#as opposed to my dad who i idolized at that age and assumed i could parent trap one day

[xoshepard]

can't say i don't have some doubts about going from 32 years of Straight Chillin mixed with Fuckin Around to being a 6yo's second mom but i am so locked in i dont think it matters

[theonlysoph]

SKZ Reaction to Meeting You for the First Time

Request: “So this one might be a little harder and/or longer. Pick your favorite group to write about right now and write your favorite 'first meeting' interaction with each of them. Make it fun for yourself~ “

Note: I’m so sorry this took so long !!  I’m trying to write more but there’s so much going on and I’m working more than ever. Please be patient if you want to request :) Also I added Woojin as a bonus cuz a bitch is still hurting hehe

Masterlist        Request

~~~~~

Chan

You had been invited out with some friends to celebrate one of their birthdays. You walked around saying hello to everyone and occasionally being pressured to take a drink or shot, not that you would say no anyways. Tonight was about celebrating! You continued making your rounds until you came across someone who didn’t look familiar. 

“Hi I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Y/N,” you smiled. 

Chan reached his hand out while responding, “I definitely would have remembered if I did.”

After introducing yourselves, you flirted back and forth a little more equally attracted to each other. There was no denying that Chan was an easy person to talk to. But it wasn’t long before a friend pulled you away to go drink with her instead. You gave a quick sorry and silently prayed that you would get to talk to Chan again soon. 

You met again later in the night when both of you were at the height of your drunkness. Some mutual friends suggested that you all play truth or drink. When it became Chan’s turn he was asked who the prettiest person in the room was. Without hesitation your name fell out of his mouth.  

Minho

JYP announced that they wanted to put together a stage to showcase the company’s overall talent in idols. You had been asked to choreograph a couple dance with none other than Lee Know from Stray Kids. You had admired the boy’s talent and only ever heard good things about him from other staff. Even knowing that didn’t relax your nerves when you walked into the practice room. Minho was already there shuffling through his phone’s playlist for the song that the company had sent him.

“Um hi,” you properly greated Minho. Your group hadn’t met Stray Kids yet and you wanted to leave a good first impression.

“Oh you must be Y/N from (group’s name),” a smile graced Minho’s face once he got a better look at you. “And the main dancer I’m assuming.” You nodded. “Great! Let’s get started?”

The two of you danced and choreographed for the rest of the day, and pretty far into the night. During your breaks you talked a little and got to know each other. You told yourself it was so that the two of you would have great chemistry when the showcase finally came around, but you also knew that wasn’t the whole truth.    

Changbin

Your leader politely knocked on the door to one of your senior idols so that you could introduce yourselves as a new group. You were about to lose it because you were going to meet Stray Kids, and most importantly Changbin. He had been your bias since their first show, something about his swagger on stage made you head over heels. You held onto one of your group members, realizing that you were finally going to be in the same room as the group you loved so much. 

From the moment you stepped in the room you tried so hard to keep from staring too long at any of the boys, but your eyes still managed to land on Changbin over and over. When your group finished introducing yourselves, Chan being a dad mentioned that a few of the members were actually really excited to meet your group. Minho lightly pushed Changbin with a snicker which earned him a glare from the younger. Your leader seeing this laughed and replied that you were a huge Stray Kids fan as well.

“Hopefully we’ll be seeing more of each other,” Chan smiled. Right as he said this you and Changbin made eye contact for the first time since entering the room.

Hyunjin

You and a friend made the long drive to go to the boy’s fan sign and concert. With enough confidence for the both of you, your friend went first. Trailing behind, you made your way down the line greeting each boy and telling them how much they meant to you in the few minutes you had with each of them. At the very end sat Hyunjin. 

“Hi,” he softly smiled. You could feel your heart almost stop when his eyes landed on you. 

“Hi you’re group means so much to me and I never thought I would get the chance to meet you and there’s so much I want to say but Korean isn’t my first language but I’m so so happy to finally meet my ultimate bias.” Of all the possible reactions you could have had you didn’t expect to word vomit and make a fool of yourself. You turned red with blush, and looked down, not able to face Hyunjin after what you just did.

What happened next was just as much as a shock. Hyunjin took your hands in his and encouraged you to look at him.  

“Thank you for the kind words. If I knew I was going to meet an angel today I would have prepared something more for you.”

Jisung

You were beyond late for your flight back to the US, and trying so hard not to completely lose it in the line for security. There were only a few more people in front of you then you could sprint to your gate and catch your flight. Easy. Right as you were about to go up to the teller he signalled someone else to his little podium. There were 8 boys who looked around your age and a few other older looking people, all presenting their passports and walking over to security. You were livid.

