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PureAGT Season 8, Episode #7 Music List – Hodgepodge from Several Audition Cities

 Last of the music from the audition rounds…enjoy! 🙂

“Can You Feel It” by The JacksonsCan You Feel It - Triumph (opening montage of clips from all the cities; judges arrive in San Antonio)
“Los Machetes” by Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán Los Machetes - Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán: 12 Grandes Exitos, Vol. 2(Mestizo Ballet Folklorico performance)
“Baby” by Justin BieberBaby - My World 2.0 (Bonus Track Version) (Mestizo gets 4 yes’s)
“Feel Again” by OneRepublic Feel Again - Native (Deluxe Version)(montage of good audtions)
“Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol Chasing Cars - Eyes Open(Tavi & Antonio performance)
“Live Like We’re Dying” by Kris AllenLive Like We're Dying - Live Like We're Dying - Single (Timber Brown intro & 4 yes’s)
“Skyscraper” by Demi Lovato Skyscraper - Unbroken(Skilyr intro & 4 yes’s)
“Dr. Beat” by Miami Sound MachineDr. Beat - Eyes of Innocence (judges joking; Dr. Baker intro)
“You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” by Bachman-Turner OverdriveYou Ain't Seen Nothing Yet - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Bachman-Turner Overdrive (montage of bad auditions)
“Let’s Get it On” by Marvin GayLet's Get It On - Number 1's: Marvin Gaye (Secrete Emotion performance)
“Whiskey Lullaby” by Brad Paisley feat. Allison Krauss Whiskey Lullaby (feat. Alison Krauss) - Mud On the Tires(cover performed by Milton Patton)
“Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts Bless the Broken Road - Feels Like Today(Milton Patton intro & 4 yes’s)
“(They Long to Be) Close to You” by The Carpenters(They Long to Be) Close to You - Close to You (Howard is America’s judge; Jetta intro)
“Hot Stuff” by Donna Summer Hot Stuff - Greatest Hits(cover performed by Jetta)
“Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” by StarshipNothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - Platinum & Gold Collection: Starship (Jetta gets rejected; ending montage of audition clips)

July 11, 2013 I Written By

Ultrasound specialist by day, entertainment blogger by night - with some amateur dancer, hair & makeup enthusiast, crazy cat lady, recreational chef, and Donnie Wahlberg/Norman Reedus fangirl peppered in to make things interesting ;-) Check out some of my other work over at puredwts.com!

PureAGT Season 8 Audition Round Rundown #7 – A Little Bit of Everything!

And so ends the auditions rounds this season 🙂 Tonight’s episode seemed to be a hodgepodge of auditions from each of the cities – saw some from San Antonio, some from New York, some from New Orleans, some from L.A…not sure about Chicago, but there was probably a few from Chicago, too. Overall, it felt like a nice close to the audition rounds…now who’s ready for Vegas week??? 😀

Mestizo Ballet Folklorico – ages 3-11
The act: Three young brothers doing a mariachi dance with machetes (butter knives for the little one 😉 ).
The verdict: Judges gushed about how cute the littlest one, Mateo, was – and sent them through to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: Can someone please clone Mateo and let me have one??? My god, that kid was adorable – that cute little voice, and how happy he was dancing with his brothers with his little butter knives 😛 The act was cute, but I’m not sure they can really do a whole lot more with it – I have a feeling Vegas will probably as far as they get. But as long as we get to see more of Mateo, I’m good.

Aquanauts
The act: A synchronized swimming act.
The verdict: Judges said yes to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: We only got to see a brief clip, but it seemed entertaining enough. Not sure if it will translate well to the live show, but I guess we’ll see.

Kevin Downey Jr.
The act: A stand-up comedian that cracked jokes about peeing in pools.
The verdict: He’s through to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: I didn’t think his joke was particularly hilarious, and of course we only got to see that one joke. Probably the weakest we’ve seen in the comedy category – I doubt he’ll make it past Vegas.

Tavi & Antonio
The act: They’re male aerialists that performed a love-themed aerial act.
The verdict: Judges loved it and put them through to Vegas – and Howie & Howard were inspired to get a little lovey-dovey themselves.
Court’s thoughts: While I wasn’t particularly impressed with the aerial stuff they were doing (the acrobat category is REALLY strong this season!), I do give them props for going against the grain and having a male-male aerial duo – not only is it unexpected, but it also probably gives them an edge in what they can do, since they have two people with a lot of upper body strength.

Timber Brown – age 28
The act: He’s an aerial pole artist that performed a series of dramatic strength moves and drops on a really tall pole.
The verdict: Mel recused herself from voting, since she knew him from when she did Peepshow in Vegas a few years ago. The other 3 said yes.
Court’s thoughts: This is the strongest pole artist we’ve seen since Steven Retchless two seasons ago – and this guy seems like he could be even stronger. Excited to see what else he’s got up his sleeve 🙂

Skilyr Hicks – age 14
The act: She played the guitar and sang an original song called “Brand New Day”, which was inspired by her father’s death a few years ago.
The verdict: Judges loved her voice and her songwriting talent – and put her through to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: She reminds me of a young Natalie Merchant – she’s got this gentle, unique-sounding voice, and she’s yet another talented songwriter…this year has really become the year of the songwriter! I think she could probably use some work on her stage presence, since she seemed quite nervous; however, I think she’s got more natural talent than Olivia Rox, who I forsee her being pitted against for a spot in the live shows.

Dr. Bob Baker – age 61
The act: He’s a gastroenterologist by day, and a ventriloquist with a talking colon puppet by night.
The verdict: Howard recused himself from voting, since Dr. Bob was actually his doctor. The other three thought it was kind of funny, but not right for AGT…and gave him 3 no’s.
Court’s thoughts: As someone with a mother who suffers from Crohn’s disease, I’ve seen my fair share of gastroenterologists – and I can appreciate one who has a good sense of humor 🙂 It may not have been AGT-worthy, but I thought it was a cute, amusing little ditty.

Lindsay the Hula Belching Girl
The act: Pretty self-explanatory – she belched really loud while hula-hooping.
The verdict: 4 swift and emphatic no’s from the judges.
Court’s thoughts: Just…WHY???!

Jesus B-Ball
The act: I didn’t quite understand what exactly his talent was, but I guess he had studied the physics of shooting free throws and had discovered the formula for a perfect one.
The verdict: Jesus brought up two guys (who I think were college basketball players) and had them each successfully shoot a free throw using his technique – however, when he attempted it himself, he missed. Consequently, judges said “no” to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: Sorry kids, while I acknowledge that it takes a lot of talent to be a good teacher, I don’t think teaching the audience how to do [insert task here] is really a talent that works on AGT. You’re better off just doing it yourself…and poor Jesus just couldn’t.

Secrete Emotion
The act: She’s a sort-of beat poet that recited an erotic poem as Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get it On” played.
The verdict: Judges seemed a little uncomfortable, and Nick got a little hot ‘n’ bothered – it was a no to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: I’d rather read my erotic smut out of a drugstore romance novel in the privacy of my own home, than to have someone else recite it to me in front of a live audience.

