When Teigh Bowen auditioned for On the Rocks right out of high school in 2006, he was just looking for an outlet to do what he loves: sing. He didn’t know that more than four years later, millions of people would be watching him perform on national television.
On the Rocks announced Oct. 22 that they would be participating in NBC’s “The Sing-Off,” a five-night a cappella competition that premieres tonight, Dec. 6 at 8 p.m.
The group originally decided not to audition for the show because it was expensive to fly to California. But after fans sent in the famous “Bad Romance” video multiple times, On the Rocks received a call from NBC requesting they audition.
“If NBC specifically wanted to see us and it wasn’t just a casting call, we would invest the time and money,” Bowen said.
After setting up a PayPal account, donations came pouring in from all around the country. People from Arkansas and Texas even gave $100 and $200 for the group to attend the auditions.
Bowen, who estimates that 10 million people have seen their “Bad Romance” video alone, calls the experience “humbling.”
“I just feel like I’m part of something that’s a lot bigger than I expected it to be,” freshman tenor Will Cuddy said to the Emerald in an Oct. 26 article. “Something on a global scale. That’s exciting.”
The first four episodes were filmed in Hollywood in August, but the group’s time spent in Tinseltown was not as breathtaking as one might imagine.
Wranglers, or as Bowen referred to them, “glorified baby sitters,” were on hand to keep track of the guys. Members of On the Rocks couldn’t leave the hotel without a wrangler and even had to ask to use the restroom while on set since NBC has liability for the group.
“From the hotel to subway to studio and back to the hotel. We never saw the light of day,” Bowen said.
Bowen said the group talked to judges mostly in critiques, but sometimes in passing they would wish them good luck. He was specifically excited to shake hands with Ben Folds, who Bowen calls his “musical idol,” and drool over the Pussycat Dolls’ Nicole Scherzinger.
Their days consisted of practicing songs, choreographed dances and costume calls. Even during free time, the group rehearsed, Bowen said.
Despite the long days of rehearsing, On the Rocks found time to make friends with some of the other groups.
With 81 total people performing on the show, Bowen’s first thought was that there was no way he was going to meet any of them. But he was proved wrong.
“Now I’m sure were all really close Facebook friends. I’m going to Boston to visit the Berklee College of Music group later in the year. We are lifelong friends from now on,” he said.
But when it comes down to it, Bowen is unable to pick a group he would like to win other than On the Rocks.
Each group has a specific style and ranges from collegiate groups to professionals. Bowen’s favorite depends on what mood he is in.
The talent is absolutely phenomenal, he said.
“It was jaw-dropping, every performance, from the first episode all the way through,” Bowen said.
Although the first four shows were pre-taped, students on campus are hopeful that On the Rocks will win it all.
“I think a cappella is an impressive trait,” University junior Jessie Clemens said. “It’s cool for Oregon to be recognized for something other than football.”
Clemens, a member of Delta Delta Delta, said her sorority has already planned to watch all five shows together as a group.
“I’m so excited. I saw the commercial over Thanksgiving, and I was like, ‘I know them!’ and my parents got excited too,” she said.
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