Sadly, it looks as though i won’t make it to the new round of American Idol auditions — the nearest one is in New York City (which is sure to be mobbed) and it’s on Thursday (directly in the middle of my three midterms). I put some serious thought into it before going to sleep, but the slim possibility of getting to perform on television for a few seconds doesn’t seem to balance out against not making it onto Deans List.

Even if the audition was in Philadelphia i might not have wound up auditioning… and not for lack of trying, since “We would like to give everyone the opportunity to audition. Unfortunately, depending upon the response we receive, it is possible that not everyone will get the chance. … [T]he exact method for selecting individuals from the crowd for auditions is subject to the producers’ discretion based on factors such as style, ability and skill.” I still gave the release form a good reading over, just so i could see exactly what kind of awful situation Fox was legally allowing themselves to plunge the contestants into … and, oh boy, there are some funny loopholes in there. My favorite two lines, by far, are as follows (emphasis is mine):

“You understand that you may reveal, and other parties may reveal, information about you that is of a personal, private, embarrassing or unfavourable nature, which information may be factual and/or fictional. You further understand that your appearance, depiction and/or portrayal in the Program may be disparaging, defamatory, embarrassing or of an otherwise unfavourable nature which may expose you to public ridicule, humiliation or condemnation.”

“You hereby grant to Producer, its assignees, licensees, agents and affiliates, the right in any and all media now known or hereafter devised, or for any other purpose, throughout the universe in perpetuity to use and reuse your appearance during all phases of the production of the Program.”

Between those two rules, not to mention the absolutely despotic clause about their rights to utilize your original songs, i think i’m probably better off not auditioning… whether it involves a trek to another state or not. Talent shows come and go, and i’d be better off trying out for one where i get to use some talents other than standing around looking “stylish” and that don’t think they’re allowed to do anything they want due to their obscene amount of popularity.