In my last article, I gave some suggestions on how to extensively prepare you for an audition. Now we are going to discuss what you actually have to do when that day comes.
Step III: The Audition
Ok, today is the big day! You’ve been preparing for these precious five minutes for a while now. Before heading to the audition, ask yourself these questions:
- Am I dressed for success (covered in Step I)?
- Do I have my music with me?
- Do I know where the audition is and do I have directions?
- Have I warmed-up yet?
These are just some small details that should be running through your mind before the audition. It’s better to show up prepared and early, than unprepared and late. Allow yourself enough time to get to the location and warm-up there. Even if it means showing up just to relax and get into the right mind frame. Extra time usually works to your benefit.
How should I bring my music?
You want a successful audition with as little problems as possible, right? Well, then help your accompanist out! Make sure that the music is xeroxed and hole punched in a black binder. Oh, and PLEASE: NO plastic covers on the music. This is an accompanist’s biggest pet peeve. Sometimes the lights will cause a glare on the music, making it hard to see and causing a huge obstacle. Also, if you have cuts in the music, make sure that they are indicated. If they’re large cuts, tape white paper over the cut part. This will allow for the accompanist to just focus on what he or she is supposed to play. TRUST ME! This will save you a lot of grief in the long run.
What auditors watch for
First impressions are lasting ones. The auditors are watching you closely. You will immediately be judged by what you look like, how you walk into your audition, and how you announce your name and your selection. So, make that first impression count. Walk in with confidence and conviction. Forget for a moment that it is actually an audition. Think of it as a performance, which means you better make it count.
Auditors want to see if you are able to get into character at a drop of a hat. So, do just that. Walk into the audition as yourself; announce your selection (and please, announce the title of the piece in the same language as you are singing it in), then take a brief moment (and I mean brief) to ground yourself before you begin. That moment will give you chance to transform into your character. After your piece is over, take another brief moment and let go of your character (or breath it out). This way you can walk out the way you walked in, as yourself.
Though you are judged when you walk in, the auditors' main concern is your audition. They want to hear your voice. Their ears will be listening intently on the first couple of notes that come out of your mouth. So, make sure that they are on the money because that’s the only way you’ll even be considered for the job.
My accompanist and me
In most cases, you won’t know the person who is sitting at the piano waiting to play for you. It is possible that this person could even help make or break your audition, so BE NICE! Walk up to whomever is playing and introduce yourself with a smile and a handshake. Then show them what you’ll be starting with and start them if they need a tempo on the piece. If it is standard rep, then usually not. But it is better to not assume anything.
Listen, accompanists mess up. They’re human just like the rest of us. If either you or your accompanist mess up, FAKE IT. Faking, itself is an art form and something that should be mastered in worst-case scenarios. If you forget the words or the accompanist messes up on counting (or any countless number of things that could go wrong), just keep going. You won’t impress anyone if you stop and say that you need to start again. What would you do if that happened in a performance? The people auditioning you want to make sure that you can go on and stay in character no matter what. So, be professional and do just that.
Walk away smiling
No matter how your audition goes, it is better to just be professional about it. Thank both the auditioners and the accompanist for their time and walk out with a smile. When you get into the hallway, do not start complaining to the people around you if the audition went poorly. The walls have ears! They really do! And you just don’t know who might be listening to your conversation. So, save it for home.
But no matter what happens in there (good or bad), make sure that you learn from it. Each audition is a learning experience and each one will help you assess what you need to strive towards to get the next gig. If you keep that positive attitude, then every audition will be a successful one.
Up and Coming diva, founder of the National Artistic Effort, and expert
self-promoter, Ja-Naé Duane, is taking the music world by storm. . .one
gig at a time. She is also a member of my email group, Tessitura.
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