Inside track on The Apprentice Australia

Looks like they’ve developed a stock standard set of character types based on the success of the cast from Masterchef – good looking bird, battler mum, hot asian-aussie, distinctive wardrobe character… Looking forward to seeing this. I think.

I took a look at the questionnaire they wanted would-be contestants to complete for the show – if you ever want to steal someone’s identity, setting up a bogus reality TV show casting call based on The Apprentice questionnaire would be the way to do it! As for the show, I think it’s going to tank – there are just some shows that don’t translate from country to country.

It’s an odd format.
Go on an entrepreneurial show and win a job.
The US version was entertaining the first couple of series but lost in with the contestants becoming too schooled in the formula.

Bad start to auditions if the potentials didn’t know of Bouris.

They need a marketing/advertising person, they always have a bit to say.

Hmmm $100k job for australia’s ‘best and brightest’ – not exactly saying much! That’s a lot of potential humiliation to go through for the opportunity to work for a prize. I think at least good ol’ trumpy offered $250k

I did the Melbourne auditions on Sunday and got through to the last phase.

The initial session was a group exercise, with everybody initially getting up and saying a few words about themselves – nothing too special I have to say – a couple of small time entreprenaurs, single mums, IT people with stars in their eyes – nobody really creative at all.

We were then placed into groups and asked to create a structure out of playing cards and to then sell the finished product to the casting people and executive producers. Most had no clue that they were obviously looking for people that could problem solve and be creative and then do teh sell – tie the house of cards metaphor back into the Yellow Brick Road business and brand – which obviously is about financial services and securing and growing your financial sitiuation.

They cut everybody but myself and three others, a charismatic real estate agent, an older single mum entreprenaur with bleached blonde hair and an over the top emotional manner, and another guy who was making money since he was knee high to a grass hopper out of re-selling phone numbers that match up dial a pizza or something.

I agree, $100K is lame.

Yeah I agree with Anonymous – pretty pedestrian auditions which were held in Melbourne. Not one person who really made a stand-out impact.

By the way I did the auditions too, but Anonymous forgot that one more in addition to that 4 made it to the shortlist: from Melbourne 🙂

Cheers

A friend of mine from Sydney tells me that his work colleague (a Stock Brker) was chosen as one of the final contestants to appear on the show but declined the offer!

The reason – the measly 100k on offer. He makes that kind of money in 3-4 months and said its simply not worth his time and effort.

I guess the show will lack quality contestants and the real oomph as the cream of the country will be opting out of having a go at the prize money – the 100k. Sorry I rephrase that- its not the prize money either, its a job offer for 100k.

This is hilarious!
Masterchef: $100K tax free prize and cookbook deal.
The Apprentice: $100K before tax JOB, paid monthly over 12 months.

The 100k job offer will be the reason why the 1st series of the Australian Apprentice will be weak and poor.

Hey Anonymous did you get through to the final 12?

I got through the first two auditions and it was easy to tell what they were ‘really’ looking for. I was the only person in my group to be asked about Mark Bouris and from talking to others at the audition, I was the only one who knew anything about him! Probably why I didn’t get picked. Plus I’m over 50. If I had been offered a spot on the show I would have turned it down just like the stock broker did. I don’t want to work that hard for a such a small return. But, it would certainly be a step up for a lot of the others who were auditioning with me who were mostly sales people and very young who would make sense of being an Apprentice.

I wanted to get on the show because I’m looking for an investor for my business idea and was hoping that one (or more) would google me and make me an offer that was too good to refuse! Oh well.

I attended the Sydney session, and was one of the fortunate (only 1 from my group) to be selected to attend the one on one stage. It was also interesting to meet the other successful contestants from the other groups to attend the one on one. We all introduced ourselves and realised that we were all from different industries and had a good story to tell.
You sensed that the casting agents and production people were trying to categorise you. We were also informed that the schedule would be intense and shot over 7 weeks rather than 3 as mentioned previously.
I didn’t make the final group but really enjoyed the experience to date and met some interesting people along the way. I must admit it wasn’t the job that interested me in applying but the relationships you make along the way. Even during the auditions I swapped business cards and phone numbers with the contestants that didn’t make it through to the next stage and are still communicating with them.
Even though I didn’t make the cut I will be waiting with bated breath for it to come on TV and maybe see some familiar faces.
I also can’t seem to get away from it as at one point the production company were considering renting out the penthouse and sub penthouse where I work. They finally decided for a home in Coogee. Also I was in the same cafe this morning with Mark B. in Double Bay and my closest friend that works for a International company will be judging one of the tasks to create a commercial for a particular product. Don’t want to give it away but a HINT: International Company – think of a GEEK
Lets’ just hope that the winner wants the job and the casting and production crew have selected well or it will fall in the face of the whole series.

I made it to the final 12, read the contract and the prize is a job worth $250k plus some other stuff, I think they initally said $100k to sort out who really wanted the chance or not – I was at the Sydney auditions and there was a very wide range of contestants. I decided to take the spot on the show, start shooting next week who knows what other doors it will open, its not just about the money!

Hey Apprentice, give us the heads up!!! I have to do something to beat the blonde, 6ft blue eyes beauty who I saw at the audition… Anythign at all you can pass on will come abck to you 10 fold..

Hey Very Anon, Congratulations. It seems you have a good attitude and should go well on the series. What’s your background?

Don’t worry about the blonde just get her number or do you already have it?
.

Given that i am female, not really into her number!! If shes any good I will pass it around though ( that sounds a bit cheeky) Have my own business in marketing etc, so the show should be interesting – I hope to get free PR for my business 🙂 Plus you never know what doors will be opened

Good luck. Aren’t you about to enter the house. Have they decided if it will be for 7 weeks? Hope you make it to the end. I’ll be watching.

In regards getting free PR for your business it really does depend on how you go on the series.- Remember it is a reality show and people may perceive you in a different light especially after the production editing – No pressure now

yep, we enter the house tommorrow so enjoying my last night of freedom, yes it is a reality show and I am sure everyone ahs been cast as a “type” that they will edit towards… that is as long as it rates ok…and does nto bomb, filming is seven weeks – I paln on hopefully being there for that long!!