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"Idol" Hopefuls Line Up At Heinz Field For Shot At Stardom

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Thousands of people will sign up at the registration tents set up at Heinz Field over the next two days, all hoping for a chance at stardom.

Pittsburgh is the only audition site on the upper East Coast for season 11 of "American Idol," and that means people are traveling from far and wide in hopes of making it big.

"We don't really have, sort of, a set number," said Patrick Lynn, the supervising producer of the reality show. "We'll take as many people as we think are good enough for the show. We got a nice big stadium, so, who knows."

The two-day registration period started this morning at 7 a.m. Long lines began forming outside of Heinz Field overnight. As many as 30,000 people are expected.

"I tried out last year and I got in front of the actual judges," said 22-year-old Grady Gorman of Buffalo, N.Y. "They could tell I was sick and they told me to come back next year and give it another go."

The actual auditions will be held this Friday.

"We're going to register all these people and then we're open all the way till Friday morning. So, come on down, get a wrist band, get a ticket and try out for American Idol," said Lynn. "As we like to say, 'Take a day to change your life.'"

Lynn also offered some advice to the hopefuls.

"You can impress the judges by really, just not being nervous. Be yourself, sing well first of all, but try not to let the size of the line intimidate you and just kind of be yourself," he said. "Just have fun with it 'cause ultimately that's what you're here for.

"It kind of comes down to – we're looking for lightning in a bottle," he added. "It's very hard to find it, but once you see it, you know it."

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Police are warning drivers to expect an increase in traffic, particularly pedestrian traffic, on the North Shore while the show is in town. They are telling everyone to have patience.

Also, for those hoping for a glimpse of Ryan Seacrest or Randy Jackson, or maybe even Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, officials say they judges will not be here. On Friday, people will sing for producers with a lucky few being asked back to eventually meet the judges.

RELATED LINKS:
Heinz Field
Traffic Delays Expected Due To 'American Idol' Registration
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