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The farce that is the X Factor


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Old 05-07-2005, 09:49
PrincessClairey
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If you don't mind, I'm going to have a it of a rant about the X Factor. You might think I'm just really bitter about the fact that I didn't get through - in BOTH of my auditions - but in all honesty, now I know the way they work the system, I'm quite glad I didn't get anywhere.

First of all I went to the auditions in Birmingham, was seen by a girl and boy (yes, a girl and boy, not a man and a woman) who said I had a lovely voice but they weren't going to ask me back. I was a bit upset, but went on my way. The first thing I noticed about it, however, was that although you had to fill in this application form, describing yourself in ten words and saying why you want to apply and so on, they simply had a cut off number. Meaning that when they got so many application forms they just stopped accepting them, making a farce out of describing yourself in ten words - they didn't even read it. They didn't even have my application form on the table when I did my audition - they didn't know who I was.

Yeah, I was a bit bitter, because I was thinking to myself - 'well, if Chicken Boy got as far as the judges and got on TV, that means he must have got past the people I've just seen.' Understandably I was a bit angry - there's no way Chicken Boy is a better singer than me.

Then I heard about these open auditions at Stamford Bridge, and made the assumption that instead of seeing the so-called 'producers' I saw in Birmingham, I'd go straight through to seeing Simon, Louis and Sharon. The auditions were on the Friday, I arrived in London early Thursday morning to get the queue started - in fact I was second person there. Anyway, everyone else who began joining the queue and started talking to us all thought that we were going to see the famous judges.

I just want to note at this point that the X Factor people had grossly misled the staff of Stamford Bridge, who seemed to believe that no one would be arriving to queue until early Firday morning. Like I said, I got there early Thursday and was second. So Stamford Bridge's security had to sort the queues out - and they didn't do a brilliant job because people who had arrived Friday morning pushed in front of me and others who had camped out for Thursday night. I was very angry about that.

So in we went, sitting down and taking up an entire stand. We had to wait for ages as everyone filed in, and then this X Factor crew member told us to do lots of stupid things, like X Factor Mexican waves and singing to S Club 7 and cheering - get this - in silence. This is what we had to do as Kate Thornton walked past in front us and saying things like "This is the X Factor" to the camera. So when the first show is on TV, just remember that we're not really cheering - we're doing it in silence.

We had to do that three times for Kate because it kept going wrong, and then a couple of times for Ben Shepherd. Finally, a few hours later, the auditions started. Instead of going into a nice little room, we all simply stood forward and a man heard us sing one by one.

Why is this bad, you ask? Because there are no acoustics at football grounds, for a start. The sound is lost. Secondly, there was no privacy. Thirdly, the judges weren't the famous ones, and fourthly, once again they were simply putting through the mad people. There was this one black guy who sung one inaudible line and then broke into some crazy breakdancing. You couldn't hear anything he sang - the sound was lost anyway but because he was dancing and spinning around and doing the splits it was even worse. He got put through, as did his mate, who wasn't anything special.

So I came home angry. I'd camped out there an entire night because I thought - and so did everyone else - that we'd be seeing the proper judges, and although they were there, they didn't even do us the courtesy of coming and saying hello.

But it gets worse. I've heard word that the people who got through that round had to pass another round and then go to Wembley the next day to pass another two rounds before they saw the judges. When we watch the X Factor we're all led to believe that everyone gets to see the famous judges at their first audition, but in reality they see hardly anyone. I mean, I can understand seeing producers on your first audition, because there's no way the famous people could see absolutely everyone. But having to pass FOUR rounds of auditions before you get to see Simon? Not only that, but apparently no one who auditioned at Stamford Bridge that day has been called back to see the famous judges. But according to that lady who posts here whose daughter has got through to the final 50, they've already picked them!

