco ball somewhere on that stage? See, we don't remember, and that's not good.

Now we all had to remember last night set list strictly from memory, no Googling was allowed. That was a rule!

These were the most memorable songs in order and according to our illustrious java-amped staff at Audition Portal's New York office.

1. Adam: "If I Can't Have You"

2. Kris: "She Works Hard for the Money"

3. Allison: "Hot Stuff"

4. Danny: We actually forgot for ten minutes, and then someone remembered! "September" it was simply okay. Strong vocals but again something missing.

5. Anoop: Again, hands in the air, minds twisting, faces contorting, we couldn't remember between 6 of us. We knew it was good, but we just couldn't remember the song!

6. Oh Matt. Yes, Matt. Good vocal performance of "Stayin Alive," and quite prophetic, but the Timberland hat and the overdone, falsetto trills are not the Matt we fell in love with at the beginning.

Let's see what tonight bring us on American Idol. Check back with us here tomorrow for our original, not "scraped" Blog follow-up story!

Paul Brighton

www.auditionportal.com

Amazing Young Shaheen Jafargholi Steals Spotlight from Susan Boyle

2009-04-20T07:52:00.000-07:00

Barely a week week after Susan Boyle, the quiet, very un-showbusiness-y Scottish woman became a worldwide sensation following her stunning audition on the British TV program "Britain's Got Talent," a 12-year-old Welch boy named Shaheen Jafargholi's has been praised for his "life-changing" performance on the show after Simon Cowell gave him a standing ovation.

Things were not looking good for Shaheen when Cowell stopped the audition after one verse of “Valerie” (by the Zutons, covered by Amy Winehouse).

"You've got this really wrong," said Cowell. "What do you sing apart from that?"

Young Shaheen then performed "Who's Loving You," a Smokey Robinson song performed by The Jackson Five, bringing the audience to its feet as he delivered a rendition that brought Simon Cowell and fellow judges Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden to their feet.

"This is how one song can change your life," Cowell said to Shaheen. "This may be the start of something special for you young man.

Morgan wrote in his blog that Shaheen had been the stand-out act of the show and suggested him as a possible challenger to Susan Boyle for the show’s prize. Last week's amazing performance by 47-year old amateur singer Boyle brought worldwide attention to herself with her version of the Les Miserables' tune "I Dreamed a Dream". Shaheen still has a way to go to match Boyles metioric popularity.

AuditonPortal's Paul Brighton added "I still think Susan Boyle was more of a surprise and her story had a little more depth. Susan's story resonated with me because people were mocking her prior to the performance, she had a story that tugged at the world's heartstrings and a wonderful singing voice to match. Shaheen is an amazing singer as well and I believe he will fare well in the competition no matter what, but Susan Boyle was an inspiration. Can't wait to see where this all ends up."

Morgan wrote "Once Simon got him to sing the right kind of song for his voice, he was sensational. Like a young Stevie Wonder."

Shaheen has been singing since he was two years old. "When I was a bit older my mum got me some singing lessons and my voice just got bigger and bigger," he said. "Hopefully this is going to be my big break."

We certainly hope so! Good luck Shaheen.

American Idol Concert Dates

2009-04-16T09:24:00.000-07:00

Even though we're down to 7, with 2 more to go home next week, all 10 finalists are touring this summer!. American Idols will be Live on stage and the tour will take Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Anoop Desai, Danny Gokey, Kris Allen, Lil Rounds, Matt Giraud, Megan Joy, Michael Sarver and Scott MacIntyre to over 50 cities. The tour begins on July 5 in Portland, Oregon, and extended through a final September 15 show in Manchester, New Hampshire. Tickets for the whole run go on sale May 9.

Brought to you by Audition Portal

American Idols Live! tour dates, according to the official site:

» 7/5 - Portland, OR @ Rose Garden
» 7/7 - Tacoma, WA @ Tacoma Dome
» 7/8 - Vancouver, BC @ General Motors Place
» 7/10 - Sacramento, CA @ ARCO Arena
» 7/11 - Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena
» 7/12 - San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion at San Jose
» 7/14 - West Valley City, UT @ The E Center
» 7/16 - Los Angeles @ Staples Center
» 7/17 - Ontario, CA @ Citizens Business Bank Arena
» 7/18 - San Diego @ San Diego Sports Arena
» 7/20 - Glendale, AZ @ Jobing.com Arena
» 7/23 - Dallas @ American Airlines Center
» 7/24 - Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
» 7/25 - N. Little Rock, AR @ Alltel Arena
» 7/26 - Memphis, TN @ FedExForum
» 7/28 - Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum
» 7/29 - Sunrise, FL @ BankAtlantic Center
» 7/31 - Duluth, GA @ Arena at Gwinnett Center
» 8/1 - Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena
» 8/2 - Greensboro, NC @ Greensboro Coliseum
» 8/4 - Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
» 8/5 - Baltimore @ 1st Mariner Arena
» 8/7 - Atlantic City, NJ @ Boardwalk Hall
» 8/8 - Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
» 8/11 - Long Island, NY @ Nassau Coliseum
» 8/14 - Hamilton, ON @ Copps Coliseum
» 8/15 - Rochester, NY @ Blue Cross Arena
» 8/16 - Hartford, CT @ XL Center
» 8/18 - Boston @ TD Banknorth Garden
» 8/19 - Albany, NY @ Times Union Center
» 8/20 - Philadelphia @ Wachovia Center
» 8/22 - Pittsburgh @ Mellon Arena
» 8/23 - Cleveland @ Wolstein Center
» 8/25 - Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
» 8/26 - Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace at Auburn Hills
» 8/28 - Milwaukee @ Bradley Center
» 8/29 - St. Louis @ Scottrade Center
» 8/30 - Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
» 9/1 - Minneapolis @ Target Center
» 9/2 - Rosemont, IL @ Allstate Arena
» 9/4 - Madison, WI @ Alliant Energy Center
» 9/5 - Indianapolis @ Conseco Fieldhouse
» 9/6 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
» 9/8 - Reading, PA @ Sovereign Center
» 9/9 - Wilkes-Barre, PA @ Wachovia Arena
» 9/10 - Bridgeport, CT @ Arena at Harbor Yard
» 9/12 - Portland, ME @ Cumberland County Civic Center
» 9/13 - Providence, RI @ Dunkin' Donuts Center
» 9/14 - Syracuse, NY @ War Memorial at Oncenter
» 9/15 - Manchester, NH @ Verizon Wireless Arena

