‘America’s Got Talent’ auditions set Sunday
“America’s Got Talent” expects thousands at Sunday auditions in Orlando, the first stop as the NBC show begins its 13th season. If you have a talent to share, just show up to join the throng.
“As long as you’re in line before 7 p.m. on Sunday, then you will be seen. You’re guaranteed to be seen,” executive producer Matt Banks said Thursday. “You don’t need to preregister. It’s better if you do. There’s a lot of form work you have to fill out.”
Acts of any age and talent can register at AGTAuditions.com. Doors open at 8 a.m. in the West Hall of the Orange County Convention Center, 9800 International Drive in Orlando.
For Orlando auditions in February 2016, “AGT” attracted 2,000 acts made up of 5,000 people.
Banks supplies advice to all the acts. “I always say, you’ve got to go in there, you’ve got to be brave, you’ve got to give it everything you’ve got,” he said. “I say it to people that come in the room when they audition. There’s no point being nervous or holding back. You’ve got one chance.”
Central Floridians fared well last season on the contest. St. Cloud singer Mandy Harvey finished fourth, and Orlando comedian Preacher Lawson was a Top 10 finalist.
“Honestly, Florida is one of the most talented states,” said Banks, citing Orlando and Miami. “It just attracts very talented people. We always find in Florida some really great talents. So we’re excited to go there.”
“AGT” averaged 16 million viewers per episode last summer — its most-watched season yet.
“It’s what people want — escapism, it’s warm, it’s family entertainment,” said Banks, a Briton. “It’s the kind of show that appeals to young kids and seniors, so entire families can sit together and watch it.”
Executive producer Simon Cowell bolstered the show when he became a judge two years ago, Banks added. “People respect his opinion. When he says something, they listen,” he said. “He’s honest. He says it as it is. People really respect that.”
As it is every year, the pressure is on to top the last season, Banks said. “We always want to make it bigger and better. These auditions in the different states are so important because we want to represent the best America has,” he said. “You’ve got to keep searching. You’ve got to find those diamonds every time.”
The other stops will be Cincinnati on Nov. 14; Savannah, Ga., on Nov. 19; Milwaukee on Dec. 3; Houston on Dec. 9; Las Vegas on Dec. 13; New York on Dec. 17; Nashville on Jan. 13; San Jose, Calif., on Jan. 19; and Los Angeles on Feb. 3.
Delivering a memorable champion helps the show, and Banks cited singer Grace VanderWaal last year and singing ventriloquist Darci Lynne Farmer this year.
“You hope someone amazing will come through that door and will win,” Banks said. “It truly happened this year. I thought she was so spectacular.”
In seven years at “AGT,” Banks said he had seen everything from amazing kid singers to people popping out their eyeballs.
“I have no idea what we’ll see Sunday, but I’m excited to see it,” he said. “We welcome everybody. It’s the only talent show that does that, and that’s what I love about it.”