Fast forward, you had spent the better part of an hour trying to find an affordable flight home, with no luck. You could have just been on time, but if those damn people didn’t cut in front you wouldn’t have missed your flight. You tried speaking to one of the attendants at the desk explaining again that you couldn’t afford the next plane out, when you heard a familiar voice. Speak of the devils.

“I don’t mean to listen but weren’t you in line at security?” You gave Jisung a blank stare, that probably came off really bitchy. “I just wanted to offer to buy your ticket since I’m guessing we made you miss it.”

Felix

Felix walked into the dog cafe and quietly checked to see if his regular table was available. He was a little disappointed to see that it was being occupied by a pretty girl he had never seen before. You were busy playing with a few of the puppies that you didn’t notice the handsome boy looking your way. Deciding it was better not to bother you, Felix instead sought out the golden retriever that he had grown so fond of.

Hours passed for each of you without acknowledging the other’s existence. Every now and then you may have shared a glance, and you both found the other attractive. It wasn’t enough for either of you to do anything more than smile. But luckily that didn’t last long.

All it took was for one of the puppies to grab and run off with your purse. Luckily Felix was able to catch her before she could begin teething and ripping your bag. You apologized, though you weren't exactly sure for what, and graciously took back your belonging.   

In the end it was Felix who took the risk in asking your name and where you were from. You both left the cafe that day smiling, and looking forward to the next time you would meet.   

Seungmin

Your friends had been bothering you to try dating more. It wasn’t that you were opposed to it, you just didn’t see a point in putting so much effort into someone who turned out undeserving. But finally had enough you agreed to ONE blind date set up by your friends. 

The day came and you could not have been more annoyed. No part of you wanted to go on this date but you made a promise and you weren’t a horrible person (though it did cross your mind to stand your date up). Despite your sour mood you got dressed up in a cute little outfit and went. You waited at a nearby park your friends told you to wait at. The only other information they had given you was a name, but how could they expect you to know who Seungmin was?

Only a few minutes had passed before you heard someone call your name. You turned around and saw a puppy-dog looking boy making his way to you, with a huge smile on his face. “Hi Y/N, I’m Seungmin! (Your friend’s name) set us up today.” You greeted him with a smile. 

Jeongin

You had always been at the top of your class, and being the new student it wasn’t very easy for you to make real friends. You didn’t mind too much, soon you would be at university and things would be different. In the meantime, you were just trying to graduate and fly under everyone’s radar. 

After class one day one of your teachers asked if they could talk to you. They explained that they had a student who was really struggling, and since you were doing so well, they wanted to know if you would be willing to tutor. You masked your grief with a smile and said yes. The teacher introduces you to Jeongin, and you two quickly exchanged numbers. 

“Thank you again for doing this,” Jeongin said. “It’s just hard to keep up with everything when I have to work all the time. But I promise I won’t waste your time.” 

You guys made plans for your first tutor session then went on your way. You went home curious about Jeongin, you didn’t even know he went to your school. So you looked him up hoping to find his instagram or something. When Stray Kids pop up you fell in a deep rabbit hole but one thing was for sure, Jeongin was the cutest member.

Bonus: Woojin

Woojin had gone to the beach in hopes of clearing his mind. So much had begun to take a toll on his metal health in the past few months. He was bursting at the seams and thought it was best if he could run away, even just for a little bit. He didn’t expect to run into someone else who looked just as lost as he did. 

You sat down on a bench not too far from Woojin, though you didn’t really register his presence at the otherwise empty beach. But the longer you sat out staring at the crashing waves didn’t help at all. It was nice and relaxing, but your thoughts were a war zone making you tear up. There were just too many thoughts in your head to really pay attention to what was happening in the real world in front of you.

A voice startled you saying, “I hope you make it through whatever is eating at you.” It took you a second to realize that it was the same man that was sitting a few feet away. He held a small flower in his outstretched hand and waited for you to take it. 

[side-of-sing]

Listening in

Johnny overhears a conversations about himself. Ash has no chill. Nough said.