It's beyond ridiculous, it really is. Chicken Boy clearly passed those four auditions, or he wouldn't have got on TV. This X Factor team member said to my mum when we came out, "How did she get on?" and my mum replied "No, she didn't get through. But if you think about it, who have these shows actually produced?" and this woman asked what she meant so my mum said "Well with the exception of Will Young, who has actually made it?" and this woman said: "Ah yes, but it's not about that is it? It's a TV programme."

And that pretty much sums it up. We were Rent-A-Crowd for a day. They'd already picked their Final 50 when those auditions were held - all they needed us for were the opening credits of the first show. Simon, Louis and Sharon were all at Stamford Bridge, but when you see them on the TV getting out of their cars, just remember that they didn't do ANY judging that day. None at all. They were only there for interviews, according to someone from the X Factor crew.

The whole show is a farce. They don't care how well you do as an artist, they care only about their TV show. Their job isn't to produce a star, as it advertises, but to get good ratings, which is why they were putting all those funny people through, like Chicken Boy.

It's really left a sour taste in my mouth. I'll watch the first show because I'll most definately be in it - I was sitting on the front row, after all - but after that I won't watch it on t principle. And I'm not voting. I hope the show fails miserably. You know, I like Sharon Osbourne, but as those auditions at Stamford Bridge were taking place she must have known that they'd already picked their Final 50 - how could she not? Yet she went along with it, as did everyone else.

My message to everyone here who reads this incrfedibly long message (sorry about that) is never to apply for an ITV talent show unless you're prepared to make a fool of yourself. You won't get through if you don't - trust me.

bring on Fame Academy, I say.
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Old 05-07-2005, 10:14
Mykonos
 
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Sorry you now feel so disillusioned.I'm afraid you have confirmed what I've felt since X-Factor1 finished though.


I don't believe it was ever about finding talent since its main focus was the production of a Saturday night television programme.I believe it did fulfil that remit very well though and in so doing also made lots of money for Syco.

Its really only a platform for the self promotion of the judges and the singers are just bit players in the whole circus.You only have to ask yourself where are team Osbourne now to realise that its all for television and about as sincere and honest as any other made for television programme.

Hopefully you will find another way of breaking in to the business and will not give up.

Having said all of the above though I'm really glad that the nine finalists appeared on our screens.I'm totally biased which I freely admit when I say that Superstardom awaits Rowetta,G4 and Steve have had number one albums and I hope the media exposure has helped all nine acts.Their successs though will just be a bonus for them because the programme was never ever sincere about finding talent.

After the fiasco that was the end of X-Factor1,I'll watch X-Factor2 but will merely regard it as Saturday entertainment, I'll never vote again and would urge everyone reading this to act similarly.

Good luck in the future PrincessClairey.
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Old 05-07-2005, 11:42
Woody_Brixton
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I don't mean to be rude, but did you really think that Simon, Sharon and Louis acutally sit though all the auditions? Of course they don't. They have teams of producers choosing the "charchters" beforehand. They pick some good singers and of course pick bad ones and "zany" people for the judges to be rude too. It's what people want to see. If they just picked the good singers to go though, how boring would that be?

Like the poster above said, it's just light entertainment for Saturday night.
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Old 05-07-2005, 15:16
Deelight2004
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Originally Posted by Woody_Brixton
I don't mean to be rude, but did you really think that Simon, Sharon and Louis acutally sit though all the auditions? Of course they don't. They have teams of producers choosing the "charchters" beforehand. They pick some good singers and of course pick bad ones and "zany" people for the judges to be rude too. It's what people want to see. If they just picked the good singers to go though, how boring would that be?

Like the poster above said, it's just light entertainment for Saturday night.
I agree with what you are saying but to some people this is their dream and to see the likes of the chicken man etc go through must be a real blow. Don't give up hope PrincessClairey, as Fannianni has said, I hope you find other ways to help you make it.
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Old 05-07-2005, 16:52
Mark_E
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If they were only looking for big characters then how did Steve get through ?
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Old 05-07-2005, 17:11
media
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I honestly believe the National Press should be notified. Then hopefully some kind of investigation can happen. The good news is 'X Factor' will not be back next year. It probably never will be back on our screens again.