Adam Lambert is Born to be an Idol!

2009-04-15T04:57:00.000-07:00

Despite Simon's lackluster review of singer Adam Lambert's "Born To Be Wild" performance on American Idol last night, Adam just blew the minds and the roof off FOX studios like never before. I truly believe he raised the level of intensity tenfold, and blew away almost everyone in the room when his voice just about soared out of sight.

The song's arrangement was unique and original, and as usual, we were all delighted and surprised at every aspect of his performance - from style, to image, to band arrangement. But some people had the opposite reaction to last night’s performance in "Twitterverse," because it was, well, a little showy and over-the-top. I say who else can compare to Adam's level of showmanship and entertainment? Certainly, no one else did last night.

I think all the other performances fell short in entertainment value alone. Sure, some of the vocal performances were great, especially Allsion Iraheta's version of "I don't Want to Miss a Thing." She brewed quite a hot and spicy "special sauce" last night for sure. But I think all the other performers had one issue or another.

Anoop Desai actually stunned me tonight. I love that he's come along so far and has won over the judges to the level that he has. Anoop has a very sensitive, sweet and endearing quality in his voice that is best displayed when he does ballads. Perhaps we will one day see him do an album of ballad covers? I think Anoop will have quite the career, no matter what.

As for Danny Gokey, his heartfelt version of "Endless Love" wasn't as good as Anoop's. Cowell said he missed originality in the arrangement. Overall Danny's performance didn't strike me the way Adam's did, and I think Danny has to bump up next week’s performance or the showdown could end up being between Allison and Adam. Wouldn't that just be a kick in the ass.

As for Matt Giraud and Kris Allen, both performances were annoyingly pitchy to me. When a song is sung in the low register and you combine that with nerves, I think it makes for a lethal combination. Why doesn't someone tell the both of these vocal artists to stay away from low notes! Let me at 'em!

Finally, my dearest Lil Rounds closed the show with "The Rose." I felt that Simon was also way off base when he commented that it was "unoriginal." Lil did indeed try to bring R&B into the song, and week after week the judges have asked her to do just that. Then, contradictorily, Simon commented that she did not interject herself into the song and added "I feel we've lost who we think you were." I felt he was a little harsh, but this is the difficult and sometimes arduous selection process on American Idol. It gets tighter and tighter towards the end and every little nuance is under the microscope for intense scrutiny.

Tonight the good folks here at Audition Portal are predicting that Matt Giraud is on his way home. "He's on his waaaaayyyy, he's on his waaaayyyyyy, home swee…” well, you get the picture! The Justin "Timberfake" hat is too self-aware and contrived, and the overdone vocals just give you more to pick at.

Dog, dog, less is more. Less is more.

Paul Brighton
www.AuditionPortal.com

American Idol's Scott MacIntyre Had Kidney Transplant

2009-04-13T15:17:00.000-07:00

Singer Scott MacIntyre, the well-known blind contestant from American Idol, is grateful for his showing even after his elimination on April 8th.

"Out of that many people who tried out, to finish eighth is just incredible. I’m so excited to be walking away where I am," said Scott.

On Live! with Regis and Kelly, the singer revealed he had a kidney transplant.

"I didn’t want to raise my kidney transplant during American Idol. I couldn't hide my blindness, but didn't want my transplant to be an issue during the competition, since that was something I could avoid talking about,” said Scott. “Now that I’m off the show, people are just finding out."

Scott was on emergency dialysis for kidney failure for two years before he was lucky enough to receive a transplant. "How I was on American Idol is nothing like I used to be, when I didn't have the energy to stand up. I'm blessed."

Thanks to People via AP.

Singer Scott Leaves, and the World Grieves...Well Not Really

2009-04-09T09:47:00.001-07:00

Another American Idol singer packs up his Microphone

Well, the nice guy goes home, and even though we're sad to see him go, this is after all a competitive talent show and there is just one winner, or is there?