Milton Patton – age 21, from Arkansas
The act: He performed a cover of “Whiskey Lullaby” by Brad Paisley.
The verdict: Judges loved his country vocals and his connection to the song and put him through to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: I think this is one of those pleasant cases of “WOW! That’s not at all what I expected him to sound like!” Admittedly, upon seeing that he was an African American guy singing country, I think in my mind I automatically thought he’d sound like Darius Rucker – basically more of a soul vocalist just singing country songs. But this guy is a legit country vocalist – he’s got the right twang to really sound great singing country. I think nerves and emotions may have gotten the better of him, because he sounded a little shaky at times, but I’m excited to see what else we’re going to hear from him. I daresay Marty Brown & Jimmy Rose just found themselves some big competition!

Jetta – age 63
The act: She sang “Hot Stuff” by Donna Summer.
The verdict: It was terribly off-key and I think even Jetta knew it – then again, I think she only auditioned so she could meet Howard. It was a no to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: Oh well. I can deal with one act per season that only tried out so they could meet one of the judges 😛

And that’s it for the audition rounds! Who were your favorites from tonight? Keep an eye out in the coming days, as I’ll be doing some Vegas week predictions before things kick off on Tuesday night 🙂

July 10, 2013 I Written By

Ultrasound specialist by day, entertainment blogger by night - with some amateur dancer, hair & makeup enthusiast, crazy cat lady, recreational chef, and Donnie Wahlberg/Norman Reedus fangirl peppered in to make things interesting ;-) Check out some of my other work over at puredwts.com!

PureAGT Season 8, Episode #6 Music List – L.A./New Orleans/New York Auditions

 Here it is…enjoy! For those who were searching for the name of the song SenSetion performed to – I’m still looking for it.  Bear with me 🙂

“The Final Countdown” by EuropeThe Final Countdown - The Final Countdown (episode open)
“Clarity” by Zed feat. Foxes Clarity (feat. Foxes) - Clarity(L.A. intro/judges arrive in L.A.)
“Firework” by Katy PerryFirework - Teenage Dream (Olivia Rox intro/4 yes’s)
“As Long as You Love Me” by Justin BieberAs Long As You Love Me (Acoustic Version) - Believe Acoustic (cover performed by Oliva Rox)
“Sympathy for the Devil” by The Rolling StonesSympathy for the Devil - Beggars Banquet (Howie arrives late in L.A.)
“Mahna Mahna” by Inside OutMahna Mahna - Sharing Time (Ronald gets rejected; montage of bad auditions)
“All By Myself” by Eric CarmenAll By Myself - Eric Carmen (Howie wanders around the venue)
“We Go Together” from GreaseWe Go Together - Grease (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) (Howie finally reaches the judges’ table)
“The Flower Duet” by Katherine JenkinsThe Flower Duet - Katherine Jenkins: The Ultimate Collection  (Tummy Talk intro)
“I Love It” by Icona Pop I Love It (feat. Charli XCX) - Iconic - EP(Tummy Talk gets through to Vegas)
“Die Young” by Ke$haDie Young - Warrior (Deluxe Version) (Fresh Faces performance)
“Alive” by KrewellaAlive - Play Hard - EP (aerial ice act & 4 yes’s)
Lights” by Ellie GouldingLights (Single Version) - Lights (SenSetion intro & 3 yes’s)
“Let the Good Times Roll” by B.B. King Let the Good Times Roll - Let the Good Times Roll: the Music of Louis Jordan(New Orleans intro)
“It Takes Two” by Marvin Gaye & Kim WestonIt Takes Two - Gold: Marvin Gaye(Yasha & Daniela intro & 4 yes’s)
“Shake Señora” by Pitbull feat. T-Pain and Sean PaulShake Senora (feat. T-Pain & Sean Paul) - Planet Pit (Deluxe Version) (Yasha & Daniela samba; Howard & Heidi dance together)
“Proud Mary” by Tina TurnerProud Mary - All the Best - The Hits (Yasha & Daniela jive)
“#thatPOWER” by will.i.am feat. Justin Bieber#thatPOWER (feat. Justin Bieber) - #willpower (Deluxe) (aerial balloon act)
“Home” by Blake SheltonHome - Loaded: The Best of Blake Shelton (Jimmy Rose intro & 4 yes’s)
“When the Saints Go Marching In” (Howie & Mel banter about ironing)
“Boom Boom” by John Lee Hooker Boom Boom - Urban Blues (Bonus Track Version)(Captain Explosion intro)
“Takin’ Care of Business” by Bachman-Turner OverdriveTakin' Care of Business - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Bachman-Turner Overdrive (Captain Explosion is ok)
“American Heart” by Faith Hill American Heart - American Heart - Single(Chloe Chanel intro & 4 yes’s)
“All-American Girl” by Carrie Underwood All-American Girl - Carnival Ride(cover performed by Chloe Chanel)
“Physical” by Olivia Newton-JohnPhysical - Physical ( New York intro)
“C’mon Get Happy” by David CassidyC'mon Get Happy - Then and Now (Megan Amigo performance)
“Cold As Ice” by ForeignerCold As Ice - No End In Sight: The Very Best of Foreigner (Remastered) (Heidi is cold; montage of bad auditions)
“Spectrum” by Florence + the MachineSpectrum - Ceremonials (212 Green intro & 4 yes’s)
“Rumour Has It” by AdeleRumour Has It - 21 (cover performed by 212 Green)
“Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey Don't Stop Believin' - Journey: Greatest Hits(Al Harris gets rejected)

I Written By

Ultrasound specialist by day, entertainment blogger by night - with some amateur dancer, hair & makeup enthusiast, crazy cat lady, recreational chef, and Donnie Wahlberg/Norman Reedus fangirl peppered in to make things interesting ;-) Check out some of my other work over at puredwts.com!

PureAGT Season 8 Audition Round Rundown #6 – L.A./New Orleans/New York Auditionss

Well, if nothing else, tonight saw the greatest amount of dissent amongst the judges as we’ve seen all season – seems like we had a lot of 3-against-1 situations when it came down to the vote, and Howie was often the lone dissenter.  He also showed up late to the L.A. auditions, and spent an awful lot of time wandering around the venue, pretending to be lost.  He’s special 🙂

Gonna go ahead and do the L.A. auditions tonight; look for the New Orleans and New York ones tomorrow.

Los Angeles:

Olivia Rox – age 14
The actSang and played an acoustic cover of Justin Bieber’s “As Long as You Love Me”.
The verdictAll three judges (minus Howie, who was still MIA at that point) said yes, but Mel cautioned her to be careful not to get too crazy when covering a song.
Court’s thoughts: Wow…she had the coolest-sounding, gravelly voice.  It’s what I might have imagined Florence Welch from Florence + The Machine might have sounded like as a teenager.  Loved the fact that she took a pretty lame song and turned it into a cool, edgy one.  But I do agree with Mel a bit – she did seem to really vacillate a lot between barely whispering the song and then belting it out full force.  Maybe tone it down just a bit.  I get the feeling we’re going to see her pitted against Anna Christine for a spot in the live shows.

