experience of the x-factor audition process
84Is X Factor a Sham
Is The X Factor really a Sham?
I always loved watching The X factor, some of the contestants had amazing voices and some you would definitely need earplugs for lol. But regardless of that, i always saw it as a way for people to fulfill their dreams, and i thought it was great that Simon Cowell had set up the show. We all know Simon could be very harsh at times with his opinion on performances, but mostly he was fair. That is why when my friend begged me to come and audition with her last year, i thought Why not it will be a experience for me if nothing else.
We went online and applied for the show selecting London as our venue of choice, in April 2009 a letter dropped through the door, it was from the X Factor inviting me to audition at the o2 Arena on the 5th May. It said i needed to bring the letter and my passport along to the audition, and be there for 7am. I rang my friend and she too had received a letter.
As we both live nearly three hours away from London, we had to book train tickets, and considering we had to be at the 02 arena for 7am we needed to get the earliest train possible which cost us 72 pound grrr. I went shopping and spent more money having my hair done and buying my outfit etc, and annoying my neighbours by singing ballads constantly in the process lol.
The 5th May arrived sooner than i was ready for, i got up at half two in the morning and began getting myself ready, which felt strange in itself the fact i was getting all dressed up at 2.30am. We caught the train and ran round the station like idiots when we arrived, as we had no idea what train we were supposed to get on next. Anyway after finally being pointed in the right direction we got our train, and arrived at O2 Arena to see thousands of hopefuls already queuing. Some had even been there from the previous night, we waited for hours (in heels i might add) and then it started to rain, so all you could see was a sea of umbrella tops. After hours of waiting Dermott o Leary came out to greet us all. We had to do lots of tv filming from the crowd, throwing our hands in the air and shouting London's got the X Factor, then doing many different dances while club music boomed out the surrounding speakers. We were given instructions on what to do for each song, jumping waving our hands, clapping, moving from side to side, in fact by the time we were done i felt exhausted and with all the screaming we had to do my voice wasn't doing all that great either.
The doors were finally opened, and after another long hour of waiting, we finally got in to the arena. Once inside we were given a card for our seats and a X Factor sticker to put on. We were told that we was not allowed to smoke anywhere in the arena, and if we went out for a cigarette then we would not be allowed back in. So there was a lot of nervous people very annoyed by that. We sat for another two hours in the arena waiting for all the contestants to be seated, then Dermott appeared and the TV filming started once again. we had to sing, scream, dance and pass a flag around the room. After another hour and a half of that, the booths were finally opened for the auditions to begin. Having never been to the auditions before i was expecting to be singing in front of the judges like you see on the TV, so you can imagine my surprise when i found out that it is actually just the production team you see on the first audition, most of them knowing nothing about singing! it was another three hours before me and my friend got to audition and in that time, we saw people who were amazing singers leave in tears as they got a No, but strangely enough we also saw a lot of really bad singers in tacky costumes get a Yes, hmmmmmmmm could it be because the bad auditions make good TV? I went in for my audition very nervous but managed to stay calm long enough to tell him a bit about myself and sing my song, He said i had a beautiful voice and handed me over a Gold ticket. Whoop i was really excited, i was going to sing for the real judges right.......Wrong! Me and my friend who also got through, was then directed in to another room where we Que with all the other gold ticket holders for another two hours, when we finally got to the front of said Que, we handed over our gold tickets and passports in exchange for a letter inviting us back for a second audition at a second venue in London. The letter stated that we had to wear the same clothes because of the TV filming. We left the o2 arena at just gone 9pm.
The following week and with more money spent on train fare, we arrived for our second audition. The waiting around wasn't as bad as last time, because it was only the people who had got through the last audition that arrived. While we were waiting we stared to talk to other auditionees, some had lovely voices, and some including a bad Elvis impersonator did not. We watched some of the people we had heard singing brilliantly walking out with a No, and just like before a lot of the bad ones got a Yes. When it came to my audition i walked in along with about 8 other people and we all had to stand in a line in front of some judges (not the real judges i might add). They asked my name and then i sang, one judge looked me up and down and said "No your not what were looking for" and then pointed to the door (i was dismissed). And so that was that, all that time and money wasted, and all that excitement for nothing. I didnt even get to see the real judges lol. While we were there we were told that if you got through that round, you had to wait for a call back, if you didn't get a call then you hadn't been selected to sing for the REAL judges. I think what i found most upsetting about the whole experience, was when i watched last years X Factor, and saw all the bad acts singing for the real judges. Simon kept complaining about them, and i just kept thinking how can you complain when you know your production team put them through on purpose?
