Here’s What The BigHit Audition Process Is Really Like, According To A Former Trainee
Have you ever dreamt of becoming a K-Pop idol but feared to take the first step and audition?
Jason Yu, a former trainee at BIGHIT MUSIC/HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment), was interviewed for YouTube channel Dave Disci Vlogs and revealed what the audition process is really like.
In 2018, BIGHIT held auditions in the United States. So, when the company had open auditions in Atlanta, Georgia, Jason’s friends encouraged him to go.
‘Hey, you should try auditioning because it’d be fun, and since you’re like a tall Asian boy…’
— Jason Yu
Jason agreed to go since it was on the weekend. When he arrived, there was a crowd there already.
There’s like a huge line of people like there’s like 200 people there. …They’ll send each of us in groups of five into the audition room where we auditioned in front of two judges.
— Jason Yu
Jason explained that there were four categories one could audition in. Having no prior experience in music, he auditioned as a visual.
There’s like four things to audition for… Rap, sing, dance, and visual, like model. And, since, I didn’t have experience with the other three, I auditioned as a visual.
— Jason Yu
Since people auditioned in groups, he got to witness firsthand others’ auditions. So, it was intimidating to see so many other talented and skilled individuals go before you.
The thing is like my group of five there’s like certain really like talented people in the group like auditioning, and I watch them all like they’re singing, dancing, and stuff. I’m like ‘Wow! They look idols..’
— Jason Yu
When it came to his turn to audition, he basically had to walk like a model. Again, it was hard not to compare to others, making him anxious.
I just walked down and up in a line, and … they kept having me do it over and over again. …Most people had like a confident walk when they walked down the line … I sort of like tiptoed down the line.
— Jason Yu
Another main difference between auditioning as a visual vs. the other categories is that you may be asked more questions.
They asked me a bunch of more detailed questions that they didn’t ask anyone else like what my name was, what my height, my weight, my ethnicity, and stuff like that.
— Jason Yu
Despite all the nerves Jason experienced in this first-time experience, he said that the main judges were actually nice. So, at least he didn’t have to worry so much about being judged so harshly.
They were really nice. The main judge only spoke Korean so the other judge had to translate for her.
— Jason Yu
After Jason finished his audition, he was told they would “keep in touch.” Yet, Jason “didn’t really expect much.” He believed that they wouldn’t want him after the judges reviewed his audition tape.
However, that was not the case at all. A whole day hadn’t even passed before Jason heard from BIGHIT again.
A couple hours later, they sent me a text saying, ‘Hey, we’re gonna ask you more questions’ like do another interview, a different location…
— Jason Yu
Jason then had a second interview. This time, it was at a dance studio.
They had me re-walk and they did a bunch of makeup on me and fix my hair … They asked if I could sing.
— Jason Yu
At the second audition, Jason had his hair and makeup done. He was also asked both to walk and sing despite not rehearsing ahead of time.
They’re like ‘Hey, can you sing for us?’ Ad I was really not mentally prepared for this, but I still sang, and they also didn’t let me have any like background music. So, I sing acapella… That was really awkward for me.
— Jason Yu
The final part of the interview included even more questions than before as BIGHIT tried to find out if Jason was serious about the possibility of moving to Korea to be a trainee. So, ultimately, he was offered the opportunity.
They asked me a bunch of questions, if I really wanted to go to Korea… At the end of the interview, they’re like ‘Okay, you look like someone that we want. Why don’t you come to Korea next summer (from when I interviewed) and train with us for two months? And we’ll see if we want to contract you.’
— Jason Yu
Still, Jason didn’t leave for Korea for another seven months. During that waiting period, he kept in contact with a BIGHIT staff member who helped set everything up for Jason.
I waited the whole seven months to actually like leave for Korea. They gave me a guy from their training management group, and I had contact with him. And he basically set everything up like the plane ticket and informing my parents of everything.
— Jason Yu
Jason has previously talked about the audition process on his TikTok channel. You can watch one of the videos below:
@jason.yu17 My friend told be dress in a t-shirt and jeans. I worked out in the end. #kpop#trainee#audition#bts#bighit#outfit
Jason also recounted his experience as a BIGHIT trainee. Read more below:
Watch Jason’s full interview with Dave Disci below:
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