Ronald Farnham – age 44
The actHe threw toilet plungers at a line of men with no shirts off, hoping to make them stick.
The verdictOnly one plunger actually stuck to its intended target, and Howard, Heidi, & Mel all said no…but they did remark that, had Howie been there, he probably would have said yes.
Court’s thoughts: I think this was nothing more than a case of “Hmmm, I want to be on tv.  What’s the quickest and easiest way to accomplish that goal? I KNOW! I just need to come up with some stupid act for AGT.” It’s acts like these that leave me a bit chagrined to the fact that AGT’s format is a bit of a double-edged sword: it leaves the door open for cool, unique acts to get some exposure, but it also tends to inadvertently invite bozos like this guy to come and just waste time and say they’ve been on national television.

Harry Kurtz – age 62
The actHe was rapping…about something.  Lord knows what.
The verdict: 3 no’s.
Court’s thoughts: Just another time-killer.

Mr. Television
The act: A guy telling corny puns behind a tv screen.
The verdictNo X 3.
Court’s thoughts: Was tonight the night of the bad pun? They seemed to be everywhere I turned.  Ack.

Tummy Talk – ages 26-31
The actThree guys rhythmically slapping a shirtless sumo wrestler as if he were a drum.
The verdictHoward wasn’t feeling it and said no, but the other 3 said yes.
Court’s thoughts: As ridiculous as this act sounds on paper, I actually found it pretty entertaining.  I get the feeling the guys doing the slapping probably have some sort of drumming experience, because they were actually creating some pretty complex patterns and rhythms – it sounded cool, even if it was the sound of hands slapping against jiggly flesh.  😛 I guess I just kind of feel sorry for the guy being slapped, although he didn’t look too much worse for the wear after it was all over.  A little red, maybe, but not upset.  I doubt these guys will make it to the live shows, but I don’t mid watching them one more time in Vegas.

Fresh Faces
The act5 adolescent girls doing a dance/gymnastics routine to “Die Young” by Ke$ha.
The verdictJudges loved it and said yes to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: I was actually really impressed with how in sync these girls were – add to that the fact that they were doing some pretty tough shows of flexibility, and I wouldn’t mind seeing them perform again in Vegas.  Very cute girls, very cute act, very AGT-friendly.

Jim Meskimen
The actHe’s an impressionist that imitated Robert DeNiro, Robin Williams, and Ricky Gervais.
The verdictJudges praised how spot-on the impressions were and said yes to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: I think Angela Hoover just met her biggest competition this season – and unfortunately for her, I think this guy is better.  I think what put him ahead for me was that he really seemed to embrace the mannerisms of the celebs he was imitating – he was pulling faces like DeNiro and flailing around like Robin Williams.  Angela’s good, but I think this guy is GREAT.  I could totally see him in the live shows.

“Sword-Swallowing Breakdancer”Alex Magala
The act: A guy swallowed a sword, then proceeded to breakdance while it was still down his throat.
The verdictJudges loved the danger factor – he’s through to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: It was a bit odd for me – I don’t know that the sword swallowing part was significantly improved by the dancing, and vice-versa.  It just seemed like a “I’m gonna swallow a sword before I dance just so I can say I was thinking out of the box and being creative”.  That said, this guy actually seemed like a pretty good dancer – except that he was maybe moving a bit too cautiously due to the sword in his throat.  Not sure if I really think this one is live show-worthy…

“Aerial/Skating act”Aerial Ice
The actTwo couples performing pairs figure skating lifts & tricks, while a third couple did aerial work suspended above the “ice rink”.
The verdictJudges were blown away, especially by the fact that AGT has never had an ice skating act before.  They’re through to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: My favorite audition of the night – this really was a genius act.  Sure, we’ve had aerialists and acrobats and couples doing lifts – but none of them were doing it while wearing skates.  Loved the combination of artistry and technique, and I really want them to make it to the live shows.

SenSetion
The actThey’re another “lights out” dance act that incorporates dancing with images projected onto blocks.
The verdictHeidi said it made her bored and said no.  Howard wanted more dance, but along with Mel & Howie, ended up saying yes to put them through to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: *sigh* Ok, the whole “let’s dance in the dark with lasers!” act is getting a bit tired for me.  It was cool when Fighting Gravity did it in season 5; it was still kind of neat when Team iLuminate did it in season 6; it was getting a little old when Lightwire Theater did it last season; and now? I’m not sure America really wants another dance/optics act.  It was cool and fun to watch, no doubt – but I do agree with Howard that there could have been more dancing, and that they really need to work on their act a bit more.  They have a good idea; they just need to really flesh it out more.  Unless they blow the judges out of the water in Vegas, I don’t see them moving onto the live rounds.

New Orleans:

Yasha & Daniela – ages 9 & 8
The act: They’re ballroom dancing kids that performed a samba/jive medley to “Shake Senora” by Pitbull and “Proud Mary” by Tina Turner.
The verdict: Judges thought they were adorable and put them through to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: Ok, here’s another opinion of mine that probably won’t be popular: I actually thought these two were kind of sloppy compared to D’Angelo & Amanda and Jonas & Ruby. Very cute, and good stage presence, but I don’t think their skill level is up to snuff with what the Castros are doing this season. And I still think that only one ballroom act is going to make it through to the live shows this season – and my money’s on D’Angelo & Amanda.

Aerosphere
The act:A girl in an aerial balloon floated over the audience, do all sorts of twists & turns.
The verdict: Judges praised her uniqueness and said yes to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: We only got to see a brief clip, so I’m not sure if she did more than what was shown, but it just seemed to me like she’s another aerialist…just doing the same stuff while hanging from a balloon. It was cool, but I don’t know that the balloon made it particularly special.

Jimmy Rose – age 32, from Pikeville, KY
The act: Jimmy played the guitar and sang an original song called “Coal Keeps the Lights On”.
The verdict: Judges were amazed at his talent and said yes to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: What a beautiful, vulnerable performance. This year is quickly becoming the year of the original song, and I thought this one was fantastic – loved how he incorporated his coal mining background into his music. I also loved his voice – it was a little shaky at times, but it’s the kind of country vocal that is sought after by so many and I feel like this guy is a natural. At this point, I’d actually pick Jimmy over Marty Brown for the live shows – I feel like Jimmy’s a bit more organic and has more of a natural talent.

Abel Marillo – age 50
The act: Yet another “homemade instrument” act.
The verdict: No’s across the board.
Court’s thoughts: Not only am I kind of over the whole “hey, let’s make instruments out of household items!” act, but it seemed like half this guy’s instruments didn’t even really work.

