What does it take to get on 'Idol?'

They waited for hours and only had 20 seconds to show their talents. They competed against thousands and were sent home without even seeing Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Kara DioGuardia and Randy Jackson.

Yet, most of the Southwest Floridians who were unsuccessful at the American Idol Season 9 audition last week in Orlando were not disappointed.

"It was crazy but fun," said Bobbi Looker, a 27-year-old outside saleswoman.

It's supposed to be the premier singing contest in the country. The show has produced stars like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry.

The audition in Orlando was described as a talent show gone bad, where a herd of reality-TV wannabes who could make people laugh made it through before people who can actually sing in tune.

Gesly Pierre-Charles, a cashier at the local Whole Foods, said she spent over 14 hours waiting for her chance in Orlando and then got passed over for a woman in a chicken outfit and a man dressed as Spider-man.

"They said I wasn't what they were looking for," said Pierre-Charles, who sang LeAnn Rimes' "How Do I Live Without You" for the producers. "I guess I wasn't crazy enough because all they were looking for were freaks."

Chris Padgett, a 26-year-old Naples High grad who has a music degree from the University of Central Florida, said contestants have better chance to get through if they are totally awful or attractive.

"They put you through if you are one of three: 1. A total train wreck, 2. A freak show, 3. Hot," said Padgett, who sang, "Hallelujah, I Love Her So" by Ray Charles. "It's all about looks, there were a lot of good looking women who got through and I don't have the look they were looking for. I look like Dwight Schrute from ‘The Office' and that doesn't exactly fit the Idol mold."

The estimated 10,000 who showed up in Orlando didn't have long to make an impression. The contestants were put in groups of four and stood in front of one group of producers. They had 20 seconds to sing their song of choice. To complicate matters, there were 12 different groups singing for 12 different groups of producers all at the same time on the floor of the Amway Arena in Orlando.

"I didn't like the set up," said Julianne Gilmore, a 20-year-old Florida Gulf Coast University student. "It was loud and it was hard to concentrate with everyone singing at the same time. It was kind of chaotic."

Gilmore, who sang "Taking Chances" by Celine Dion, said she was given the standard line of "you're not what we are looking for" as someone dressed like Michael Jackson made it through.

"I guess I should have asked what they are looking for," said Gilmore, a Palmetto Ridge High graduate. "I didn't know what to expect. I'll try again so at least I'll know what to expect going in."

For Looker, the entire experience — from waiting in line for over 12 hours, to registering, to auditioning in front of thousands of strangers — was mentally exhausting.

"You'd listen to people sing and you begin to doubt yourself," said Looker who sang "Fallen" by Alicia Keys. "Then you see people who were really good not make it through and it gets into your head."

Looker, who regularly sings karaoke at local establishments such as Stevie Tomato's and Foxboro's, said she understood why show producers might have picked a tone-deaf crooner over someone who potentially could be a platinum-selling recording artist.

"It's reality TV. Are you good for the show?" Looker said. "I think they look for talent but they also look for crazy people."

Padgett said he auditioned for American Idol to silence his mother, Kathy, a local golf instructor. Padgett works at Disney World as an actor and gets paid to sing at outings throughout Florida. He's even had a good Idol experience, being named the winner of the American Idol Experience contest for cast members at Disney World.

Having gone on numerous auditions as an actor and singer, Padgett understands rejection and why certain people including himself didn't make it through to see the judges.

"It's not a singing competition," Padgett said. "It's an entertainment competition with singing as a medium."

Padgett said he would not try out for the TV show again. Looker said she might give it one more shot, especially since it will be her last opportunity with an age cutoff of 28.

"I wouldn't do it tomorrow but I might in a year from now,' she said.

For now, Looker can at least tell all of those who heard her sing and have told her she should tryout for Idol, "I've done it but didn't make it."

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