[Applause] yes once we have you trapped in your
yes once we have you trapped in your
yes once we have you trapped in your seats they forced me to sing at you
seats they forced me to sing at you
seats they forced me to sing at you so yes I’m Amy Adams I’m most commonly
so yes I’m Amy Adams I’m most commonly
so yes I’m Amy Adams I’m most commonly known around Bakersfield as a girl from
known around Bakersfield as a girl from
known around Bakersfield as a girl from American Idol and it’s very interesting
American Idol and it’s very interesting
American Idol and it’s very interesting I was on American Idol when I was 24
I was on American Idol when I was 24
I was on American Idol when I was 24 years old if you can tell by my grown-up
years old if you can tell by my grown-up
years old if you can tell by my grown-up lady outfit I am no longer 24 years old
lady outfit I am no longer 24 years old
lady outfit I am no longer 24 years old so it’s still very wonderful I have to
so it’s still very wonderful I have to
so it’s still very wonderful I have to be honest American Idol changed my life
be honest American Idol changed my life
be honest American Idol changed my life every single day and what American Idol
every single day and what American Idol
every single day and what American Idol did and really what I wanted to talk
did and really what I wanted to talk
did and really what I wanted to talk about today was the reality of reality
about today was the reality of reality
about today was the reality of reality TV and the non reality of reality TV so
TV and the non reality of reality TV so
TV and the non reality of reality TV so we have the platform and actually what
we have the platform and actually what
we have the platform and actually what it sets up for you and what you’re able
it sets up for you and what you’re able
it sets up for you and what you’re able to accomplish and what you’re able to do
to accomplish and what you’re able to do
to accomplish and what you’re able to do I can give some examples when we were on
I can give some examples when we were on
I can give some examples when we were on tour I made it to the top 10 of the
tour I made it to the top 10 of the
tour I made it to the top 10 of the American Idol and when we were on tour
American Idol and when we were on tour
American Idol and when we were on tour there was 10 of us and we had to go
there was 10 of us and we had to go
there was 10 of us and we had to go across the border to Canada and the girl
across the border to Canada and the girl
across the border to Canada and the girl that got 9th place and I’m not gonna say
that got 9th place and I’m not gonna say
that got 9th place and I’m not gonna say any names but a girl that got 9th place
any names but a girl that got 9th place
any names but a girl that got 9th place chose to stay in the United States
chose to stay in the United States
chose to stay in the United States because she couldn’t bring her drugs
because she couldn’t bring her drugs
because she couldn’t bring her drugs with her to Canada and all of the rest
with her to Canada and all of the rest
with her to Canada and all of the rest of us said ok well we’re going so it was
of us said ok well we’re going so it was
of us said ok well we’re going so it was one of those things that you can have
one of those things that you can have
one of those things that you can have this melting pot of people who are on
this melting pot of people who are on
this melting pot of people who are on that same journey as you are they are
that same journey as you are they are
that same journey as you are they are aspiring to achieve greatness and it’s
aspiring to achieve greatness and it’s
aspiring to achieve greatness and it’s one of those things where then you can
one of those things where then you can
one of those things where then you can have those focused focused individuals I
have those focused focused individuals I
have those focused focused individuals I was more methodical I had auditioned for
was more methodical I had auditioned for
was more methodical I had auditioned for American Idol the previous year season 2
American Idol the previous year season 2
American Idol the previous year season 2 and the executive producers told me some
and the executive producers told me some
and the executive producers told me some of the sweetest things that they could
of the sweetest things that they could
of the sweetest things that they could have ever told me they told me that I
have ever told me they told me that I
have ever told me they told me that I was a pretty girl with a pretty voice
was a pretty girl with a pretty voice
was a pretty girl with a pretty voice but there was nothing special about me
but there was nothing special about me
but there was nothing special about me and I remember standing there and
and I remember standing there and
and I remember standing there and thinking there is nothing special about
thinking there is nothing special about
thinking there is nothing special about me and if there is something special
me and if there is something special
me and if there is something special about you we can’t see it and I thought
about you we can’t see it and I thought
about you we can’t see it and I thought oh ok great thank you very much and I
oh ok great thank you very much and I
oh ok great thank you very much and I took my sweet little self and I drove
took my sweet little self and I drove
took my sweet little self and I drove back to Bakersfield and it was wonderful
back to Bakersfield and it was wonderful
back to Bakersfield and it was wonderful because as those words began to fuel my
because as those words began to fuel my
because as those words began to fuel my next mission my neck
next mission my neck
next mission my neck stage they were truly words that would
stage they were truly words that would
stage they were truly words that would change my life and so I did go out
change my life and so I did go out