Captain Explosion – age 65
The act: He exploded a box…while he was inside of it.
The verdict: Judges were split – Howie & Mel said yes, Howard & Heidi said no. No Vegas for him.
Court’s thoughts: Was it kind of cool that he managed to survive an explosion? Sure. But I’m not really sure that there was any way this could have been parlayed into an entire Vegas show – what would he do? Just sit in random objects and explode them and then wave at the audience? Cool that he does this, but I think this is better as a one-time thing.

Chloe Chanel – age 11, from Pensacola, FL
The act: Chloe sang “All American Girl” by Carrie Underwood.
The verdict: Judges praised her voice and put her through to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: I think this girl’s got a very natural, god-given singing voice. Definitely nice to listen to. But I feel like she really has no stage presence whatsoever – she just seemed to stand there, eerily staring at the audience, as she sang. If she wants to get past Vegas, I think she’s going to have to learn to move a bit more naturally onstage – she’s got a great personality offstage, so why not use it when she’s performing?

New York:

Megan Amigo – age 21
The act: She’s a self-described contortionist/belly dancer…and she’s a tad kooky.
The verdict: Judges liked her contortions, but found the belly dancing “corny”. Howie was a yes, the rest were a no.
Court’s thoughts: I admire her optimistic attitude and some of the creative contorting she was doing – but the kooky vibe and equally kooky music were lost on me.

Johnny Jetpack
The act: A puppeteering act where a little boy puppet got swallowed by a giant squirrel puppet.
The verdict: Do you even need to ask?
Court’s thoughts: If I had seen a puppet show like this when I was a kid, I would have been scarred for life.

Distraxion
The act: A “human puppet” and contortion act.
The verdict: I think the judges were having a hard time taking this one seriously, and it was an obvious no.
Court’s thoughts: Again…how do people dream this stuff up???

“Speed ice sculpting group”
The act: Ice sculptors with chain saws that carved ice really, really fast.
The verdict: No.
Court’s thoughts: I actually thought this was kind of cool (no pun intended), and may have fared better if they had put a twist on it like David Garabaldi & His CMYK’s last season.

“Girl Making Animal Noises”
The act: An attractive blonde that was making some alarmingly spot-on animal noises – pigs, donkeys, dogs, etc.
The verdict: No, no, no, no.
Court’s thoughts: Does she get a lot of dates with this act? 😛

212 Green – ages 14-22, from Harlem, NY
The act: A band that performed a rock/soul cover of Adele’s “Rumour Has It”.
The verdict: Judges (especially Mel B, who saw some of herself in the kids) loved them and put them through to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: What a talented, gorgeous group of kids. I know the lead singer was talking about how tough it was growing up biracial and looking different than everyone else, but both she and her sister and brother? STUNNING. And they’ve got this very bohemian, artsy vibe about them – they seem to be a group that fuses different styles together well. Loved the rap section the brother did in the middle, loved the fact that the girls were evoking a sort of Motown girl group-vibe with the choreography they were doing at the mics. One group I’m excited to see in the live show 🙂

Al Harris – age 64, from Long Island, NY
The act: The second “corny pun” comedy act of the evening.
The verdict: No’s across the board – but the judges did seem to get a good chuckle out of it.
Court’s thoughts: I was irritated with this guy at first – the puns were corny, and it got old fast. But then, as I watched the judges try in vain to get this guy off the stage, and he just kept going…then I started to laugh. Gotta admire his persistence 😛 Normally I have no use for bad acts, but this one did make me grin a bit.

So who were your favorite acts from last night’s episode? Tune in tonight for the last audition show of the season before Vegas!!!

July 9, 2013 I Written By

Ultrasound specialist by day, entertainment blogger by night - with some amateur dancer, hair & makeup enthusiast, crazy cat lady, recreational chef, and Donnie Wahlberg/Norman Reedus fangirl peppered in to make things interesting ;-) Check out some of my other work over at puredwts.com!

PureAGT Audition Round Rundown #1 – San Antonio/New York/L.A. Auditions

Woohoo! A highly entertaining kickoff to season 8, if I do say so myself 🙂  A nice mix of good acts that actually made it through to Vegas, with a few trainwrecky auditions peppered in to make things interesting.  Heidi & Mel seem to be gelling well with Howie & Howard, and Heidi seems to have taken on the role of the “sweet” judge that makes all the contestants feel welcome…but that doesn’t mean she’s afraid to hit her buzzer, either. So far, Mel has been quieter than I thought she’d be, but we’re only one episode in.  Howie continues to be a bit of an oddball judge, who is often the lone dissenter when the other judges vote a certain way.  Thought it was a bit odd that they only showed us 2 auditions from San Antonio before skipping ahead to New York & L.A., but judging from the previews from next week, it looks like they’re back in San Antonio for more auditions.

For the audition rounds, I’m just going to go through each act in the order it aired, and give a quick summary (to jog everyone’s memory and my own – it’s easy to lose track of some of the acts during a 2-hour show!), and give some of my own input on what I think of them.  Since tonight’s episode spanned auditions in 3 different cities, I’ve broken the acts up by audition city as well.  For acts whose name wasn’t provided, I simply gave them an identifying nickname – i.e. “Asian male aerialist” or “girls’ clogging group”.  I’ll try to figure out any missing details and update you guys as I find them 😉

And I do apologize for not getting this up immediately after the show aired last night – while I’ve become accustomed to cranking out recaps of the 2-hour DWTS performance show within an hour of the broadcast ending, I had forgotten how much information gets crammed into a 2-hour AGT audition show…and while I had this post 75% done last night, I was tired, and I didn’t want to half-ass my way through the rest just because I was sleepy.  So here it is – thanks for bearing with me as I get accustomed to PureAGT 🙂

San Antonio:

David “The Cobra Kid” Weathers – 35 years old, from Hollywood, FL
The act: He does dangerous stuff with dangerous snakes – for his audition, he brought along the “meanest rattlesnake he’s got” and taunted it into striking (and subsequently popping) a balloon he held in his mouth.
The verdict: All 4 judges loved it and said yes – he’s through to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: Danger acts are great and I think they definitely have a place on AGT – but the one problem I have with them is that many of them end up kind of one-dimensional, without much to expand on from round to round.  Don’t get me wrong, some manage to parlay a rather limited “danger skill” into several different performances, each with an interesting twist to it (Ben Blaque, the crossbow act from last season, comes to mind) – but the majority seem to run out of truly different things to do after the Vegas round.  I’m afraid David might fall into latter camp – how much more is he going to be able to do with these snakes? I’m interested to see, but I can’t say I’m terribly optimistic that he’s going to continue to wow beyond Vegas.

Marty Brown – 47, from Franklin, KY
The act: He’s a country singer who performed “Make You Feel My Love” while playing the guitar.
The verdict: The judges all commented on how they were “pleasantly surprised” by how great of a performer he was, and loved that his wife had to trick him into coming to audition.  4 yes’s – see you in Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: Easygoing, down-to-earth country boy with guitar skills and a voice reminiscent of Garth Brooks? He’s a pretty safe bet, methinks – but if he really wants to separate himself from what I imagine will be yet another large group of male singers this season, he’s gonna need to step out of the country box a bit…maybe sing something more “mainstream” with a bit of a country twist to it?

