My "The Voice" audition experience and adventure

At the beginning of the year, I made a list of things I wanted to do this year to make me happy, do new things, ECT. One of those things was to audition for the Voice or America's Got Talent. After looking at my options, both were having their audition in my "area" on the same weekend. January 23rd in Kansas City for America's Got Talent and January 23rd and 24th in Memphis for The Voice. I decided to go with the Voice as it seemed like a better fit for me and I've been told by friends that I should audition. I was excited and nervous but I signed up online and then the waiting game began.

Finally it was January 23rd it was time for my mom and I to head off to Memphis!

 Saw some crazy and beautiful things along the way

 Finally made it to Memphis and our first stop was this bad boy. I didn't realize how close the convention center was to the pyramid!

 Beautiful full moon!

 One thing that was hard to find but really helped me with getting prepared for the auditions was what really happened at these auditions. There is a number of auditions before you get to what you see on TV and this is the first step. This is were 95% or more of people hear NO. But for those auditioning for the first time it was scary not know what was going to happen and some thought that they were going to be singing for the judges.

So my day started at 3am as my call time was 7am. We stayed in West Memphis that was only about 10min from the Cooks Convention Center.

My Mom and I headed to the Convention Center about 5:30am and drove around to see where we were suppose to be. There was maybe 20 people already in line. We didn't know where the best place to stop for her to let me out, as unless you are under 18, you can not have anyone with you, somehow we got mixed around and ended up back on I-40 and went back over the bridge to west Memphis and came back. In that 15 mins, the line had doubled! So I jumped out and it was FREEZING!  I did meet some wonderful people!

Around 6:00am they let us into the building. We had to show our ID and forms and stand around for another 15 to 20 mins before they moved us across the building to another holding area. This time they got us into rows of 4 to fit more people into each area. A little after 7am, the security started to check ID's and paper work again before you get your bag check and get swiped with the medal detector wand. 

 Again, you get in another line to give your paper work to the producers and get one of these bad boys! After that you are taken into a large room with rows and rows of chairs. By this time it was around 7:30 to 7:45 and we were advised that it would be closer to 9am before they would start taking us row by row to the audition rooms! This was the fun part! It is never a dull moment when you are in a room with a bunch of really good singers! People would just stand up and start singing and then everyone would start singing along! There were so many amazing and talented people!

Around 9am a producer came and started getting us row by row. There were a number of rooms that had 10 to 13 chairs to the side of the door. One of the lower producers gathered up your paperwork and just a few moments later we were told to gather everything and made a line in front of the door. Inside the room were 10 chairs ( 5 on either side of the green tape where you stood to sing)There were a few chairs in the back for parents that came with those under 18. The producer welcomed you and advised to walk to the green tape, announce the song that you are going to sing and start singing. I was 6th singer and I was so scared. I sang Unchained Melody and hit the high not perfectly, but you could tell by my voice that I was nervous.  The producer was very nice and said that I should audition again next season and that there was a lot of potential!

 I was very disappointed but I had such an amazing time that I didn't let it get me down. I haven't really performed in who knows how long, not even karaoke so I was excited that I ever did as well as I did! I am going to get a voice teacher and work on my voice and range so I will kick some major butt next time. I am also going to send in a video submission in the hope that I might get heard that way!!

Afterwards, we headed to the visitors center so I could change from my dress to my travel clothes. A trip to Memphis isn't complete without seeing Elvis!

 And a customary photo infront of the big Memphis egg!

 We left Memphis and headed back to Missouri. We found a few  fun things along the way!

 We stopped at Mammoth Springs! I haven't been there forever and it was just as beautiful as I remembered!

 Home Sweet Home!

So all in all I had an amazing trip and experience. I learnt so much and I am already excited to try again. Even thinking about getting everything together and do a video submission!!!

I hope that everyone enjoyed coming along with me on my adventure! One thing on my 2016 list down and many MANY more to do! Stay tuned for my next one! 

2016 - A year like no other

Every year, most of us make New Year resolutions.  But how many of us really succeed at them? Do we really try or are they just little goals because we feel like we have to have something to accomplish during the year?

For 2016, I made two resolutions... To make the most of my year and to be happy. This isn't as easy as one would think at 35 years old. You fall into a pattern of the everyday life. You get up, go to work, come home and repeat for 5 days. Your days off are filled with cleaning and having to make sure that things are ready to go for the next 5 days that you are going to be heading off to work. And sometimes no matter how much you love and enjoy your job, doing the same thing get tiresome!

Soooo. Here are the things that hope to accomplish this year to help me with my resolutions

2016 Goals

1.       Finish 2015 scrapbook

2.       Clean and organize garage

3.       Join 2 online dating sites

4.       Face 2 fears

5.       Clean out house – closets, cabinets ,ECT

6.       Go walking at nature center once a week

7.       Got to the gym twice a week

8.       Do something special for myself once a month

9.       Do all 4 Wilton Cake decorating Classes

10.   Do a family fun night once a month

11.   Write a travel blog every month for a year

12.   Start writing short stories

13.   Join a church of community choir

14.   Start going back to church

15.   Volunteer somewhere once a month

16.   Have special days/ nights out with Daddy 

17.   Take a crafting class for something new

18.   Go to a baseball game with papa

19.   Learn to play a new musical instrument

20.   Learn to speak fluent Italian

21.   Take fun summer class at OTC

22.   Join a book club

23.   Visit 5 towns in Missouri I have never visited

24.   Try something new every month

25.   Start booking more travel

26.   Do something fun with friends once a month

27.   Rent a boat and have a lake day with parents

28.   Donate a full Thanksgiving dinner to a needy family

29.   Drive around the state taking photos of the fall leaves

30.   Take Christmas gifts to nursing home

31.   Take Christmas gifts to hospital for Children on Christmas

32.   Adopt a family for Christmas

33.   Go to Crystal Bridges Museum

34.   Take mommy to Lola’s

35.   Visit friends in NC

36.   Audition for the Voice or America’s Got Talent

 

I know that this is a lot, but there is a reason that all of these things are on here. it might be to nurture a relationship, learn to love myself more, let go of the everyday and most of all make memories not only for me but with the ones that I love the most.

 

So this year instead of making a goal to do just one thing, think outside of the box at all the opportunities.

 

Until next time!