change my life and so I did go out season two like it was a very fancy job
season two like it was a very fancy job
season two like it was a very fancy job interview and like I said I’m very much
interview and like I said I’m very much
interview and like I said I’m very much you know a grown-up lady today these
you know a grown-up lady today these
you know a grown-up lady today these days walking around and it’s it’s so
days walking around and it’s it’s so
days walking around and it’s it’s so interesting what life can do to you and
interesting what life can do to you and
interesting what life can do to you and what life can do for you when someone
what life can do for you when someone
what life can do for you when someone tells you the reality that they see and
tells you the reality that they see and
tells you the reality that they see and they’re the ones who make the decisions
they’re the ones who make the decisions
they’re the ones who make the decisions so I was fine listening to them what I
so I was fine listening to them what I
so I was fine listening to them what I did was I became so focused on what my
did was I became so focused on what my
did was I became so focused on what my next move was I became so methodical on
next move was I became so methodical on
next move was I became so methodical on what I would do next to to become this
what I would do next to to become this
what I would do next to to become this special version to somebody else but
special version to somebody else but
special version to somebody else but what I did was I turned in and I thought
what I did was I turned in and I thought
what I did was I turned in and I thought what makes me exceptional extraordinary
what makes me exceptional extraordinary
what makes me exceptional extraordinary different and most of the time it was my
different and most of the time it was my
different and most of the time it was my fun personality and I thought you know
fun personality and I thought you know
fun personality and I thought you know what I’m gonna be on full-blast when I
what I’m gonna be on full-blast when I
what I’m gonna be on full-blast when I go so I dyed my hair pink and I read
go so I dyed my hair pink and I read
go so I dyed my hair pink and I read every single book that was ever written
every single book that was ever written
every single book that was ever written by these celebrity judges
by these celebrity judges
by these celebrity judges so I read Simon Cowell’s book I read
so I read Simon Cowell’s book I read
so I read Simon Cowell’s book I read Randy Jackson’s book it was not as
Randy Jackson’s book it was not as
Randy Jackson’s book it was not as exciting assignments
exciting assignments
exciting assignments I read Paula Abdul’s book so it’s so
I read Paula Abdul’s book so it’s so
I read Paula Abdul’s book so it’s so interesting reading all of these things
interesting reading all of these things
interesting reading all of these things but they actually kind of gave you so
but they actually kind of gave you so
but they actually kind of gave you so much insight and undercurrent into
much insight and undercurrent into
much insight and undercurrent into what’s real what’s relevant and what’s
what’s real what’s relevant and what’s
what’s real what’s relevant and what’s necessary to success what I’ve done over
necessary to success what I’ve done over
necessary to success what I’ve done over time was create an understanding of
time was create an understanding of
time was create an understanding of these four pillars of success one of
these four pillars of success one of
these four pillars of success one of those things that I did that number one
those things that I did that number one
those things that I did that number one thing was really finding what my guests
thing was really finding what my guests
thing was really finding what my guests were how was I going to excel then I was
were how was I going to excel then I was
were how was I going to excel then I was going to find what my challenges were
going to find what my challenges were
going to find what my challenges were what are my challenges and really face
what are my challenges and really face
what are my challenges and really face those and really put them right in front
those and really put them right in front
those and really put them right in front of me put that mirror in front of me
of me put that mirror in front of me
of me put that mirror in front of me that says okay you’re great at this but
that says okay you’re great at this but
that says okay you’re great at this but you’re absolutely terrible at this and I
you’re absolutely terrible at this and I
you’re absolutely terrible at this and I loved to take on what I was absolutely
loved to take on what I was absolutely
loved to take on what I was absolutely terrible at I was so uncomfortable being
terrible at I was so uncomfortable being
terrible at I was so uncomfortable being uncomfortable and so I began to be more
uncomfortable and so I began to be more
uncomfortable and so I began to be more uncomfortable as much as I could as
uncomfortable as much as I could as
uncomfortable as much as I could as often as I could even now as a coach as
often as I could even now as a coach as
often as I could even now as a coach as a mentor as people working with kids I
a mentor as people working with kids I
a mentor as people working with kids I insist that my children are
insist that my children are
insist that my children are constantly uncomfortable our entire life
constantly uncomfortable our entire life
constantly uncomfortable our entire life we will say oh well I’m not gonna do
we will say oh well I’m not gonna do
we will say oh well I’m not gonna do that that’s Lou isn’t that hard 98% of
that that’s Lou isn’t that hard 98% of
that that’s Lou isn’t that hard 98% of people will stay in their current
people will stay in their current
people will stay in their current circumstance for fear of lack of options
