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8B Wednesday January 30,2013 The Statement

You're going to Hollywood
By Haley Goldberg

Name: Jayne Jaeger
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
School: Music, Theatre & Dance
Concentration: Vocal Performance
Thisfall, Music, Theatre £t Dancefreshman Jayne Jaeger
made it to Hollywood on American Idol. What's it like to be
a contestant on America's biggest TV talent show? Jaeger
brings us back into the audition room as she recounts her
experience.
What was it like trying out for American Idol this year?
I went to the first audition in July in Chicago at the United
Center. There were probably thousands of people lined up
outside waiting to audition. It was
pretty hectic.
What happened after the United
Center audition?
After the audition at the United
Center, I had to do a couple rounds
of auditions before getting to sing for
the judges ... I did three auditions and
the fourth was in front of the judges
... Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban, Randy
Jackson and Mariah Carey.
What was it like singing in front of
the judges?
It was really scary because it was
weird seeingthem there. I've
watched the show for a really long
time, and it almost didn't seem real
that they were actually there talking
to me. But it was a cool experience.
How long were you in front ofthe
judges and what song did you sing?
Probably 10 to 15 minutes ... I sang
"I Want To Hold Your Hand" by
the Beatles but the version from the
movie "Across the Universe."
How did the judges react?
I told them that Iwas a voice performance major, so I think
that kind of tipped them off to say they didn't quite know
if they saw me as a pop singer and they were debating it
among themselves for a little bit. Then they actually had
me sing an opera song, since they knew that was whatI was
studying. So at that point I didn't really think I was going
to get through because I thought they were going to tell me
to just study opera. But in the end, three out of four of them
agreed and you need three "yeses" to get to Hollywood...

Keith said yes, Mariah said yes, Nicki said yes and Randy
said no.
Was this yourfirst time trying out for a TV talent
show?
I tried out with my sister for "America's Got Talent" when I
was younger, but I didn't even make it past the first round,
so this is my first time actually getting it together and try-
ing out for something... I tried out to see just what would
happen, and it's cool to see how far Ican make it in this
try. But if I try out again, I think I would go into it with a
lot more drive since I know the process a little bit more. I
know things that I have to fix that might help me to make it
further.

singers get discovered?
I think it's a really good opportunity not only to get your
name out there, but kind of see how the industry works in
terms of what kind of drive it would require ... because even
though (talent shows) seem like an easier way in, you'd still
have to work really hard at your image, your songchoice
- just everything in your package to make sure that it was
marketable.
Could you telliwho were the "characters" at the audi-
tions?
There were some definitely crazy people that I saw at my
Chicago audition. Once you heard people singing in the
bathroom warming up, it was easy to
tell who was kind of a joke and who
had a chance of actually making it.
And then there were some definite
characters-that ended up making it
through who had good voices and
probably didn't need their whole
physique, but it kind of added to their
whole thing.
Was your audition featured on the
show?
They didn't feature my audition, but
they flashed my face for like a second.
I was happy with that.
What advice do you have for people
trying out for TV talent shows?
I think the ultimate advice for trying
out would be know who you are as an
artist because you can make any song
work as long as you know what your
personais and can portray that and
they can tell who you are. A big thing
they said is, "We're not going to make
you into something. You have to have
it figured out and we can market it."
TERESA MATHEW/Daily That was their big critique for me -
that they didn't think I knew who I
was as an artist. And that was true because I really didn't.
You could tell there were specific people who were kind
of like Katy Perry or Jessie J, and then on the otherhand
there were the rocker girls, the Carrie Underwood girls or
the artsy Ingrid Michaelson girls. It was really important to
know what kind of singer you were, whichwas my biggest
problem.
Do you know now?
Not yet. I'd have to really work on it and think about it ifI
was going to audition again.

Do youthink you'll tryout again?
I think so. If not for "American Idol" then maybe for "The
Voice" or "The X Fator." Just because it was a really good
experience, and I didn't really lose anything from it ... I've
always been an "American Idol" fan. I've never actually
watched "The Voice" or "The X Factor," so I think this is a
good one for me to audition for since I already knew it well
enough based off watching it.
Do you like how TV talent shows are available tolhelp