Editing American Idol (section)

===Initial auditions===
For the first eighteen seasons, contestants went through at least three sets of cuts. The first was a brief audition with a few other contestants in front of selectors which may include one of the show's producers. Although auditions can exceed 10,000 in each city, only a few hundred of these made it past the preliminary round of auditions. Successful contestants then sing in front of producers, where more may be cut. Only then can they proceed to audition in front of the judges, which is the only audition stage shown on television.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 19, 2010 |title=Secret Rituals of ''American Idol'' Auditions Exposed |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-01-19/secret-rituals-of-american-idol-auditions-exposed/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213064512/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2010/01/19/secret-rituals-of-american-idol-auditions-exposed.html |archive-date=December 13, 2014 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Thedailybeast.com}}</ref> Those selected by the judges are sent to [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]]. Between 10 and 60 people in each city may make it to Hollywood (the average total is between 150 and 200){{citation needed|date=March 2015}}.

From the nineteenth season onwards, contestants request a [[Zoom (software)|Zoom]] interview and audition remotely for the show's producers. If the audition goes well, they will then invite the contestants to audition in front of the judges, in one of the audition cities.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=February 12, 2021 |title='American Idol' Was the First Show to React to COVID. Can They Be the First to 'Pivot Back' to Normal? |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/american-idol-covid-new-season-interview-9524390/ |access-date=November 14, 2022 |publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref>