X Factor 2009 - Anyone applied?

[covlad-99]

Hi guys, just a thread to see if anyone has applied for or what everyone thinks of the X Factor!

The application deadline is upon us, as early as mid February, so I got my application in online a couple of days ago and expect to here a reply in March. If you want to do it, you can apply online like I did, or by posting an application form or by phone.

I personally feel very nervous about the whole thing, but I'm 16 now do I thought I'd just go for it and see how far I can get, but any stage won't be a disappointment.

I'm in two minds about it really, on one half I feel absolutely petrified of singing in front of family, and on the other half I think I'll be alright with friends and strangers! Its weird I know but its better than being the other way round to be honest.

I've heard a few rumours about the application process. The first of which being that you apply and then you go through 2 to 3 auditions to the producers who then choose whether you go to the actual auditions to face the judges or not. The second theory, which is the one implied by the 'Terms and Conditions' section online, is that your application goes in and in some unknown way (randomly I presume) the people behind the scenes pick names to go to the chosen audition venue and you are invited via em@il in early March. I'm hoping the latter is true, as I don't know whether I could cope with 3 extra auditions!

I know Rhys (w3lshrugby) has applied to, as we were chatting on facebook the other night! But is anyone else? And if anyone knows for CERTAIN about the application stage, could they possibly clear that up?
Cheers.

 

[treva]

If I ever did apply for X Factor it would be for a piss take. Can't sing to save my life, and Guitar Hero: WT definitely proved that

Good luck to both of you though

 

[covlad-99]

Lol cheers mate, it'll be a good laugh more than anything if we get past the application stages.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

I applied for X-Factor in the first series, but didn't get past the judges stage. They said I should concentrate on Musical Theatre, and that I wasn't really right for the show - still, that was a reasonably good result, as if you have three music industry professionals saying you're at Musical Theatre level (which is miles above most pop - you actually have to be able to sing well), then that can't be too bad. Since then, I've played the Palladium and Theatre Royal, to full houses and that is just an unbelievable feeling!

Anyway, a bit of advice.

1. Just because you sail through the producers auditions doesn't mean you'll do the same with the judges. They might be letting you through just so they can set you up for a fall, for the sake of 'good TV', as happened to a good friend of mine, and she never really recovered from what they said to her - she jacked it in. She wasn't the most confident of people, not a bad voice, but she just couldn't get over what they said to her. So, just take one round at a time.

Remember, the atmosphere on the day of the judges auditions will be crazy. No matter how many cameras are shoved in your face, try to keep calm and do not get swept away by the feeling of the day. If you do, you won't be centred and if you're not centred, forget about singing well - it just won't happen. When I say 'centred', I mean calm, focused, determined (but not desperate) and ready to do your stuff. Remember, don't go in there thinking you're going to impress them: you probably won't. Just go in there to do your best for yourself. If you do, and you have a good voice, who knows? You might get that magical 'yes'!

2. No matter what any TV camera toting crew encourage you to do, don't give it back to the panel if they slag you off. You'd just be giving them lots of ammunition to make you look a right prat in some sketch or other - that's what they did to my friend. Just be polite and show, in a dignified way, your steely determination to one day prove them wrong! They'll respect you more and you won't give them anything to base some daft sketch around.

3. If you're lucky enough to make it to the latter stages, make sure, come Hell or high water, that you have your song learned perfectly!! It makes me mad to see people lucky enough to get through and then not put the effort in to learn the damn song!

4. If you somehow win the competition, remember, that isn't the end of the hard work. It is the beginning! You have a wonderful opportunity to firmly establish yourself in the business, do not take it for granted. Work just as hard, if not harder!

And finally, Good luck!

Edit: I forgot to mention, avoid things like chocolate like the plague if you're going to sing on any given day. Chocolate coats your vocal chords and that's not a good thing for your singing voice's quality at that time. Don't eat too heavily in general, the last thing you want is to go in there feeling sluggish.

And pick a song you're completely comfortable with. If you're not quite sure you can get that high note in 'X Song', then pick something else!! Also, try to make the song's words mean something to you: don't just sing them. Many a performance is ruined because someone has a great voice, but nothing is going on 'behind the eyes' as it were. It doesn't matter how good the voice is, if there's no meaning to the words, no 'acting through song', then the performance will be dull. Avoid prancing or dancing around the room: that's not what they want to see.

Finally, DO NOT go to this if it's your first ever audition. You have no idea what to expect and it could destroy your confidence. Mr Cowell and his cohorts are paid to be nasty to people, even if they're some innocent, timid little 16 year old who has been told all his/her life that they have a great voice. Get yourself some other auditions first, even if they're only for amateur shows. Going into the Lion's Den when you don't even know how to use your sword is not a good idea...

Once again: Good Luck!!

 

[Leicester Fox]

A couple of friends say I have a good voice. One I wouldn't trust though, she has crap taste in music.

My one flaw is the only time I will ever sing is when I am very very drunk but that problem can be easily sorted.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

A couple of friends say I have a good voice. One I wouldn't trust though, she has crap taste in music.

