It's that time of year again -- the time when thousands line up in arenas all over the United States hoping to get a chance to audition their talents (or lack thereof) in front of judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. These audition hopefuls often endure a couple of days of intense summer sun, pouring rain, no showers and no comfortable beds just to get a chance to throw out what might be just ONE note of music to associate judges who sit in tents screening thousands.

At American Idol auditions, very few people actually see the inside of a building. Instead they wait in long lines to approach an associate judge at a table in a tent. Once you get to the front of the line, you are moved in a cattle call fashion to where judges sit at tables ready to hear you sing a note or two. It takes hours and hours to get this point, but there is merely a second in your favor for one of these judges to see if you're otherwise amazingly good or excruciatingly bad. From what we hear, there is not much in the way of middle ground. You have a chance of moving forward to auditions stage 2 if you have a great voice or if you are horrific looking or sounding. Sad, but true. Many very good singers do not get through this stage at all. At this point, American Idol is seeking the best freaks and geeks who fill up the extremely popular audition specials that will start in January of 2007. Those who know their voice will most likely not carry them through to see Nigel Lithgoe or Simon Cowell will dress in chicken suits, clown shoes, cyborg costumes or exceedingly low cut shirts. Anything to get in to the building where Nigel Lithgoe and Simon Fuller make up the next stage of the judging process. If you are either fantastic or horrific, you might just get that shot in the dark to see Randy, Paula and Simon.

Cameras wait in the parking lots of each audition location to catch the cast-offs cry, collapse on the pavement, or else storm the cameras to get their own justice on American Idol. At the auditions, everyone does what it takes to get their few moments on television. And if not, they'll certainly be back next year.

This year's 7 audition cities include: Birmingham, AL, Los Angeles, CA, San Antonio, TX, East Rutherford, NJ, Memphis, TN, Minneapolis, MN and Seattle, WA.