lee dewise, his first album, sold 150,000 copies. the label immediately dropped him.eel like your 15 minutes of fame are counting down fast? >> initially it did. gosh, i got to go, go, go. >> reporter: david hernandez made it to the finals but got voted off after it came to light he used to support himself by stripping at dick's cabaret. >> reporter: hopefully you're not back to stripping. >> wow. this guy over here, no, absolutely not. i was 22 years old, and it was a way of making an honest living. i don't regret anything. >> reporter: these days he's able able to make an honest living with music. >> singing is paying the bills. >> reporter: but from the heady days of american idol, he's now gone back to paying his dues. his advice to tonight's winner? >> have a good team in your corner. do things that will portray the artist you want to be. >> reporter: and maybe don't expect to be an overnight success. >> correct. >> reporter: win or lose on american idol, it's probably best to lang on to plan b. i'm david wright for "nightline" in los angeles. >> or even plan c.