 

New York:

Miu – 31, from Japan
The act: Well…I think she was trying to be the Japanese iteration of Lady Gaga, so she was flailing around to “Born this Way” in typical Gaga attire: spiked bra, sparkly hot pants, some platform boots, and what looked like metallic cinnamon rolls on her shoulders.
The verdict: If you couldn’t guess from the description of the act alone, she didn’t make it through – she got early buzzes & no’s from Howard, Mel, & Heidi, in that order; Howie was the lone hold-out, and gave her a yes.
Court’s thoughts: It’s times like these where I really worry about Howie’s sense of judgement – I get the feeling tonight is not the only time this season where we’re going to see the 3 other judges giving a resounding “NO!” to a bad act, with Howie sitting there saying “I actually loved it…so it’s a yes for me!”

“The Animal”
The act: Errrr…it was a guy…and I guess he was trying to act like some sort of growling animal?
The verdict: Mel buzzed him before he even performed, and it was “NO!” across the board.
Court’s thoughts: Well, at least he had nice abs…if I were him, I would have quickly segued into a male revue-type act midway through the boo’s, and at least tried to salvage the performance 😛

“The Alien Wearing Lederhosen” Nezbit Blue
The actA guy in a blue alien costume…wearing lederhosen…and yodeling.
The verdict: No X 4…and Heidi schooled him on yodeling.
Court’s thoughts: Are all people born in mountainous regions just innately able to yodel??? I actually thought Heidi wasn’t half-bad! 😛

Avant-Garde Noise Music
The act: A guy & a girl in peculiar, vaguely country-ish costumes fashioned from pantyhose & gas masks…and they were playing banjos and some other instruments.  The result was bizarre & cacophonous.
The verdict: The judges weren’t feeling it – AT ALL.  Nick, however (in typical Nick fashion), cobbled together his own matching costume out of pantyhose and played along backstage.
Court’s thoughts: Dunno what this act was thinking, but it’s times like these when I realize just how PERFECT a host Nick is for a show like this – the guy rolls with the punches incredibly well and manages to inject comedy when it’s needed most.  😀

Catapult Entertainment – from New York, New York
The act: A silhouetted, acrobatic dance act that portrayed a jewel thief vs. detective storyline.
The verdict: All 4 judges loved it and said “yes” to Vegas. Howard even went so far as to do the “I’m not worthy!!!” bow.
Court’s thoughts: Admittedly, I’m not a huge fan of silhouette acts – especially the one from either last season or the one before that always did these kind of schmaltzy storylines and were basically just a group of people running back & forth to form new shapes.  But I felt like this one actually brought something new to the table – instead of just running from place to place, this was fluid, and had several things going on at once…and the shapes they were making actually moved instead of staying static.  They also played with perspective & size quite a bit more, and seemed to tell an actual story, as opposed to just creating pictures that fit a certain theme.  I could see this act making it to the finale, for sure.

Unnamed female clogging group The Academy
The act: A group of adolescent-age female cloggers Irish step dancers.
The verdict: They made it through to Vegas.  Howard even went so far as to say “the Rockettes have nothing on you guys!”
Court’s thoughts: Whenever they show an act that made it through to Vegas, but don’t necessarily give us the name or any other info other than a brief clip of them performing, I’m inclined to think that they probably won’t be around for long and thus the powers that be don’t see the point in investing a lot of airtime in them.  I could be wrong, though.  Anyway, from what I saw, they seemed to be very clean & in sync…but how well-received is an Irish step dancing act really going to be?

Hype – 20-25, from Hawaii
The act: Three young guys (“Headache”, “Hazmat”, and Mikey…who doesn’t have a nickname :-P) that danced a hip-hop dance routine to a techno-y sounding remix of “Singin’ in the Rain”.
The verdict: The judges (Howie in particular) were astounded that the 3 guys had only come up with that routine the night before, and were excited to see just what they could come up with when they had even more time to rehearse.  4 yes’s.
Court’s thoughts: I actually thought one of the guys in the group (I think maybe “Hazmat”) looked familiar right off the bat, and then when I heard the name “Hype” and that they were from Hawaii, I recognized him as being part of Hype 5-0, a crew that was on America’s Best Dance Crew about 3 years ago.  If the pattern of former ABDC-ers on AGT continues, we’ll at least see these guys in the first round of live shows – and if their choreographic talent is as promising as it looked tonight, they could make it even further.  I saw a lot of different styles in this routine – some breaking, some popping, some tutting – and if you can skillfully mesh multiple different hip-hop styles, you can really make a splash.

Unnamed male aerialist Tristan Jih
The act: 20-something guy that was a yoga instructor by day, and an aerialist by night – and this was his first real performance.
The verdict: We’ll see him in Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: He seemed a little nervous, but he handled those silks well – and he’s got a rather nice torso.  😉

Dave Shirley
The act: He’s a comedian that did some work behind a video screen – dragged a blow-up doll behind the screen, and made it appear as though he was appearing on-screen dressed like Howard (with the doll dressed like Heidi).  Managed to say in sync with the vid screen when walking out from behind it.
The verdict: Judges liked it – he’s through to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: A cool little twist on typical comedy – I was definitely skeptical when he introduced himself as “a comedian, but I don’t tell jokes”.  Now I get it – but will this particular schtick wear thin after a few performances?

Kid the Wiz
The act: Did a sort of hip-hop dance that focused mainly on tricks he did with his hat.
The verdict: He’s through to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: Yeah, it was cool to watch – but can you REALLY create an entire Vegas show out of a kid doing hat tricks??? And how many tricks does he really have? I’m guessing the judges get bored with it in Vegas, and he gets cut before the live shows.

Chuck from the Bronx – 38, from (duh) The Bronx, NY
The act: I guess you could call it “extreme eating” – he ate 3 raw eggs (shell & all), chased a tequila shot by snorting the salt through his nose and squeezing the lime in his eyes, and finished by devouring the world’s hottest pepper…while sitting in a bathtub full of ice.
The verdict: In the second decision of the night that was not unanimous, Howard, Heidi, & Mel all hated it & said no – but Howie “got it” and said yes to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: I can deal with sideshow & danger acts.  But for whatever reason, I get super-duper squeamish when I see professional/extreme eaters that either eat ridiculous amounts of food or eat weird things.  I literally start to get queasy and usually have to stop watching.  And poor Chuck looked like he was in such pain – I’d much rather see someone that was having the time of their life performing and was truly enjoying what they were doing, than someone that just suffers for the sake of applause.