Arizona native, Scott McKintyre, did a good job and inspired millions of people across the nation because he stood on the stage happy, smiling, and undaunted by his visual impairment. But, this competition was about singing and Scott was simply not the best. I think many viewers have felt this way for weeks, and according to the poll here on Audition Portal's blog, our readers had made that clear weeks ago. Scott, Anoop Desai, and Lil Rounds were on the stools this week and in the wake of Scott's performance on Tuesday, it was clear he was the one that would be going home. Scott was the viewers choice to be sent home and now with only minutes left, he had to sing for his life, one last time so the judges could decide whether he was worth the only save their allowed to use.

Last night's show was interlaced with a naughty performance by Flo Rida, and former Idol, Kelly Pickler, who's performance was about as pitchy as one could expect for a performer running around on stage, out of breath. Flo Rida's "Right Round" was unedited and most likely the least family-friendly performance American Idol has had on the show. The song, depending on how you decipher it, is either about oral sex or a stripper sliding down a pole. Either way, Mrs. Cleaver was rolling in her grave.

With the time running out, Cowell looked at the bottom three and said, "I don't think it mattered before, but I think this is the first week where it probably does matter," adding that the judges would consider saving one of the others in danger of getting the boot.

It's clear that Scott's infectious smile got him through most vote-offs when his performances were less than stellar. When it came time to announcing his fate, Scott continued his endearing smile and took it like a man. "I really, really like you, Scott," Cowell said. I'm looking over there, and I think there's a bunch of talented singers, so this decision isn't just based on you. It's whether I think somebody, or we think somebody, is more talented over there." This was probably one of Simon's most sensitive and well-phrased assessments, as barely a "boo" was heard while he spoke.

It was clear that the audience, while torn emotionally, felt the same exact way.

With seconds left in the show, Seacrest and ensemble gave MacIntyre a hug for his farewell, with Paula commenting, "You've been an inspiration to the entire world through your commitment, through your talent. And we all watch 'American Idol' so that we as an audience get to witness unique and gifted artists as you, Scott. ... You are one classy gentleman. God bless you, we love you."

While Scott technically goes home and is off the show, he does get to tour the country this summer with the final 10 contestants. Most likely, we'll still see Scott here and there, and don't be surprised if he lands a record deal. While there may be one "Idol" winner, there are many when you factor in the luminous exposure all of these kids have gotten.

Next week, get ready as Jennifer Hudson, the Oscar-winning powerhouse returns to the show.

Be sure to get your American Idol dose right here on Audition Portal's blog. Follow us, get news, updates, interviews and polls, as the competition get's more intense!

Jared Lifeson
www.auditionportal.com

Why Should it Matter if Adam Lambert is Gay?

2009-04-08T13:52:00.000-07:00

"Gay" is such a contentious buzzword when it involves outing someone against their will, and it probably drew many of you here. Which of course is okay because our message is simple and positive. So, we're not ashamed to have lured you here.
You "Commie, Homo-Loving Sons of Guns!"

Bottom line: It shouldn't matter to anyone if Adam is gay or not, Right? I know, I know, little girls fantasize about being swept in his arms. They go to bed, hoping against hope, that he'll come flying through their window like a scene out of Twilight. So, what happens when the media outs someone before he gets a chance to be judged as a singer and not a "gay" singer?

The media is starting to flood Twitter and Blogs with questions about Adam's sexuality. While some people question why it matters, others want to know because it does matter. It matters to them because they're gay too, and it's a moment of pride to have someone so talented, as a role model. So, those of you who question why there's so much hoopla, it's because it's human nature. It may not necessarily be exploitative just because the word "gay" appears it the title.

Being gay in the music world has long been taboo. Since the early days of music, being gay has left managers, record labels and star-makers with a politically challenged marketing dilemma. How do we market a gay singer, when it's girls buying all the records?
Well kids, the world has changed and maybe it doesn't really matter anymore. For one thing, people are buying CD's less and less, and coming out of the closet more and more. Back in the day, I might have re-considered buying a Mika cd when my cool, leather-clad bud Rick, was at the cash register at the local Harvey Sound. With the advent of iTunes and the internet, most buyers are teenagers, and between males and females, they are both just about equal spenders.
They buy singles and don't judge.
At least I speak for most civilized people.

When I first joined the Audition Portal team, we started watching American Idol while we were all still at work at the L.A. office and I thought, wow, this is cool and these people are cool. We were gay people and straight people hanging out, laughing together, and interacting creatively and musically. Many of my peers are actors and singers, and we all fit right in. What resonated with me is how much of the entertainment industry is gay. Yet, many are still not so ready to divulge personal info when it could end in conservative-media controversy. It's not that people don't want to come out of the closet. It's just that they don't always care to be the subject of people's judgment. That's also why it matters whether someone is Gay or not–people use it as a weapon to "hurt" someone's career. Many of us actors, musicians, liberals are open to it, but not everyone's that progressive.

Maybe that's why Adam has been quiet. We really do not know his personal life. He could be Bi or asexual like Morrissey, right?

The reason why females bought more records in the 50's, 60's and part of the 70's, is that most acts were males purposely marketed for young female consumption. Our dear Elvis, whom many people are comparing our dear Adam Lambert to, paved the way for this hysteria. Then the Beatles arrived and lit light bulbs above greedy record executive's heads, and the stoking of the star-making machinery began. As the soot settled, testosterone-inducing bands of the ate 60's and 70's, like Led Zeppelin came to the forefront and both women and men started buying record more equally.