I went back this year but didn't audition, i went to support my friend and her sister who both have lovely voices. They both got a No, the same as all the people that went in the same booth as them. A lot of people were saying they had yes and no booths to get the numbers down, as not one yes had come out of their booth, yet the booth next to them were all yes whether they were good or bad. My friends sister turned to a woman on the production team who was stood outside their booth, and said "Don't you think its funny how everyone that goes in there gets a No" and the woman just went red and turned her head away. Maybe it really was just a way to get their numbers down, who knows.
I do think X Factor is good for the people that get through, and of course it does changes lives, but i think the audition process is a sham and that people should be aware from the start, that they will not be singing for the judges as shown on TV. They should also be aware that there are three stages before you even make it that far.
The X Factor Audition Dates 2011
The audition application deadline has passed, but you can still audition at nationwide open days. Just make sure you turn up at 9am at the following times and venues:
- March 6th/7th: London, O2
- March 9th: Glasgow SECC
- March 12th: Liverpool Echo
- March 20th: Birmingham NEC
- March 26th: Manchester Old Trafford Stadium
- April 9th: Cardiff City Stadium
Tips
Remember to take identification in case you get through to the next round, and a umbrella in case it rains, you will be stood in that queue for hours so i would suggest you take some drinks and snacks too. And for the ladies i would suggest taking some flat shoes for queuing (ballet pumps or sandals that fit easily into your bag), because hours spent queuing in heels is not nice. I would also suggest taking wipes, make-up and a hairbrush so you can freshen up after coming out of the wind and rain. If you have still decided to audition...........I wish you the best of luck!! :)
The X Factor Audition Dates 2012
Liverpool
3rd March 2012 At Liverpool Echo Arena (Open Day)
4th March At Liverpool Echo Arena (Call Backs)
Newcastle
10th March 2012 At Newcastle Metro Arena (Open Day)
Manchester
17th March 2012 At Old Trafford (Open Day)
18th March 2012 At Old Trafford (Call Backs)
Cardiff
26th March 2012 At Cardiff City Stadium (Open Day)
27th March 2012 At Cardiff City Stadium (Call Backs)
Glasgow
31st March 2012 At Glasgow SECC (Open Day)
1st April At Glasgow SECC (Call Backs)
London
7th April 2012 At O2 Arena (Open Day)
11th, 12th, 13th April 2012 At London Emirates (Call Backs)
Please Note You Must Be 16 Years Or Over To Audition.
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Bless i bet that was nerve wrecking, thanks for sharing. Looks like am not going anywhere :L
Hi how can I put my sister on the xfactor to audition ? Any one know
The audition application deadline has passed, but you can still audition at nationwide open days. Just make sure you turn up at 9am at the following times and venues:
March 6th/7th: London, O2
March 9th: Glasgow SECC
March 12th: Liverpool Echo
March 20th: Birmingham NEC
March 26th: Manchester Old Trafford Stadium
April 9th: Cardiff City Stadium
You also need to take I.D in case you make it through to the next round.
i was going to audition. I apllied for 2011 auditions but i dont think i want to now. It seems like too much of a wait and they treat you like sh*t. Shame really. I bet thousands of great performers are put off by this. I am a fairly good singer and i feel i would be comfortable on stage but the stories of people being knocked back really put me off. Oh well :(
I went with my daughter yesterday. We had a six hour wait in the freezing cold before we were let in then four hours inside before she got to audition. She was given a no, and so were all the others who went into her booth even a girl that had won a national singing competition. Very odd, like the other girl said it seems like they have yes and no booths to get them through quickly. We saw all the jokers in silly outfits go through. Its a sham.
