SPARKS –– Making their way to Sparks in a tour bus painted to get attention, managers, promoters and musicians with the reality show “The Hard Road to Nashville” will hold auditions for talented singers today at Cadillac Ranch at the Legends at Sparks Marina.

The television show, which will start filming in about three months, is making Sparks among its last stops boasting auditions in about 100 cities. Thomas Jones, who works in the music industry as a manager, promoter, technical man and musician, said the concept for “The Hard Road to Nashville” is different from other reality talent shows.

“I think originally, it all started with these promoters in North Carolina and Montana,” Jones said of a pair of promoters who worked hard to find their next musician. “They thought that people shouldn’t have to go to four or five cities and pay an exorbitant amount of fees and travel costs.”

“The Hard Road to Nashville” is not like “American Idol” or “Nashville Star,” Jones said. There are not rounds and rounds of auditions. Singers audition once and will be notified within two weeks if they will take the journey on the “Road to Nashville.”

“Whoever is the finalist at Cadillac Ranch tomorrow is automatically in the finals, there are no semi-finals,” Jones said. “If you’re a good singer, you’re a good singer. You should only have to travel once to see.”

Jones explained that the promoters who decided it was worth it to travel the country to find talent instead of the talent coming to them are also the people who have helped country star Bobby Chitwood put his name in lights.

Chitwood will be the musician the contestants on “The Hard Road to Nashville” will tour with as they are voted to stay on tour or get the boot off the bus.

So what does it take to secure a spot on the “Road to Nashville?” According to Jones, it requires a little talent, a little luck and some confidence.

“Number one is singing talent – and it doesn’t mean singing a difficult song, it means singing any song well,” Jones said. “We’re also going to be looking for – and it will vary from judge to judge – performance and interaction with the crowd. We don’t expect them to be polished.”

However, Jones said the auditions are a no-frills show.

“It’s a cappella – no musicians, they sing all by themselves,” Jones said.

Jones recalled a story at Thursday’s show in Colorado Springs, Colo. Customers repeatedly told a cocktail waitress at the Copperhead Road that she should audition for “The Hard Road to Nashville” but Jones said the woman continued to shoot down the cheers to get on stage.

Finally, the waitress relented but only after she prefaced her performance by stating “I only feel comfortable singing ‘Amazing Grace’ right now,” Jones said as he told the story.

With an amazing performance of the notable hymn, Jones said the shy waitress belted out the song and will definitely be hitting the road with the other finalists.

“If you take the chance, what do you have to lose?” Jones said, adding that people who are skeptical to audition or nervous should try anyway. “You’re in your hometown, you don’t have to travel, what do you have to lose? This is one of those singular moments that could change your life.”

Auditions for “The Hard Road to Nashville” begin tonight at 7 p.m. at Cadillac Ranch at the Legends at the Sparks Marina.

Contestants need to be at least 18 years old and cannot be signed to any management. For a complete list of rules and addition information, visit www.thehardroadtonashville.com.

People who are interested in auditioning but cannot make it to today’s auditions can also submit a video through e-mail or by mail. For more information, visit www.thehardroadtonashville.com/how_to_audition.cfm.