Everyone’s Idol ... Australian Idol finalist Ricky Muscat relaxes for a short break at his Werribee home.


RICKY Muscat was voted off Australia’s national singing competition weeks ago, but his feet have not touched the ground since.

The 23-year-old Werribee singer was snapped up instantly by a music management agency that struck while the near-Idol was hot, sending him jetting around Australia for dozens of shopping centre appearances, media interviews and nightclub performances.

These days, the former factory worker is running on adrenaline, excitement and little sleep, meeting industry executives, music journalists, and some of the thousands of fans who helped get him survive to number five in the Australian Idol contest.

“I’m having the best time I’ve had in my life,” he said.

On a recent visit back to his Werribee home, Ricky is enjoying a grilled cheese sandwich made by very proud mum Doris, and tries to remember when he last had a good night’s sleep.

“I was in Darwin yesterday and flew all night to get home,” he said. “Before that, I was in Perth. I’ve had maybe six hours sleep in three days.”

The one-time Glen Orden Hawks footie forward is hopeful that the current Rickymania continues long enough to help him jump-start a career into the world of music.

“I’ve thrown in footie and I’m definitely not going back to the factory,” he said.

“This is something I’ve always wanted to do and now I have a chance to do it.”

Sony BMG Music has first dibs on any recording contracts to the Top 12 contestants, but if that doesn’t happen, Ricky is also open to television acting or “anything else that comes up”.

This year was his second attempt at the national singing contest, and he is now more confident than ever before.

Last time, he didn't even make the top 100.

“Idol has changed me completely,” he said. From a somewhat shy young man mainly interested in friends, footie and fun, Ricky now is focusing completely on his music.

He is writing his own songs for the first time, adding a new musical skill to his drumming, singing and guitar-playing.

He is also learning that the Idol competition is a big machine, but he does not feel exploited.

“How could I? I would never have these opportunities otherwise,” he said.

As for the hundreds of young women who hound him for autographs or contact him through his fan club website, he still hasn’t found anyone special.

“I’ve never been with anyone longer than a month or two. Maybe I’m a little too picky,” he says.

A highlight of his three months in the competition hot-house included singing at the MCG before nearly 100,000 grand final footie fans.

“That was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done and it will be very hard to top that,” he said.

Ricky revels in the instant fame, but says he sometimes wishes he wasn’t so recognisable.

“If I want to go shopping or just out with friends, it can be hard,” he said.

Idol organisers have advised him that shopping in wealthier suburbs, such as Chapel Street, might give him some relief.

“Their studies show that richer people don’t watch Idol as much for some reason,” Ricky said.