These days, ambiguity works too. Emo, or whatever style that is, makes it cool for young males to dress androgynously and style their hair in a way that would have gotten their cute little keesters kicked by the hard rockers years ago. Take Judas Priest singer Rob Halford, for instance–yes, he could kick your but, and he was "Breaking The Law" and "Hell Bent for Leather" and errrr....very Gay. Yet, males still bought their records. I think 75% of them knew what was up and just ignored it. Now, everyone knew Freddie Mercury was gay right? I did. Well, okay I admit it, I just thought he was "theatrical" like this Adam kid.
But you know, it didn't matter to me or to my straight friends either. Music transcends judgment sometimes. If the singer has a God-given talent, if they've been blessed with a natural gift, it moves us and uplifts us. That's all that really matters when it comes to music and listening. Does it matter to us whether Adam is gay or not of course not. Does it matter to the media & the little little girls? Sure it does. So, in the end, it actually does matter, good or bad.

Adam Lambert may be gay or straight, as long as the little hairs on my arms keep doing the happy (or gay) dance when he sings, that's all that matters to me.

Jared Lifeson
www.auditionportal.com

American Idols Are Born From Stars

2009-04-08T05:27:00.000-07:00

Tonight, one of the seven contestants on American Idol will be packing up and going home.

Last night's theme centered upon songs from the same year each contestant was born. At the show's start, we were treated to a corny, yet endearing baby picture show, and as a bonus, we discovered that Ryan Seacrest was a young redhead when he was a child. Oh, the things you find out about people when they show their baby pictures!

Danny started the night off with "Stand By Me," while long-time judge Paula Abdul did just that. The ever on-point Simon Cowell felt the beginning was good, the middle was lazy, and the ending was great, which added up to an overall "terrific" rating.

Next came heartthrob Kris Allen with his version of the Don Henley hit, "All She Wants To Do is Dance" from 1985. He was surrounded by pre-selected audience members in "concert" style, but Kris’ performance didn't sound anything like the song, nor feel like a concert.

Paul Brighton of AuditionPortal.com commented, "I like re-makes that bear some structural resemblance to the original. You can make it your own, but don't depart so much that you can't recognize it. That's no fun for the audience."

Overall, Kris' Performance was pretty good. Kara hit it on the head when she said it was "jazz-funk and it lost its youth." But, Simon's reaction was more accurate when he described it was " indulgent, boring, forgettable, and a stupid song choice." You know Simon should try being more honest, wouldn't you say?

Next came Lil Round's rendition of "What's Love Got to do With It." I felt it was good, not stellar, but good. Something about that girl makes me love her more than I should. I'm guilty of liking her as a person when I should be liking her as an entertainer. Luckily, I felt the audience gave her the love she needed to really work the song, building up to a climax at the end. However, the judges felt that she still needs to prove that she knows who she is as an artist, and even likened her performance to karaoke. I didn't agree with that at all.

Surprisingly, Anoop Desai's tender version of Cindi Lauper's "True Colors" was wonderful and well-received all across the board. However, his "up & down" performances may get him in trouble as the competition gets tighter and tighter. Anoop has held his own of late and has also shown us at www.AuditionPortal.com that second chances can be worth the risk.

Learn more about auditioning at www.youtube.com/user/auditionportal

Powerhouse Allison Iraheta did it again this week with a brilliant performance of Bonnie Raitt's " I Can't Make You Love Me." All the judges loved it, including me, but Simon felt he doesn’t know her. Whatever that means!

Allison will get a deal no matter what. It's obvious she doesn't need American idol anymore. She could leave now and she will be a huge star. So I'm not worried about losing her at all.

Matt Giraud gets a unanimous "great" for singing Stevie Wonder's " Part Time Lover." I didn’t love his performance but I did think it was one of his best. I like Matt, but he needs to try to find himself as an artist and stop pretending to be Chris Martin or Justin Timberlake. At his age, he's still too star struck for his influences to not be obvious to us all. That's why he should contemplate sticking to his roots.

Okay now, Scott McKintyre steps out from behind his piano and up to the Mic with his guitar,which was a change of pace, but it really sounded terribly out-of-place. I simply don't understand why Scott is still there. In my opinion, he's not the best singer or artist and so many others were deserving of being on that stage. I just can't see him making it to the top 5, and this week may just be his last.

Last, but certainly not least, the night's favorite and quite possibly the winner of Season 8, Adam Lambert. Adam's slow version of "Mad World" by Tears for Fears mesmerized all of us. Adam just has something special. You can't quite put your finger on it, but he just has star quality and a voice that collectively places him miles ahead of everyone on this show. Simon gave Adam a standing ovation … how often does that happen?

Jared Lifeson
AP News

Did Singer Megan Joy Give Up on American Idol?

2009-04-02T07:21:00.000-07:00

(AP News)

It seems that way after last night’s American Idol. Singer Megan Joy, American Idol Contestant was ousted last night after a string of less-than-stellar performances. And, while it was emotional and sad for her, it seemed like there was a part of her that was relieved. From the start, the stunning Ms. Joy mad made it apparent that her friends and family ribbed her incessantly about getting American Idol, which she half-heartedly submitted to.

