Qwest Center Tickets

Elton John Will Play Qwest in October

It was just announced by Omaha.com that Elton John will be playing at the Qwest Center October 6.  Elton will be touring in support of his latest greatest hits CD.

The tour is called "Rocket Man's No. Ones" and his concert will feature a mix of his past hits and newer material.  He will come to the Qwest Center soon after he makes a stop in Columbia, MO and will travel to Kansas City later in the month to perform the first concert at the Sprint Center.

In the past few years Elton John has made a name for himself in Las Vegas.  Following in Celine Dion's footsteps, John moved permanently to Las Vegas to perform exclusively there.  He is currently regarded as one of the best performers on the strip.

John Mellencamp to Perform at Qwest

The Qwest Center just announced that American rocker John Mellencamp will perform on the main stage on November 11.  As reported by Omaha.com, Mellencamp will perform at 7:30 on November 11 in support of his newest disc Freedom's Road and a new album that he is currently recording.

Mellencamp, 55, has released 22 albums in the span of over 30 years.  His hits include "Jack and Diane," "Hurts So Good," and recently "Our Country."  Mellencamp is known for having socially aware lyrics and is a supporter of many progressive political movements.  Mellencamp was one of the headliners on the Vote for Change tour during the 2004 presidential campaign.

Look for more details about the concert in later posts.

Today is the Day for Stardome at the Qwest

The Qwest Center is filled with over eight thousand American Idol hopefuls today.  The turnout for the event was less than they expected but is still large given the fact that Omaha is the smallest town that they have held an audition at.

Contestants were lined up outside of the Qwest Center today and will be let into the arena for their individual 15-30 second auditions.  Later in the day the crowd will die down due to the fact that only 200-300 people will be chosen to sing again in front of the shows producers.

Since this is the first audition ever in the Mid-West, many singers that have not had a chance to perform will.  I am excited to see the show in January and see some locals get their chance to succeed in Hollywood.

Tips for Auditioning for American Idol

The auditions for American Idol will be swinging through the Qwest Center in August.  Here are a few pointers on how to audition to earn a coveted ticket to Hollywood.

First, practice your songs well.  Pick a song that you are able to sing and practice it in front of anyone that you can and as many times as you can.  Make sure you know the lyrics well so that you don't forget a line in front of the judges because you are nervous.

Second, try to stand out but still be yourself.  It is a good idea to make a good impression on the judges by doing something to stand apart from the crowd that is auditioning with you.  Whether it is the clothes that you wear, or the song that you sing, something need to be different so that they remember you.  Another good thing to remember is to be yourself and to not let your yearning to be different or your nervousness take over in the audition.  Make it seem as though you are just a normal, humble person because the producers are looking for that rags to riches story.

And if all of this fails, you can just act ridiculous and dress really funny.  Almost 1/3 of the people that get a ticket to Hollywood are people that the producers want on the show because the audience loves to see screw ups just as much as they want to see talent. 

GOOD LUCK!

Prepare Well for Idol Auditions

For the over 10,000 American Idol fans that will be trying to get their ticket to Hollywood at the Qwest Center in early August, I have one piece of advice for you.  Come prepared.

Many fans will show up on August 10th for the auditions at the Qwest Center and not know what to do.  Avoid this problem by following these simple guidelines.

First, log on to the American Idol website to register online to audition.  Next, you will need to show up one or two days before August 10th to register in person and receive a coveted wristband.  The wristband will allow you to enter on the 10th and is the only way to get into the Qwest.

Arrive early to the auditions, the lines are notorious for being cramped and overcrowded and not many people are allowed in the stadium at the same time.  Make sure to eat a healthy breakfast before you go because only the concession stands will be open during the day and you can't leave until your done with your audition.

More instructions will follow in later posts with some insight into how to make a good impression on the judges.

Palau Festival Features Livin' It Extreme Sports

The Luis Palau festival going on at the Qwest Center this weekend will not only feature great music and star preachers, it will also feature a Christian themed extreme sports show.  For the past 3 years Livin' It extreme sports show has been touring the country putting on shows meant to reach out to the young Christian population.

Livin' It features three extreme sports including BMX, Skateboarding and Motocross.  The show was thought up by actor Stephen Baldwin to reach the young population and teach them about Christianity.  Baldwin saw a demographic of young people that he thought were being left out of normal Christian activities because of their different interests, so he created this extreme sports event with a Christian feel.

The one hour show will start at 2:45 on Saturday and Sunday.  After the show the live music will start on the main stage.  Remember, no tickets are needed to any of the events happening at the festival so all you need to bring is a smile and an open heart.

Festival Brings Wide Variety of Music to Omaha

The Luis Palau festival will bring some of the biggest names in Christian music to the Qwest Center this weekend.  No tickets are needed for the shows at the Qwest Center but make sure to get there early to get a good seats for the shows.  The festival is on Saturday and Sunday and will feature 10 bands.

On Saturday the music will start at 4:30 with Mandisa from last season's American Idol.  It will continue with rapper KJ-52 who is one of the first rappers to break into the Christian music scene.  Salvador will come on next and feature Latin flavored songs with some lyrics performed in Spanish.  Rockers Building 429 will come on next and feature their signature pop/rock sound.  TobyMac of DC Talk will perform after Palau speaks and will play until around 9:30.

On Sunday the music will start with the band El Trio de Hoy who are all sons of pastors.  Their performance will be followed by catholic rocker Matt Maher and country musicians Heartland.  Up and coming artist Jeremy Camp will perform right before Palau speaks and will showcase his songs that have been featured on the blockbuster Narnia.  R&B Sensation Kirk Franklin will perform last and close out the show.  Franklin is known for popularizing R&B music in mainstream Christian music and is sure to be a great closer for the festival.

The Qwest Center Will Host Idol Auditions in August

The Qwest Center in Omaha will be one of seven locations in the country that aspiring singers can audition for a coveted "ticket to Hollywood" to perform on American Idol.  The show's producers and judges are expected to arrive along with hundreds of hopeful singers on August 8th.  The actual auditions will be held on August 10th although the producers will be giving out wristbands on the 8th and 9th.  The auditions are expected to bring a diverse group from Nebraska and from sorrounding states. 

The auditions will consist of three rounds of auditions.  First, the producers will narrow the field from many thousands to around 500 through a series of short auditions and interviews.  Next, the group of 500 will audition for the executive producers with only 200 continuing on.  Finally, the show's famous judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul determine if the contestant should be given a chance to go to Hollywood to compete on the nationally televised show.