My Post Selection Experience

Here is my post-selection take on my experience. 2 weeks to wait. Running to the dry cleaners. Does this suit still fit? Shirt and tie? Jacket no tie? Full three piece suit? Should I drive up the night before? Bear traffic in the morning? What if my alarm doesn't go off? Should I just stay up all night? No, that's not a good idea. No sleep is a slow brain. What am I going to do about work? The questions that run through your mind when faced with a potentially life altering 23 minutes. Although a short two weeks away, the time can drag and the questions continue to build. Snap forward to August 17th. The time went by much more quickly than I had imagined. I found myself on the 405 freeway about 6am the day before my filming. 4 meetings ahead. A massage booked for 6:30 that night. Finding a hotel in an area I hadn't been to in over a year. I breezed through the work day and *attempted* to check into my hotel early. When I arrived, they had no record of my reservation. An hour was spent on the phone with the site I book my hotels through before we realized what happened. I booked my hotel for the following night! Of course, the room I had booked was non refundable, so I had to jump some hurdles. I ended up figuring out a situation that satisfied both the hotel and the booking agency with no additional money out of pocket. I headed to my room with a heavy head and laid down a while. I went and grabbed dinner in the hotel restaurant and treated myself to a steak. I knew I needed a good meal with the day ahead. After a beer, I headed out to my much needed massage, and man was it worth it! I left so relaxed, grabbed a shower, laid in bed and realized what I faced the next day. Here came the restlessness. I intentionally avoided game shows, and finally found myself waking up at 4:30am the day of my filming. I didn't go back to sleep. I decided I needed some breakfast, and went to find a Denny's near the studio. I figured there had to be something close, so I followed the directions I had brought with me to the studio in Culver City. I drove several blocks in each direction, and no Denny's!!!! I finally made my way back (what ended up being past the hotel I had booked) and grabbed breakfast. I found my way into the studio parking lot about 7a.m., (passing the ghostbusters car on the way in) and parked my car. I went downstairs thinking I would be the first one there. Turns out I was one of the last! A contestant coordinator came out to meet us and bring us into the studio. Once we were all there, we began what seemed to be the longest morning of my life. Between rules, new categories, legal and makeup, we were all sizing up our competition. Everybody that I met that day was a pleasure. We exchanged stories, dreams, hopes and wishes and anxiously awaited our fates. Around about 9am, we were led out to the stage. The feeling was surreal. Seeing the Wheel (and how small it seems vs. on TV,) the letter board, the lights, the cameras was all amazing. We took turns practicing spinning the Wheel, and playing mini mock rounds of the game. We went back to the contestant room, and waited again. We had a nice spread of snacks, sandwiches, waters, sodas etc. Then the makeup came. We were called in the rows we were sitting in. The first few people made their way through and we still had no idea of when we were filming. We knew the first show started filming at noon. Beyond that, time would tell. After hanging out for a little while, things went fast and furious. The contestant coordinators came in with papers stacked in threes, and told us they had the shows lined up. Myself, Rona, and Lizzie were the 5th group called. The contestant coordinators then called one name from each group (ours was Rona) to draw numbers as to the order of our filmings. Lizzie and I both told Rona to pick a 2 or 3, and we certainly didn't want to film first. Each of the contestants from the six shows to be filmed that day picked a golf ball with a number on it, tightly concealed within their hands. The contestant coordinators asked them to reveal the order of filming, and Rona held a 1. Here we were, an hour before showtime. And the suspense got worse! Each set of 3 contestants was called to come up and determine their positions (red, yellow, blue.) I opened my palm to discover a die with the number two, and knew I was yellow. All of the contestants went out for a rehearsal. We all had a chance to buzz in for toss ups, call letters, spin the wheel, wait out commercial breaks etc. The audience began piling in, and we were quickly taken backstage for touch ups. At noon, there we were on stage, with Pat and Vanna walking towards us. It was on. First toss up. 4 letter word, 5 letter word with an exclamation point. I guess Holy Moley! I was wrong. Rona went on to take Ahoy Matey! for the first toss up. Introductions went quick and we were on to the second toss up. First puzzle. Prize puzzle. Third Toss up. Final Puzzle. I found myself at the head of the leader board heading into the bonus round.

