Going to Anime Expo this year? Think you have a good voice? Then why not audition to be the next AX Idol. During this year’s Anime Expo the AX Idol 2008 Singing and Voice Acting Contest will be held at the NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles. In order to go, all one needs to do is be an Anime Expo 2008 attendee and show up.

The prizes for the winners are special. Both the singing contest winner and the voice acting winner get a tour of the Bang Zoom! Studios in Burbank. They will be able to take a Studio Tour, sit in during an anime recording session, have a private audition with a casting director, and see a walla recording session ("walla" is the sound of background conversations during a scene). The singing contest winner will also be able to record a demo song in the studio, while the voice acting winner will get a package tour from Destination Japan.

Just attending can make you a winner as well. One very lucky person who holds onto his or her ticket stub will get a complete tour package as well.

During the show a ticket number will be announced and whoever holds that golden ticket is getting a round-trip ticket from L.A. to Tokyo complete with hotel accommodations. So if you go, make sure to not throw away your ticket and to stick around until you hear who the lucky person is. It might just be you. 

Whether you are going to enter or listen as others audition, this event promises to be a great time. I have never entered into this kind of contest, being born tone-deaf, but just watching one is fun all the same. You’ll never know when the next Lisa Ortiz might show up. If not, well, you can still listen as people try to sound good but sound… not so good.

Also, this year there are two new hosts for the AX Idol contest. Professional voice actor Vic Mignogna, voice actor for Edward Elric in Full Metal Alchemist, will be there. The other new host is the host of Anime TV, Jonathan Meza. These two know their business so prepare to impress and be impressed.

All I can say is good luck to everyone. Also, do not forget the most important thing: have fun.

Source: Anime Expo 2008