LEGAL PAPERWORK 

Important legal documents and forms will be sent to you by email AFTER you complete the Performance Questionnaire. If you 13 years of age or older, all Legal Paperwork will be sent via DocuSign, so you can sign electronically.  Legal Paperwork for anyone under the age of 18 will be sent to the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) of that individual for signature. Legal Paperwork for anyone 12 years of age and under will be sent to the individual’s parent(s)/legal guardian(s) as a PDF document for ink signature. Further instructions will be provided by our Legal Team via email when the Legal Paperwork is sent out. All Legal Paperwork must be completed before any travel arrangements for the Judge Auditions can be made. Please direct all questions regarding the Legal Paperwork to our attorneys – contact information will be included in the email from the Legal Team.

MINORS

We have very strict rules for minors (anyone under the age of 18 years old).

If the show is traveling a minor in for the Judge Auditions, then we will travel one (1) parent or legal guardian for each minor, unless the minors are siblings, in which case we will only travel one (1) parent or legal guardian for every four (4) minors.

ALL Minors MUST have at least ONE (1) parent or legal guardian present. If the parent or legal guardian cannot attend the audition, an adult over the age of 21 may accompany the minor as a “show guardian” as long as:

1) the request is approved by your Producer; and

2) a Guardianship and Medical Authorization Form (=is completed by the minor’s parents and the show guardian, all signatures are notarized, and the form is approved by the AGT Legal Team prior to the audition (AGT’s Legal Team can provide this form upon request)

Groups with Minors: If you are traveling with a group that has minors, each minor still must have one (1) parent or legal guardian present. However, if certain parents cannot attend and another parent and/or coach is willing to take over guardianship for the minor(s), there is a one (1) adult per four (4) minors ratio rule.

Coaches: If you have a coach that would like to attend, they must do so at their own expense, unless that person is an accompanying parent or legal guardian for a minor or is show guardian to a minor in the group and all of the a Guardianship and Medical Authorization Form  has been completed, signed, and notarized.

TRAVEL 

If you are within 300 miles of the Judge Audition location, you are considered “LOCAL”. Local contestants will not be provided with airfare. Instead, local contestants will be reimbursed $0.20 USD/mile for driving or will be provided with a bus or train ticket. We will need to review and approve sufficient supporting evidence of such costs being incurred before we reimburse.

For contestants who are NOT local, we will arrange your travel and accommodations. Our Travel Department will send out flight and accommodation details to you directly. They will also arrange a shuttle between the airport and your hotel for your arrival as well as for your return.  Allison Johnson, our Travel Manager, will be in touch via email about flights as soon as your Legal Paperwork has been reviewed and approved.

Per Diem (daily allowance) will ONLY be provided to contestants and the parent, legal guardian, or show guardian of minors that we are traveling in and staying in the provided hotel accommodations. Each act member and parent, legal guardian or show guardian, as applicable, will receive $25 USD for per night that you are booked in the hotel. This money is provided for additional meals or expenses. You will be given your per diem when you check in at the Judge Audition location on the day of your audition. 

INTERNATIONAL CONTESTANTS & TRAVEL VISAS

If you are a foreign act traveling to the United States, we will be in touch separately, if we have not already, regarding the visa that is required for you to travel to the US. 

***IMPORTANT***

WHEN YOU ARE ASSIGNED AN AUDITION DATE, THERE IS ALWAYS A CHANCE THAT DATE COULD CHANGE DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES WITH PRODUCTION. AGT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR COSTS OF ANY FRIENDS/FAMILY OR SUPPORT WHO BOOKED THEIR OWN TRAVEL TO ATTEND.

PREPARING FOR THE JUDGES’ AUDITION

JUDGE AUDITION LOCATION

Pasadena Civic Auditorium

300 E Green St, Pasadena, CA 91101

MUSIC

Please send me a list of songs you would like to use for your Judge Audition, if any (include the names of the title and artist). Music must be cleared through AGT’s Music Team. The AGT Music Team will handle the entire music clearance process. Since music clearance is a time consuming process, sending your music choices earlier rather than later will be extremely beneficial. The more options you provide, the better chance we have at licensing at least one of them. We will keep you updated on whether your song choices are able to be cleared. Once a song is cleared and approved by a Producer, our Music Team will be in touch with you.