Does anybody have any contacts in the media? My Cousin works in the American music business. I'll ask her if she has any media contacts here.

Good Luck in the Future PrincessClairey.
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Old 05-07-2005, 19:21
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Originally Posted by media
I honestly believe the National Press should be notified. Then hopefully some kind of investigation can happen.
Investigation into what? Do you mean an investigation into how a television programme is made?
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Old 05-07-2005, 20:17
GillsFC Honey
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You forgot to mention the planes and lawn mowers which were going on aswell!!
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Old 05-07-2005, 22:15
Neily N
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To be honest, we may be getting excited, but we know the winning act will be in SImon Cowell's group.

The show is made by his company, and is made for him to win.

What got me was the VERY erratic voting that happened the show. It was like a ploy to get rid of fan favs, which was seen throughout the voting, and whats strange is the fact none of the voting was disclosed.
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Old 06-07-2005, 00:25
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Originally Posted by PrincessClairey
If you don't mind, I'm going to have a it of a rant about the X Factor. You might think I'm just really bitter about the fact that I didn't get through - in BOTH of my auditions - but in all honesty, now I know the way they work the system, I'm quite glad I didn't get anywhere.

First of all I went to the auditions in Birmingham, was seen by a girl and boy (yes, a girl and boy, not a man and a woman) who said I had a lovely voice but they weren't going to ask me back. I was a bit upset, but went on my way. The first thing I noticed about it, however, was that although you had to fill in this application form, describing yourself in ten words and saying why you want to apply and so on, they simply had a cut off number. Meaning that when they got so many application forms they just stopped accepting them, making a farce out of describing yourself in ten words - they didn't even read it. They didn't even have my application form on the table when I did my audition - they didn't know who I was.

Yeah, I was a bit bitter, because I was thinking to myself - 'well, if Chicken Boy got as far as the judges and got on TV, that means he must have got past the people I've just seen.' Understandably I was a bit angry - there's no way Chicken Boy is a better singer than me.

Then I heard about these open auditions at Stamford Bridge, and made the assumption that instead of seeing the so-called 'producers' I saw in Birmingham, I'd go straight through to seeing Simon, Louis and Sharon. The auditions were on the Friday, I arrived in London early Thursday morning to get the queue started - in fact I was second person there. Anyway, everyone else who began joining the queue and started talking to us all thought that we were going to see the famous judges.

I just want to note at this point that the X Factor people had grossly misled the staff of Stamford Bridge, who seemed to believe that no one would be arriving to queue until early Firday morning. Like I said, I got there early Thursday and was second. So Stamford Bridge's security had to sort the queues out - and they didn't do a brilliant job because people who had arrived Friday morning pushed in front of me and others who had camped out for Thursday night. I was very angry about that.

So in we went, sitting down and taking up an entire stand. We had to wait for ages as everyone filed in, and then this X Factor crew member told us to do lots of stupid things, like X Factor Mexican waves and singing to S Club 7 and cheering - get this - in silence. This is what we had to do as Kate Thornton walked past in front us and saying things like "This is the X Factor" to the camera. So when the first show is on TV, just remember that we're not really cheering - we're doing it in silence.

We had to do that three times for Kate because it kept going wrong, and then a couple of times for Ben Shepherd. Finally, a few hours later, the auditions started. Instead of going into a nice little room, we all simply stood forward and a man heard us sing one by one.

Why is this bad, you ask? Because there are no acoustics at football grounds, for a start. The sound is lost. Secondly, there was no privacy. Thirdly, the judges weren't the famous ones, and fourthly, once again they were simply putting through the mad people. There was this one black guy who sung one inaudible line and then broke into some crazy breakdancing. You couldn't hear anything he sang - the sound was lost anyway but because he was dancing and spinning around and doing the splits it was even worse. He got put through, as did his mate, who wasn't anything special.