_____

Johnny was currently up in the rigging of the theater, carefully positioned on a wooden beam high above the stage with one leg dangling down and his back resting against another beam. Why had he volunteered to do this again? Sure, he could do some basic repairs on his dad's old trunk in a pinch, but that did not translate into knowing how to fix a stage light. The bulb had been change and every part of it was checked to verify it was in good condition, so why wasn't the stupid thing working? Johnny groaned in frustration from his perch in the rafters and ran his hand down his face. He was too stubborn to leave the damaged light unfixed, so with a sigh, he reached towards the tool box he brought up with him and continued his attempts to make the light work. If he hadn't been so focused on his doomed mission to repair the broken machinery in front of him, he probably would have enjoyed being above the theater stage. Despite being in relatively plain sight, no one seemed to look up and notice him. This put him above conversing animals who had no idea he was there. Johnny had already heard Mr. Moon tell Eddie about the renovation ideas he had for the stage, as the sheep rolled his eyes and tried to keep his friend from getting too carried away. "No! Buster, we can't install trapeze equipment in the theater!" The gorilla also heard Ms. Crawly talk cheerfully about her new boyfriend to an eager-to-listen Rosita as they ambled across the stage. And later, a heated debate between Gunter and Mike about whether or not Lady Gaga's songs qualified as 'real music'. Johnny chuckled as he heard an extremely offended Gunter viscously defend his idol from Mike's criticizing remarks. But by far, the most interesting conversation he heard happened when Ash and Meena made their way on stage to check the speakers. "Really, Meena, I'm fine. I just... I don't know. I don't miss him anymore, but I still kinda miss being in a relationship. Ya' know?" Johnny's attention was immediately snatched away from the light fixture and focused on Ash's lament. Carefully, he leaned back so he could see his two friends. He saw them walk out and sit side-by-side on the stage with Ash getting out her guitar from its case and Meena untangling the cords used to for the speakers. Meena was nodding along sympathetically to what Ash was saying. "Yeah! Well, no. I've never been in that situation, but I can understand why you'd feel that. It, um, it must be weird being on your own after being with someone for so long." Meena reassured then stopped for moment before continuing cautiously. "Are you seeing anyone now?" "Nah! Not really interested in anyone. What about you?" Ash's self pitying tone faded away and turned into one of coy curiosity. "Any guy in your life?" Johnny felt a moment of relief from hearing Ash's sad demeanor go back to normal, followed by intense curiosity about Meena's response. The elephant gave a nervous chuckle. "Heh, no." "Kay... any girl?" "Uh-uh" The porcupine sighed. "Anyone at all?" "Not really." Meena's answer sounded almost like an apology. Ash practically groaned. "Oh come on, I've never heard you talk about a crush before. There's gotta be someone you're at least a little interested in!" The porcupine's persistence was only met with a sheepish smile and a shrug from Meena. Ash sighed heavily, unsatisfied with her friend's lack of interesting responses. "What did you expect?" Meena giggled at Ash's reaction as she untangled the last of the cords. She got up to plug one in as she continued talking. "I spent all my time either here or at home. Besides you, I don't really spend time with many animals my age." "There's Johnny." Ash stated matter-a-factly, much to the gorilla's surprise and relief. His grip on the beam tighten as he became the topic of conversation. "Well, yeah. Beside you and Johnny." Meena quickly brushed off Ash's comment, hidden behind speaker equipment and her own ears. There was a lasting silence and Johnny shifted back to work on the light, assuming the conversation was over and that Ash was satisfied with Meena's response. He was wrong. "Sooooo," He heard the porcupine drawl just as he was situated on the precarious wooden beam that probably wasn't meant to hold his weight. "What do you think of Johnny then?" The gorilla felt his face heat up as soon as the question was asked. He couldn't see the girls now, so he could imagine what their facial expressions were. "Don't give that look! If he's literally the only guy in your life right now, we're talking about him." Ash pushed. "So spill." Meena murmured incoherently as she tried to think of something to say. Johnny quickly found himself straining to hear her soft voice, completely neglecting his original task. A part of his conscience nagged him for listening in on their private conversation and not telling them he was there. He reasoned that it wasn't eavesdropping since he had been there first and they just happened to be talking near where he already was. Besides, if they really wanted this conversation to be private, they shouldn't be having it on an open stage. Or at the very least, they should have looked around to make sure no one was within earshot. "W-well, obviously I think he he's nice. He's our friend." Johnny could just barely make out Meena's flustered mumbles. "He's easier to talk to than most others. And, um, I don't know, really good at piano..." The was a brief pause before Ash spoke up. "Would you go out with him?" "What?!" Meena's response was shrill and made Johnny jump. Ash, who evidently thought subtlety was for suckers, calmly repeated. "Would you go out him? Like, if he asked you out, would you say yes or what?" Johnny's hand was over his mouth as he sat in awe at how forward his small friend was. He could only imagine how red faced and flummoxed Meena was right now. She probably looked adorable. "Wha- I- um- n-no!" Meena struggled to form any kind of coherent answer. "I-I mean, that would be weird! We're friends." She offered as an excuse. "Right, weird." Ash sounded bored and completely unconvinced. "It's not like he's kissed you or anything." Johnny's heart stopped. She was referring to the mistletoe kiss right before their break for the holidays a couple of weeks ago. The consequences of which had pretty much been limited to Gunter telling everyone at the theater and now referring to the two of them as lovebirds. Johnny had found he didn't actually mind Gunter calling them that, but if Meena was ever within earshot, she'd find an excuse to leave the room and put distance between them. Johnny had just chalked that up to Meena being easily embarrassed at the time, but now he began to worry there was something more to it. Come to think of it, the shy elephant had never brought the topic up, almost as if it hadn't happened. During the silence following Ash's comment, the cockney teen wondered for the first time if maybe Meena was really opposed to the idea of them as a couple. What if she wasn't embarrassed so much as disgusted whenever someone insinuated that they were more than friends? Maybe she never brought it up, not because she didn't know how to react, but because she wished it hadn't happen! Johnny's stomach slowly dropped lower and lower as his mind helpfully supplied numerous reasons why Meena wouldn't want anyone to think they were together. He snapped out of it when he finally heard Meena give an uneasy laugh. "That was... that was just a joke." She sounded more like she was trying to convince herself of that rather than Ash.