circumstance for fear of lack of options
circumstance for fear of lack of options not me so I’m gonna be a 1% or 2% or
not me so I’m gonna be a 1% or 2% or
not me so I’m gonna be a 1% or 2% or somehow it’s gonna be by risk-taking and
somehow it’s gonna be by risk-taking and
somehow it’s gonna be by risk-taking and I like that so it was one of those
I like that so it was one of those
I like that so it was one of those things that was imperative for me
things that was imperative for me
things that was imperative for me another thing that was imperative for me
another thing that was imperative for me
another thing that was imperative for me after American Idol there’s this kind of
after American Idol there’s this kind of
after American Idol there’s this kind of fast Fame that you get this
fast Fame that you get this
fast Fame that you get this understanding that you have this
understanding that you have this
understanding that you have this platform if you utilize this platform
platform if you utilize this platform
platform if you utilize this platform and you use the power for good
and you use the power for good
and you use the power for good it will propel you in the right
it will propel you in the right
it will propel you in the right direction I used it for good
direction I used it for good
direction I used it for good I booked a TV show I had signed a record
I booked a TV show I had signed a record
I booked a TV show I had signed a record deal and then I got pregnant and I opted
deal and then I got pregnant and I opted
deal and then I got pregnant and I opted to have my baby instead of my career
to have my baby instead of my career
to have my baby instead of my career Aliyah will drop to me the show dropped
Aliyah will drop to me the show dropped
Aliyah will drop to me the show dropped me and I knew they would my manager told
me and I knew they would my manager told
me and I knew they would my manager told me before I had my baby before I made
me before I had my baby before I made
me before I had my baby before I made the choice to have my baby they let me
the choice to have my baby they let me
the choice to have my baby they let me know just so you know keep this in mind
know just so you know keep this in mind
know just so you know keep this in mind thank you so my son now 12 years old
thank you so my son now 12 years old
thank you so my son now 12 years old never a regret never one day ever regret
never a regret never one day ever regret
never a regret never one day ever regret it is one of those things those journeys
it is one of those things those journeys
it is one of those things those journeys those adventures that you go on that
those adventures that you go on that
those adventures that you go on that you’re forced to learn something from
you’re forced to learn something from
you’re forced to learn something from and do something fantastic with I got a
and do something fantastic with I got a
and do something fantastic with I got a call I didn’t know what my next job was
call I didn’t know what my next job was
call I didn’t know what my next job was I got a call when I was sitting on my
I got a call when I was sitting on my
I got a call when I was sitting on my couch at home and it was from Andrew
couch at home and it was from Andrew
couch at home and it was from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s company rug productions
Lloyd Webber’s company rug productions
Lloyd Webber’s company rug productions and they asked if I’d be willing to star
and they asked if I’d be willing to star
and they asked if I’d be willing to star in the national tour of Joseph and the
in the national tour of Joseph and the
in the national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat I thought
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat I thought
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat I thought it was a joke they told me no it’s not a
it was a joke they told me no it’s not a
it was a joke they told me no it’s not a joke we worked with a producer that
joke we worked with a producer that
joke we worked with a producer that worked on American Idol and who was
worked on American Idol and who was
worked on American Idol and who was Andrew Lloyd Webber’s right-hand man and
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s right-hand man and
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s right-hand man and he recommended you
he recommended you
he recommended you he actually recommended Jodi Benson but
he actually recommended Jodi Benson but
he actually recommended Jodi Benson but she passed so Jodi Benson is the voice
she passed so Jodi Benson is the voice
she passed so Jodi Benson is the voice of the Little Mermaid whoever that is
of the Little Mermaid whoever that is
of the Little Mermaid whoever that is Jeske I love her she’s wonderful
Jeske I love her she’s wonderful
Jeske I love her she’s wonderful but I learned a lot then I signed a
but I learned a lot then I signed a
but I learned a lot then I signed a two-year contract to do the 2005-2006
two-year contract to do the 2005-2006
two-year contract to do the 2005-2006 tour and then about nine months into the
tour and then about nine months into the
tour and then about nine months into the tour high vocal hemorrhaged so I was
tour high vocal hemorrhaged so I was
tour high vocal hemorrhaged so I was singing and in San Antonio Texas blood
singing and in San Antonio Texas blood
singing and in San Antonio Texas blood popped through my vocal cords and I was
popped through my vocal cords and I was
popped through my vocal cords and I was unable to hit the notes that my brain
unable to hit the notes that my brain
unable to hit the notes that my brain said I should be hitting so in the
said I should be hitting so in the
said I should be hitting so in the middle of the show my understudy took
middle of the show my understudy took
middle of the show my understudy took over and I was forced to be on vocal
over and I was forced to be on vocal
