WIBU to go on the Apprentice?

[SewManyChildren]

I've recently started a small business and I'm a big fan of The Apprentice. I've watched every series and I've definitely got more common sense than most of the candidates. So this year I filled in the application form.
I've been invited to audition in a couple of weeks on a Saturday morning.
I'd love to go, but my dh is working that day and I'd have to arrange childcare as I couldn't take them with me.
It would take me over 3 hours to get there and I may get asked to leave after only the first part.
I also have no business wear that they've asked for and my hair needs a cut and I don't wear makeup.
But what if I get through to the next bit? What if I actually get selected to go on the show? I wouldn't need to win, just being on the show would give me enough publicity to get my business going. And wouldn't I always think 'what if' if I didn't go?
I'm almost 40 and have only had one 'proper job' and that wasn't in business. I have Aspergers and don't always do well socially, but I feel that I've learnt to play the part well enough to get through this. I've got great leadership skills due to volunteering with a youth organisation for over twenty years.
Should I just try the first audition and see how I get on? There'd be two more half day auditions after the first one, then a commitment for up to nine weeks.

Yes but Alana won. How many businesses have thrived on the back of being booted??

I think some people manage to get reasonable publicity out of the show.

I always thought that Ruth Badger was clearly using the programme to promote herself long term, rather than looking to win outright. She was brand building and repeating her name constantly from episode one ! It seemed to work for her and she came across as a good sales/business person.

It is worth seeing how far you get with the interviews. Then you can decide later if you really want to commit nine weeks of your life to the show !

Ps. Name change and tell us which one you are if you get on the show, so we can cheer you on :)

Definitely go! Go to a nice clothes shop and explain they may lend you clothes and if you get on you can wear their clothes on the show too. Good luck, I love the Apprentice.

THe problem with the Apprentice is that the contestants have become a joke and I wouldn't want to be associated with them from a business perspective. They used to be intelligent enough people with some skills but now they are just people who will fuck up royally for the sake of TV making the show really unenjoyable. Not a single task has gone well for any of the teams in a very long time in my opinion. In the past sometimes people did very well on tasks.

I wouldn't want to be part of that.

I was going to mention Ruth badger too, i think she has a consultancy firm or something. I only know because she sticks in my mind as one of the most credible people they've ever had on the show. Her and ansell of the same series.

No don’t go!

They will make you look like an idiot.

Rewatch last season carefully and you will notice the candidates are clearly set up to fail and made to look stupid by the production people in charge. It’s not as straightforward as they tell you the tasks are. Just like they aren’t always surprised by a 5am phone call every morning and somehow have beautifully done hair and make up in 5 minutes.

I think they are also set up to fail

Look at the tasks where the team is split and they have to communicate by phone chat only

Surely they'd send photos etc

Also the prize is actually really bad business. If your business is good enough to be worth a £250k investment then get it from somewhere that isn’t going to demand half of everything you’ve worked so hard for in return.

My DH worked for a company set up by an ex-Apprentice candidate. I can confirm that he was able to raise a significant amount of capital and publicity off the back of his stint. Unfortunately, he turned out to be less than pleasant when he was less successful.