Yellowknife (Feb 22/06) - Tomorrow is the day everyone in the Territories wanting to be a music star has been waiting for: the Canadian Idol auditions.

Ben Mulroney, Canadian Idol host, arrives in Yellowknife this afternoon. What you should know All singers aged 16-28 - as of Feb. 1, 2006 - who show up at the Explorer Hotel anytime between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. are guaranteed a chance to audition. Lining up at 8 a.m. is not necessary. Singers can bring families and friends for support, but the event is not open to the general public. People who are not auditioning or affiliated with an auditioner will be asked to leave by security. All auditioners must carry two pieces of identification, including one piece of photo identification.

Host Ben Mulroney arrives in the capital this afternoon to prepare for tomorrow's auditions at the Explorer Hotel.

"It's hard for people to get out of Yellowknife to get to the big cities that we hit, so we figured - let's go to them," he said.

The CTV personality encourages all Northern singers aged 16-28 to audition between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. tomorrow.

"Those who make it past the producers will be flown to our celebrity judging round in Vancouver on Monday and Tuesday next week," he said. "Our show is seen by millions of people every week, so right off the bat it will be a very good promotion for the city and the music scene."

Mulroney's role at the auditions is to pose questions for the viewers. All the auditions will be filmed and some clips will be broadcast on the show next season.

"(My role) is also to meet and greet between Yellowknife and the rest of the country," he said.

Mulroney is also present to give auditioners a reality check.

"This is not the only chance that (auditioners) have to make it in the music industry," he said.

"They've got to remember that while it's not their only shot at the music industry, for a lot of them it will be their only shot at Canadian Idol."

To make the most of the opportunity, Mulroney suggests singers be creative in their song selections. All singers should prepare two or three songs to sing.

"(Auditioners) should make sure that they stand out," he advises.

"Now, that doesn't mean wear a ridiculous costume or come in singing a ridiculous song, but there are hundreds of thousands of songs to pick and, sadly, far too many people pick the same 10 songs to sing. So, go outside of that box."

While the Canadian Idol finals in the south are in English only, contestants in tomorrow's auditions are welcome to sing in French, Dogrib, Inuktitut or any language of their choice.

"There are no preconceived notions of what a Canadian Idol is," Mulroney said.

"It's whoever resonates and whoever stands out and has star potential. It doesn't matter what you look like, what type of music you sing, where you come from or what your background is."