Getting In - Making the Most of Your Audition Day

Your audition day is arguably one of the most important days in your life. Your hopes and dreams ride on this one day and a total of about 10 minutes of performing. It all comes down to this… no matter how much success you have had in your performing career up to now, the audition panel only has your audition on which to base your acceptance or denial. This is the harsh reality of audition day. 

However, if you think about it like this it will likely be terrifying - and depressing - and not much fun to experience… not to mention making your worst fears come true! 

Believe me when I say the audition panel WANTS you to be successful - they are hoping to see your BEST self! They see hundreds of students in a weekend… they see nerves, they see sheer terror, they also see arrogance. They WANT to see the good in every student… They sit through hours of auditions and if you come in with a smile, confidence, and honest communication you will automatically be ahead of the game. 

So how do you do it? How do you achieve a successful audition? Below are 3 tips that can help!

Your #1 Job: Show Them What You CAN Do, Don’t Reveal What You CAN’T Do.

When considering your audition repertoire ask yourself these questions:

• Do my choices represent what they have asked for? 

• Are these pieces that I am comfortable with?

• Am I choosing repertoire that I can perform when I’m not 100%?

Of course you have to present repertoire that matches the criteria the school has asked for in terms of genre, language, up-tempo, ballad, classical, musical theatre, etc.

You also need material that is COMFORTABLE for you. The simplest song - sung with grace, beauty and connection to the words - has more impact than a difficult showstopper that you learned two weeks ago, have never performed in public and has high notes that you “sometimes” nail! 

You should also choose songs and monologues that you can still perform when you are not at your best. You are going to be nervous, dehydrated from travel, and possibly sick due to stress and changing weather. You need songs and monologues that you can STILL perform (as well as possible) under these circumstances. The odds will never be 100% in your favor on audition days… so plan ahead!

#2 Make a Good Impression

Remind yourself that you are auditioning the ENTIRE day. Don’t come in and be rude to the people checking you in or dismissive of the students showing you around. Nobody is looking for a bunch of rude “Divas” to fill their program! You are going to struggle in this business if you think it’s okay to treat people with anything less than the utmost respect!

Start practicing your “nice” skills now! They are like a muscle… they will get stronger and stronger the more you use them. This doesn’t mean you have to find your new BFF at audition day, but don’t sit around gossiping and complaining with other auditioners about other schools, other programs, OR other people! Just like that “nice” muscle you are going to work on building, start working on the “keep it to yourself” muscle as well... It is equally important!