With a megaphone it was announced to divide into two groups; to the left those who have actually conducted something (anything) before and to the right everyone who conducts in front of a mirror at home. The crowd parted like the Red Sea into two groups of perhaps 150 each. There were two pieces of music to "conduct", Eine Kleine Nachtmusic and the final part of 1812 overture..they would play about 10 seconds of music and you would start to conduct this imaginary orchestra playing over the loud speakers. It was all form and no substance. But scary no matter. 300 wannabes who would strike you dead if they could win or advance.
While the weeding out was going on there was plenty of time for talk and hot dogs. One woman was from Texas and was out for the week, came here as a lark and was now "feeling the pressure". Another fellow explained that this could be "his big break" if he won. A few just came for the baton that said Hollywood Bowl Conductors Competition printed along the shaft in tiny letters. I still have mine.
A long time back conductors, when they even used one, used to lead with a big drum major like "prompter" something that the guards hit the floor with to announce the arrival of the king. They would actually clomp the floor to keep time - keep the beat. A french musician, Lully, actually stomped his toe with one during a concert and subsequently died from the infection. Tough job.
The conducting baton we use now is really a stylized violin bow as the first desk violin player often "led" the orchestra. This didn't work so well when there were musicians who couldn't see him so the idea of a stand up person 'leading' and not playing was refined from practices dating back a thousand years to the idea of the "maestro" we enjoy, laugh at, envy and applaud.
Anyway, it is too hot a morning for all this. Just let the music play in your head. Remember. The wand selects the wizard.