American Idol bus tour auditions hitting 10 small towns for Season 12

If you're still thinking you have the voice to win "American Idol" but missed the big city auditions for Season 12, America's number one show has rolled out a tour bus for auditions that will make stops in 10 small towns nationwide.

The first ever "American Idol Small Town Auditions Tour Bus" hit the road on August 2 headed for Idaho Falls, Idaho. According to AmericanIdol.com, the town (or small city) of nearly 57,000 people will be the first stop on the show's traveling audition opportunity. And they're not fooling around either. Auditions begin on August 4.

But Idaho Falls is just one of ten small towns producers have chosen to make stops in. Other small towns include Billings, Mont.; Dodge City, Kan.; Rock Rapids, Iowa; and Clarksdale, Miss. The furthest east they venture is Bowling Green, Ky. Those interested in trying out or simply attending the auditions are directed to the "American Idol" Facebook page or to the "American Idol" Twitter account for tour update information.

Traditional auditioning for Season 12 began at the major venues on June 5 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and wrapped up in Oklahoma City on July 18. In all, auditions were held in seven big cities, including San Antonio, Tex., Newark, N.J., and New Orleans, La.

But "American Idol" is making it easy for far more people to audition for the upcoming season than they have in the past. Besides the "Small Town Auditions Tour Bus," there are two other ways that potential Idols can still get onto the show.

"Nominate an Idol" involves promoting someone via a solo video of that person singing a capella. This is an opportunity to push someone -- they have to be between the ages of 15 and 28 and meet all other requirements -- toward the national stage without their knowledge. "Idol" will then show up with cameras and crew to surprise those chosen to continue.

The third way to get on "American Idol" in Season 12 is through online auditioning. This process actually began on August 1, the day before the "Small Towns Auditions" bus left for Idaho Falls. Potential Idols can submit video entries online until August 14.

All submission rules and requirements for the various audition methods can be found at AmericanIdol.com.

So if you think you're the next Phillip Phillips or Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood or Chris Daughtry or Adam Lambert, Season 12 might be your time to shine, and with four separate avenues to get to the "American Idol " finals, the producers are trying their best to get you there.

"American Idol" returns to Fox Television in January.

(photo credit: Manfred Werner - Tsui, Creative Commons)

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