The porcupine just huffed. “Uh-huh, sure, that’s it. Ya’ know you’d sound a lot more convincing if I didn’t catch you looking at him so often. Just saying-”

“Speakers are ready!” Meena”s words overlapped with Ash’s and were louder than they needed to be. “W-we should really get to testing them!”

With a sigh, Ash temporarily allowed the subject to be dropped as to test her guitar with the new speaker system. A few moments later, Johnny had one arm wrapped tightly around one of the wooden beams and the other around the tool box as to keep it and himself from falling. The theater vibrated due to the force of Ash's guitar playing. The gorilla only let his death grip on the beam loosen once he was sure she was done, once again impressed at how powerful her guitar warm ups were. There were a few minutes of peace before Ash continued her pestering of Meena about her opinion on Johnny.

"I don't know! What about you?" The elephant sounded desperate to divert attention any from herself.

"What about me?" Ash sounded confused as to why Meena would even ask. "Look, for all my complaining, I don't think I'm gonna be able to date anyone for a while. Besides, pretty boy isn't really my type." Johnny, who was once again fiddling with the stage-light in some effort to fix it, couldn't help but think Ash sounded a lot more convincing than Meena did. "I mean, the guy's hot and has a decent bed-name and all, but he's also a colossal dork."

"...what's a 'bed-name'?" The elephant asked hesitantly, as if unsure she would want to know.

"I never told you about that? It's a standard I came up with so I don't end up dating someone with dumb name like Melvin or Barney." Meena must of had the same puzzled expression on her face that Johnny currently had, considering Ash felt prompted to continue. "Okay, so basically, you gotta think about what someone's name sounds like in the moment. Like, could you imagine yourself saying 'Oh, Edwin!'?"

"Ewww." Meena cringed. "Is that really something you think about?"

"Sure. Take your name for example. 'Ooh, Meena~.' See, it sounds better." Johnny's head was bend down with his thumb and forefinger pressed against his temple. He shook his head slightly and quietly chuckled. Why were they talking about this here? Literally anyone could walk out on stage right now. Like their boss. Or better yet, Rosita. She'd surely have something to say about their behavior.

Meena's sputtered out a laugh. "Gross! Okay, you can stop now."

There was a short silence before Ash started carefully. "...and as for Johnny's name..."

"Don't"

The porcupine snickered evilly before starting. "Oh, John-"

"Lalalalalala! I can't hear you!" Meena practically shouted over Ash, her voice riddled with laughter.

Their conversation quickly dissolved into Ash saying the name of every animal they both know in an overly dramatic, sexual voice with Meena trying to hush her in between giggle fits. Soon, their words fizzled out into bubbly laughter. Above them, Johnny had one arm wrapped a beam and his other hand clasped over his mouth as he silently wheezed, all former worries currently forgotten as he tried to quietly gasp for air. He almost wished someone else would show up just to see their reaction to the duo's antics.

Eventually, the girls tried to recollect themselves, hysterical howling dwindling into soft giggles. Once Johnny's breathing was mostly under control, he removed his hand from his mouth and tried to reposition himself a bit, still smiling at the absurdity of his two friends. Of course, once both his hands were occupied with supporting him, he hear Meena say. "And you went with someone named 'Lance'?" At the moment, that seemed like the funniest thing in the world to the gorilla and porcupine, both of whom burst out laughing again. Only this time, Johnny couldn't cover his mouth. Both girls jumped when he barked out a laugh and he heard Meena's horrified voice. "Johnny!?" Busted.

