So This Is What It's Like To Audition For Star Search

If you haven’t already heard, Ch 8 talent competition Star Search is back after a nine year hiatus. The first round of open auditions kicked off last week at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza, reportedly attracting more than several hundred Felicia Chin-Christopher Lee wannabes to the event, which started at 12.30pm and ended nine hours later at 9.15pm. [P/S: The second round of the open auditions are happening tomorrow (May 12) at Bugis+ from 10am-7pm.]

We hear only 20 or so hopefuls managed to impress the judges, which included OG Star Search winner Zoe Tay, to move on to the next round of the competition. So what went on during the auditions? Lucky for you, we know someone who braved the long queue and scorching weather for a shot a Star Search stardom. Here Left Profile artiste Royce Lee walks us through his seven-hour Star Search audition experience.

“Be there early. It’ll help you beat the crowd so you don’t have to wait that long. Going together with friends will definitely help ease the anxiety too,” says the 28-year-old host and actor who has had small roles in Mediacorp productions like Lion Mums.

“There’s nothing [you can do] to prepare yourself for the auditions, he adds. “According to the website, all you have to do is to be able speak Mandarin. However, I put together a monologue so that I have something ready in case they wanted me to showcase a talent,” he adds.

So did Royce make the cut? Scroll on to find out.

ROYCE LEE: Okay, so here’s the story. When I first heard about the Star Search auditions, I thought it would be a great opportunity to join and get myself more exposure. Besides, my decision was backed by my manager at Left Profile, so I decided to take the leap of faith.

Time check: 2PM
I thought arriving at this time would be alright, since the auditions start at 10am and would end at 7pm. However, I heard that it didn’t start until 11am or 12pm.

3PM
Waiting and more waiting... Luckily, Left Profile’s intern is here to accompany me. It’s so warm, but I have a fan. I see groups of contestants talking among themselves, but their chatter dwindles as the sound of the rejection buzzers become more frequent as the day goes by. Everyone seems nervous and scared, because we can hear the buzzers, but not what’s going on.

4PM
I tried talking to the other contestants in the queue, but I think everyone is too nervous and focused on themselves to make friends. Sigh, it’s okay. I’ll just keep to myself.

5PM
I finally make it into the holding room. My intern isn’t allowed in, so I’ll just be hanging out here by myself until it’s my turn for the first round of auditions…

5.30PM
The waiting game continues… Gave a few interviews in between, but that’s about it.

6PM
The crew is bringing me to another holding room now. And I think it’ll be my turn soon! This time, they pass me a script from 118 just two minutes before facing the judges. I am so nervous! I thought I was supposed to be given more time for this! From the sounds of the rejection buzzers, it seems the contestants in front of me have all been rejected.

6.02PM
Uh oh, it’s my turn. I think I’ll just wing it, I haven’t even finished reading the script.

6.05PM
That was fast... I’m done with the first round! I just went in, said my name and read the script. Luckily, I could read off the paper. They asked me several questions about myself, and then told me if I was in or out. They also asked if I had any talent, and I told them that I could host. And guess what? I made it!

6.10pm
I am in an another holding room now. Who knows how long I’ll have to wait this time… I go through the hosting script I’ve prepared in my mind, in case they want me to present later on

6.30pm
I make another attempt to speak to the other contestants in the second round. But everyone seems very silent and nervous.

7.30PM
It’s been almost one-and-a-half hours since I made it to the second round but I have yet to be given a script. I also haven’t eaten dinner, and only managed to go for toilet breaks at the appropriate times. The holding room is closed off to everything else, so I don’t even know what’s going on. I can’t see or hear anything else except for the buzzer. This is so nerve-racking! Most of the contestants aren't successful. I also notice that the auditions were slightly longer in the beginning, but towards the end, the judges and host don't interact much with the contestants. Some people sang and danced at the start, but I guess there’s simply too many people to audition and so they skipped the talent portion. I haven’t been keeping track of the number of people who passed the second audition, but my guess would be about 10 - 20 people.

8.30PM
They finally hand me a script and it's a scene from My Friends From Afar. I take a look at it, and it feels alien. Not just because I didn't watch the drama but also because I needed to act like I was going to give birth. And from what I can hear, contestants are continuously getting buzzed. I don’t know what the judges are looking for. There were some performances where the audience erupted in applause, but then we hear the rejection buzzer. What's happening?

9PM
It's finally my turn to go up. After seven hours of waiting, I’m pretty thrilled to show the judges what I have to offer. I’m also quite tired, so I don't feel as anxious. I’m like, Let’s just get this over and done with. I introduce myself. I act out the scene.

9.05PM
Quan Yifeng comes on stage to announce the results. I hear the rejection buzzer and she tells me I’m out. There’s no time to be upset. I take off my number tag and exit the stage.

I have no regrets because I’ve done my best lah. To be honest, I'm more relieved that it’s over. I didn't feel sad. I actually felt quite relieved that it’s done after all that waiting. I wasn't given any feedback so I honestly don’t know why I didn’t make the cut. But I understand 'cos there were just too many people who came for the auditions. I don’t think I will try my luck again for the second week of open auditions, but I might try again if they decide to have another season.