Out of all the contestants, Megan had been struggling to find her way during the last few performances. Paul Brighton, Audition Portal.com’s co-founder said, “Megan is the kind of singer that needs songs written around her. A pianist or guitarist writing the chords and working the tune to bring out the quirky, jazzy inflections would do her good in a studio environment. But, what happened here is she was trying to project herself into songs that she loved, unfortunately without reciprocity.”

What was truly amazing were the results of our American Idol Top Choice Singer poll, right here on auditionportal.blogspot.com. Our results matched the results of the American public to the tee, showing Megan Joy last, Anoop Desai a close second, and Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert head-to-head. “I guess all one had to do was read our blog to see the results of the show,” laughed Paul.

What happens next on American Idol remains to be seen. After taking a poll here at our offices in New York and Connecticut, it’s unanimous. Singer Adam Lambert seems to be on top right now. All we can do is wait until next week to see what Adam and Danny will do next.

Written By
Jared Lifeson
www.auditionportal.com

Best Wishes to American Idol Singer Danny Gokey

2009-03-31T11:58:00.000-07:00

APNEWS tells us that American Idol singer Danny Gokey just attended his grandfather’s funeral services over the weekend in Milwaukee at Faith Builder’s International Ministries. Seems Danny has gotten his heart broken twice this year. We wish him the best here at AuditionPortal.

After the death of the singer's young wife Sophia, who died of a congenital heart defect, Danny has made it a quest, in her honor, to make it to the top of American Idol. And, we think that’s a real possibility for Danny.

Fortunately for Danny fans all across the world, he’s is still going to be on tonight's show! Be sure to watch and vote for your favorite singer. The staff at AuditionPortal.com is betting on both Danny or Adam to be in the top two, but they also favor, Allison Iraheta and Lil Rounds.

Who’s your favorite? You can blog about it here or visit our other blog sites too!
If you’re a singer, www.AuditionPortal.com is the place that will get you noticed.

You can post your best performance on the site, coming soon. For now we encourage you to go to AuditionPortal.com to pre-register. It’s free.

American Idol: The Honest Truth About the Last 9

2009-03-30T12:41:00.000-07:00

With 9 more contestants to go on American Idol, how can we resist watching this show? So many people are stuck for the same reason we like older movies, we appreciate antiques, or we love the old Motown sound. After so many weeks the contestants have grown on us and now we're hooked...hook, line, and singer!

My favorite contestants are the same ones I picked out from day-one. Many of you probably did the same thing.

If you've been in the business like I have for the last 25 years, you just know who's got singing chops and who needs chopping.

I appreciate raw singing talent, but I also need to enjoy watching that person too. For me, it's a packaged experience that needs to excite my ears and eyes. Hey, I don't mind hearing a good Michael Jackson song and struggling with all the things I know about his plastic surgery, but he's Michael Jackson. New singing talent has to have at least both things going for them at this stage. America is a hard place to make it, and this business can be relentless. It all has to do with the audiences and keeping them interested. Longevity is king and at the risk of sounding shallow, looks are very important. Yes, there are exceptions–but in order for that talent to reach full marketing potential, it sure doesn't hurt if they have both singing skills and looks.

Here is my honest breakdown, as if I was judging talent this talent on www.auditionportal.com:

Anoop Desai: Anoop Dog. I don't know why Matt was in the bottom three and Anoop survived last weeks voting. My only guess is that he's popular and that people like voting for the underdog. But, I must remind the public this is about talent. Anoop can sing, no doubt but is he Idol worthy? Not in my top three.

Megan Joy: Pretty Girl. Moments of uniqueness and relevance, but too many moments of imperfection to get my vote. Will miss her.

Scott McIntyre: Okay don't kill me, but Scott is workin' on my last good nerve. He's not a good singer and his performance of the "You Can't Hurry Love" couldn't be over fast enough for me.

This should really not be about pity. When Stevie Wonder sings I don't feel bad about him being blind, I am moved by his voice to tears. If you can do that to me, you've got my vote.

Kris Allen: Good-looking boy, nothing special on the vocal or guitar end. Seen many like him in the Brooklyn folk scene, but so many other deserve to be there instead of him. He's got the girls, and that could keep him up there until the last 4. But let's make room for the real Idols.

Adam Lambert: Phenomenal Singing Voice, hard to imagine on the radio. Has to have great writers or he could be doomed. High voices are tough to place on radio these days. I appreciate his raw singing talent, and his looks are cool. But, I liked the Chris Isaac/Elvis look better than the emo-rock look.

Allison Iraheta: I got one word for this girl. Powerhouse. She will get signed no matter what, and I'll buy her records. At 16, she has the singing voice of a seasoned 27 year-old. She makes Anne Wilson's toes curl, and has knowledge about music that can only come from one divine place...look up! Can you imagine what she'll sound like in 3 years? It's sick. In my Top 3.

Matt Giraud: Matt is amazing. I love him as a singer and he seems like an ultra cool guy. I think he might overdo the trills here and there, but he's got to be a top runner in this, and he WILL get a deal because he's got chops. Playing an instrument helps because it adds that "I can write my own shit" vibe to the whole thing. Diggin' him.

In my top three.

Lil rounds: Now here's a great singer, destined to make records, but is she unique enough? Better song choices will help. She's reminds me of Oleta Adams, but minus the killer low range. If she can nail a couple ballads in the next few bouts, she'll be one to be reckoned with. Love me some LIL.