He couldn't see them and he was still shaking from mirth, so he decided it would be best to just climb down and face the music. He descended as carefully as his unsteady form would allow, stumbling a bit just before hitting the ground, and looked up to find a very amused Ash and a mortified Meena. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean- I was fixing- and you came out here-" The guilty gorilla could only get a few words out at a time as he tried to catch his breath and get up.

"How long have you been up there?" Ash all but cackled out before attempting to look sternly at him. "For shame! Don't you know better than to go spying on girls?"

"Don't talk on a bleeding open stage then!" Johnny managed to pant out doubles over with his hands on his knees. His apology was more to Meena than Ash. "'Sides, you would've done it too. 'Eck, you would've pulled out ya phone and recorded if ya heard someone talkin' about ya." He cocked an eyebrow at the porcupine as he said this.

"Well, yeah." Ash admitted coolly and she approached him. "But I've wouldn't have gotten caught." She smirked.

Johnny rolled his eyes and looked pass his shorter friend towards Meena, more worried about her reaction. The elephant was not looking at him, rather her panicked expression was facing downwards as her hands wrung her hoodie. Her eyes were shifting slightly back and forth as she was no doubt going over everything she had said in the gorilla's presence. "Um... I really am sorry." He spoke up to get her attention and gestured upward. "I, uh, I was fixin' a light and, um, yeah... sorry." He finished lamely, hand falling to scratch the back of his head nervously.

Meena's gaze flickered up to meet his, but she could only hold it for a moment before quickly looking back at the ground as a blush spreading across her face. "It's okay." She squeaked out, shifting uncomfortable and looking like she'd rather be anywhere else in the world. "I'm... gonna go tell Mr. Moon the speakers work." Meena glanced up to Ash as she dismissed herself and shuffled off, leaving the other two alone on stage.

Johnny winced a little as he watched her retreat backstage. That hadn't been the reaction he was hoping for. Beside him, he heard Ash huff out an annoyed sigh and saw she had also been looking at where Meena just left. The porcupine shook her head a little before turning to head back to her guitar, muttering under her breath. "Not interested in anyone my tail!"

[proudnaija-blog]

German striker Mario Gómez reveals Jay Jay Okocha as his childhood hero

The 33-year-old Gomez who had a legendary career with the German national team and across several top teams in Europe has revealed his admiration for Okocha which started at a young age. In an interview with the Players Tribune, Gomez talked about his upbringing and how he started his  He stated that when he began he was passionate to play the game even when he did not understand the rules and relegation. Narrating his story, Mario stated that his parents assumed a coaching role directing him where to score. He said, “I was four years old and I didn’t really know what I was doing. All I knew was that I had the ball at my feet and I wanted to score a goal. So I started dribbling up the field and all my teammates began to yell my name. “Mario! Mario! Mario!” I took the ball further up the field. Marioooooooooo! “What’s wrong with them? Why do they want me to pass? None of the defenders wanted to take me on. I had a clear path to the goal. “Mario!” Even the parents were yelling my name now. You’re going the wrong way! Mario, nooooo! “I didn’t understand that there was a right way to go. I just saw a goal, and I wanted to kick the ball into it.”

Mario Gomez is nearing the end of his career now with Stuggart He went on to discuss that his father was Spanish and he used to play shoot around with him to help develop his game. Mario stated that his father then encouraged him to watch professional footballers on television. He stated that around the age of seven or eight they watched a game involving Frankfurt and he was in awe of the performance of Okocha who was in Germany at the time. Okocha moved to Frankfurt from Borussia Neunkirchen in 1992 and spent four years at the Commerzbank-Arena before he left in 1996. He explained he fell in love with the way Okocha manipulated opposing defenders before he found the back of the net. Narrating his experience Mario said, “See, my dad was from Spain, so he loved football as well. He couldn’t have cared less about the plants, and sometimes he’d even come out and shoot around with me. Except if it was 6 p.m. on a Sunday. Then, there was only one place he’d be: in front of the television watching the weekly football highlights program.

Jay Jay Okocha put on a show for Frankfurt when he was in the Bundesliga “I didn’t like watching football on TV. It was always so boring to me. Why sit in front of the screen, when you could go outside and play the game for real? “Papi, let’s go outside!” I’d say, tugging on his arm. “Let’s play!” One evening when I was about seven or eight, he had finally had enough. Instead of shooing me away, he sat me down right next to him. “I want you to see this, Mario. Just watch. Nooooo! It’s boring. "My father pointed at the television, Look! There! Right now! "When I looked up, there was an Eintracht Frankfurt player on the screen. He dribbled the ball around the other team’s goalkeeper, then around a defender, and then around another defender — just toying with them — until he chipped it easily into the goal. “Woahhhhhh, I said. What did he just do?. See? my father said. That’s Jay-Jay Okocha. And there’s no one else like him.

