If you believe you've come up with the hottest new product, then "The Next American Inventor" may be your ticket to fame and fortune. The show is similar to "American Idol," and is actually produced by Simon Cowell, the controversial and often downright mean judge from "Idol." The inventors who make the final cut each receive $50,000 to refine their product. TV viewers vote for the winner.
Instructions
1. Develop a new product that you believe will appeal to millions. To get on the show, your invention will definitely need a wow factor. But don't get too wacky. "The Next American Inventor" is looking for a product that will actually sell.
2. Keep detailed notes as you work on your product. Even if you aren't chosen as a finalist for the show, your product could be the beginning of a new career for you.
3. Answer a casting call for "The Next American Inventor." The show holds tryouts in several large cities across the United States. Check ABC's website for dates and places.
4. Stage a two-minute presentation that will impress the judges at the casting call. Practice your audition several times before family and friends who will give your honest feedback on your performance.
5. Have a sense of humor. Unless you really have come up with an outstanding and incredibly innovative product, there's a good chance the judges at the audition will humiliate you. This is television, after all.
6. Expect to spend a lot of time on your prototype if you are lucky enough to be selected as a finalist. You will need to get your version of the next American invention ready to market and ready to impress millions of TV viewers nationwide.