Hiya Josh yes it is off putting for the people who can genuinely sing, obviously some good singers get through but the majority dont, the show is all about ratings and unfortunately X Factor knows that the bad auditions make good tv.
Hiya Sally. Sorry to hear your Daughter didn't get through, it is upseting when you dont get through and then witness the bad acts getting a yes.
Good hub,thanks.
Those boothes are a joke lol, i went to the liverpool auditions yesterday having no idea what to except. There is no room to dance or anything in them. It's so isolated, how are you expected to perform to your potential. Anyway i got a no aswell, but going to manchester to try again
I just got back from Newark and I'm more than sorry to tell you that even though you may get in line first, pre-dawn, and wait 8+ hours, its random where they seat you and then call your section - the first sections got most of the tickets and by 3pm 95% were gone, making thousands audition until past 9pm for NOTHING. The first auditions were about 3 minutes long and the later ones, like mine, were literally under 15 seconds! This is the straight up, hard,cold truth. Some judges gave all Yeses and others gave all NOs because some had golden tickets left and others ran out of their quota. This after being left to wait 8 hrs/day for two days straight.
Then even if you get passed thru, you come back the next day, not to be judged by Simon's panel. I heard voices like you would not believe and they were dismissed because they weren't seated early. It was a cattle call all right - the performers were treated like animals. Shame on this whole smarmy, exploitative production.
I came from newark too. ztrust me, the x factor is suchhhh a scam! I literally waited allll day yesterday. i auditioned at 10 15 at night only to be turned down. The sad thing is that after i sung, the guy told that i sung great and gave me such gud feedback, but he told me that it was a no because they really arent excepting that much kids. I felt terrible that wholee night. It made me feel like i wasnt gud enough compared to the other kids. They r reallyy bias too. There was this 12 yr old boy who sounded like young michael jackson and he was turned down while a guy in a tacky costume who kept on randomly belting out flat notes got in. Trust me, if you dont get in or if u do, dont take any of this to heart. Its not worth it. I knoww im a great singer and even tho i may not hav "the x factor", im certainly better than that show ;)
I can't believe people have read this and still asking you how they can get into X factor. Are they dumb or what?
Good hub voted up IU Thanks. You might like to visit my hub and see my view on this show. Thanks.
Thank You Molometer, will check out your hub now :)
i'm 16, and i have a good story that may help me get through the processes however i'm soo nervous and every song i sing i think is the wrong one any idea's about what songs would blow them away and think wow!?
also dressing should i be myself or different?
Hiya Sam,
You should sing a song that you are comftable with, and one that shows of your voice the most. Personaly i would not sing a song that has been released by an ex finalist on the x factor. I saw so many people do this and none of them to my knowledge got a yes. Choose a song that you havnt heard being sung already on the show, and if you can, try changing it slightly so its your version rather than the original artist. This will make your song more memorable. As for what to wear, be yourself otherwise you will probably feel uncomftable, which will make you more nervous. Make an effort when choosing your outfit, but Dont go for some cheesy costume or you will be remembered for the wrong reasons. Good luck :)
I auditioned this weekend and i have gotten through all stages so far and the wait wasnt asong as stated here. I have had fun but ita different for everyone
adamDuk... have you seen the judges yet? or do you know if you actually see them in your hometown, or do you have to go to london?
@adamDuk, I am guessing you auditioned in Liverpool. The wait would not have been as long because Liverpool auditions were the first ones held, however London auditions take a lot longer, because it is a popular destination choice with contestants. They are also the last auditions to be held by X Factor, so if they dont have enough acts for the show then they make the London one's open to everyone. Meaning thousands of people turn up that have not had to fill out an application. Well done for getting through, and Good luck :)
Are the many people audtioning from the USA
Similar to my story, I must mention I am in the U.S, I passed the first producers audition, and I had to drive for 4 hours, and I didn't work the audition day of course, than when I won the first day, I was so excited that I gave again the excuse at work that I was sick. I went the next day to audition again and they told me no, even though I think I sang great, I think my style wasn't appropriate, but that's how it goes, I never believe that the best voices come through the producers, some pass it and some don't, but in the end let's face it, the ones who deserve it usually get it, maybe the first time you won't but in the next if you really have talent you will be acknowledged for that.
