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Taylor Hicks American Idol Audition Tips

Taylor Hicks had a good-luck charm tucked into his pocket when he auditioned for “American Idol” in 2005.

With a trusty harmonica close at hand, the Birmingham musician says he felt a little more confident waiting in line in Las Vegas, along with thousands of other hopefuls.

Hicks, then 28, knew he could sing. He also had experience to rely on, after 10 years of playing in Southern bars and nightclubs.
  

Looking back on it a year later, as the fifth-season winner of “Idol,” Hicks says a decade of performing - all that struggling and scrambling - made the audition process much easier to handle.

“Sometimes you only get one shot,” he says. “The better prepared you are for that shot, the easier it is to hit your bull’s-eye.”

To help “Idol” auditioners take their best shots in Birmingham on Monday during a cattle call at the BJCC Arena, Hicks offers the following advice and tips:

What to wear: “I would just look presentable. I knew I had to look nice. If you’re trying to get on television just to get on television, don’t wear anything at all.”

What to bring: “I didn’t bring anything. Less is more in this instance; you don’t have to lug it around. I wouldn’t bring a chair or a sleeping bag. If you have a backpack with a mat on it, I’d bring that.”

While you’re waiting: “It’s a good time to hang out with other people. Just hang out and look around. If you’ve got a good friend with you, that would be cool. But stay focused. It’s going to be a crazy experience. When your time comes, you really have to go for it.”

What to prepare: “I’d recommend two songs. Sing the best song first and the next-best song second. You’ve really gotta sell the first one. I tried to entertain the whole room.”

 Your set list: “Be as different as you can. The more different the song, the better off you’re going to be. Everyone gets tired of hearing the same songs over and over.”

How much to practice: “Rehearse, but just enough to be comfortable. Don’t overdo it.”

If you get butterflies: “Don’t get wrapped up in stress, because stress can be seen on camera. The camera does not lie. Have fun with it. That’s the main thing.”
Selling yourself: “You have to think about what you’re going to do. I sang `Swanee River Rock,’ because it’s a hot song. Think about it: Ray Charles doing that song is hot! Don’t forget that it’s television. Singing is the main thing, but it’s just as important to be as visual as possible.”

If you make it to the second or third cut: “Go set up a big, bright light in your room and practice singing with that light on. That’s what scared me. Not the producers, not the judges, not having to sing, but having the lights and cameras around.”

If asked to tell something about yourself: “I had something prepared to say: I was a broke entertainer. But it was true. The truth will set you free. I’d say something funny. Keep it as light as possible.”

If Ryan Seacrest walks up to interview you on camera: “Be prepared. Be on your feet for Seacrest. That is one quick cat. He’s the modern-day Dick Clark.”

If you make it to the judging troika and Simon Cowell says, “No way”: “Wait for Paula and Randy to speak. Hopefully, they’ll say yes.”

Above all: “Make sure that you have something to share with people. Do your thing. Go in there and give it heck.”

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