Danny Gokey: In my top three and the potential winner! Danny has that smokey sound that fiends who put away 15 packs of cigarettes a day can't achieve. He commands the microphone, and is completely relevant. Now the weight thing, the hair...I can do without. His stylist needs to re-think his appearance for the next few shows. This is critical. And, the fact that he shot himself in the foot about his clumsy dancing didn't help. If you say "yeah, I can't dance," people will not only believe it but they'll look to see how badly you move the next time you're on that stage.

It's getting good out there kids. While American Idol is formulaic and predictable at times, you can't help but be sucked in.

And, It's a fun night too– you relax, you order a pizza, and watch someone's dream come true–Not bad for free television.

Who do you like & why? Blog all you want about it! And, be honest, your Facebook friends won't mind!

We're only a day away from the the next round.

Written by Paul Brighton
www.auditionportal.com

Michael Sarver leaves American Idol

2009-03-30T06:02:00.000-07:00

Michael Sarver sang “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” on his way out of the Top 10. He talks about singing for his life, the pressure to go country and that now-famous signature grin during a post-elimination interview.

During the preliminaries, Simon Cowell pleaded with America to vote for Michael Sarver, this season’s “nice guy,” an oil rig worker from Texas who sang “Thank You” by Boyz II Men during his first audition. But the judges declined to bring him back.

Sarver is still smiling.

How are you feeling after last night’s events?
Feeling great. I am a very happy man.

How do you feel about the judges’ decision not to save you?

I’m OK with it. They have to make a decision based on what they believe the future of the show holds. If they thought that I wasn’t quite winning material, then that’s the decision they had to make, and I respect it. Do I believe that I still have what it takes to win? Absolutely. I believe I’m a winner.

The judges didn’t make their decision immediately when you were done “singing for your life.” Were you surprised by theier vote?

It was actually very cool that they had to think about it. They hadn’t thought so hard with other contestants. I was very, very complimented by the fact that they did think about it, and that whatever I did last night made them think about it. That tells me I do have what it takes to impact the world musically. That was very encouraging.

You sat through a few Judges’ Save decisions in “American Idol”?

I think the Saves are a good idea. The idea that they can pull someone out of the fire, who they really believe in their hearts doesn’t belong there, for whatever reason, someone they believe really deserves a second shot? Absolutely.

So you didn’t mind “singing for your life”?

No, because I didn’t sing for my life hoping to God that maybe they would save me. I sang for my life because if that was going to be my last chance to sing on the show, it was going to be the best I could give it. The fans deserve as much as I can bring.

Do you feel like you made any mistakes during the show?

I would wish that somehow I would have gotten a little better health-wise so I could have done more justice to my song. I was disappointed that I couldn’t give it more than I did. But I did give it all I had.

Wednesday, the night of your performance, Simon said you couldn’t win and you said that you were OK with that. Why did you say that?

Because each week that I was on the show, it was a blessing to get that week. This show is no joke. There is a lot of talent. I didn’t take any moment I had for granted. I was OK with it because if I wasn’t going to win someone really great who I’ve learned to really truly care about is. I’m fulfilled in a way that I can’t even really describe in words. The idea that I might not win the show wasn’t really the most painful thought because too many good things have come from this already.

Did you feel any pressure to go country like the judges seemed to want? You sang “Thank You” by Boyz II Men in your audition and you told us your roots were “R&B and soul” earlier.

Yes. I did feel a little bit of pressure from the media and fans who for some reason put me into that country category. It’s not a bad thing, country is great music. But I will say that my true roots in my heart is R&B and soul, and I plan to explore that.

Do you really smile as much as you do on the show?

I do, I really do. I’m a very fulfilled man. I’ve been screwed up just the same as anyone else, there are things I’m not proud of. But my life is so good right now. I’m blessed beyond words. I have nothing to frown about. My smile is genuine from one end to the other, I’m just a happy man and I just fulfilled a lifelong dream of mine.

Any words for your fans?

For those of my fans that stuck by me through the process and were so loving in the way that they voted for me and sent messages, I will never forget you. I love you and I hope to see you on the road.

What do you want your career to look like after “American Idol”?

I hope within the next year, people see an album come out. I want to record right away. I want to stay fresh. This is an incredible platform and I want to take full advantage of it. I believe I do have fans out there. I made it to top 10 because of them, so I want to give them what they voted for.

And it’d be an R&B-soul album?

It’s really hard to describe -- it’s like R&B, pop, rock and soul. It has everything to do with so many different types of influences in my life. When you come right down to it, it's soul.

"He's a great talent," commented Paul Brighton of Audition Portal.

Audition Advice for Actors

2009-03-29T07:17:00.000-07:00

Be prepared for your audition. This means having asked what , if anything you need to prepare when the audition is first scheduled.

Regardless of what's been asked of you at your audition, an actor should always have a number of monologues ready to go - dramatic, comedic and classical, and be prepared to perform them at any time.

If you have been given sides in advance of your audition, make sure you have done more than read them over, but are extremely familiar with them. This means you can hold onto the sides for reference, but that you should be able to look up from the paper for most of the scene.

Always have several copies of your headshot and resume stapled together for your audition. Chances are they'll only want one, but sometimes they'll ask for a second, especially if you're being seen by a panel. Additionally, if your audition is at a rehearsal studio, you may have the opportunity to submit yourself for other projects that are auditioning there.