Patiently Waiting.....THEN BAM!!!

It is nowAugust 8th.  A recap on the past several months......

May, June and July proved to be some very stressful months for me. We were hitting out busy season at work, and that took up a lot of time an energy for me.  Sometime near the end of August or early September is when things start to clean up for the season, but it is also the time where I will start my travel season.  Trips halfway across the country were getting booked, and I started to get worried I would have to cancel one or some of them if I got my call from the producers for filming.  I tried to keep all trips as loose as possible, even though I knew that it could still take another year until I got my call.

Nearly three months breezed by with no news.  With work being crazy and having joined a kickball league,  I had put Wheel to the back of my brain.  People constantly asked me if I had heard anything, and I would reply no, and just shrugged it off.  Work was my focus at the moment, and any time spent thinking about it could be considered a waste of time.  Of course, I still play the Facebook game and watch the show as often as possible, but I didn't want to spend any more time than necessary dwelling over when I would get a call.

Then last week came.  A very stressful week at work.  Two kickball practices and a game.  A trip up the coast for work. Endless phone calls from customers.  My grandma's birthday at the end of the week.  By the time Friday afternoon came, I had about had it.

My phone rang at about 4:30 Friday afternoon with a 310 number.  This was not a number I recognized.  I shrugged off the prospect of who it could be, and prepared myself to put out another fire with a muffed delivery or a missed order.

"Hello, this is Jared" I answered.
"Jared, this is Gary with Wheel of Fortune" is what I heard from the other end of the phone.

I lit up immediately! The conversation took place, and I found out I would be filming this Thursday, August 18th in Culver City.  I was informed I would have a package mailed to me with further information and instructions.

So here I sit, Monday afternoon, only three days after receiving my call, with another eleven to go before I get on that stage.  Nerves are starting to set in, hotels are being booked, travel plans being jockeyed around for my family.  I am extremely excited for this opportunity, and can't wait to spin that wheel!

I will keep you guys informed as to the status of my adventure.

Thanks for reading!
Jared

May 11, 2011-My Birthday!

I woke up the morning of May 11, knowing that I was now 26 years old.  I was looking forward to a nice dinner at Black Angus with my family.  I had made a joke in passing the night before about how great it would be to get my letter on my birthday, how that would be an awesome birthday gift.

Sure enough, I got my letter, on my birthday, informing me that I would be a contestant on Wheel of Fortune!!! This was it! I get to meet Pat! And Vanna!

But when?

I became a tad discouraged reading that it could take up to 18 months to get the chance to film your episode.  And at that, you could be called as an alternate.  I knew that my wait time could be long and drawn out.  I felt it best to try to keep it out of my mind, and let things take their course.

I had read on several other blogs that when other contestants had gotten their calls for filming the number had a 310 area code.  Being in sales, and selling to people all over the country, I received calls from the 310 fairly frequently.  Each time, I perked up a little bit, and then recognized the number as a customer and went on about my days.

April 2011-PROGRESS!

It is now April of 2011.  After a career change, a move back to San Diego, and some major life changes, I decided to register to become a contestant one more time.  With quite a few years since my last online registration, my interests had changed considerably, I was a few years older, and had gained a lot of life experience.  At the urging of my father, I put in one last application.  It took two short weeks for me to hear back. I had landed my audition in LA!

My audition was set for Wednesday, May 4th in Culver City. I prepared to take the time off from work, get clothes to the dry cleaners, and make sure I did as much research as I could to prepare myself for the audition.  I learned that I would not be spinning a wheel, that there would be a test, and to BUY VOWELS! I departed San Diego Wednesday morning for what would be a very exciting day.