REHEARSAL VIDEO

Rehearsal videos will be a crucial part of preparing for your Judge Audition. They will help us collaborate, give notes and make adjustments. The goal is to allow you to present your best performance to the Judges! If you have not done so already, please send me rehearsal videos of your performance. As we get closer to your Judge Audition date, your latest rehearsal video will be shared with our Director so he can plan accordingly.

WARDROBE PHOTOS

Please send photos of what you plan to wear for your Judge Audition on stage. This outfit will be called your Performance Look. 

We highly encourage you to send a few options for us to consider for your Performance Look. When selecting options to propose, please follow the guidelines below.

  • NO logos on clothing.
  • NO patterned clothing such as stripes, checkers, plaid. They tend to strobe on camera.
  • Take photos of yourself IN the wardrobe (NOT on a hanger or laid out on a bed!).
  • Choose an area that is well lit when you take the photo.
  • Take a full HEAD-TO-TOE photo of yourself in the wardrobe, complete with shoes and accessories (if any).

Once we receive your wardrobe photos, we will let you know which option is approved as your Performance Look.

In addition, you may be doing some Backstage Filming with our Reality Team. Typically, you will be wearing your Performance Look for this, however in some cases, we may ask you to wear a different B-Roll/Reality Look for other backstage filming. If this applies to you, we will notify you and request for you to send us additional photos of options for this look

HAIR & MAKEUP

We will NOT be providing Hair & Makeup support or supplies for your Judge Audition. Please come prepared and plan on doing your own hair and makeup.

EQUIPMENT/PROPS

For Locals with Props and/or Equipment: Please do not show up early on the day of your audition to drop off any props without notifying your Producer first. We have limited space backstage and want to make sure we secure a space for your props.

For Traveling Contestants with Props and/or Equipment: AGT will reimburse one (1) additional bag on your flight if you need to check your props and/or equipment. Your Producer will be in touch with you to arrange when and where you should drop off your props and/or equipment for your Judge Audition. If you cannot travel with your equipment/props as baggage and they need to be shipped, please send the information and details below.

  • How many items are in the shipment?
  • Value of item(s)
  • Dimension of item(s) crated, boxed or ready to ship
  • Weight of item(s) (ready to ship).
  • Contact info for pick up (name, phone number and email for contact).
  • Address for pick up.
  • Photo of equipment and/or props (packed and ready to ship).
  • Return address if it’s being shipped to a different location after your AGT audition.

As a general matter, please note that no one is permitted to travel on flights with the below items. This is not an exhaustive list, but we wanted to provide the examples below. If you have any questions on what you may or may not travel with, please reach out. 

  • Fuse
  • Flash paper 
  • Flash cotton 
  • Alcohol 
  • Camping Fuel 
  • Butane
  • Pyrotechnics
  • Candles 
  • Fountains
  • Sparking Devices
  • Sparklers

ALWAYS CAMERA READY, EVEN WHILE WAITING

We would like for you to arrive for your Judge audition “camera ready.” That means in costume and with your full hair and make-up done. Please also bring all props and/or equipment that you will need for your Judge Audition. There will be a lot of down time, so please plan accordingly. AGT will not be supervising your personal property and is NOT responsible for any lost, stolen or damaged personal property that you choose to bring to your Judge Audition so please secure your items at all times while you are on set.

AVAILABILITY FOR FUTURE ROUNDS

If you get a “yes” from the Judges during your Judge Audition, and are chosen to advance to the Live Shows, we will reach out to you to discuss next steps, including your availability.

Generally, Live Shows start as early as the beginning of August in Los Angeles and continue through late September. Please note, getting a “yes” from the Judges during the Judge Auditions does not guarantee that you have been selected to advance through to any subsequent round of AGT, which remains subject to producer discretion. 

SUPPORT/HELP WHEN YOUR PRODUCER IS OUT OF THE OFFICE

If you need assistance when your Producer is out of the office and unavailable, please contact our Support Help Desk via email at [email protected]

CONFIDENTIALITY  

You are NOT allowed to talk about potentially being selected for the show. This includes, talking to or providing photos, clips or quotes to any media or press outlet (including traditional newspapers, radio, magazine or television or online publications). This restriction applies even if the media approaches you. You are also NOT allowed to discuss potentially being selected for or participating in the show with the general public. In addition, you may NOT post anything on your social networking sites (i.e. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc.), email, or otherwise disclose anything about your potential selection and/or participation on the show, regardless of the medium (i.e., whether in person, via online posts, etc.).  If you are chosen to advance to the Judge Auditions, you will be provided with guidelines about social media/internet posts in connection with your participation.