Debra Byrd, a vocal coach from “American Idol,” is coming to campus this weekend to watch the Theatre Department’s production of “Carnival!” and guest lecture during some classes for music and theatre students early next week. The T&C gave Byrd a call to ask her about the show and her trip to Otterbein.
What is it you do on “American Idol?”
I’m the vocal coach and arranger on “American Idol.” I’ve been there since season one. All those people are mine, from Kelly Clarkson to the last person that won. I’ve worked with all of them. I don’t develop their sound. Their sound is their sound. Some people have also called me a life coach.
Are you excited to see “Carnival!”?
Yes, I’m excited to be here period, whether that’s watching “Carnival!” or watching the audition process or speaking to the classes. I’m really looking forward to what questions the students will have about when they audition. Now that television has played a huge role in terms of singing competitions — “X Factor,” “The Voice,” “American Idol,” the country competition, all of these things — there’s information out there because it’s a new day and it’s probably not going to be what you’re taught in a classroom. That’s why I enjoy passing on the information. It’s different. Auditioning in New York or London or wherever your passion takes you. You need to arm yourself for the situation; you need to know what is expected of you.
What specific advice would you give a music or theatre major?
The biggest and most important thing is to be prepared. That means to do your homework. Say you audition something and you prepare one thing, say they love you and want you to do something else. So it doesn’t stump you, have more things prepared so that you can present yourself even more. If they want to hear more that means they like you. If they don’t want to hear more that means they love what they have and they’re done, or you’re not the one for them.
Have you had a hard time getting through to any contestants?
I always say that people learn at their own pace and some people grasp the information at their own pace. That’s my job, that’s my hope and I wait for them. Some people have a hard time grasping the process. You’re told no so many times in the auditioning process. Auditioning for anything is hard. I like to think that I can give them tools and techniques to get them to the next level.
Do you get any sense of fulfillment when one of your students succeeds in the industry?
A sense of fulfillment? That is such a huge understatement. I looked on the video countdown one day. There were five back to back, one, two, three, four, five, and I had worked with every one of them and I felt such elation and pride, such joy that I had planted a seed in each one of those people to get them to their greatness. It’s a privilege to do all this stuff for the television show. That sense of pride is extraordinary to me. To see Jennifer Hudson receive an Oscar for something that was my recommendation. She wasn’t even on the casting director’s radar and my recommendation catapulted her and her talent, because she’s so talented, and the right information and the right time. It’s really an extraordinary feeling, to live through all of that and see people’s huge, ongoing success. It makes my heart smile a big ole smile.
What do your friends and family think of what you do?
I have the coolest job on the planet. I really feel that. I get to help people achieve their dream and their heart’s desire. To be in a job that’s in service like that I think is one of the coolest jobs on the planet.