Auditions aren't just about seeing if you're talented or a good fit for a role. Auditions are how a casting director and production team determines your professionalism and sees if yuo're the sort of person they want to work with. An audition is a job interview, and the following tips should help it go more smoothly for you.

Always arrive on time. What this really means is always arrive just a little bit early. Allow for delays. If you do arrive very early, don't clutter up the office, audition room or rehearsal studio for more than ten minutes before your audition time. Find somewhere else to wait.

Have a pen with you. You may be asked to fill out an information sheet.

Know your schedule. Be prepared to inform the cating people of any conflicts you may have with the production schedule.

Look your best in a way that fits of the role you are auditioning for, but not costumed.

Be prepared to have your picture taken or the audition video taped.

If the audition is being video taped (this is especially true of film/tv auditions) be prepared to slate. Usually this means stating your name and contact information. Sometimes you'll also be asked to state your age or your height. If you're unsure of what to do when asked to slate, just check what information they want. Deliver your slate succintly; it's not a monologue or a conversation.

Listen. Never, ever interrupt the director of the audition.

Be engaged. Have comments about the material if asked. Or questions.

Be prepared to talk about yourself. Producing entertainment is intense work, and it's important to be able to provide a sense of yourself beyond your acting ambiion. What matters to you as a person besides the results of the next five minutes.

Understand and be ready to speak to your goals as an actor. What type of work do you love most? What are your career goals? What previous work of yours have you ben the most proud of?

Be prepared to take direction at your audition. You may be asked to do your monologue or scene in several ways.

Be fearless. An audition is not a moment to ask permission.

Be polite. This includes not finding excuses to linger in the room after your audition is done. It's an old trick, and highly annoying. Always say thank you when you leave.

Wear clothes you can easily move in. Avoid all black unless you are sure the audition space is not a black box theater.

Do not apologize for yourself or make excuses. If you mess up a line in your audition monologue, keep going. If you have a cold, ignore it. Performers perform under difficult circumstances all the time. Part of the job description is being able to do so.

Try to think like a director. If not told specifically where to present your audition from, be sure not to get too close to the table. Provide a picture of yourself on stage or in the frame.

Careful about audition follow up phone calls. A phone call could backfire against you in an audition situation, simply because the producers and directors would have to stop everything to take your phone call and follow up with you. It's not that they don't want to. The sheer numbers of people auditioning would make this very impractical for them, and make you look desperate. Then you have two potential strikes against you.

The odds are overwhelming at each acting audition, but there's no getting away from it. The acting audition will often be a large part of an actor's life while he or she is trying to get established. Make each acting audition a learning experience or something to remember, and don't worry about following up. If who you really are and your passion and sparkle shine through, you may even get more producers that follow up with you on their own.

Most importantly, be sure to have fun. Joy is exciting and exciting gets hired. An audition is an opportunity to do what you love - perform. It's nervewracking, but it's part of your job, and it's a challenge you should learn to enjoy.

Audition for American Idol

2009-03-29T06:15:00.000-07:00

So you want to be an American Idol? The road to fame and fortune is a tough one.

Keep in mind that if you manage to get in from of Randy, Simon and Paula, chances are the self-esteem you've spent a lifetime amassing will be handily destroyed in a matter of seconds. And even if you make it past that obstacle to somehow sneak into the actual competition, your chances of actually becoming America's next Idol are virtually nonexistent.

So you've made the decision to try out for American Idol. Good luck. Your choice is a tough one.

But before you consider an American Idol audition you should realize a few things. One, you're in for hours upon hours of waiting, all for roughly 15 seconds of actual singing in front of people who are not Randy, Simon and Paula. Two, your chances of actually making it in front of Randy, Simon and Paula are slim to none, and way closer to none.

The Preliminary Auditions is where it all begins. Usually American Idol holds auditions in seven different cities, strategically spread out across the country. No matter where you live, chances are you'll be relatively close to an audition location.

Now the first audition is basically a cattle call. You will be one of thousands of people who arrive at some large venue with one goal: Make it big. Most of these people are extremely determined. Many of them have been singing or performing for most of their lives. Few people make the trip to an American Idol audition on a whim.

At this preliminary audition, you will most likely be waiting outside of a large venue like a stadium. There will be metal barricades set up, and long lines of hopefuls in between them. It could be raining out. Be prepared for foul weather.

You can't camp overnight inside or outside of any of the venues. Most of the auditions begin at 8 a.m., but in most cities you can't line up before 6 a.m. And even if you are in line by 8 a.m., there's still no guarantee you'll actually get to audition.

If you live far from the venue, your best bet is to stay at a nearby hotel the night before and plan to arrive to the audition sometime after 6 but before 8 in the morning. And if you live close by, plan to leave plenty of time for traffic to the venue. Lots of traffic. Last year about 12,000 contestants came to the auditions at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Ma, just south of Boston!

During this first audition, keep in mind that you will be singing in front of the show's producers, not the show's Big Three. This doesn't mean it's any less important, but if you were looking forward to catching a glimpse of Randy, Simon and Paula at the first audition, it's not going to happen.

You will only have about 15-30 seconds during your audition to impress the producers. They take in about three people at a time so it's basically a drive-thru version of an audition, very quick. You don't have a lot of time to make a first impression.