Wolfsburg's forward Mario Gomez runs with the ball against Bayer Leverkusen on April 2, 2017 “From that moment, I dreamed of playing like Jay-Jay. He was my idol. The way he moved the ball he was like an artist. He did things with a ball I couldn’t even imagine. And after seeing that dribble and that goal, I watched the highlights with my father every Sunday. I even started watching matches with him as well.” Gomez went on to state that as a German player he modeled his game alongside Brazilian players Ronaldinho and Rivaldo. Over the course of his career as a professional career Gomez has won several trophies especially during his time at Bayern Munich but missed out on the team that won the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Read the full article

[awesomepleasantstudentfan-blog]

5 Insider Tips for The Voice Auditions

 5 Insider Tips for The Voice Auditions

5 Insider Tips for The Voice Auditions

Thinking about auditioning for a show like The Voice? Bryan S., one of our San Diego-based teachers, offers a few insider tips to get you ahead of the game. Read on…

There are many of us out there that dream of making it big as a singer. The great thing about the day and age we live in is that your life can be changed in a second and your dreams can come true. With shows like American Idol, The X Factor and The Voice, more singers than ever are closer to being heard by a nation. With that in mind, there is a lot of work and preparation needed to get to that point.

This past weekend I auditioned for The Voice at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Overall, the experience was fantastic. I waited in line only about an hour and a half, and then literally walked in, sang and left. Though I sadly did not get a callback, I did leave with a better understanding of the process and what to expect from a television competition.

I went into the audition with a teacher’s mindset; how can I better prepare my students for an audition of this caliber? Here is what I learned from my time in Los Angeles:

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1. Seek advice and training – Taking singing lessons will definitely help you be ahead of the game in these types of auditions. Having natural talent is fantastic, but if you rely solely on natural talents you may find that your overall performance is lacking. Find a good voice instructor and let them guide you to your goals.

2. Go in with your best – Make sure you sing the best part of your best song. Often times you will only get one verse and one chorus to show exactly how amazing your voice is. With that in mind, make sure you do your research. You have something special about your voice and you need to find a song that best shows that off.

3. Know the show – As with any television audition, it is essential that you know something about the show. Do your research and look at the songs people are singing. Do any of those songs fit into your range? Could you rock that song better than someone on the show? What are they wearing? Use the show as a resource to prepare you for the audition.

4. Come with your “A Game” – Though you may have to wait in line for some time, you need to be ready to go at any second. Make sure that you drink lots of water, do some humming and keep your voice warm, especially if you will be waiting in line outside. Do everything you can to be well-rested before the audition. This is your opportunity to shine!

5. The Voice is literally looking for “The Voice” – This may seem obvious, but when you go into the audition you are told that there is something particular that they are listening for. While they don’t tell you what that exact type of voice is, you do get some insight into the fact that you may be phenomenal but still not the “right” voice for the show.

Singing is becoming a bigger deal in the television world and as you prepare yourself for your auditions make sure you remember how amazing you are. It’s all too easy to let your nerves get the best of you. With that being said, get up, practice and get out there! You are the only thing coming between your reality and your dreams. You have it within you to be great, so let’s see it!

Bryan S. teaches singing, theatrical Broadway singing, opera voice, music performance, acting and music theory in San Diego, CA. He is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, (NATS), the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) and the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA).

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So, I’ve been really thinking about auditioning for The Voice. I’ve auditioned for American Idol in the past and did not have a good experience. The auditionees were not treated well and it’s definitly not based on talent to begin with. My biggest question about the voice is, “Who do audition for during the Open Call Auditions?” I assume it’s not the judges you see on tv. But that assumption is purely based on my experience with American Idol.

Great question, Ashley! I’ll reach out to our teacher Bryan and see if I can get an answer for you. In the meantime — do any of our other readers have some experience? Leave a comment below and let us know!

Hi Ashley, When I auditioned I was taken into a room with just one person. She explained that she was an associate producer. She was not one of the judges from the series or an executive producer. The interesting thing about The Voice , as opposed to, American Idol is that the Associate Producer I was singing in front of was on FaceTime or some sort of Online chat with the Executive Producers so decisions were not solely made by the Associate Producer but the the entire Producing team.

I hope that helps. The Voice audition was much more pleasant than my experiences with American Idol in the past.