over and I was forced to be on vocal rest for two years so in that process
rest for two years so in that process
rest for two years so in that process was the time when I was unable to work
was the time when I was unable to work
was the time when I was unable to work and it was imperative that I learned my
and it was imperative that I learned my
and it was imperative that I learned my lesson the slow and hard way that was
lesson the slow and hard way that was
lesson the slow and hard way that was the hardest because I had only counted
the hardest because I had only counted
the hardest because I had only counted on being a professional performer
on being a professional performer
on being a professional performer especially was all the things that you
especially was all the things that you
especially was all the things that you had been through with American Idol I
had been through with American Idol I
had been through with American Idol I had tabloids saying you know she’s a man
had tabloids saying you know she’s a man
had tabloids saying you know she’s a man baby but it’s just to get headlines oh
baby but it’s just to get headlines oh
baby but it’s just to get headlines oh one time amy adams played a man in a
one time amy adams played a man in a
one time amy adams played a man in a show and it’s like if no one reads the
show and it’s like if no one reads the
show and it’s like if no one reads the rest of that it’s so much more that you
rest of that it’s so much more that you
rest of that it’s so much more that you can think about you know not that being
can think about you know not that being
can think about you know not that being a man and a woman at the same time is
a man and a woman at the same time is
a man and a woman at the same time is bad hashbrown no judgment okay so it’s
bad hashbrown no judgment okay so it’s
bad hashbrown no judgment okay so it’s one of those things at that time I was
one of those things at that time I was
one of those things at that time I was forced to learn my lesson and that
forced to learn my lesson and that
forced to learn my lesson and that lesson slowed me down and I thought to
lesson slowed me down and I thought to
lesson slowed me down and I thought to myself what can I do how can I give back
myself what can I do how can I give back
myself what can I do how can I give back and so I stopped and I said okay I’m
and so I stopped and I said okay I’m
and so I stopped and I said okay I’m going to take my dreams and live
going to take my dreams and live
going to take my dreams and live vicariously through small children with
vicariously through small children with
vicariously through small children with the same dreams that I had and that’s
the same dreams that I had and that’s
the same dreams that I had and that’s exactly what I did
exactly what I did
exactly what I did so I partnered with Karen NGO who is
so I partnered with Karen NGO who is
so I partnered with Karen NGO who is currently our mayor and also the
currently our mayor and also the
currently our mayor and also the president and CEO of garden pathways and
president and CEO of garden pathways and
president and CEO of garden pathways and we wanted to reach a demographic that
we wanted to reach a demographic that
we wanted to reach a demographic that was an underprivileged demographic and
was an underprivileged demographic and
was an underprivileged demographic and that was nine years ago and that was
that was nine years ago and that was
that was nine years ago and that was something that was near and dear to my
something that was near and dear to my
something that was near and dear to my heart
heart
heart something that we have continued for the
something that we have continued for the
something that we have continued for the past nine years so we will be going into
past nine years so we will be going into
past nine years so we will be going into a decade of success and what we do is we
a decade of success and what we do is we
a decade of success and what we do is we hold summer camps for kids and we change
hold summer camps for kids and we change
hold summer camps for kids and we change their lives but we mentor so it’s
their lives but we mentor so it’s
their lives but we mentor so it’s changing and growing from the
changing and growing from the
changing and growing from the sideout it was imperative and that’s
sideout it was imperative and that’s
sideout it was imperative and that’s when I knew that that was my message
when I knew that that was my message
when I knew that that was my message that was my journey I was stopped
that was my journey I was stopped
that was my journey I was stopped I was sidelined for a reason that my
I was sidelined for a reason that my
I was sidelined for a reason that my talent and how I utilized it was only a
talent and how I utilized it was only a
talent and how I utilized it was only a medium and that was it and so I’m using
medium and that was it and so I’m using
medium and that was it and so I’m using it as such I’ve been very fortunate to
it as such I’ve been very fortunate to
it as such I’ve been very fortunate to have the opportunity to have still go
have the opportunity to have still go
have the opportunity to have still go back and still do wonderful things when
back and still do wonderful things when
back and still do wonderful things when I got vocal clearance in 2011 actually
I got vocal clearance in 2011 actually
I got vocal clearance in 2011 actually after my official surgery when I got
after my official surgery when I got
after my official surgery when I got vocal clearance May 2011 June 2011 I had
vocal clearance May 2011 June 2011 I had
vocal clearance May 2011 June 2011 I had my first audition for La Reve the dream
my first audition for La Reve the dream
my first audition for La Reve the dream the show at Wynn Las Vegas and I just
the show at Wynn Las Vegas and I just
the show at Wynn Las Vegas and I just stopped my last year at lura this past