After seeing a few customers in the area, I found my way to the hotel where auditions were taking place.  Found a spot to eat lunch in the area and just relaxed for a little while.  I walked into the hotel about 20 minutes before my audition was scheduled to start.  I began sizing up my competition, and talking with fellow auditioners.  The nerves began to hit me. What if I call a letter that's already been called? What if I solve the puzzle incorrectly by one letter? That wouldn't look good at all! Soon, Gary came out into the lobby and welcomed us.  We filed into the audition room, and watched a little bit of the history of Wheel of Fortune.

Seeing the old sets was really cool, as it took me back to my first few times watching Wheel, and playing the board game with my family.  The nerves began to settle as we filled out our applications and got placed into a seating chart.  Then the fun began! The makeshift wheel began spinning, letters were being called, and vowels were being purchased.  With a puzzle being solved, out went an autographed picture of Vanna.  Lucky guy.  Shortly after, my name was called to stand up and play a round.  I started off strong, guessing correct letters, bought a vowel or two, spun again, and bankrupt.  It seemed too early to have my turn be done.  I sat back down, waiting to find out what happened next.

As everyone had received their turn, the judges announced that we would now be taking a test.  After the tests were passed out and Gary told us to start, I began to scribble furiously.  There is no way I'm going to solve all these, I thought.  All too quickly, time was called.  We passed our tests in, and had a 15 minute break.

When we came back, we found out that there would be some cuts made.  If your name is called, you stay.  If not, it is the end of the road for you.  I waited anxiously to learn my fate.  19 names were called, and knowing that only 20 people would move on, I hung my head.  Then I heard my name called, let out a loud "YEA!!" and shook hands with my neighbors who had also made the cut.

The second round of auditions began, with a more in depth version of playing the game.  Puzzles seemed more difficult, we had to display energy, and again, BUY VOWELS!  I successfully solved a puzzle and went on to make the final cut.  We played one more round, 2 groups of 4 and a group of 3.  We had to pretend to spin the wheel, buy vowels, clap, guess letters correctly, and boom.  It was done.

We were informed that if we made the show, we would receive a letter within the next two weeks.  If we didn't receive a letter, we could try to audition again after a year.  Thus began a week long wait.....

My first Wheel Mobile Experience

March 2009.  I have been living in Orange County for a few years at this point.  I continued to play Wheel of Fortune as often as possible with my roommates.  One night while watching, they played a spot that the Wheel Mobile would be at a nearby casino.  I quickly checked my schedule, found out that I would be able to go, and began to do a little research on what to expect at the event.  

I learned that much like getting a response from an online Wheel of Fortune registration, getting picked at a Wheel Mobile event was a long shot.  But then I began to think: It's a random Wednesday afternoon, the casino is in the middle of nowhere, there's no way there will be the volume of people that I had read about. With a clear and open mind, I found myself at Morongo Casino.  I walked through the front door, and quickly found the line to register for the event.

As I stood in line, I wondered how long is this thing? Well, there's the wall of the casino, it can't go much further than that right? Boy was I wrong! After standing in line for a few hours, I received a work call, and had to step out, thus making it so I couldn't hang around for the event.  I was bummed, but I wasn't so confident that I even would have had a chance to audition.  This would be my last experience with Wheel for a couple of years.

Introduction

Hey all! My name is Jared.  This blog will be about my experience with Wheel of Fortune, from wanting to be on the show, to my first Wheel Mobile event, to my audition, to selection, and eventually to filming and my air date.  I will try to bring everything up to date as quickly as possible, so bear with me.  With a short 11 days away from filming, life will be hectic.  So here goes my story......

I'll start with how I became interested in Wheel of Fortune.  Aside from my interest in Vanna White, I found that I had a knack for words and for solving puzzles at a fairly young age.  By the time I came into my teenage years, I began to get pressure from my family to get on the show for "Teen Week." I filled out the application online, and never heard anything back.  As the years went on, and many nights were spent playing Wheel and Jeopardy with the family, continuous urging prompted me to attempt to register to be a contestant again.  Again, no luck.

Fast forward to 2009.....