The spectacle, the pageantry, and the tradition behind it, there’s nothing quite like the Circle of Lights® presented by the Contractors of Quality Connection and Electrical Workers of IBEW 481. Since 1962, the ceremony has attracted over 100,000 Hoosiers annually to the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument to see it decorated to resemble the world’s largest man-made Christmas tree.
In its over 50-year history, it has become more than just a simple ceremony held the day after Thanksgiving. It has become a staple of the holiday season. A single moment that has brought Hoosiers together, a symbol that we have entered the “most wonderful time of the year.”
And for some, it’s also their chance to shine brighter than the 4,000+ lights that adorn Monument Circle.
Once again, Indianapolis Down, Inc., Quality Connection, IBEW 481 and RTV6 kicked off the “Circle of Lights Talent Search,” a series of open auditions that would help determine who would get the honor of performing during this year’s show.
“It’s really awesome that Indianapolis has such great events for everyone to participate in,” said Micah Baker, a newly-transplanted Indianapolis resident who was looking for more ways to get involved.
Performers of varying age, experience, style, and genre are given two minutes to impress a panel of judges that would critique them on their every move, from overall talent and commitment to stage presence and everything else in between.
Taking place over the course of two days, 58 acts turned out to the first night, which was being held at IBEW 481 in Downtown Indianapolis. For over 4 hours, anyone who wanted to participate was give a chance to showcase their talents, impress the judges, and prove that they are ready to shine.
“I liked how you could just sign up and try out and there wasn’t any stipulations,” said Baker. “Just kind of wing it and do what you want.”
Auditions officially began at 4:00 p.m., and were conducted on a “first come, first served” basis. As each one showed up and signed in, they received a number. When their number was called, they would get their chance to perform. All the while, RTV6’s film crews would be set up around the building, as for the third year in a row, they would be shooting footage for a one-hour special documenting the entire process, from the first note all the way up until the winners are announced.
Most of the action is taking place in a single room on the second floor of the building, where chairs have been set up for anxious performers and any friends or family they’ve brought along for moral support.
“It was really cool that we got to see them,” said Baker. “I thought that we wouldn’t be able to see them. It was cool that we got to watch the other people too.”
Anticipation and excitement can be felt all around the building, from the parking lot to the room where all of the action is taking place. Some load equipment up the stairs, some excuse themselves to the halls for one last run-through before stepping in front of the cameras, while the rest sit quietly and take everything in.
So who turns out to something like this? It’s a very mixed bag, from a high school-aged rock n’ roll band that repurposed Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” to a local dance group to even a ventriloquist.
There were even those who had never even been to the Circle of Lights before, and saw this as a chance to experience it in the best way possible.
“I wanted to do it last year,” said Fetina Knox, a solo performer, “and I decided that I was just gonna go for broke and try it this year.”
There were even those who had not only experienced it before, but they were actually a part of the ceremonies.
“…I got a taste of it, and I wanted to come back and try it again,” said Devin Cunningham, who won the talent search in 2011. “You know, I had so much fun the last time. Seriously one of the highlights of my life so far…and I just…the incredible opportunity to perform in front of a record number of people at the Circe…I just…wanted the opportunity to do that again. To bring whatever I brought last time, just at a different level.”
Some even admitted that they were here after receiving pressure from their respective spouses.
“They do want the best for us and they want us to do well,” said Angela Amos, one half of singing duo Diversion, “and they know that he (partner James Hume) and I…we have something special when it comes to music and they’re 100% supportive and I’m glad they encouraged us to do this.”
Others saw it as an amazing “opera-tunity.”
“We’re in Indianapolis,” said Nick Eggleston,” who was returning with the Operatunity group. “Who wouldn’t want to sing on the Circle?”
One-by-one, each performer was called up. Through nerves, a touch of anxiety and a whole lot of excitement, each act gave it their best for what little time they had to impress the judges. Some of the parents whose kids were auditioning have even taken to capturing every moment on their cameras or cell phones. Occasionally, the film crew would pull performers aside for a quick interview outside in the hallway.
Some performers even received a standing ovation from some of their peers.
“We love to sing,” said James Hume of Diversion. “You know, singing is a passion of ours. We feel like it’s such a powerful way to be able to connect with people. People that you don’t even know, and it’s just something that we both feel like is a call in our life to use our lives…to touch people.”
The nerves do get to a few, as there were a few cases of people forgetting the words hitting the occasional wrong note, but they recover nicely. Though everyone may be after the same thing, it’s a very supportive room, as after each act has concluded, the room applauds and encourages one another.
“You know,” said Cunningham, “it’s a lot of fun just to gather with so many different people from all over Indianapolis and Indiana who just love to sing, love to perform, and just to get together and encourage one another and just get behind one another no matter how great or how bad you did. You’re always gonna have the support and the applause at the end, and you’re always gonna have people that just root for you, and like I said, everybody that’s worked here, this is a thing that never changes since I’ve been here, is that from the moment you come up to sign your name in to all of the judges panel to the sound guy, they’re all just as nice as can be and make you feel super comfortable and right at home.”
Of course, some just wished they had a little more time.
“I wish they wouldn’t have cut me off,” said Lanea Bonney, who auditioned as both a soloist and as part of a duo with Devin Cunningham. “Well, I wish I would’ve had a little longer time to get that last note.”
As the night goes on, the once-busy room has trickled down to just a handful, until everyone has had a chance. From there, the judges now face the unenviable task of going through every performer to find out which ones would be moving on.
So what would it be like to get that callback?
“That would be amazing,” said Bonney. “It would be such a great opportunity for me and for Devin too if both of us get called back, but definitely would be an absolutely amazing opportunity and I would love to be able to come back and maybe sing another song that would wow the judges.”
It could even be a dream come true.
“If I got it,” said Knox, “I would be calling my mom and dad. They live in the Seattle, Washington area, and saying “hey I’m gonna be on TV!” So that would be exciting.”
The rest sum it up like this:
“It would be (exciting) like ‘oh my God, we got called back!’… (but then scary because) oh my God, we got called back!’ (laughs). That’s what it would be like,” said Eggleston.
Yet regardless of the outcome, one feeling is universal:
“We’re thankful for this opportunity,” said Amos. “It’s been really fun. It’s been a lot of fun, and that was awesome.”
And for those who might still be on the fence over whether or not to take the plunge during the second day, one person offers one bit of advice:
“Anybody who wants to try this,” said Cunningham, “just do it. Just practice your song, get it down…Get involved. If you don’t get chosen, don’t get discouraged. You learn from what happened, and you get better from it. That’s the key to all of this.”
By the end, the film crews and the judges are both a little war-weary, but still in one piece. Equipment has been packed everything away and have loaded it into trucks, those who are left head towards the doors, and the janitorial crews have move in to do their jobs. What was once a place that brought holiday cheer to the Indianapolis area in September has returned to its normal form.
Though it may have been a long and exhausting process, in the end, there’s also a sense of accomplishment. It takes a million different things to make sure it all goes off without a hitch, and when it comes together, it’s like being a kid on Christmas Day. With the first night of auditions now in the books, we’re officially on the road to the Circle of Lights 2013. It may be two months away, but some are already getting into the spirit.
So as they like to say, this really is “the most wonderful time of the year.”
For questions regarding auditions, call 317.237.2317, or email [email protected]