So my acapella group (the Maccabeats) released its first cd recently and we've been doing pretty well.
We're an Orthodox Jewish group, a lot of our songs are Hebrew, but we do a bunch of secular stuff too - all out of Yeshiva University in NY.
So we all followed this past season of the Sing Off and we decided to try out. However, tryouts were yesterday (Saturday) and we couldn't go bc of sabbath. So we emailed the casting director a few weeks ago and attached our music video ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLDl8fbJx0I ). They LOVED the video and told us to come in on Sunday (today).
Then, this past week, we got an email from one of the casting directors telling us that she's really excited for us to come, and that her boss is obsessed with us and is playing our video everywhere. Her boss called us directly and started to coach us on what to sing and what to wear - she wants to play up the fact that we're the Jewish group and is asking to make sure we wear our kippas and our tzitzis out. Kinda funny, actually.
We were a bit worried because we can't sing with women together for religious reasons, but we were upfront about it. They said that they'd work out any sabbath and mixed singing issues if we did the show.
I'm really excited.
Wish us luck!
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Good luck!
Posted by aeolusdallas (Member # 11455) on :
Good luck!
Posted by Lisa (Member # 8384) on :
בהצלחה רבה!!!
Posted by scholarette (Member # 11540) on :
That sounds like an awesome opportunity! Congrats.
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
That's actually pretty rad! Congrats and good luck!
Posted by Christine (Member # 8594) on :
Cool! Good luck!
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Heh. It sort of surprises me that seeing that area of NY makes me a teeny bit nostalgic. (I went to Breuers for sem.)
Posted by Christine (Member # 8594) on :
I haven't actually seen this show...when will you be on? (Looks like it just ended...restart in the fall, maybe?)
NBC's web site is terrible for getting simple answers to questions like...when can I see this show? To much bling.
Posted by Armoth (Member # 4752) on :
- It's a fun place to live Rivka.
Okay guys, back from the audition. It was AMAZING. I mean, we went on the day where all the groups who were there were all call backs - so every group we heard was amazing. We were pretty much in awe. However, we think we sound pretty good so we think we have a shot.
Last year there was the token African American group, all male, all female (and Mormon), Christian group, 4 women in a barbershop quartet, Puerto Rican group (the ultimate winners), etc.
They seemed REALLY excited about us being an Orthodox Jewish group. At our interview they bombarded us with questions about Judaism. We got the typical sabbath questions - a lot of questions as to what we can and can't do on sabbath, she asked if any of us had girlfriends and we have one married guy in the group (age 23) and one engaged (22) and she started flipping out about how young we were. She kinda looked disgusted. But the topic eventually shifted away to how we don't touch girls before marriage, and she flipped about about how none of us had ever kissed a girl. Then she looked disgusted about how we weren't ALL married at this point.
It was kinda funny - I just hope it doesn't edit so that we look like a bunch of crazies. I'm the philosophical one in the group, so I fielded a lot of the questions about religious significance and stuff.
Honestly? The other groups were really great so I feel like the way they make decisions is just by putting together a cast like that. That's why I honestly feel like we have a shot. Which is so weird. I can't believe I auditioned to make national tv.
The show's format last year was 6 two-hour episodes. I think it was kinda like a test run. This year they are expanding the format, showing auditions and getting to the finals. So I think the show will start in the Fall (Taping is from July to early September). With the live rounds taking place in December maybe?
Anyways - I'm totally stoked. Our entire group was so high - we walked the streets of manhattan singing songs in 5-part harmonies.
So much fun.
Posted by Hank (Member # 8916) on :
quote:Originally posted by Armoth: Our entire group was so high - we walked the streets of manhattan singing songs in 5-part harmonies.
Was one of the songs "We Are the Champions?"
That sounds like a great opportunity, though I'd share your concern that they'd make you seem like a stereotype. How respectful were they of the groups last year?
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by Armoth: - It's a fun place to live Rivka.
Uh . . . it was not for me. But I do like to visit.
I've had those conversations. "No, but you really don't?!?" "Yes, really." "No, but, REALLY?"
Anyway, glad it was a fun experience, and I look forward to saying, "Hey, I know that guy!" Posted by Armoth (Member # 4752) on :
quote:Originally posted by Hank:
quote:Originally posted by Armoth: Our entire group was so high - we walked the streets of manhattan singing songs in 5-part harmonies.
Was one of the songs "We Are the Champions?"
That sounds like a great opportunity, though I'd share your concern that they'd make you seem like a stereotype. How respectful were they of the groups last year?
They were very respectful last year. We'll see. I don't think it's in their interest to make us look bad. Just unique.
Rivka - Amen.
I'll keep you guys posted!
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
I'd love to get you guys to come sing with me next time I play in NY. I sing with a capella groups in LA from time to time (the open mic I used to host at House of Blues had an awesome group from OC that'd come in and we'd mess around).
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
Oh, and GOOD LUCK on the show. Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
I LOVED the song in the video! Wishing you the best of luck!
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Best of luck, I hope you make it. Jenni and I watched that show and loved it!
Posted by Tammy (Member # 4119) on :
Ahhhh!
I LOVED it.
I'm so excited for you!
Posted by Brinestone (Member # 5755) on :
I liked the music video. You guys are good. Keep us updated as to if/when you'll be on.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Outstanding video, you guys are really, really good!
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Which one are you in that video? Just trying to put a face to your tag here at Hatrack. Posted by Armoth (Member # 4752) on :
Thanks for all the encouragement!!
Sadly, I'm not in the video much since I was in law school during filming.
At :22, im the tallest guy in the back, at 1:29, I'm dead center in the back
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
I can't tell whose tallest and since I can only see 4 guys on the back row I'm not sure where you consider the middle. Are you the guy in the argyle sweater?
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Rabbit, try parsing the two parts of his sentence again. And yes.
That's not which one I had guessed was you at all, Armoth. How tall are you?
Posted by Armoth (Member # 4752) on :
Yea. I'm the one in the argyle. I'm 6"3.
Which one did you think I was?
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Thanks. Let us know as soon as you find anything out. Posted by Armoth (Member # 4752) on :
Okay, different video ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUSivUTjDuQ&feature=related ), this one was a teaser for our CD. I appear a few times in this video, but my favorite pic is 3:08 - top right
Posted by Armoth (Member # 4752) on :
Update:
We were accepted into the next "round" of competition. Basically, we were given contracts to sign and obligate ourselves to the show. That doesn't mean we were accepted yet, but it means that they're serious about taking us. On the contract it says that we are among the few groups being considered for the show out of 100s. It's their last way of filtering the groups that are truly serious from the ones that aren't before they have to make their final decision.
This is a good sign!!!
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
wOOt!!!
Posted by Tammy (Member # 4119) on :
!
I listened to it again. I really think it's a happy song.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
- It's a fun place to live Rivka.![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)