If you’re an aspiring singer living in Austin, you’ve already spent plenty of late nights performing at bars and open mics just to get your name out there. But if you think you have the chops to be the next pop superstar, then your big break may come as early as next week.

Set your alarms early for Tuesday, August 6, and head to the Frank Erwin Center, because American Idol is returning to the Live Music Capital of the World for season 13 regional tryouts. Auditions take place beginning early the next day. This may be your shot at getting a ticket to Hollywood.

In case this is your first American Idol rodeo, registration will likely begin sometime at the break of dawn on August 6. You can register up until the beginning of audition day August 7, but with thousands expected to sign up, your chances may be diminished due to time constraints. Just come as early as possible on registration day to better guarantee a chance on Wednesday.

While you’re waiting in the audition line, remember to do your best to stand out — or just have your life story ready to go. The show’s producers scout the preliminary rounds for compelling stories to get eyeballs and good ratings on American Idol.

If you wow at the audition with your natural voice talent, you earn an invite for callbacks, which is when American Idol returns for a taping with the judges. But if you really care about eking out those 15 minutes of fame, do something to grab a producer’s attention while waiting in line. You can get a callback just by having a good story or outlandish personality.

Austin obviously has enough musical talent to represent in Hollywood; 50 contestants earned the coveted “golden tickets” when American Idol last made a stop in Austin in 2010. If the producers want a few extra people to bring the “weirdness,” they can find plenty of that here too.

To keep track of the official rules and times for next week’s Austin auditions, keep your eyes peeled for any updates on the official American Idol website. And don’t be shy about putting everything you've got on the line, because you may only have one shot at fame and fortune — or just 30 seconds of embarrassment on national television.