Alex B. – 13
The act: He sang “Payphone” by Maroon 5.
The verdict: The judges (Mel in particular) all said “no” as gently as they could.
Court’s thoughts: I always feel bad for young kids that work up the courage to hit the stage, but maybe just aren’t quite ready for AGT yet and end up getting a “no” from the judges.  Poor Alex was only 13 – and his voice is probably changing, which could explain some of the shrillness that made his singing a bit hard on the ears.  The judges unfortunately probably see far more kids like Alex – and very few like Jackie Evancho or Anna Graceman.  I just hope kids like Alex do end up working on their skills a bit more and return in a future season when they’re better prepared.

Anna Christine – 10, from Henderson, NV (or as I like to call it – “John country” ;-))
The act: Sang “House of the Rising Sun” while playing the piano.
The verdict: Judges adored her – 4 yes’s.
Court’s thoughts: She’s basically this season’s Anna Graceman – but I think she’s actually better.  She’s got a VERY mature voice for her age – reminded me a bit of Kelly Clarkson when she was on Idol – and seems to have a bit more of a stage presence.  Another act that I could see making the finale.

3Penny Chorus & Orchestra – from Connecticut
The act: A full orchestra & chorus comprised of non-professionals that performed an orchestral version of “Call Me Maybe”.
The verdict: Judges (even Howard, who claims to “hate orchestral music) loved it.  They made it to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: It was definitely cool – especially when you consider that none of them are professional musicians.  But there were a few moments that I found it a bit grating on the nerves…maybe it was the song choice? Who knows.  I’d be interested to see them tackle something totally out of their element – like Jay Z or Kanye.

 

Los Angeles:

Pacific Boys’ Choir – ages 9-14
The act: They sang a choral version of “California Dreamin'”.
The verdict: They made it through to Vegas – Howard especially loved it, citing it as “one of his favorite songs”.
Court’s thoughts: It was a beautiful, haunting performance…definitely a pleasure to listen to.  But I wonder if they might connect better with the audience if they performed something a little more young & current.

Special Head
The act: He’s an eccentric, Buddhist monk-ish street performer who makes this weird humming noise to “get his chakras in line” before levitating.
The verdict: Judges were skeptical at first – Howard even buzzed him early in the act.  But after the levitating, Howard actually “took back” the X, and all 4 judges said “yes” to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: Special Head is no spiritual – he’s just a magician that has found a really kooky (and clever) angle with which to frame his illusions.  It’s all an act – even the name betrays the fact that he doesn’t seem to take himself too seriously.  However – I think it’s brilliant.  I think I’ve figured out the trick (if you’ve ever caught Magic’s Greatest Secrets Revealed on the Bio channel, it’s just a simple levitation – hint: the staff he was holding isn’t just there for show), but I think the true genius behind his performance was more in the presentation than anything else.  We’ve had goth magicians of the Criss Angel persuasion, very mysterious illusion-based magicians of the David Copperfield persuasion, escape artists of the Houdini persuasion, and even very campy magicians of the Penn & Teller persuasion.  But we’ve never had a magician of the “spiritual magic” persuasion – and when you can inject that element of mysticism into a performance, the effect on the audience can be pretty powerful.  I’m very curious to see what he’s going to do for Vegas – maybe conjure up some spirits? Summon the 7 plagues?

Angela Hoover – 42, from Redondo Beach, CA
The act: Comedienne/impressionist that impersonated Celine Dion, Drew Barrymore, Kristen Chenoweth, & Penelope Cruz.
The verdict: 4 yes’s, through to Vegas.
Court’s thoughts: Glad to see another female impressionist since Melissa Villa Senor a few years back – it’s unfortunately a genre of comedy that seems to be dominated by men, since it’s far easier for a guy to humorously imitate a female voice than it is for a female to imitate a male voice.  Her Celine, Kristen, & Penelope impressions were spot-on – I thought the Drew could use a bit of work, though, and found myself comparing it unfavorably to Melissa’s Drew impression.  I do want to see her do well – but I think in order for that to happen, she’s going to have to tackle some male impressions, too.  Melissa was unique in that she was able to do some male impressions, too – her Owen Wilson sticks out in my mind.  Hopefully Angela can pull out a decent Nick Cage or Robert De Niro 😛

Barbie & Mina
The act: Two bimbos in hot pink outfits (kind of) singing some silly song.
The verdict: No way, Jose – and Howard said they “reminded him of the Spice Girls”, which of course got a rise out of Mel.
Court’s thoughts: Just…why????

“Guy with pony-like headdress & female backup dancers”
The act: Well…it was a guy in some vaguely S&M outfit with a pony-like headdress singing some weird song while some female backup dancers clad in metallic spandex danced around him.
The verdict: Ummm…no.
Court’s thoughts: I’m sure this would have been a hit in a gay club…but AGT maybe wasn’t the right audience.

Anthony Granger, aka “Tone the Chiefrocca” – 27, from Englewood, CA
The act: Tone and his “hype guy”, Cody (who I think he said was his little brother) performed an original song called “B-Double O-T-Y” – which Tone hopes will make him a one-hit wonder.
The verdict: All 4 judges were on their feet & shaking their b-double o-t-y’s – and said yes to Vegas.  Nick also joined in for an impromptu 2nd performance and help Tone & his hype guy come up with an “official b-double o-t-y dance”.
Court’s thoughts: I gotta give props to a guy who openly admits that his only goal is to “become a one-hit wonder” 😛 On paper, I really should hate this act – but I loved every single second.  The song is catchy as hell, these two guys are ridiculously entertaining, and they’ve got no illusions about what they are: they’ve only got one song, and they intend to perform it over and over again for each round.  Normally I would think this would get really, really old, really, really quick – but I’m thinking their angle might be to perform the song with a different theme each time.  At least that’s what I’d do – yes, the audience already knows that I’m going to be singing “B-Double O-T-Y” again, but am I going to be singing it dressed as King Tut? Or the Village People? One thing’s for sure – “B-Double-O-T-Y” is this season’s “Whatcha Gonna Do?” 🙂

So which acts stood out to you? Let’s hear it 🙂

June 5, 2013 I Written By

Ultrasound specialist by day, entertainment blogger by night - with some amateur dancer, hair & makeup enthusiast, crazy cat lady, recreational chef, and Donnie Wahlberg/Norman Reedus fangirl peppered in to make things interesting ;-) Check out some of my other work over at puredwts.com!

PureAGT Season 8 Premiere Preview – “Level of Talent is High in San Antonio”

Hello AGT fans! Allow me to introduce myself – I’m Courtney, and some of you may know me from my work over at PureDWTS.  For those of you that don’t – hopefully I can entertain you this season here at PureAGT, and we can have some great discussion over what seems to be a promising season 🙂

Speaking of which, mysanantonio.com has some very interesting previews of what we can expect from the San Antonio auditions in the premiere tomorrow night, and some very high praise for the city from the judges.  Howie & Howard were both impressed by what San Antonio had to offer:

“The variety was fantastic! The level of talent is way high in San Antonio,”  Howard  Stern said during an interview with the judges between auditions at Lila  Cockrell Theatre.

“I’m the elder statesman of this group,” Howie  Mandel added, “and I can say I’ve never seen more talent in one session in  one city in my four years on the show.”