Hi my names Lauren and I’m 16 I have been singing all of my life and I’m finally going to try out for the voice I’m from a small town and I don’t really know how to dress for an audition or how to even pick the right song its really frustrating do you have any advice for me?

Hi Lauren! Here are a few articles that might help:

We also have voice teachers you can help you with short-term goals like preparing for a specific audition. You can search for a teacher in your area here: http://bit.ly/1zDC8Gl.

My dad and I did a lot of audition touring when I was in high school, especially since I was on American Idol only making ing it to the tv auditions because of a very bad vocal choice and for only their laughter.(I was a teenager and oblivious).

A lot of the first round auditions are in crowds settings, whether it be american idols arenas, AGTs ten people per room in a conference center somewhere, the voices similar format, and the X factors audition process, which was my favorite. Arenas with maybe 20 -30 different little cloth screened cubicals, you get one on one on a tech person or producer of sorts and 1:30 to introduce yourself and sing, when you got your pass you get to come back the next day to the similar 2nd round but separated to the big types of groups, male female, group, etc. then you go to a small taped room with some accented fellas . I was sick during the 1st season, but almost made judges 2nd season but it was cancelled by wheather. I couldn’t go do auditions again in 2014 I became homless, so I composed an made music for my self to sing. If you wanna check my voice out my sound cloud is above.

Besides I’ll never be the voice these shows will pick, I’ve been doing it the old fashion way. Hehe.

Thanks for sharing your experience, Adrian, and good luck with your music!

Are the first round auditions done with a mic or do you sing without one?

they’re with mics.

Oh and should we get there a while before our audition time or show up a little before? My audition is at 2pm

I am auditioning for the voice in January. I have a couple of questions. Will I be using a microphone when singing.

If I get a callback, I will be singing with a track. I’m a bit confused about backtrack? Will I brig my music on a cd and then. Sing? Also can their be any back ground vocals on it. Please help?

Hi Elizabeth — good luck on your audition! Unfortunately I don’t know the answers to these questions… can any readers out there help Elizabeth?

Oh!! Great and useful tips! Every singer who is going to take part in such auditions can follow your tips. These tips are useful for those singers who always try different ways like entering n singing contests. Good Luck for all those contestants!!

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[anacia30]

Throwback Thursday: Ryan Murphy on Wheels

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/11/exclusive-ryan-murphy-calls-tonights-episode-of-glee-a-game-changer.html

Exclusive: Ryan Murphy calls tonight's episode of 'Glee' a 'game changer'

If you are one of those TV viewers who think “Glee” is just about funny lines and amazing music — and there’s nothing wrong with that — you’re in for a surprising ride tonight when the hit Fox show returns after its three-week hiatus.

In previous episodes, “Glee” has hinted at its big heart: Remember Kurt (Chris Colfer) coming out to his father and Finn (Cory Monteith) learning that his girlfriend is pregnant and crying on his teacher’s shoulders? Weepy stuff. But tonight’s episode is a game-changer for the off-beat series about an underdog glee club, guaranteed to make you laugh, cry and probably dance a little, all the while answering burning questions about Artie (Kevin McHale) Sue (Jane Lynch) and Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz) and showing off the vocal talents of Rachel (Lea Michele) and Kurt in a Diva-Off.

Overcoming emotional and physical disabilities is the central theme of tonight’s episode, titled “Wheels,” which showcases McHale, who plays the wheelchair-bound Artie, and reveals in a fresh way the daunting challenges some people face in their everyday lives. Filmed last spring and directed by Emmy winner Paris Barclay, the emotional episode kept the actors and crew in tears throughout its entire production and, according to creator Ryan Murphy, had long-term effects on its three writers.

“This episode is the turning point for the show,” he said during a recent telephone interview. “Certainly, after this, it remains a comedy, and it’s fun. But writing this made me feel the responsibility of showing the truth of the pain that outcasts go through. It’s not all razzle-dazzle show business. It’s tough, and it’s painful, and it was for me growing up, and it is for most people. So I think this made me realize that amid the fun and the glamour, it’s really great now and again to show the underbelly of what people who are different feel.”

Things kick off with Artie’s first solo, a confident, wheelchair-bound bop to the Nouvelle Vague version of Billy Idol’s “Dancing With Myself.” The number is a response to a prior scene in which his fellow glee clubbers dismiss the idea of paying extra for a special wheel-chair accessible bus so that Artie can ride with them to sectionals. They assume he won’t mind riding with his dad – only he does.

