NERVES were running high at The X-Factor auditions in Albury yesterday and all Paul Lizza wanted was a beer.

He was among many people who had travelled from far and wide to the Albury Entertainment Centre for their chance in the spotlight.

But after all the travel and waiting, the Shepparton man still wasn’t sure if he even wanted to be there.

“I’ve never sung in front of anyone, except maybe after a few beers at karaoke,” the 28-year-old said.

“I should have had a couple of beers.”

The show’s producers decided to open auditions half an hour early, at 10.30am as there were so many people lined up.

By 4pm, 135 people had registered and about 50 people were still waiting to audition.

Mariah Hope, 17, of Wodonga, found out about the auditions on the day.

She went home after work, played one song to get ready and headed to the auditions.

Resting on her guitar, she patiently waited for the moment her number was called.

Mariah didn’t need the guitar, other than as a seat, for X Factor rules stipulate singing must be a cappella.

Another hopeful was Emma Carmichael, who drove an hour and a half with her mother from Wagga.

It was the first time the 15-year-old had done an audition that wasn’t with her school — and she was nervous.

So she paced QEII Square while her mother waited for the call, practising the Celine Dion song she planned to sing at her audition.

X Factor will air on Prime 7 with judges Guy Sebastian, Mel B, Ronan Keating and Natalie Bassingthwaighte.