I think it was kinda harsh what they did. I was wondering what do they do in the singing booths.(by the way im in the U.S auditioning in San Francisco) I also wanted to know if u knew what they would do if you did the auditions online. im an ok singer and i really want to do this. and how many stages do do you do until you get to the official stage? like one direction did?
@Endri. yes you are right, the winner is normaly someone who deserves it and is genuinely a good singer. Although Louis Walsh will always have at least one act every year that he takes through to the live shows, and who end up staying over the good singers. (e.g.Jedward and Wagner) Good luck for next time :)
@Francisco. You go in to the singing booths one at a time and sing your chosen song to a member of the production team, sat in a chair in front of you. The booths are quite small so you dont have room to dance etc. Before you sing they will ask you a little bit about yourself, and if they like you then they will give you a golden ticket. You then go for another audition and if you get through that you wait for a call back to see if you made it through to see the real judges. I have never done an online audition, but it is always worth a try, Good luck :)
I'm about to go through and try out auditioning for X factor. I have an EU passport and i ve registered online without giving my cellphone, if I'm one of the luckier ones to go through, do u think it would all be in order? I'm very nervous, never done anything like that. But I guess its better to try and fail than never risk anything, right?! Good luck to all of u auditioning!!
thanks. so then if you make it from the booths you go back the next day right? and you wait for a call back. So then how long do i stay in san francisco if ever and how long do i wait for them to call me back...? and is it also true if you get there on the official preliminary audition day
really early at like 1 or 2 am and perform in the booth, they give you a golden ticket automatically?? and also when you go back the next day when your approved, how many people do you have to perform in front of?
my husband is considering auditioning next weekend at the 02. We have a 9 month old boy, the email said you can bring friends and family with you. I am hesitant to go with our boy due to the long waits and I assume no access to indoors/loos/cafes if you are waiting in a que? Shame for him to wait the whole day on his own in a que on Easter weekend!
i got a email saying i have made it trough the next round
Heya! I am going to the Auditions in the 02 London next week, i am travelling from Ireland and will be arriving there friday morning! but i have no idea what time i should start queing there saturday?! does anyone know what time i should? also if anyone has anymore tips on anything i would greatly appreciate them :)
u should start queing from 7 am
Hi
I applied for the show this year (well past the cutoff date I might add) and actually got accepted. I was going to attend the London audition on the 7th April but it's the same date that I move into my new house and I can't change that date. Is there any known way to audition at a later date or will I have to wait until next year?
Thanks in advance :)
What happens in the second callback after the open day? Do you go in a room? Or in a line full of people?
Hello! I am from France and I hesitated a lot because of the high price to come to the 02 Arena application... I had decided to give up. Therefore I didn't receive any invitation (as usually when I apply in France), but it seems to be opened to everyone... I feel regrets now, not to try, and I'd like to take a plane today... But it arrives at 2:00 and I have at least 1:30 road between London Stansted and O2 Arena ... So I can be there at 3:30... What do u think? Too late? Is there according to u a number or a mail where I can join the producers and send a video... Thank u so much for sharing!! Bye
Hi i went to the open auditions in manchester on the 17th got through went bk the next day and did a following audition and got through that then had to do another where i was videoed now they said it will be around 4weeks before i find out.. has anyone herd anything and if so how did you hear? as i lost my fone and had to get a new number..? x
hi, anyone from newcastle auditions on 10th and 11th of march heard anything back yet as to wether they are through to judges round
done newcastle auditions 10/11 march still waiting 2 hear back was anyone there who has heard out back
