Picken, who moonlights as a registered nurse, asserts Portman and Miramax Films may have “ripped off” her signature pre-audition ritual for a scene in Zach Braff’s film Garden State (Watch clip). “I do a little whole body, ‘crazy dance,’ shake thing, and usually make a really strange, random noise” to calm her nerves, she said. “I swear, they stole it from me. I’ve been doing it since I was in elementary school.”  Lessons are available, she added.

Often credited with packing the house at concerts, group historians will surely recognize traces of Hollywood and Broadway woven throughout Picken’s Two Weeks Notice career, from first introduction to polished performances.

While her audition number, If Prayin Were Horses, from the musical “Civil War,” wowed the group’s membership, Picken had little interest in staying afterward for celebratory drinks. “I was missing the Golden Globes red carpet event,” she confessed. “Which I later drove 95 miles per hour down [the highway] to get home for.”

Picken admits she didn’t select her audition song. Indeed, the casual Two Weeks Notice or diehard Picken fan may not recognize the subtle influence her mother, Reva, wields over the group; a well-guarded secret. “Let’s be honest here — I do everything she tells me to do, because she’s always right,” she said. “Obviously it worked.” Reva is rumored to have affected group repertoire, membership, marketing materials, concert attendance and pregnancies.

Setting aside her mother’s alleged involvement and song selection, Picken notes that personality comes into play when selecting new members. “Wear something that shows who you are, and don’t be afraid to be goofy or ask questions if you don’t understand,” she said.

Interested in auditioning? Check out our audition FAQs.

“I figured, I don’t know these folks,” she said. “Either I’m what they’re looking for, or I’m not.  No sense stressing out too much.”

Instead, Everett, one half of the inseparable musical arranging duo, “Jetsy,” admits she struggled with song selection, a common hangup for auditionees. And with good reason.

In Everett’s case, it can be difficult to showcase the oftentimes staggering heights of her soprano range. “I always have a hard time coming up with a good audition song,” she said.

Everett, who has since been sworn in as the group’s business director, believes selecting a song that showed off something special and unique about her voice ultimately did the trick.

Channeling her inner Donna Summer, she sang Hot Stuff, which was, in retrospect, a slight contrast to the standard musical faire she enjoys singing with her church choir.  The song, she said, let her personality shine, “was comfortably in my range, and had some higher notes and intensity.”

As a founding member of the group, Everett had the unique opportunity to sing and sight read alongside her husband, Jeff, and first-time members at Two Weeks Notice’s first-ever rehearsal. “I liked getting the chance to sing with the group, and see how my voice fit with the ensemble.”

Interested in auditioning? Check out our audition FAQs.

Don’t Forget – We Sing, You Listen (repeat as necessary) Saturday, May 15, 2010 7:30pm, 1515 Broadway, Detroit, MI. Tickets are on sale now! $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Call us @ (248) 291-3992 or email info@twoweeksnotice.net to reserve your tickets.

We Sing, You Listen (repeat as necessary) Saturday, May 15, 2010 7:30pm, 1515 Broadway, Detroit, MI. Tickets are on sale now! $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Call us @ (248) 291-3992 or email info@twoweeksnotice.net to reserve your tickets.

First, for those of you who have been following us since the beginning, I’m happy to report we are adding MANY new songs to our lineup!  Also, for the first time, we have kept all 16 members and are NOT holding auditions this semester.  If you are interested in auditioning, we invite you to continue supporting us through this season and attending our concert on May 15th.  We are so excited to be planning our first 2WN day retreat for the members, adding more microphones to the 2WN mix and are spending more time than ever with each other outside of rehearsal.  Things are lookin’ good!

Thanks for keeping up with us…we have so much in store for you.
Oh, did I fail to mention we’re recording tonight…uh, yup, we are!
-LQ

Ferndale is practically sold out…but we can take walk-ins! Mt Clemens, we still have tickets available! Please contact us to reserve your seat now! info@twoweeksnotice.net.

Also, don’t forget to become a fan on Facebook, or follow up on Twitter! Links to the right!

-LQ

Both venues are likely to sell out, so be sure to email us info@twoweeksnotice.net  if you would like to reserve your tickets in advance!

We’re going back to the Ringwald Theater, home of our debut concert it will be good to be back to one of our favorite cozy venues.  And you know what cozy means…it means you should reserve your tickets now!  We typically sell out the Ringwald so be sure to email us (info@twoweeksnotice.net) if you would like to reserve your tickets in advance.  As usual, this will be a family friendly show! Oh and we are delighted to have an opening group performing with us this year!  You’ll have to wait and see for yourself who our special guests are…you will not be disappointed!  -LQ