Getting a chair to turn on The Voice may look like the hardest part of the competition, but contestants who make it beyond their first audition quickly discover that life on the show comes with far more rules than viewers may realize.
From song choices and wardrobe decisions to eligibility restrictions and behind-the-scenes commitments, artists can gradually give up some of the freedom they had before stepping onto the famous stage.
And according to former finalist Karen Waldrup, there are also several “unwritten rules” that could matter just as much as the official ones.
Waldrup reached the Season 25 finale as a member of Team Dan + Shay, giving her firsthand experience of what it takes to survive multiple rounds of the NBC competition.
One of the most basic official requirements starts before contestants ever appear on television. Artists must meet the show’s age requirements, with hopefuls required to be at least 13 years old by the applicable eligibility date. Minors also need parental or guardian involvement in the audition process.
The show’s casting process also comes with detailed rules for auditions. Current virtual open-call guidelines give hopefuls 90 seconds to introduce themselves, identify their song and perform a verse and chorus. Contestants can sing a cappella, accompany themselves or use a backing track.
Song choice becomes more complicated once an artist gets deeper into the competition.
Contestants generally have more freedom during the early audition process, but coaches and producers can become increasingly involved in choosing what they perform during later rounds.
That can create a difficult challenge. A singer may be asked to perform something outside the style viewers first heard during the Blind Auditions, meaning contestants must prove they can adapt rather than simply repeat what initially earned them a chair turn.
Wardrobe is another area where artists may have less control than fans expect.
Contestants arrive with their own identities and fashion preferences, but the show’s wardrobe department becomes involved as the competition progresses, helping create looks designed for television and individual performances.
There are also eligibility restrictions unrelated to singing.
Reported rules include background and medical requirements, restrictions involving close relationships with people connected to the production, and even rules surrounding political office. Contestants cannot hold or run for public office while participating and agree to restrictions extending beyond their appearance on the show.
But Waldrup says some of the most important lessons from her own run were never written in an official rulebook.
Speaking on the Back Stage Pass with Steve Ryan podcast, she emphasized the importance of being completely committed to the experience.
Waldrup suggested contestants need to approach the opportunity seriously, remain prepared and take advantage of everything offered to them rather than treating the competition as simply a television appearance.
Her comments also point toward another important lesson: adaptability.
Contestants may have to work with different songs, arrangements, production schedules, coaches, stylists and television demands while still finding a way to maintain the identity that made them stand out in the first place.
That could become particularly important during Season 30, where artists are already fighting through a competition featuring Kelly Clarkson, Adam Levine, Riley Green and Queen Latifah.
For viewers, a contestant’s journey can sometimes appear simple — audition, choose a coach, rehearse and perform.
Behind the scenes, however, making a deep run on The Voice requires much more than delivering a great vocal.
Contestants have to follow the production’s official requirements while also learning the less obvious lessons of preparation, flexibility and commitment that former finalists like Waldrup believe can make the difference between simply appearing on the show and surviving long enough to reach the finale.
