Auditions are the most stressful part of showbiz, Here are a few tips to help you rock them!
1. Smile! Be Confident!
Walking into the room you should just exude confidence! You are going to own this audition! If it’s a dance audition, stand towards the front and as close to center as possible, it’s right in front of the directors and give them your best facial expressions. Now being confident is not being cocky. show that you believe in yourself without giving the impression that you think you are better than everyone else (I mean even though you may be or you want to be, it can show that you can be diva and hard to work with.)
2. Come Prepared!
For a play or a musical audition, have your monologue memorized as much as possible (shoot for memorized so you can get rid of that piece of paper.) knowing the monologue by heart helps you actually get fully into character and show them your full potential. Always block out your monologue so you aren’t standing stiff as a board. Get into it! For a song, have it memorized and marked where the accompanist needs it. As well you blocked out or monologue, block your song and add character! Pick a song that is either from the show you’re doing or relates to the character you want to play. This helps the directors know what part you are going for so they get an idea of how they could cast it. Also when picking a song, make sure it shows off your voice and talent, don’t pick a song that is too hard or too easy for you. Your song should reflect your vocal talents without the possibility of damaging your voice. During the audition, savor each word and sentence of your monologue and don’t rush. For your song, feel the music and give it your all! Make sure you warm up too! Never audition cold!
3. Stay Hydrated and Eat Well!
This is VERY important! You should always be drinking the amount you are releasing while in an audition, drink to sing, drink to act, drink to dance (and sweat.) Drink at least 30 minutes before any singing or acting audition to properly prep your vocal chords. Make sure you also eat a substantial amount of food before an audition but not too much to make you sluggish in any way if you're dancing. Eat light but don't be afraid to have at least some carbs! Carbohydrates give you some of that glucose you need to have energy for your audition! Also eat some sort of protein for long lasting energy! Avoid carbonated drinks and foods and drinks with a ton of sugars because they could react in a negative way during your audition.
4. Dress Comfortably but Professionally
Most auditions for musicals ask you to wear dance clothes so it's easy to work out in, but what if you still want to look nice? Don't just bring any old sloppy workout gear, wear something that is comfortable that you feel banging in! Put some effort in your hair and makeup (if you want to wear makeup) to show off your best features and wear clothes that make you look put together. Maybe keep a matching leggings/pants and sports bra/shirt for auditions that have pops of bright colors here and there to help you stand out in the crowd of anyone in a dance audition. In a normal acting audition, where something you are comfortable to stand in and present yourself in that shows off your personality with a hint of whatever character you would like to play. Wearing something you're comfortable in that can hint to the directors of a character in the play is the way to go! It can also help you get into the mood of the show.
5. Make Your Audition Personal, but Don’t take Criticism Personally.
Auditions are to make you a better performer, there are no personal attacks when a director gives you criticism (unless they are actually attacking you as a person.) Take anything they say as advice to get better. Your auditions are personal to you and your experiences help you embody the character you want to portray but don't take it personally if the directors believe you should take a different approach to a scene. And if you aren't the one for this cast, it's okay! Directors always say they can cast a show a million different ways, but they have to do their job and see which people work well together, it's not a big deal if you don't get the part you want, it's a learning experience. The time will come for your time in the spotlight.
