Do people really get onto The Voice through open casting?

The Voice has posted open casting dates for the next season, and some people have asked whether I think it is worth the time and money for their son or daughter to audition.  One person showed me her online research on the Top 12 finalists in Season 4, and I admit, it is daunting.  Most of the people who get chosen for The Voice are really accomplished performers with many years of experience and established industry connections.

Mackenzie went to open casting twice before getting a blind audition.  The first time, we went to Chicago so she could audition for Season 3. 

+Mackenzie Elliott's Voice Season 3 Open Casting

There were probably 6,000 people there to audition and we waited in line with her for hours. Take water, take snacks, take a great attitude, because unless you want to bring crack of dawn morning voice to your audition, it will be a looooonnnnggg wait.  I think you have to be at least 16, and they let parents in with the under-18 minors.

Mackenzie was the only one in her audition group who completed her entire song before hearing "thank you", but she did not get a callback. It was pretty darn heartbreaking for her and thousands of other people.

The next year, she and some friends from Belmont auditioned in Memphis for Season 4.  A year after her Season 3 audition, she had progressed in her singing ability and refined her "look", kind of a more feminine Rosie the Riveter.  Yep, it definitely helps to differentiate yourself from the crowd.

+Mackenzie Elliott, photo credit Christi Dittrich

Plenty of fear, plenty of angst, but she did get a callback and ultimately got a blind audition. And Mackenzie got to hug Usher, Shakira and ADAM LEVINE (caps hers, probably for the rest of her life).

I have heard that some of the other reality shows are not as friendly.  Some of them create artificial conflict among the contestants or even within the contestants' families.So if you go into this, go into it understanding that TV is for entertainment.  Period. Everything is recorded and every recording can be edited, so mind what you say. And the stars are the stars and everything they do is going to be more important than anything your son or daughter does.

So if you're considering a reality show audition, here's my advice.  Go for it.  Realize the odds against success are enormous, but you never know unless you try.  Don't be a diva. And for heavens sake, remember that the microphone is ALWAYS ON.