Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is not only a question with a seemingly obvious answer, but also a popular game show in its ten year anniversary. It has become a pop culture phenomenon that has been spoofed and duplicated many times over. Millionaire is even the centerpiece of the Academy Award-winning film Slumdog Millionaire. If you would like to get in on the action, and possibly become a millionaire yourself (before taxes of course), then follow these tips for how to audition.

Know the rules:

As with anything, you must read the fine print before you become involved. Know the following rules before you audition:

• You must be 18 years of age.
• You must be a current legal resident of one of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia.
• Employees, family members, and household members of employees of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’s parent company, production companies, subsidiaries, etc. are ineligible.
• You must not have played in the “hot seat” before; however, if you made it on stage and played “Fastest Finger,” but did not advance to the hot seat, then you are still eligible.
• You cannot be a political candidate for office at the time that your taped episode is broadcast.
• If you have appeared on a game show, other than a cable game show, within one year of Millionaire’s qualifying phone call, or if your other game show appearance is scheduled to be aired within one year of your qualifying phone call, then you are ineligible.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’s complete list of official rules can be found at the following link: Official Rules.

Choose your audition location:

There are two main types of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire auditions – regularly scheduled auditions, and road auditions. Regularly scheduled auditions are held in New York City, while road auditions are held in various locations. Road auditions are usually held in large cities like Nashville, Indianapolis, Tampa, or Houston.

It is important to check Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’s official website for a complete list of audition locations.

How to register:

The type or location of audition that you select will determine your registration process.

Regularly scheduled auditions require preregistration, which can be done online. Then, you will be given a time for your audition test.

Road auditions require no preregistration for the Millionaire test. The process is first come, first serve, so arrive early to your location. Auditions typically begin at 7:00am.

Also, if you have been to a taping of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire then you may qualify to audition for the show by applying for an audition ticket online. Then, you will be sent further instructions in the mail.

The test:

Once you have registered for an audition, then you will be given a timed written test to determine whether you will advance to complete an interview with a producer. The written test consists of approximately thirty general knowledge multiple choice questions. After taking the test, production assistants will score the tests, and then call out the contestant numbers of those who passed the test.

The interview:

If you pass the audition test, then you will move to the next phase of the audition session, which is an interview with a show producer. These short interviews will help producers determine whether you are show material. Essentially, first impressions matter more than anything. Producers have the discretion to determine whether you will be placed into the contestant pool for an appearance on a future show.

The contestant pool: Once you have finished the interview, all you can do is wait. If you have been chosen as a possible contestant, then you will receive a postcard in the mail telling you that you have been placed in the contestant pool. You can remain in the contestant pool for several years before ever being called to be on a show, or you may never be called.

The qualifying call: If you receive a qualifying phone call, telling you that you will appear on a future episode of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire , then you will be required to travel to New York at your own expense, and on short notice. You could be told that you will tape your episode in thirty days, or in two days.

For a complete description of the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire audition process, please visit the show’s official website.