Every year sites like VoteForTheWorst are on the lookout for what they call 'plants', contestants inserted into the contest by the producers for the purpose of sustaining the level of professionalism. If you believe such things, you should be tuning into Jesse Ventura's Conspiracy Theory! The fact is, there are tons of prolifically unemployed musicians out there - I know, I had a room-mate who had a contract with EMI - until he didn't. In some people's eyes, the further a person has penetrated in their quest for celebrity the less they should be allowed to compete on American Idol. I can't say I agree. American Idol prohibits contestants who already have contracts. According to the official rules, you can't audition for American Idol if you have ...
- a contract for talent representation (for example, a talent agent or manager);
- a current music recording contract;
- a current agreement relating to the use of your name, voice and/or likeness;
- an exclusive acting contract; or
- any other contractual arrangement that would prohibit you from fully participating in the show and/or entering into any contracts required by Producer, including an exclusive management contract, recording contract and merchandising contract.
So we decided to check out the first round of contestants, and by the power of the inter-webs we were able to find at least a couple of contestants who were neck deep in entertainment business efforts. This is no sign these contestants are currently ineligible, but at any rate people are bound to be asking questions.
First up is singing waitress Devyn Rush, singing waitress. Devyn was one of my favorites, but if you think her singing chops were forged in between taking burger orders you are dead. Wrong. According to Devyn's personal site, this American Idol hopeful has been destined for stardom since a very young age. In fact, she has already appeared on Television a couple of times - once singing on America's Most Talkented Kids. She also had a small part on On Law & Order: SVU, "Influence."
On her official site, Devyn touts even more accomplishments:
In addition to AMTK, Devyn has also been in numerous commercials, print ads, and voice-overs, including some for Nickelodeon. Devyn will continue to pursue her dream of stardom with the love and support of her family and friends. Looks like she's almost there...
Her page also lists a manager for her, "Creative Management Group" - but, we're sure that contract is ancient history. Right, Devyn?
Next up is the soulful grunge-dude Caleb Hawley. Hawley seemed really in awe of Steven Tyler, particularly for a guy who has shared the stage with ... Dave Matthews band? Caleb's official site contains a bio that suggests the young songwriter was well on his way to stardom before appearing on Idol.
On paper, Caleb Hawley’s resume reads as the standard Who’s Who for up-and-coming songwriters. Then you hear him sing, and you realize there is only one word needed to describe this artist: Extraordinary.
From his ability to write intricate lyrics with cutting-edge chords to his lightening fast licks and ear for taste and style, there is absolutely nothing average about this shaggy-haired, blue-eyed, multi-faceted musician. Receiving top honors in the prestigious New York Songwriters Circle Contest (2008 and 2009), the John Lennon Songwriting Contest (2009), the Telluride Festival (2010) and the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival (2010), Hawley is as aggressive as he is perseverant in advancing his art and impressing audiences with his unique and catchy approach to music.
Sharing the stage with industry greats such as Mark Cohn, Rusted Root, Dave Matthews Band, Shawn Mullins, and Edwin McCain, this diverse songwriter has written and produced three albums and toured all over the country playing sold-out venues and nationwide festivals. Though his initial passion simply began with a guitar and a love for a wide variety of music from Metallica to Martin Sexton, it was shortly after graduating Berklee College of Music with a degree in jazz composition that Caleb discovered a knack for song writing. He quickly made his way to New York City to pursue his newfound ambitions.
Regardless of how accomplished these two may seem, the bottom line is you probably haven't heard of them before you saw them on American Idol. Idol producers long ago dispelled the notion that the series was about finding 'completely' undiscovered talent. You'd have to assume that out of the hundreds of thousands of people auditioning for American Idol every season that a strong minority would be struggling professionals who had more than paid their dues. American Idol obviously makes an attempt to draw a line on just how professional a contestant can be, but is the bar low enough? Should American Idol be open more to folks with a socio-economic/geographic disadvantage? Should the Berklee grad who toured with Dave Matthews get the shot before the crooner from Belfast, Maine who pulls Lobster traps twelve hours a day? You tell me.
[poll id="36"]
Answer: YES. Please read my response here: http://christinamorelli.wordpress.com/2011/01/20/…
I actually agree with this. The question is more of a philosophical one. I quite literally mean everything in the final paragraph: it should be expected that some of the contestants have worked very hard to be where they are, and American Idol long ago dispelled the notion that the show was about finding 'hidden' talent hiding in the rural broom closets of America. On the other hand, if you look at the majority of charting for Idol contestants that have gone on to be signed it is also clear that AI is an entertainment market that begins and closes upon itself – save for the occasional Oscar or Grammy winner. ;)