Come one, Come all… Be a part of the big show!
By now, every Jimmy, Joe and Jane know someone who has auditioned for a reality tv show.  What is our fascination with being on television?  My first real memory of what can be considered “reality tv” was Battle of The Network Stars.  I can tell you that was a special television night for me.  I loved watching real-life Tootie, Gofer, The Fall Guy and Doc tug-of war with Adrian Zemed, Heather Lockler, the little guy from Fantasy Island and Nancy McKeon. 

I thought it was so cool that they were friends in real life.  Yes, we can also thank Candid Camera and the Miss (fill in the blanks) Pageants of the 1980s, but these contests were unattainable to anyone not already on a television show, those who didn’t own a cam corder or not of extreme beauty with the wish of “world peace.

What sells? Oh, that right, Sex, Sweat and Tears
Real World.  Never in a million years would I ever even thinking of going on that.  I knew people that wanted to be on it and since one time they were filming in Chicago, I knew many friends that sought out the sets to date the cast members.  I could barely watch the show and I worked at MTV.  It just seemed so uncomfortable to watch these awkward fights and hook-ups.  Where was the strategy beyond getting camera time?

I have no Agent!
A friend forward the application for Design Star to me late October.  It was during the time I was growing my business and taking every possible risk for getting my name out there for Stacey Cohen Interiors.  I didn’t think twice.  I filled out the first form and heard back from the casting department within an hour.  I was skewed in understanding how many people were trying out for the show.  I had not known anyone to audition for a reality show, so my naiveness was to my advantage.  I went through a few more preliminary emails and conversations and was told to hold tight for the final application.

My Film Crew and Best Boys
I found a film crew to shoot my audition video.  I have been asked to be in front of the camera before, but never really thought to do anything about it.  The director and crew were nothing short of amazing.  We produced a kick-ass audition tape.  I sent it in and within a week, I was called and congratulated by the casting department for making the final 60.

The GLAMOROUS life —
I was flown to Los Angeles and sequestered to my room at a hotel adjacent to LAX.  Rules were for us not to speak or make eye contact with anyone else out there.  We were given meal vouchers and meal times.  There were 20 people to each seating.  Beyond sly glances to the people around me, I had no clue who was going to be there at the end of the week with me.

And then there were 20
By the third day, of the 20 people in my meal group, there were only 5.  Each night, a bunch were sent packing with a hug and shattered dreams.  The final 20 were called into a room for the stuff only we get to know.  This is where the curtain begins to close on the viewers and the contestants start to get an understanding of the process.  All you need to know at this point is we are in the top 20.  We were told to go home, get our affairs in order and wait for the call.  The call was to come in the next week and we had to be ready to go within two weeks.

When there were 12…
It seemed like we were extras on a set.  The cameras were around filming us, but I wasn’t sure what was really happening.  I didn’t understand that the more I spoke, the more air time I would get.  I was nervous as heck.  I was excited to design and show the viewers great ideas and inspire good design.  I had no clue that the first challenge was to be the last individual challenge.  The format had changed and design was second to show.

When there were 8…
I began to understand my role was to provide entertainment in addition to my design.  I was not good at this.  I had no control over what was bound to happen.  I had worked so hard for the past decade and half to build a reputation as a serious designer and now I was gambling with my persona and I was not happy.  It was different from anything I could have ever imagined.  The pressure began to hit and I felt it all over.  I wanted to go, even though I knew I was going to try to give it my all, I froze.  My audition tape starts out referencing Marsh Brady’s response to the camera’s red light… This was life my life, imitating my art.

Watching the final 4…
I was so awkward for them last night.  Rephrase: not for them, but for me.  I couldn’t have imagined all that attention with no control of the final edit.  There was so much individual camera time seeking the story of the room and their designs.

The plot is always thicker…
I loved my involvement with the production teams.  They all had ways of getting the story.  The producers are story tellers.  To learn that from the best was a ridiculous treat.  We all went on the show with different stories to tell.   I brought a different design element in each challenge to the viewers of HGTV, learned on-camera presence from Mark Burnett Productions and added another chapter to my script.

And, as far as the 60%….
That is a different show…. stay tuned for details