CheyTalks: American Idol Experience

Happy Monday Dreamers!

I am going to start a new series on my blog where I talk about different experiences to help you guys go after your dreams and help remind you not to give up on those dreams.

I wanted to share with you all my personal experience with my past American Idol Audition in August of this year. I auditioned for American Idol back in 2011 in South Carolina, but did not make it past the first round. Needless to say, I was devastated then, I would be devastated 6 years later. Since I had attended an American Idol Audition before, expectations were low, due to the fact that I had some sort of idea what I was going to be up against.

The ship sailed – I learned shortly after that first audition in 2011 that Idol and becoming a singer was not in my future. I found out newer passions other than singing.  This was hard for me at the time because singing was my passion, but I knew it would not make me money. It was just something I knew that I had the ability of doing, but I cannot purse a career in because of my lack of knowledge in the music industry.

I had decided I would go to college and pursue creating my own event planning business. I studied business and moved on into a local university in Tampa, leaving my singing career on the back burner.

There is never a day that goes by, whether it is in my car, shower, desk at work, or in my head that I am singing a song. Singing got me through the toughest points in my life. In my Introduction to Cheyenne Blog, I discussed how I was bullied in middle school. The moments I needed music the most were during the times I was bullied. I would sing my heart out because it made me happy. To this day it still makes me happy.

When I learned American Idol would be coming to Disney Springs, kicking off their first audition city at the happiest place on Earth and rebooting, I knew exactly that I was going to be auditioning no matter what. Since the day I found out, I created a playlist on all my favorite songs to sing. I practiced every day – asking friends and family what song should I sing. I later determined I wanted to sing “Blank Space” by Taylor Swift.

With American Idol, it is all about song choice, “Blank Space,” was not the best song choice. I will admit, I regret singing that song – but I know I knocked it out of the park! It was my best rendition and I made it my own.

I attended this audition with my best friend, Zach. We stood in line for 6 hours in the mid-day heat. I cannot express how many times I felt nervous and wanted to pass out because of the heat/thought of singing again. I had not sang in front of people in about 3 years.

I almost gave up half way through the line because of the heat and the self doubt. I remember the feeling of waiting in the line underneath the white tents and feeling nervous mixed with a minor heart attack. I knew that once I got through the tents and into the gated area I’d be okay.

The way it was set up was several mini tents with 2 producers at each tent with golden tickets. It was rare when someone would get a golden ticket. I watched amazing talent walk away without a ticket. Several people were busting out Whitney Huston notes and receiving nothing in return. Once I passed the gate into the garden area of Disney Springs for the auditions, the producers placed us in rows of 4.

I realized in that moment in line, I was not going to make it. There was something that told me I needed to do this for myself – to prove that I was able to overcome the no I received in 2011.

I performed and was told no. I sang the best I could, even though I knew in my heart that I was not going to make it through to the next round. I was told that my voice was very theatre and sounded too Disney (which is not a bad! I took it as a compliment). Despite the outcome, I was so happy that I went to Disney Springs for this audition. The amount of overwhelming support is what made it possible for me to move on. It was amazing that so many people supported a dream of mine that I put on the hold.

I had told myself before the audition that if I didn’t make it past the first round, singing was something that was not meant for me. I also told myself that if I didn’t make it, that  blogging and my personal shops would be something that I would focus more attention to because that would indicate the path that I am set to be on.

I do believe that it’s not meant to be my career, but it will always be a part of me. I am grateful for that day. I learned that I can do anything that I set my mind to.

The moral is to follow your dreams and don’t live with the regrets and “what-ifs”. I am happy that I have the memory to look back on now.

This experience helped me realize that next year I will audition again and never give up. If the opportunity is there, there is no excuse to go after my dream.  As they say, third time is a charm! The best advice I can give to anyone who wants to do a reality shows is to not get upset with the outcome. Make something positive out of the no.

I hope the blog inspired you to go after your dreams no matter how big or small.

Let me know in the comments if you liked this style of blog!

As always,

Thank you for reading!

Until the next blog,

Cheyenne 

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