Letterman Auditions Saturday

If you're going to audition for David Letterman's "Stupid Pet Tricks" segment at the Everything Pets expo Saturday at the Duke Energy Center downtown, here's what you need to know:

--Arrive early. Registration starts at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Duke Energy Center loading dock on Sixth Street, and ends at 3:30 p.m. (The expo opens at 10 a.m.). Each eligible participant will receive four free tickets to the expo after an audition number is assigned at the loading dock. Auditions are scheduled noon-4 p.m.
Ryan Williams, “Late Show” talent assistant, expects 30 to 50 auditions. But 200 came to audition once at a similar pet expo in Salt Lake City, he says.
Pet owners must be 18 or older to audition.

--Your chances at fame: Williams won't say how many people could win a free trip to New York to perform on Dave's show. "That depends on the quantity and quality of the people who show up," he says.

--Be smart. Remember that Letterman has been airing "Stupid Pet Tricks" for 25 years. Williams says: “We want to see what we haven’t seen before. If your pet does a trick, then do it in an interesting way." And don't try anything too risky. "The trick has to be safe for the pet involved, and the person involved," he says.

--Be prepared. Read the rules, registration information and release form in advance at
http://everythingpets.org/letterman.htm Also be advised that you'll only have three minutes or less to showcase your "Stupid Pet Trick.”

It will be interesting to see how many people audition -- and what kind of TV coverage it gets. The official TV sponsor is Channel 5 -- not Channel 12 which broadcasts CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman." Whoops. You might have to watch Channel 12 Saturday night to see some of the auditions.