By Brittany Evans on November 9, 2011

Ever wanted to know what goes into a media day before a Pandora NBC Skating Series show? David Archuleta, who will be performing in Pandora Unforgettable Holiday Moments on Ice at Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix on November 12 (Tickets are still available!), was recently in Arizona to talk with local media about the show, and Grand Canyon University’s Jamie Santiago wrote this for us to give us the inside look into David’s day!

A Day with David Archuleta
By Jamie Santiago

How many people get to say that they spent the day with an American Idol superstar? Not many, but I just became one of them. My Friday started off like any other, except I was tasked with the a very special job…I would be a media escort for none other than the 2008 American Idol runner-up David Archuleta. He was in town, after all, to promote his appearance in Gilbert AZ the next day. We picked David up at terminal 4 of Sky Harbor Airport and with one back pack and a suitcase; we were on our way!

First stop…The Arizona Republic and NBC Channel 12 studios on East Van Buren in downtown Phoenix. David asked if he could change his shirt, which I thought was sweet because he already looked great, but of course I told him it was okay.

David’s first interview was with AZ Republic reporter Ed Masley. Following the interview, David gladly signed an autograph for the reporter’s daughter on his notebook.

Immediately following this interview, we were whisked away by an NBC producer upstairs to the Channel 12 studio lunchroom for our taped interview with reporter Christine Lee. (Watch the interview here.)

After getting David set up with a microphone and some quick photos for their Facebook page, the Channel 12 interview began. Christine mentioned that she wasn’t gifted with a voice for song so she asked David for some voice lessons. Let’s just she was right, but David was sweet and sincere in his approach, and I have to say it was a joy hearing him sing.

We were just about to wrap up our taped interview and head downstairs for David’s Channel 12 Midday Live interview when one of the producers approached me asking if David would mind meeting several of his fans that flew in from Michigan just to see him perform. He didn’t seem to mind at all and in fact really thought it was sweet and seemed so astonished that his fans followed him all this way. The meet and greet was cute. He was so humble when posing for pictures and video and made it a point to shake each one of their hands and even extend a hug.

The Channel 12 Midday Live segment was amazing! David didn’t even seem nervous and answered every question with poise and confidence.

Then, off we went to a back room for an interview with reporter Arin Segal from AZ Teen Magazine.

I was surprised to see she was actually a teen herself. She was sweet and handled herself like a professional when I think inside she was completely freaking out that she was interviewing thee David Archuleta in the flesh.

After a long morning of interviews, it was time to take David and his dad to lunch. I had heard that he liked healthy food but when I asked him what he felt like eating, he said “tacos”. I couldn’t think of much nearby except this little hole in the wall Mexican restaurant down the street. David jumped at the thought of some authentic Mexican food so off we went. I was reluctant it might not be high-end enough, but they didn’t seem to mind one bit and in fact seemed to love the vibe. David ordered chicken enchiladas with rice and beans and even before his food got there, he was downing the chips and salsa. He ate every last bite of his food and left the chatter to me and his dad.

After lunch we headed to Fox 10 for more interviews and then we left for their hotel in Gilbert.

What a great day, but I knew David was exhausted from it all. He napped a bit in the car and all the while, I just kept thinking how I don’t think I’d ever want to be famous. All the people coming at you, all the lights, photos, hugs from strangers, interviews, and airports, how could that be fun? But then I reflected back to a point during one of his interviews when he said that he never wanted to do anything else and I thought, he must really love what he does and take a lot of pride in his career as a singer to be so gracious to his fans. He was truly a professional.

Thanks for a great day, David!
Brittany Evans

Hi everyone,

Okay, I’m not a great writer but here’s a few words about last nights performance. David was absolutely wonderful and pitch perfect! He actually sang 4 songs with What Child Is This being the first performance of the night. MS played David’s arrangement. It was fantastic! If I’m not mistaking, he only sang once in the first half and I was wondering if that was it…WHAT? NO MORE DAVID? UGH! But the second half made up for it quickly. MS did their version of Silent Night and David did the ooh’s and awww’s with Chip David. Beautiful low voice range. They sound great together. Next time he came out and sang Pat-a-pan and then went to the piano and sang To Be With You, with Rachel Flatt skating to it. There was a music glitch in there somewhere and all you heard was David playing and singing, so they did a retake after and it was perfect! So lucky to hear him sing it twice. When he hit the high sustained note on “way” my mom turned to me and said, WOW! This is the first time she’s heard him live. The last song he sang was one of MS songs that I was not familiar with, but it was soft and sweet and AMAZING! Sorry I don’t remember the name. David had me mesmerized!

It was a wonderful night and you all have to watch it on the 27th! I just hope they edit all of David’s songs in. He was perfect! He did his little waves after every song and let me tell you, the crowd went crazy whenever he came out!