So I came home angry. I'd camped out there an entire night because I thought - and so did everyone else - that we'd be seeing the proper judges, and although they were there, they didn't even do us the courtesy of coming and saying hello.

But it gets worse. I've heard word that the people who got through that round had to pass another round and then go to Wembley the next day to pass another two rounds before they saw the judges. When we watch the X Factor we're all led to believe that everyone gets to see the famous judges at their first audition, but in reality they see hardly anyone. I mean, I can understand seeing producers on your first audition, because there's no way the famous people could see absolutely everyone. But having to pass FOUR rounds of auditions before you get to see Simon? Not only that, but apparently no one who auditioned at Stamford Bridge that day has been called back to see the famous judges. But according to that lady who posts here whose daughter has got through to the final 50, they've already picked them!

It's beyond ridiculous, it really is. Chicken Boy clearly passed those four auditions, or he wouldn't have got on TV. This X Factor team member said to my mum when we came out, "How did she get on?" and my mum replied "No, she didn't get through. But if you think about it, who have these shows actually produced?" and this woman asked what she meant so my mum said "Well with the exception of Will Young, who has actually made it?" and this woman said: "Ah yes, but it's not about that is it? It's a TV programme."

And that pretty much sums it up. We were Rent-A-Crowd for a day. They'd already picked their Final 50 when those auditions were held - all they needed us for were the opening credits of the first show. Simon, Louis and Sharon were all at Stamford Bridge, but when you see them on the TV getting out of their cars, just remember that they didn't do ANY judging that day. None at all. They were only there for interviews, according to someone from the X Factor crew.

The whole show is a farce. They don't care how well you do as an artist, they care only about their TV show. Their job isn't to produce a star, as it advertises, but to get good ratings, which is why they were putting all those funny people through, like Chicken Boy.

It's really left a sour taste in my mouth. I'll watch the first show because I'll most definately be in it - I was sitting on the front row, after all - but after that I won't watch it on t principle. And I'm not voting. I hope the show fails miserably. You know, I like Sharon Osbourne, but as those auditions at Stamford Bridge were taking place she must have known that they'd already picked their Final 50 - how could she not? Yet she went along with it, as did everyone else.

My message to everyone here who reads this incrfedibly long message (sorry about that) is never to apply for an ITV talent show unless you're prepared to make a fool of yourself. You won't get through if you don't - trust me.

bring on Fame Academy, I say.
A really interesting post. Sorry you had a bad experience.

I recognise that the judges can't sit through all of the acts but I do see the poster's point about the number of rounds it is necessary to get through in order to see them and the fact that they let the "comedy" people through etc - well, I guess they are making a TV show, but it is tough on those auditioning.
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Old 06-07-2005, 18:47
AcerBen
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I'm not surprised, I'm sure they did the same on Pop Idol as well. I guess they reason that people only want to see the amazing and the awful - but it isn't really fair when it's quite possible that they could miss some really good people who could potentially win.

Simon Cowell himself isn't that interested in finding talent - he signs them up and abandons them because he makes more money out of the TV shows than the artists.
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Old 06-07-2005, 21:06
Gillypoots
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As far as I am concerned all the X Factor stands for is dumbed down tv for the masses. Talent, or lack of it, has very little to do with it.

You only have to look at the general standard it ITV programming these days to see this is true. There are very few quality entertainment programmes, just conveyer belt mindless junk that appeals to those who enjoy simplistic voyerism.
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Old 06-07-2005, 23:54
Satchmo
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I too am sorry to hear that your experience was less than you'd hoped for but I have to say (and this is not a negative comment) that you were just a tad naive if you honestly believed the program to be about a real search for 'talent'

It is so blatantly not!! Good TV yes, but a stepping stone for real talent? Do me a favour. They're not the least bit interested in making someone/anyone a star other than to line their own pockets. If XF was ever to be taken seriously as a 'search for a star' program then there's no way that the judges would be the managers of the acts or that THE manager would be involved in the production of the show. Be cynical;very cynical!

