A friend reminds me now and then that I like to be "on stage," that I like attention. I admit that I do, but it was not until today that being "on stage" became literal.
In fact, I enjoyed today by spending it with my brother and sister-in-law at the California state fair. We went specifically because Wheel of Fortune held auditions for potential contestants. Even being there for this was interesting, if only to witness how people are chosen to be on the show. Still, we had come to audition ourselves, and therefore applied for both the afternoon and evening auditions.
In the evening audition, we watched as the stand-in-host and hostess chose these applications from a lottery tumbler. During the first round, after the host called four names, I heard him say the name "Tony," but it was the next moment that caught my attention more directly. Now, for any of you with a difficult last name, you are well acquainted with the scenario of a stranger whose task is to pronounce it, and perhaps half-cringe while he or she stutters through sounds that resemble something like your birth name. Indeed, your ears are attuned enough to these moments that you recognize them on the first hint of trouble. Such was the case here. Upon hearing the host speak an elongated, halting "S," I knew that I had been called.
At this, I entered back stage to have my picture taken and attached to my application for later use. I signed in, and after an assistant asked my name, he indicated that I take the stage with the other four applicants. The host called each of us to introduce ourselves and mention our hobbies. I told him what I do for a living, and among other things, stated that I attempt to play the guitar. On hearing this, the host responded in a rising, anticipatory tone that made one believe he was about to win a grand prize: "Did you say, 'play the guitar'?" On affirming that I attempt to play the guitar, he directed his assistant to play a song and asked that I demonstrate with a performance on the air guitar.
All of my surroundings blurred in this moment as Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child o' Mine" began. I assumed perfect classic guitar player form. Spreading and bending my legs, I began to strum heavily, and leapt with a face both focused and intent, a face so common to the classic guitar player fingering and strumming his way through a melodic rift. Attempting the form still further, I even began chewing on my pretend-guitar.
This finished, the host introduced the puzzle and asked each contestant for a letter. We were all given a chance to name letters and guess the puzzle, but it was not until the host was halfway through the five contestants a second time that one of the contestants correctly guessed "toga party." This was the end of this, my first experience auditioning for a game show. Each of us received a Wheel of Fortune hat, pin, and key chain, along with vouchers for lottery tickets.
For all the fun the audition itself proved to be, it was the fun of experiencing it with my brother and sister-in-law that made it the more memorable, and I do not think I will forget it.
In fact, I enjoyed today by spending it with my brother and sister-in-law at the California state fair. We went specifically because Wheel of Fortune held auditions for potential contestants. Even being there for this was interesting, if only to witness how people are chosen to be on the show. Still, we had come to audition ourselves, and therefore applied for both the afternoon and evening auditions.
In the evening audition, we watched as the stand-in-host and hostess chose these applications from a lottery tumbler. During the first round, after the host called four names, I heard him say the name "Tony," but it was the next moment that caught my attention more directly. Now, for any of you with a difficult last name, you are well acquainted with the scenario of a stranger whose task is to pronounce it, and perhaps half-cringe while he or she stutters through sounds that resemble something like your birth name. Indeed, your ears are attuned enough to these moments that you recognize them on the first hint of trouble. Such was the case here. Upon hearing the host speak an elongated, halting "S," I knew that I had been called.
At this, I entered back stage to have my picture taken and attached to my application for later use. I signed in, and after an assistant asked my name, he indicated that I take the stage with the other four applicants. The host called each of us to introduce ourselves and mention our hobbies. I told him what I do for a living, and among other things, stated that I attempt to play the guitar. On hearing this, the host responded in a rising, anticipatory tone that made one believe he was about to win a grand prize: "Did you say, 'play the guitar'?" On affirming that I attempt to play the guitar, he directed his assistant to play a song and asked that I demonstrate with a performance on the air guitar.
All of my surroundings blurred in this moment as Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child o' Mine" began. I assumed perfect classic guitar player form. Spreading and bending my legs, I began to strum heavily, and leapt with a face both focused and intent, a face so common to the classic guitar player fingering and strumming his way through a melodic rift. Attempting the form still further, I even began chewing on my pretend-guitar.
This finished, the host introduced the puzzle and asked each contestant for a letter. We were all given a chance to name letters and guess the puzzle, but it was not until the host was halfway through the five contestants a second time that one of the contestants correctly guessed "toga party." This was the end of this, my first experience auditioning for a game show. Each of us received a Wheel of Fortune hat, pin, and key chain, along with vouchers for lottery tickets.
For all the fun the audition itself proved to be, it was the fun of experiencing it with my brother and sister-in-law that made it the more memorable, and I do not think I will forget it.
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