Hi everyone! Hope this new post finds you all doing well. This month I wanted to share some words and resources about auditions since it seems to be a popular topic and many of you ask me tips on a regular basis. We all know that in this industry auditions are an extremely important step if you wish to get your name/skills out there. In order to be successful though there are a few very important things that you can do to properly prepare for one, understand what could make you stand out and perform/show on the day and a little bit of insight on how these selections work from the other side. I have found myself in both seats throughout the years, so I thought it would be helpful to bring you guys both perspectives when it comes to auditioning.
First of all I would like to start by saying that booking a lot of auditions in a short period of time is NEVER a good idea. Auditions are like a CV: not every format will be the best for every interview and you won’t be presenting your CV the same way at every interview, right? Right. So same thing goes for auditions. To perform well in one you need time to get your material ready but you also need your body to relax and unwind in between; that’s why I never advise people to book more than two auditions a day, or five a week. I know that most of the times the booking process is not up to the candidate, however if you find yourself in an overbooked situation, be selective and only go forward with the ones you think you’d be happier with or most successful at.
Another important aspect of auditions is understanding the brief, the rules, the ‘looking for’ section or general guidelines that it comes with. I cannot stress the importance of this step enough. Sometimes these criteria might even be super specific down to even appearance (e.g. specific hair colour, gender, height) especially for TV, videos or ensemble work. Unfortunately it isn’t the fairest process, agreed, but deciding to apply anyway will just result in a waste of time. Keep in mind that you are unique, so you might not fit one brief but you may fit another one down the line 🙂
Once you have decided which auditions you’d like to apply for or the ones you get called in for, it’s time to think about material. Once again, in order to make a smart decision, start looking at the brief for key words: music genre references, any specific artist name, ‘vibes’, vocal qualities, and so on. The recipe for total success is to learn to choose songs or material in general that meet the requirements AND showcase your talent and skills. This might take some trial and error or even some sessions with a professional to help you choose and polish your material, however do keep a journal of all your processes to see if, at some point, some choices performed better than others and why. Also, do not assume that ‘bigger/louder/higher’ is always better. You heard me singers? 😛 However tempting it may be to bring ‘Love on top’ by Beyoncé and show all the final chorus key changes, do not use it unless it actually is required or fits the criteria! You want to impress people by giving them what they’re looking for, not what you want them to hear.
Let’s now talk about wardrobe. Yes, clothes! Super important to present yourself in a way that suggests that you’re fit for the role, whatever that may be. For this you will want to once again check the brief for any suggestion or impression that could help you decide on what to wear. For example, if there’s a band looking for a lead rock singer, go ahead and bring your best growls, grunts and distortions, but do not forget to look the part too! This is extremely important when applying for session work or theatre for example. Present yourself in a way that you are obviously comfortable in, give it your best and sell the performance.
Talking about selling a performance… please do so! I personally love watching people audition and see their passion coming through even if they are in front of four people and an empty stage. Do not forget that your audition is indeed a performance, and a very special one. According to the brief once again, try to come up with something to do in your performance. It doesn’t have to be anything particular if you’re naturally less commanding of a room, however it is good practice to be aware of different performance techniques and options that may be available to you and gain you points.
Last but not least, remember to be thankful at the end. You don’t need to make a whole speech certainly, however politeness is always welcome. Every audition you get is an opportunity for you to share your art and your passion with someone else. And even if you’re not successful in a particular session, doing an outstanding job might get you a callback for another where the panel think you might be more suited for. I understand that this process can be stressful for candidates, I honestly do. But do remember that being kind will take you a lot further and… it goes wonders to the soul at the end of the day.
I hope you all found this insightful. I am leaving a couple of YouTube links below too if you are looking to know more about the topic. See you next month!
CLICK HERE TO WATCH DR. DAN AND KATE BAKER TALK ABOUT AUDITIONS
CLICK HERE TO WATCH TONY AWARDS NOMINEES TALK ABOUT AUDITIONS