stopped my last year at lura this past
stopped my last year at lura this past year and I served almost six years there
year and I served almost six years there
year and I served almost six years there and I not not like it was the young
and I not not like it was the young
and I not not like it was the young horses by any means but it was a Cirque
horses by any means but it was a Cirque
horses by any means but it was a Cirque de Soleil show and it was a beautiful
de Soleil show and it was a beautiful
de Soleil show and it was a beautiful show the evolution of the show was
show the evolution of the show was
show the evolution of the show was changed by Steve when he he then he owns
changed by Steve when he he then he owns
changed by Steve when he he then he owns it obviously but it is one of those
it obviously but it is one of those
it obviously but it is one of those things that allowed me to still become
things that allowed me to still become
things that allowed me to still become relevant stay relevant and still be in
relevant stay relevant and still be in
relevant stay relevant and still be in my kids life and make a difference what
my kids life and make a difference what
my kids life and make a difference what I’m doing now is really taking every
I’m doing now is really taking every
I’m doing now is really taking every single person that I work with to that
single person that I work with to that
single person that I work with to that next level that next level of
next level that next level of
next level that next level of understanding I’m going to read some of
understanding I’m going to read some of
understanding I’m going to read some of the words if you continuously compete
the words if you continuously compete
the words if you continuously compete with others you become bitter but if you
with others you become bitter but if you
with others you become bitter but if you continuously compete with yourself you
continuously compete with yourself you
continuously compete with yourself you become better that for me was something
become better that for me was something
become better that for me was something so imperative to my growth and my
so imperative to my growth and my
so imperative to my growth and my success there’s no need to be perfect to
success there’s no need to be perfect to
success there’s no need to be perfect to inspire others let people get inspired
inspire others let people get inspired
inspire others let people get inspired by how you deal with your imperfections
by how you deal with your imperfections
by how you deal with your imperfections and that I think is the truth of what
and that I think is the truth of what
and that I think is the truth of what we’re able to do that’s that that third
we’re able to do that’s that that third
we’re able to do that’s that that third pillar of becoming that that inspiration
pillar of becoming that that inspiration
pillar of becoming that that inspiration the understanding of what your true gift
the understanding of what your true gift
the understanding of what your true gift is what your medium is and using it to
is what your medium is and using it to
is what your medium is and using it to your advantage before I go into my song
your advantage before I go into my song
your advantage before I go into my song I want to use one of the quotes this
I want to use one of the quotes this
I want to use one of the quotes this quote is by be divine to all the girls
quote is by be divine to all the girls
quote is by be divine to all the girls who no longer believe in fairy tales or
who no longer believe in fairy tales or
who no longer believe in fairy tales or happy endings you are the writer of this
happy endings you are the writer of this
happy endings you are the writer of this story
story
story chin up and straighten your crown you
chin up and straighten your crown you
chin up and straighten your crown you are the queen of this kingdom and only
are the queen of this kingdom and only
are the queen of this kingdom and only you know how to rule it for me
you know how to rule it for me
you know how to rule it for me this was telling and still I am asked
this was telling and still I am asked
this was telling and still I am asked often why aren’t you doing something
often why aren’t you doing something
often why aren’t you doing something more with your life how come you’re not
more with your life how come you’re not
more with your life how come you’re not on Broadway how come you’re not going
on Broadway how come you’re not going
on Broadway how come you’re not going back and just going on the road again
back and just going on the road again
back and just going on the road again and for me something more with my life
and for me something more with my life
and for me something more with my life is here in this community
is here in this community
is here in this community it’s what constantly feeds me it’s what
it’s what constantly feeds me it’s what
it’s what constantly feeds me it’s what constantly keeps me CC ated so someone
constantly keeps me CC ated so someone
constantly keeps me CC ated so someone else’s version of my success and my
else’s version of my success and my
else’s version of my success and my happiness is their truth
happiness is their truth
happiness is their truth and I live my truth every single day
I’m going to sing to you one of my
I’m going to sing to you one of my all-time favorite songs life is just a
all-time favorite songs life is just a
all-time favorite songs life is just a bowl of cherries
[Music]
[Music] life
life
life is just a bowl
don’t take it serious
don’t take it serious life’s too
life’s too
life’s too hysteria
hysteria
hysteria you work you say you were
[Applause]
[Applause] when you
when you
when you [Music]
strong yes
strong yes [Music]
[Music]
[Music] how can you lose why are you
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] thank you
”
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