Just went through the SanFrancisco Xfactor auditions. Might have been more fun if they were just honest in describing this as a casting call and not a singing competition. All of the literature said to be there for registration at 6am, no overnight camping allowed. I arrived promptly at 5:50am, just to be informed that others had been standing there since 3am. I wonder what "overnight" means. Luckily I had on a winter coat and comfortable boots. Others already dressed for stardom seemed extremely cold. It was hard to tell which line or group was in the front, but the camera eventually came through and they interviewed a few people. It took us 4 hours to get our wrist bands, with plenty more people to go. They handed out more instructions that said "dress and act like a star. No need to show up on Friday before 8am, because you all have assigned seats and wrist bands". On Friday we were there at 8am sharp. Again many people already there. The camera went through the crowd and several people got to sing. The camera didn't come near our group of people which was unfortunate because that little moment of fame was the only thing worth standing in line for. 9 am to 10:30 am they had a lady make announcements. Since the cow palace is all concrete she was unintelligible. She mumbled about, telling us to say "X factor san francisco" or "san francisco xfactor" but it was difficult to make out which one we were supposed to say nor did she have the good sense to count to 3 and get everyone going at the same time - not from where I was standing anyway. So half the crowd would start, the other joined in and it was very poorly executed. Some male staff member started telling us"your audition starts right now" and they put on some music to get the crowd going. At 10:am the sun came out. So here we were dressed as stars, full makeup, expensive outfits, baking in the hot sun being encouraged to yell and dance around for the camera. This I thought was annoying. Not only do you have to have a great singing voice, but the ability and patience to endure this extreme inconvenience of just standing and waiting, and then they want you to shout around and dance. If these producers wanted louder cheering they should have thrown money; but of course no compassion and no common sense. People were starting to feel used and get discouraged. The unintelligible lady was getting less and less crowd cheers as the morning progressed. Finally they opened the doors. So many people were jumping tape lines that we got in right away. They had large garbage cans at the entrance and insisted that everyone throw out the bottled water and snacks that they had encouraged us to bring in previous correspondence. Once inside a bottle of water cost 4.00. People were hungry, tired, trying to touch up their makeup - it was just horrible. Finally we got to our seats. They introduced a group of people as "judges" and assured us that they had some sort of music industry ties and were qualified to listen. Most of them didn't look professional or like they were in the music industry - they looked like just random office people and a few guitar center employees - then there was another 2 hour wait while people were shuttled section by section into more lines and finally into these tiny rooms with draped walls upon the concrete floor of the cow palace. Not exactly acoustically sound conditions as promised. The first group that auditioned seemed to do well - almost everyone who either hit a high note or sang loudly good or bad got a yellow ticket to advance. We sat and sat, waited and waited. Rather than just letting people sit, they had formed another line. Then I think the judges went to lunch and left everyone standing there. Finally our section was called - it was now after 2pm. The girls behind me said if you do pass this audition they will expect you here tomorrow again at 6am (more jerking around I thought). Finally my turn came. My judge looked like an uncomfortable boy in his early 20's. He had rejected the 2 women in front of me - the 2nd of which sounded great. He asked me my name, where I was from and I sang. He said no, awkwardly. I walked out with about 10 other people, several of whom looked completely destroyed and like they were fighting back tears. Part of me was disappointed, I would have liked to advance just to tell friends and family that i had advanced, but I was just so relieved that this bull shit was over. No more lines, no more waiting and yelling for nothing. They should tell people that they will be attending this under adverse conditions. Nothing is worth this. it's no wonder people are so destroyed by Simon's comments. After "passing" 4-5 auditions - people think they have a chance. If the preliminary judges are truly qualified to choose singers - Simon would rarely hear a sour note. I'm glad I went - I feel like I now know what I wouldn't do to be famous, and it was fun to dress up and wear makeup - I was a bored - lady in waiting - princess for a day I guess.
If it's that hard how did all solo one direction members get on ? Or the band was planned before the show ?
Anyone could answer this ?
Moe - I'm guessing the boys got through because they are confident, have lively and unique personalities and most importantly, are attractive and have nice enough voices. I'm guessing the producers smelled the money and could forsee that tween and teen girls would go absolutely crazy for them (even as solo artists) and would vote and tune in every week to see them which obviously meant higher ratings and more money for the show's makers. The band was not planned before the show.
has anyone heard back yet, from there call back auditions i have been waiting since the 18th march and still not heard anything.????
Niki 16 months ago
aww, that's such a shame... all that money spent for nothing. thanks for sharing :)