My one flaw is the only time I will ever sing is when I am very very drunk but that problem can be easily sorted.

Have you ever done any public singing (preferably not Karaoke: everyone is there for a good time and will cheer anything! However, if you have a performance where you silence the whole pub and receive mad applause afterwards, that's usually a good sign. If that ever happens to you, drink it in because it is an amazing feeling, even if it was just a local pub competition).

By the way, even if you're 100% sure it's the case, do not go around spouting that you are the best, because they know how to manipulate that sort of contestant to make them look very, VERY stupid. Remember, this is a TV show, they don't really give a damn about you or your feelings.

 

[Leicester Fox]

No, I don't need too. I wouldn't be going to win, they would put me through and I would say nah no thanks and walk out because I am so cool.

The only singing I have ever done is karaoke and in the shower. Or just generally when music is playing at partys.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

No, I don't need too. I wouldn't be going to win, they would put me through and I would say nah no thanks and walk out because I am so cool.

The only singing I have ever done is karaoke and in the shower. Or just generally when music is playing at partys.

That I'd love to see. That would leave Mr Cowell speechless!

 

[Dr. Pepper]

I'm going to go on and hum the X-Factor tune.

 

[covlad-99]

Excellent post MB. I haven't really ever sung to people to be perfectly honest. Only at school when me and my mates just sing for a laugh and I have never been to any sort of audition.

However, I'm not one of those people who take criticism to heart. I'm simply going on the X Factor for the experience and if I get through to the auditions and I don't do very well at all and I get attacked, then so be it! I think the judges that tell it like it is because I don't like it when people are given false confidence because the judges don't want to tell the truth.

So if they same I'm rubbish then so what? I'm 16 for God's sake! I need to try as many new things as possible! It'll be a learning curb.

So my advice is go for it! As long as you can take if it doesn't go brilliantly. I was really nervous when I sent in the application but now, I know there is nothing to be nervous about as, yes or no, its all positive!

Right now, I'd say I'm looking forward to it so bring on the application results! If I don't get through that, who the hell cares? If I get past that and not the auditions, then who the hell cares?

Thats how I feel right now.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Excellent post MB. I haven't really ever sung to people to be perfectly honest. Only at school when me and my mates just sing for a laugh and I have never been to any sort of audition.

However, I'm not one of those people who take criticism to heart. I'm simply going on the X Factor for the experience and if I get through to the auditions and I don't do very well at all and I get attacked, then so be it! I think the judges that tell it like it is because I don't like it when people are given false confidence because the judges don't want to tell the truth.

So if they same I'm rubbish then so what? I'm 16 for God's sake! I need to try as many new things as possible! It'll be a learning curb.

So my advice is go for it! As long as you can take if it doesn't go brilliantly. I was really nervous when I sent in the application but now, I know there is nothing to be nervous about as, yes or no, its all positive!

Right now, I'd say I'm looking forward to it so bring on the application results! If I don't get through that, who the hell cares? If I get past that and not the auditions, then who the hell cares?

Thats how I feel right now.

Well, if you feel that you can take any harsh criticism, then good luck to you! I would still advise anyone thinking of singing as a career not to pick this as their first audition, but your attitude of going along for the experience isn't a bad one at all: since you're not putting any pressure on yourself, who knows? You might just pull it off...

 

[covlad-99]

You never know, I'm confident I can get through if I do get as far as the auditions, but like you say, I have no experience the field, so on that I feel like its not the end of the road if I don't get through as there are plenty more chances on offer for the future. Whatever happens, I'm pretty sure I won't be disappointed as we all know there are more important things in the world at the moment, like Coventry getting back into the Premiership! Lol, but on a serious note, this really isn't a massive thing. Yes, if you get through and to the very latter stages (eg the live performances) it will change your life guaranteed, but this really is irrelevant as I no way expect to get this far, obviously. But if somehow I do, its purely a bonus and nothing more. Getting through the auditions would mean a lot to be honest, so thats my aim and if it doesn't work out this year, I will try to improve, and there's always next year and beyond.

No one expects everything to come first time of trying, and if they do, its those over-confident, arrogant people who even if they are the best singers in the world, have no chance of winning the show because they don't have the 'likeability (sp?) factor'.

I'm just going to go with the flow and take each stage as it crosses me.

 

[Simbazz]

I could never do X Factor for 2 reasons,

I'd look like a twat, and two,

My voice is better with guitars and drums behind it, rather than ponncy tunes. If it was X Factor Bands edition, then we're talking but at the moment only E4 do something regarding unsigned bands.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

I could never do X Factor for 2 reasons,

I'd look like a twat, and two,

My voice is better with guitars and drums behind it, rather than ponncy tunes. If it was X Factor Bands edition, then we're talking but at the moment only E4 do something regarding unsigned bands.

My voice is at its best when it's just a piano playing.

 

[covlad-99]

Simbazz, would Britain's Got Talent suit you more?