America's Got Talent 2010 Auditions: Upcoming Cities

Not a fan of American Idol? Have you caught any of the past seasons of America's Got Talent (also written by the infamous Simon Cowell and others)? If not, give it a taste.

What sets America's Got Talent (and its UK counterpart, Britain's Got Talent) apart from that other show, that's made stars out of Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken, is its variety. As anyone who's caught an episode of either the British or American version knows, the acts feature everything from singing, dancing, and instrumentalists to novelty acts like that of ventriloquist/singer/impressionist Terry Fator (in Season 2).

According to the Official America's Got Talent Audition Site, the irresistibly funny Howie Mandel will be joining the judges' panel this year, replacing David Hasselhoff. Meanwhile, regulars Sharon Osbourne and Piers Morgan will be taking their seats as judges once again.

Next up in the audition cities is Los Angeles, beginning January 23 and ending the following day. The auditions will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Following L.A. will be Dallas, Orlando, Atlanta, and Portland.

Those familiar with the show's format will recognize the question asked of all the contestants: "What's your dream?" (or something along those lines). If you've seen any of the winners (or at least those who progressed through the ranks), it's clear that they've all had a good dose of confidence, in addition to a helping of talent.

What Should I Perform?

Good question. It's all up to you, of course. Again, there are many singers, dancers, magicians, etc. The question most performers might want to ask themselves is, "What makes my act exceptional?"

Terry Fator, for instance, was unusual in that he not only had a great singing voice, but could impersonate practically any singer. To boot, he did it all without moving his lips. Then famously, in the final round, he sang with none other than Kermit the Frog as his celebrity guest.

Singer/guitarist Cas Haley (the runner-up to Terry Fator) left an enduring impression because he took such songs as Sting's "Walking on the Moon" and UB40's "Red, Red Wine" and put his own original twists on them.

On Britain's Got Talent, one of the most popular acts (loved even by Simon Cowell) was Signature, the duo that put a Bhangra spin on Michael Jackson's famed moves.

Of course, anyone could tell you these acts were good; so how do you discern your own talent? Maybe you've always known you had a "certain something" in you. Is it an act like one of the above? Or is it, as Monty Python would say, "something...completely different"?

If you have more than one artistic talent, see if you can combine them in some form. For instance, do you play guitar? Can you play a variety of styles? As we've seen from past seasons, mixing it up, and keeping the audiences and judges guessing, is key to winning.

Scenario #2: let's say your act is comedic. The judges, of course, would like to see something fresh; don't try to be Eddie Murphy, Lewis Black, or Pablo Francisco. Even if they're your idols, so to speak, take what you've learned from them and make it your own.

Francisco, famous for his impressions of the late "Preview Man" Don LaFontaine and singer Aaron Neville (among others), earned his fame in part by doing imitations that few comedians had done before. If they had been done previously, Francisco clearly took them to the next level. So if comedy's your thing, watch the pros and pick up on some cues. Then, ultimately, cook up your own comedic recipe.

What Makes You the Expert?

Honestly, there's no one way to win a competition like this one. As with American Idol, a poetry slam, or Dancing with the Stars, what wins one season might not have won a year earlier. Yet, who ever won by sitting at home?

Of note: many of the acts that don't win the competition also get recognized. Performers like breakdancer Luca "Lazy Legz" Patuelli, contortionist/gymnast Lilia Stepanova, and young singer Connie Talbot (of BGT) may not have walked home with the grand prize, but they certainly earned their fame, as well as the opportunity to perform onstage in front of millions of viewers.

So ask yourself: do I have a talent? Am I willing to perform it in front of a huge audience? And can I handle honest criticism?

If you answered "yes" to all of the above, then get on that stage.