Keep in mind that looks obviously do matter, so you should look your best. Emphasis on YOUR best. Don't try to fit in with some style you think American Idol will like. Instead, be the best youcan be. Look attractive, but your version of it. A good look could sway a judge who's on the fence about you. An over-the-top appearance could make them cringe and shoo you away when they otherwise might have said yes.

Of course, you could always make it through to the next round as one of the gimmick contestants, but I wouldn't take the chance.

FYI, according to the American Idol website you're not allowed to wear any clothing that reveals tattoos, has designer names, sports teams, or any other logos or brand names, or bears the name or likeness of a celebrity.

Song choice: The song you sing is almost as important as how you sing it. Pick the wrong song for your vocal range and it will spell disaster.

Also keep in mind the producers will be hearing some popular songs hundreds, if not thousands, of times. So try to pick a song that is unique and well-suited for you. It's unlikely you'll be able to find a song that no one else will sing, but if you come up with "Fallin'" by Alicia Keys as your best bet, go back to the drawing board. That song is performed about 8,472 times at the typical "American Idol" audition.

Have a main song and two or three backup songs ready in case the producers ask you to sing something else.

Also keep dance moves to a minimum. Better yet, eliminate them altogether. Choregraphy is not going to get you to round two. In fact it's probably a sure way not to get there. Feel the song, yes. Move your body as you see fit. Don't stand there like a paralyzed robot. The judges want to hear your vocals first and foremost. Everything else should support and add to that.

Now if you do make it through this long wait, get the audition and make in onto the next round, congratulations. Here's what to expect next.

Round two of the American Idol auditions will be held in a slightly more intimate location, in or near the city you originally auditioned in. Again, you will still be auditioning in front of the producers, so there will be no Big Three sightings that day. Slightly different rules apply to this round as far as when to arrive and how to check in, which will be given to you if and when you pass the first round.

You will get slightly more time with the producers in this round because there will be far less people to audition, but not that much more time. You still have to bring your 'A' game and look sharp. Beyond that I really don't have much advice. Once you get into that room, you're just going to have to conjure up that same magic that got you through the first time. Remember the tips about song choice and dance moves, or a lack thereof.

Now on the rare chance you actually do make it past this round, you're almost in for the big time.

Round three isn't really the big-time, yet. But you will be auditioning in front of Randy, Simon and Paula, so if nothing else you'll have that feather in your cap. This round includes about 100 to 200 contestants from each city. The auditions take place in or near the original audition city.

In Boston last year they were held at a upscale venue and there was definitely a buzz in the air. TV cameras were everywhere and Ryan Seacrest was busy interviewing contestants. Some people came out of the audition rooms looking dejected and forlorn. Others came out screaming maniacally, obviously going on to Hollywood.

This is the round where you need to step up your game. Whatever you were wearing before, get a better outfit. Get a hairstylist, or someone really good at doing hair. Get someone who knows about makeup and put them to work. At this level everyone is pretty talented. You're going to have to be the total American Idol package - voice, looks and personality.

Now obviously the judges are looking first and foremost for talent. But they're also looking for someone to appeal to a mainstream audience. And that doesn't mean you have to be boring or typical, or perfect. Just look at Clay Aiken. A lot of times the Big Three are looking for something slightly spunky and atypical that might spark interest in the crowd.

Now if you ace it at this audition and they like what you've brought, you're onto the Hollywood Round, sort of like a boot camp where over 100 contestants are whittled down to the Top 24, or whatever number American Idol decides on to compete in the performance section of the show.

Keep in mind that to make it to Hollywood you only need two out of three votes from the judges. So if Simon says no, which he probably will, it's no big deal, as long as Randy and Paula like you.

And even if you don't move on, hey, at least you made it that far, and you might make it onto the infamous "American Idol" audition footage.

The Hollywood Round is the final step before actually making it onto the performance episodes of American Idol. All of the contestants that got the green light from the Big Three in each of the seven audition cities will be here. The competition will be stiff. You'll stay, not surprisingly, in Hollywood, and you won't have much communication with your friends or family. You will be extremely busy, as you will be rehearsing, competing, sight-seeing, making friends, and possibly getting eliminated in this round.

At this point I don't really have much advice for you besides keep doing what you've been doing. If you've made it this far they obviously like what you have to offer, and it's just a matter of consistently doing your best.

As a final note, when I attended the American Idol press conference in Boston last year after the third round of auditions, the judges couldn't use the word "talent" enough. Yes, the audition footage shows emphasize the quirky, the strange and the downright bizarre, but those are the contestants who are used for their comedic appeal and then cast aside.

As a word of caution, don't necessarily trust the opinions of your friends and family. After all, they're your friends and family. You be the judge of your own talent. Then decide if you're good enough to let someone else be, as well.

What the judges are looking for on American Idol is someone who brings something unique and captivating to the table. Obviously they're looking for someone who can appeal to a large audience. So before even embarking on your audition you'd be wise to objectively assess your own talent.

Don't be one of those contestants who sounds like a awful but postulates about conspiracy theories when they get rejected by the judges. Ask yourself honestly if you really are good enough to be on a national singing/performing competition. Record yourself, if you haven't already, and then listen back and see what you think. Compare it to what you've heard on American Idol, the radio, and MTV.

In the end it’s all up to you, to fingers crossed!