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/entertainment_columnists/jeanne_jakle/article/S-A-gets-spot-on-NBC-Talent-premiere-4563146.php#ixzz2VCGVHYHe

The fact that these particular auditions have the judges so excited makes me hopeful that tomorrow’s premiere will make a strong showing.  Some of the previews they offered for some of the acts that we’ll see also sound very intriguing. Warning! Spoilers after the jump… Read more..

June 3, 2013 I Written By

Ultrasound specialist by day, entertainment blogger by night - with some amateur dancer, hair & makeup enthusiast, crazy cat lady, recreational chef, and Donnie Wahlberg/Norman Reedus fangirl peppered in to make things interesting ;-) Check out some of my other work over at puredwts.com!

America’s Got Talent Season 7 – Season Premiere: Music List

Hello people! So as promised here is the music list for the premiere episode of America’s Got Talent! If there are any songs that you’re looking for… or songs that I am missing, feel free to comment below or go to the contact form. iTunes Links to come later tonight!

I will spend the next couple of days going through the episode again and trying to pick out songs that I am missing or am not able to catch during my first run through. So please be patient.

Enjoy!

LOS ANGELES AUDITIONS
Opening Sequence: Rolling Stones – Sympathy for the Devil Sympathy for the Devil - Beggars Banquet
Judges Entrance: Flo Ride – Wild One Wild Ones (feat. Sia) - Wild Ones (feat. Sia) - Single
Gym Class Heroes – Clothes Off! Clothes Off!! - As Cruel As School Children (Bonus Track Version)
Young MC – Bust a Move Bust a Move - Stone Cold Rhymin'
Frank Sinatra – A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square - The Essential Glenn Miller
Dolly Parton – 9 to 5 9 to 5 - 16 Biggest Hits: Dolly Parton
Tina Turner – Proud Mary Proud Mary - All the Best - The Hits
Boyz II Men – Got to Be Got to Be There - Motown - A Journey Through Hitsville USA
Patience And Prudence – Tonight You Belong To Me Tonight You Belong to Me - Big Hits and Highlights of 1956, Vol. 5
Tina Turner – What’s Love Got to Do With It What's Love Got to Do With It - Now That's What I Call the 80s
asement Jaxx – What’s A Girl Gotta Do What's a Girl Gotta Do? (feat. Paloma Faith) - Scars (Bonus Track Version)
Nicki Minaj – Starships Starships - Pink Friday ... Roman Reloaded
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – Home Home - Up From Below (Deluxe Edition)

ADDENDUM: Songs found by readers:
David Guetta feat Sia – Titanium (found by Nate)
Nicki Minaj feat Rihanna – Fly (found by Camila)
Coldplay – Paradise (mentioned by Sana)
Ellie Goulding – Lights (found by Kaitlyn)

ST LOUIS AUDITIONS
Nelly – Down Down Baby Down Down Baby - Hot Peas 'N Butter, Vol. 3 - Mo Hotta, Mo Butta
The Wanted – Glad You Came Glad You Came - The Wanted (Special Edition)
Remy Ma – Whuteva Whuteva (Clean Version) - There's Something About Remy: Based On a True Story (Explicit Version)
Frank Sinatra – The Girl From Ipanema The Girl from Ipanema (With Antonio Carlos Jobim) - Nothing But the Best (The Frank Sinatra Collection) [Remastered] {Deluxe Edition}
Carole King & James Taylor – You’ve Got a Friend You've Got a Friend - James Taylor: Greatest Hits, Vol. 1
OneRepublic – Good Life Good Life - Waking Up (Deluxe Version)

ADDENDUM: found by our readers
David Guetta feat Sia – Titanium (found by Nate)
Nicki Minaj feat Rihanna – Fly (found my Camila)
Coldplay – Paradise (found by tepot)
Ellie Goulding – Lights (found by Kaitlyn)

May 15, 2012 I Written By

America’s Got Talent 5: Los Angeles Auditions

Hello all! To make things quick, I’m going to do a quick list of all the acts that made it through to Vegas with websites to find out more about them. Then over the course of the week I will (hopefully) give each act their own post with more info, thoughts, etc.

If anyone out there have any info to the following acts please either leave a comment or contact us.

Also a quick note… my computer didn’t record the first 40 mins of the episode… so any help with the first few acts that made it to Vegas would be great… Granted I could wait til the episode shows up online. 🙂

Since there are probably some people that haven’t seen the show… Click on “Read More” for spoilers!

Read more..

June 1, 2010 I Written By

New America’s Got Talent Audition Website

Today, America’s Got Talent just launched a new audition website with all the details you’ll ever want to know about auditioning for America’s Got Talent. I just posted the email I received about the LA America’s Got Talent Auditions, but it looks like this website has all of the information you’ll need. Plus, if you didn’t get the email, then go and register now so that you can get the email also.

They also have a list of audition cities:
LOS ANGELES
January 29TH – 31st.
Los Angeles Convention Center
1201 S Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA

COMING NEXT
ATLANTA
FEBRUARY 7TH – 8TH
Location TBD

WASHINGTON, D.C.
FEBRUARY 13TH- 14TH
Location TBD

CHICAGO
MARCH 1ST- 2ND
LOCATION TBD

AND COMING SOON…
Austin
Boston
Miami
New York City
Seattle

If none of those cities work for you, remember that you can always upload an America’s Got Talent video submission on that same website. Not as good as the open casting call, but at least everyone has the possibility of being on the show.

January 22, 2009 I Written By

America’s Got Talent Audition Information – Los Angeles 1/29 8am

Well, I just got an email today giving details about the America’s Got Talent LA auditions. If you registered on the nbc.com/agt (like I suggested previously) then you should have gotten this email as well. It looks like they are requiring the email in order to audition or at least that they’ll be giving priority access to the auditions for those who registered their email on the site.

Below I’ll post a copy of the email I received for those that might be interested in the details of the audition process since it will probably be the same for America’s Got Talent 5 (Yes, I am assuming they get renewed for another season).

One Other Important Note: This website does not represent NBC, America’s Got Talent or anyone related to the show. This is purely a fan site with no legal connection to the show itself. Therefore, take the information as you may.

America's Got Talent Logo

America's Got Talent Logo

Congratulations Stevie!!

We are writing you with details of your audition for America’s Got Talent! By pre-registering to audition, you have already taken your first steps to becoming our million-dollar winner, and America’s next greatest star! Please read this entire document for crucial information about your audition.

We have you confirmed to audition in:

Audition City: Los Angeles
Location Los Angeles Convention Center (Do Not Contact the Venue)
Concourse Meeting Rooms
1201 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Date: January 29, 2009
Time: 8 am

Please make sure you bring this email with you!