“ ’Dancing With Myself’ is where Artie gets to break away from being misunderstood by everyone,” McHale said. “It’s where he gets to express himself. He's actually a very secure guy – you know, he does rap! – and he doesn’t usually care what anyone else thinks. But here’s an instance where his friends have taken for granted the fact that he’s in a wheelchair. So this performance is all about him saying, ‘Look, this is who I am, and this is who I want to be.’ ”

McHale, formerly of the boy band Not Like Them, said it didn’t take him long to adjust acting (and singing and dancing) in a wheelchair – “I do have to concentrate on keeping my legs still and laid to one side,” he said -- but that the role has made him more aware of the challenges other people face.

“It’s a completely different side of life,” he said.

“More than ever, I realize how grateful I am to be able to get up between each take and walk around. I’m glad that I can represent that kind of life on television so millions of people see it every week. And the whole point of it is to show that Artie can still do everything everyone else can that matters.”

McHale’s co-stars also got a taste of not being able to use their legs. To make them appreciate what Artie goes through daily, Mr. Schuester (Matthew Morrison) subjects all the glee clubbers to wheelchairs for a week. Murphy ordered a range of different-style wheelchairs – from the hospital kind to racing varieties – to give them the full effect. And the episode ends in a romping rendition of Tina Turner’s version of “Proud Mary,” set on a stage with skateboard-style ramps that took some getting used to for everyone except McHale.

Murphy told choreographer Zach Woodlee that he didn’t want to make it easy for the cast members by letting them stand up and leave their wheelchairs during the number.

“Artie doesn’t get to get up ever, so I didn’t want anyone to get up,” said Murphy, who wanted viewers to see the effort that comes with performing in a wheelchair.

“If it looked too fun and easy, it wouldn’t read right,” Woodlee said. “Ryan really wanted people to understand what Artie deals with.”

That means those sweaty faces are the real deal.

“Yeah, that wasn’t acting,” McHale said with a laugh. “Lea had the wheelchair from hell. I don’t know if she was missing safety locks or what, but every time she leaned back, she would fall. She fell more than the rest of us.”

Not that they didn’t have fun making up moves for their new wheels. At one point in the number, the kids nearly bring the house down when they start rocking their chairs from side to side, hard.

“We did it as a joke at first, and we were all laughing hysterically because it was as close to the real Tina Turner moves as we could get,” McHale said. “But then we all thought it looked awesome and everyone loved it, so it stayed in.”

Speaking of rocking out, “Wheels” also features the show choir’s first diva off, a battle royale between Rachel and Kurt. The idea was born when Colfer shared with Murphy how he had begged his high school drama department to let him perform his favorite song, “Defying Gravity,” and he was denied every year because he’s male.

“I told him, ‘Well, you came to the right show runner, mister,’ ” Murphy said. “And I found a way to write it into the show because that’s in a nutshell what this show is about: someone being told that they can’t do something because of what the perception of them is as opposed to what their real ability is.”

Because the episode was so time-consuming and emotional for the actors, the producers held a special screening for them. Having the chance to finally sing the showstopper from “Wicked” “really meant the world to me,” Colfer wrote in an e-mail to The Times this month.

“It's absolutely terrifying to watch yourself do something you've dreamed about for such a long time,” he wrote. “I know I'm definitely not the best singer, but I think the message, the story behind the song about defying limits and borders placed by others, hopefully all that gets across with the performance. Although I do some very ‘Kurtsy’ things in the song, it's probably one of the most honest and close-to-heart scenes I've ever filmed or performed for that matter.”

“Wheels” launched a discussion among the show’s cast that Murphy hopes will continue with the audience.

“If anything else, I hope kids who are that age can see that episode and maybe realize how hard it is for some people that they make fun of or tease,” Murphy said. “As we go forward, this episode has reverberations for the whole season.”

That doesn’t mean the series will lose its edge and grow into an after-school special. In the coming weeks, Jonathan Groff (“Spring Awakening”) will join the cast as the lead singer of rival glee club Vocal Adrenaline, and “Dollhouse” creator Joss Whedon will direct one episode. Because of the way fans have responded to the show’s music — 2.6 million downloads on iTunes since the series premiered — Murphy said future episodes will contain even more song and dance numbers.

The laughs will still prevail, even if in three weeks viewers find themselves moved by a deaf choir’s rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine” and the two actresses with Down's Syndrome introduced tonight stay for recurring roles.

“This is a comedy first and foremost,” Murphy said. “But we see the obligation to go deeper. This isn’t just a genre show to me. It’s about the desperate need for a place in the world and how we all fit in and how hard it is for some people to get by.”

-- Maria Elena Fernandez and Denise Martin