Fame Academy scored more highly (IMO) in terms of genuinism in that none of the judges had a vested interest in the eventual winner

Rant over and on a lighter note, I've noticed that the previous posts predominantly mention three characteristics that get you in to XF - those being zany, good voice and a big character......

If this is indeed the case then how did Verity (yep, I liked her), Two To Go, Cassie, The Irish lass (forgot her name ) and Steve fulfil any of those criteria?
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Old 07-07-2005, 07:04
metafis
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I think its anyone one of those three, not all.
Cassie had a magnificent voice, they all could sing and had a certain appeal.
However I must admit I'm a bit stumped with 'two to go'.
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Old 07-07-2005, 09:59
Orion
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PrincessClairey's story reminds me of the old movie producer's trick of holding 'open auditions' to fill the main part in a movie, when in reality they've already cast an established actor. This happened with the Tank Girl movie. I remember seeing lots of publicity for it - news programmes focussing on all the odd-looking women who turned up. Then it turned out a Hollywood actress had already been cast weeks before. It was all a publicity stunt, sorry for wasting your time.
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Old 10-07-2005, 09:23
PrincessClairey
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Originally Posted by Woody_Brixton
I don't mean to be rude, but did you really think that Simon, Sharon and Louis acutally sit though all the auditions?
I never did think that.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one that has this view. Thanks for the sympathy everyone, of course I'll keep trying to get into the business... I hear there's a big band that performs locally and the guy's always looking for singers so maybe I can perform with him. Worth a try.
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Old 12-07-2005, 19:22
bpcc
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Originally Posted by Gillypoots
As far as I am concerned all the X Factor stands for is dumbed down tv for the masses. Talent, or lack of it, has very little to do with it.

You only have to look at the general standard it ITV programming these days to see this is true. There are very few quality entertainment programmes, just conveyer belt mindless junk that appeals to those who enjoy simplistic voyerism.

Best post I have seen in ages, I'ts not just me then
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Old 15-07-2005, 13:07
jb76
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I read somewhere on here that there is not going to be an Xfactor next year. is that definate?
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Old 15-07-2005, 16:43
munta
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Originally Posted by metafis
I think its anyone one of those three, not all.
Cassie had a magnificent voice, they all could sing and had a certain appeal.
However I must admit I'm a bit stumped with 'two to go'.
Dare I say that it pandered to political correctness. Or maybe just that they thought they had anothers Peters and Lee on their hands.

Either way, He would have done better on his own.
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Old 15-07-2005, 20:09
Satchmo
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I think it's fair to say that they cherry picked the singers, not necessarily for their talent but more because there was something to appeal to almost everyone, regardless of their musical tastes or age. Some would call that clever, others might regard it with a certain degree of cynicism.
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Old 27-07-2005, 10:06
PrincessClairey
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Originally Posted by jb76
I read somewhere on here that there is not going to be an Xfactor next year. is that definate?
Being as I've just been to the auditions and all the judges have signed up, I think it's safe to say there will be another X Factor series.
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Old 27-07-2005, 10:55
Jackie Brown
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Not sure how true this is, but I read last week that Michelle from BB5 is one of the final 50. i guess she is trying to do a Daruis and endear herself to the public.
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Old 27-07-2005, 19:33
GillsFCHoney
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Next year ive heard its going to be pop stars back but trying for a boy and a girl duo this time!
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Old 27-07-2005, 19:34
GillsFCHoney
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Originally Posted by Jackie Brown
Not sure how true this is, but I read last week that Michelle from BB5 is one of the final 50. i guess she is trying to do a Daruis and endear herself to the public.
She definately did get to bootcamp but dont know how well after that!!
I saw her at my audition in disguise but stuart was there with a hoodie not in disguise so he let her down!!
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Old 10-08-2005, 12:30
FuzzyPeach
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Well I was totally naive as well. I thought that everyone was seen by the judges. No WONDER people are so upset when the judges tell them ther are crap. I mean if you got through 3 auditions to see the judges you WOULD start thinking you were something good...
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