• Please note your session group time above. This is the time you must show up for your audition. There will be many other contestants in each ‘session group’ and people will be seen on a ‘first come first serve’ basis.
• Please go to the “paperwork” section of AGTauditions.com and download the ”Audition Information and Personal Release form.” Read it, sign it and bring the paperwork with you. Each member of a group must have their own set of completed forms.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

US Citizens & Permanent Residents Only: Contestants must be able to prove BEFORE they can audition that they are either a US citizen, legal permanent resident of the US, or possess a current legal visa allowing you to seek employment freely in the US (not merely a visa that allows you to work for one particular employer). Bring your proving documentation with you.

Photo ID: All contestants will be required to present a photo ID. Minor contestants may use a school ID or acceptable substitute (such as a yearbook page that includes a printed name with a photo AND a birth certificate). If the contestant is too young to have a photo ID, then the parent or guardian should present a photo ID & the child’s birth certificate that includes the parents name with the child’s name on the certificate.

Under 18: Contestants under 18 must have permission from their parents or legal guardian to audition AND must be accompanied by one of their parents or their legal guardian. If the parents or legal guardian is unable to attend, and is allowing the minor to attend the audition under the supervision of a third-party (such as a coach), you must do two things:

1) Download and complete the Guardianship and Medical Authorization for Minors form from the “paperwork” section of AGTauditions.com and get it NOTARIZED by a notary public (typically at banks or mailing stores, or search your local directory) and bring it with you on the day of your audition.

2) The parent or guardian must designate the third-party specifically on the Personal Release, with a special signature by the parents or legal guardian and the third-party (see page 4 of the Personal Release).

All the paperwork can be found in the “paperwork” section of our web site AGTauditions.com

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT AUDITION:
• There will be roving cameras interviewing contestants, their families and supporters inside and outside the audition venues, so dress to impress for your NBC primetime debut. If possible, you should arrive in the outfit or costume you plan to wear for your audition. Do not wear clothing with logos, including sports teams, designer names, or company logos. Contestants, friends, and family members wearing logos will be asked to cover or remove the articles of clothing. In addition, please do not wear clothing with thin stripes or anything predominately white unless it is a costume piece, due to issues with how they look on camera.
• As part of the show we will shoot several group shots with everyone including a welcome to each city, so be prepared to spend some time outside. We suggest you wear layers should the weather be cold, but please, when possible, try not to wear big coats, scarves and hats because they tend to cover your face. Favor brighter colors over drab dark ones and ask your family and friends to do the same. This is your chance to stand out.
• Water will be made available, but please bring snacks as the audition process will take several hours.
• You will be given up to 1 minute and 30 seconds to audition. Please keep in mind that this is YOUR opportunity to show us your talent, so please come prepared. Producers reserve the right to modify allotted times for auditions at their sole discretion.
• Please walk into the audition room ready to perform. No extensive set up will be permitted. If your act requires extensive set up, please bring a DVD of your performance for the producers to review during your audition.
• Bands will only be able to play acoustically for the initial audition. It is highly recommended if you do not typically play acoustically to bring a DVD of you performing and we will watch it there with you.
• At the producers’ discretion, singers without instruments may be asked to perform a capella, so be prepared to sing without a backing track. If you sing and dance or are a variety act you may use a track. We will have a CD player to play any music you may need during your audition. Please bring a spare copy of the CD in case the first does not work.
• If your act uses music (singer, dancer, band, group, musician, variety performer) we strongly advise you to pick music that is VERY well known. You should think top 40, Pop, R&B, current radio hits, and classics from any musical genre. Also, please be aware that it is exceptionally rare for the judges to put anyone through if they perform original material. Unless your act is so unique (a performance artist, for example) we would advise against performing your own material.
• For those needing a keyboard we will make reasonable efforts to provide one for you in the audition room. (Usually a Yamaha Motif-8 keyboard.)

We are looking forward to seeing your talent and we encourage you to bring at least 2 people with you to cheer you on and share your America’s Got Talent experience. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO RSVP NOW Please see AGTauditions.com for the latest information and audition tips.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I do on audition day?
Once you have your wristband, which will be given out while you are in line, you and your guests, when permitted, will be brought into our holding area where you will be allocated an audition room. If you lose your wristband, you will go to the end of the line, so don’t lose them – NO EXCEPTIONS.

What happens if I am late for the auditions?
Everyone MUST show up for the audition on the scheduled day no later than the time instructed by the Producer. If you are late, you may not have a chance to audition. Audition start and/or finish time is at the discretion of the Producer. Auditions are first come-first serve.

Do you charge for the auditions?
No. Auditions are free. Wristbands are free. You just have to be physically present to get one, have the proper paperwork as listed above, and you cannot audition without one.

How long will I be waiting to audition?
The session time is the time when you are supposed to line up. The lines may be long. You maybe we asked to do interviews or other shots for the show. It could be a full day commitment and you may be outside waiting for part of the time, therefore you should dress accordingly. You are free to bring some drinks or food.

What should I NOT bring with me to the auditions?
The list of prohibited items below is not exhaustive and even if an item is not listed below, the producers and security reserve the right to ask you to remove any such item from the venue. People in possession of prohibited items will be denied admission to the line and to the venue, and may be subject to immediate disqualification. All bags are subject to search.

• Coolers of any kind unless for medical reasons
• Fireworks
• Props that must be used with fire
• Video cameras or camcorders of any kind
• Weapons of any kind (including pocket knives, “army knives” or Swiss Army-type knives, and all swords)
• Illicit drugs or alcohol
• Cameras
• Audio recording devices

We are sorry but during this first round of auditions we cannot have fire, swords or other sharp objects at this venue. If you have prop swords, knifes, or other props that appear dangerous but are not, please alert the staff, and we will try to accommodate you. Also there will not be rigging for aerial acts. However if you are chosen to go to the second round you will be able to use your props, fire and have the option of rigging, if approved in advance by Producers. Please bring a DVD of your act if your act does include these elements.

If I have an animal act, what do I need to bring?
If you have an animal act — please go to the “paperwork” section of our web site, AGTauditions.com and fill out the animal questionnaire. . You must indicate the type of animals you will be performing with so we can make the appropriate arrangements on our end. Each state has different rules and regulations for performing animals, so email us back the form as soon as possible. You also must bring paperwork to prove the animals’ inoculations are up to date.

After the audition, when will I hear if I have been selected for the show?
You may be asked to do your audition a second time for our producers. However, you will not know when you leave your audition if you will be selected to perform for the judges later in the year. All auditions are taped and producers will review these tapes and make selections. Only those contestants that have been selected will be contacted.

What happens in the next round?
The next round will involve you auditioning in front of our celebrity judges. The show will be taped in a local theater in front of a live audience and we will let you know the date as far in advance as possible. If you don’t make it to the next round but would like to come and be part of the theater audience, you can get free tickets by logging on to www.NBC.com/agt.

What if you didn’t answer my question?
Please visit our audition web site at AGTauditions.com for more information or feel free to email us at americasgottalent@fremantlemedia.com

**PRODUCER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE AN AUDITION TO ANY INDIVIDUAL OR ACT FOR ANY REASON OR NO REASON AT ALL, AT THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE PRODUCER. DATES AND TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

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